Resumes are used for a variety of purposes. Whether applying for a scholarship, student organization leadership role, research opportunity, co-op or internship, or full-time job, your resume is used as a tool to market who you are and highlight your background, experience, and skills. It's critical to know your audience and customize your resume for the specific purpose where you will be using it!       

 

Nuts + Bolts of Engineering Resumes

Attend a one-hour workshop about the basics of building a resume

Resume + Cover Letter Reviews

Meet with an Engineering Career Coach at drop-ins or schedule an appointment in Handshake

What's on a Resume?

Resume Sections
Identifying Information Name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. You may also choose to include your pronouns. If you have an ePortfolio, professional blog, or LinkedIn profile, you may include that information as well.
Objective or Summary This is optional. If you choose to include one, it should be a short, specific statement that includes position, industry, and relevant skills. These can be useful during recruitment events, such as career fairs or tabling events, as well as when connecting with specific employers or industry professionals virtually.
Education

In reverse-chronological order, this section includes the schools you have attended, graduation date or dates of attendance, as well as degrees sought or completed.

Although there is no requirement to list your GPA, you may include your cumulative GPA, major GPA, or most recent semester GPA, labeling it appropriately. This is a topic that will come up throughout an interview process.

Other information may include: scholarships and honors, percentage of college expenses earned by you, certifications, relevant courses (if significant) and study abroad experiences.

Experience

This section includes all experience types such as work, volunteering, extracurricular activities, class projects. List in reverse-chronological order and include the following information:

  • Job Title or Role
  • Company / Organization Name
  • Location (city and state or country)
  • Month and Year of Employment or Service
  • Description of experience including level of responsibility, breadth of exposure and acquired skills.

This section may be divided into multiple subsections with separate headings. Examples include:

  • Related or Relevant Experience
  • Class Projects
  • Leadership Experience
  • Service Experience
  • Research Experience
  • Work Experience

Focus on what you want employers to notice first. They will read top to bottom, so make sure the sections most relevant come at the top of the page after education.

Skills

This may include knowledge of specific computer programs, lab test methods, language skills, or earned certifications. Depending on your industry area of interest, you may choose to place this section closer to the top of the page.

Qualify skills (proficient in, expert in) only when it is advantageous due to a high skill level.

Don't list soft skills in this area. Soft skills need to be expressed in your bullet points.

Language

Resume language should be professional, succinct, and expressive. Make the reader pay attention by using strong action verbs.

  • Use the minimum number of words necessary to convey meaning
  • Use precise action verbs to describe accomplishments and responsibilities (i.e. "Supervised 4 accounts that resulted in..." rather than "Responsible for supervising 4 accounts...")
  • Avoid personal pronouns, but write in the first person
  • Leave out articles: a, an, the. Use short sentences or phrases
  • Use parallel grammatical structures and consistent verb tenses

Build Your Bullet Points

In your experience sections, describe what you achieved in each of your roles. Go beyond the "duties" of your role and describe specific tasks and accomplishments! Help the reader to understand the context, scope, and significance of your experience.

PHRASE FORMULA

SKILL [strong action verb] + SPECIFIC TASK [job / responsibility] + OUTCOME / IMPACT [how / why]

Try the "5 W and H" questions to help you brainstorm what to include

  • WHO | Who did your experience help?
  • WHAT | What did you actually do? What was the result of your actions?
  • WHERE | Where did your experience take place?
  • WHEN | When did this happen?
  • WHY | Why did your experience matter? What was the overall impact?
  • HOW | How did you do your work? How does your experience relate to what you're applying for?

EXAMPLES

  • Wrote C++ static performance code to calculate performance data
  • Managed capital projects with budgets up to $20,000 from the design to startup phases
  • Conducted sieve analysis and verified quality of mortar per the requirements of ASTM C790 standards
  • Procured $5,000 in donations for University funds from 25+ alumni

TEAM PROJECT EXAMPLE

Senior Design Project  |  Department Name                                                            January - May 2023
Team Lead

  • Coordinated with a team of four engineering students to design plans and renovate a building on campus while pursuing a LEED Platinum certification

Resume Types

Master Resume

Every resume you send with a job application should be customized to that specific opportunity. However, you won't want to begin each resume from scratch. A "master" resume should house a wide variety of experience and serve as a digest from which to draw upon for your industry-specific resumes.

Tailored Resume

You need a customized resume for every job application. A tailored resume signals two important things to employers:

  • It makes you stand out as a more appealing and relevant candidate.
  • It shows the employer you put forth time and thoughtfulness when applying and didn't simply send your general resume to every employer you could find.

Action Verbs

Each descriptive phrase in your resume should begin with a strong action verb, and verbs should not repeat themselves throughout your document. Use the list below to identify verbs descriptive of your experiences.

Each descriptive phrase in your resume should begin with a strong action verb, and verbs should not repeat themselves throughout your document. Use the list below to identify verbs descriptive of your experiences.

TECHNICAL
Adapted
Converted
Overhauled
Solved
Applied
Designed
Printed
Specialized
Assembled
Determined
Programmed
Standardized
Built
Developed
Regulated
Studied
Calculated
Engineered
Remodeled
Upgraded
Computed
Maintained
Repaired
Utilized
Conserved
Manufactured
Replaced
Constructed
Operated
Restored

RESULTS
Achieve
Decrease
Improve
Prove
Accelerate
Double
Increase
Reduce
Accomplish
Effect
Initiate
Re-establish
Add
Eliminate
Introduce
Resolve
Advance
Enlarge
Launch
Restore
Attain
Establish
Lower costs
Selected as
Augment
Exceed
Map
Stabilize
Award
Excel
Maximize
Standardize
Complete
Expand
Measure
Succeed
Compound
Extend
Obtain
Transform
Contribute
Fortify
Pioneer

RESEARCH
Amplify
Detect
Gather
Organize
Analyze
Determine
Identify
Process
Calculate
Diagnose
Inspect
Research
Chart
Disprove
Interpret
Review
Clarify
Evaluate
Interview
Search
Collect
Examine
Invent
Solve
Compare
Experiment
Investigate
Study
Conduct
Explore
Locate
Summarize
Critique
Extract
Measure
Test
Design
Formulate
Modify

LEADERSHIP
Administer
Delegate
Implement
Propose
Account for
Determine
Increase
Protect
Analyze
Develop
Initiate
Recommend
Appoint
Direct
Inspect
Recruit
Approve
Eliminate
Institute
Regulate
Assign
Emphasize
Leverage
Replace
Attain
Employ
Manage
Restore
Authorize
Enforce
Merge
Revitalize
Chair
Enhance
Motivate
Schedule
Consider
Establish
Orchestrate
Secure
Consolidated
Evaluate
Organize
Select
Contract
Execute
Originate
Streamline
Control
Formulate
Overhaul
Strengthen
Consolidated
Generate
Oversee
Supervise
Consult
Handle
Plan
Terminate
Convert
Hire
Preserve
Transform
Coordinate
Host
Prioritize
Unify
Decide
Improve
Produce

ORGANIZATIONAL
Accommodate
Correct
Maintain
Reserve
Achieve
Correspond
Monitor
Respond
Approve
Dispatch
Obtain
Review
Arrange
Distribute
Operate
Shape
Catalogue
Enlist
Organize
Specialize
Categorize
Execute
Order
Specify
Chart
Expedite
Prepare
Streamline
Classify
Process
File
Prioritize
Standardize
Code
Generate
Process
Supply
Collaborate
Identify
Provide
Systematize
Collect
Implement
Purchase
Validate
Conserve
Incorporate
Record
Verify
Compile
Inspect
Register

DATA-ORIENTED
Administer
Budget
Forecast
Project
Adjust
Calculate
Measure
Reconcile
Allocate
Compute
Manage
Reduce
Analyze
Control
Monitor
Research
Appraise
Conserve
Plan
Retrieve
Assess
Determine
Prepare
Audit
Develop
Procure
Balance
Estimate
Program

CREATIVE
Act
Display
Improvise
Revise
Adapt
Draft
Initiate
Revitalize
Compose
Entertain
Institute
Renovate
Conceive
Establish
Integrate
Replace
Conceptualize
Execute
Invent
Shape
Condense
Explore
Model
Sketch
Create
Fashion
Modify
Spearhead
Design
Formulate
Originate
Start
Develop
Found
Perform
Stimulate
Direct
Illustrate
Pioneer
Strategize
Discover
Imagine
Plan
Transform

Resume Samples

 

Freshman
Download
Sophomore
Download
Mechanical
Download
Computer Science
Download

RESUME PRINTING

Do you need printed copies of your resume for an upcoming interview or career fair? We have you covered!

The CDCR offers up to 10 free resume paper prints.

  • Step 1 – Get a resume review with the Engineering CDCR. Make an appointment with a career coach (review must take place during the current semester)
  • Step 2 – Make resume revisions
  • Step 3 - Submit your revised resume for free printing 
  • Step 4 – Pick up your resumes from Brown-Kopel 1133 once you have received a confirmation email stating your resumes are ready.  Please allow a minimum of 24-48 hours turn around time for resume pick up.

Thank you to our corporate sponsor:

WestRock Logo