Having an engaging and well-structured Engineering CV is paramount for gaining access to this competitive industry. An Engineer CV or Curriculum Vitae is the foundation for a successful job interview. The purpose of this document is to inform the employer about your previous academic and employment history, your qualifications, and the strengths which you have developed during this time.
With this in mind it is necessary to cultivate the perfect balance of technical skills appropriate for the job and any practical skills and knowledge which can be applied to the role.
In this blog, we will cover the most effective ways to write an engaging engineering CV which will increase your chances of landing the ideal role you want within the construction industry.
There are many templates across the internet for you to browse through and gain a strong understanding on a successful structure of a CV.
So, the first step to writing an effective CV for any industry is to include the basic, but vital information. This will include your contact information, your education, a personal profile about yourself, any skills you have which will be relevant for the job, work experience and any awards or extra qualifications you have gained.
Your CV must be well structured and in a relevant order. Employers will receive sometimes hundreds of CVs, so it is paramount that yours will stand out from the rest and look professional and logically structured.
In all likelihood, viewing your CV will be the first impression a prospective employer will gain of you – so you need to make it count, and count in the best way possible!
Also, keep in mind that the structure of your CV should not fluctuate from each job you apply for. If the structure is well thought and logical then it should be applicable to most industries.
What you do need to think of, however, is the importance and relevancy of certain qualifications and experience when applying to different engineering jobs.
Keep your CV regularly updated with any changes of careers, skills you may have developed or qualification’s you have gained.
With all of these points in mind, here are 8 simple steps on how you can craft an effective and engaging engineering CV which will catch your future employer’s eye and get you through to that sought after next stage.
Step 1: Personal Information.
The first thing any employer is going to read when viewing a CV is your personal information. This will include your name, contact number, and your most frequently and most accessible email address to ensure you don’t miss any opportunities or questions asked.
Again, all of this information should be kept regularly up to date, especially if regularly changes occur, as one of the last things you would want to happen would be missing a phone call of email from a prospective employer.
Your name should be larger than the rest of the text so it stands out and you should include your first and last name. Whilst you are filling out your personal information, make sure you check over it to make sure your contact details are correct.
Step 2: Personal Statement.
Now it is time to start selling yourself within your CV and show your potential employers why you think are fit for their job role. Following on from the personal information you will want to include your written personal statement.
Keep this statement short, usually split between three to five sentences. Approach this with the aim to grab the reader’s attention and make them want to find out more about you as a candidate.
You should inform them on who you are, what you will be able to offer them if they were to employ you and where you see yourself in five years’ time from now.
Step 3: Include Relevant Skills.
If you want your CV to be successful, then it is vital that you detail what relevant skills you have to offer. Consider which of your skills will be relevant and useful for a potential future work environment.
While you are writing about your skills, be sure to include both your hard skills and your soft skills. We have covered both of these skillsets in more detail in previous blogs, but a general summary is as follows:
Hard skills are things you have learnt from qualifications or previous education and employment. Whereas soft skills are personal traits you have to offer naturally.
Be sure when you are writing about your skills, you keep them relevant to the job you are applying for.
Step 4: Include Keywords.
It can be helpful to thoroughly read the job description and include keywords from the job description into your CV as this will show you are speaking their language and prove that you understand the job they have to offer.
This will prove that you are interested, and you have done your due diligence before applying. It is also important to do this because you do not want to input irrelevant skills for the job. Some examples of useful keywords to include are: resolved, design, tenacious and supervision to name a few. You can find more by following this link.
Step 5: Education, Experience & Training.
When you are writing about your previous education, it is recommended to write it in reverse order. This means that your most recent and potentially most relevant education will be placed at the top of the section.
It is recommended you only include subjects in which you show an interest to and would like to develop further down the line.
Within this section it is important to state all your qualifications you have gained and any you are currently par-taking in. You can also include any training you have received in this section or courses you have taken.
If you have undertaken any additional training, this will also be good to include as it will show commitment and is something missed by many prospective employees.
Step 6: Awards and Projects.
In a separate section to your educational paragraph, you may want to include any awards you have gained which will be relevant to the job. This can include any awards you won in school, college or in day-to-day life.
You should state the name of each award or competition as your potential employer can have a better understanding of your interests and talents within the role.
Whether you have volunteered in a relevant job or worked full time, it is key that you include this in your CV.
Step 7: Engineering Certificates.
If you have any relevant certificates in engineering, then this can be a great boon in building up your CV and making you attractive to employers.
Whilst some certificates may not match the exact requirements needed for a desired role, they can still show that you are more technically savvy than your average applicant.
If you can find an affordable course which would not be too large of an investment it is advisable to look at whether you gain this certification prior to sending out your CV and applications.
Step 8: Proofread your Engineer CV.
Most importantly, you must proofread your CV! Make sure that all your information is correct and up to date. Your contact details are correctly written, and your mobile number has all the correct digits. As you wouldn’t want to have written a successful CV to not be able to be contacted.
Another thing to keep in mind whilst you are creating an engaging CV, is to keep it streamlined and not too many words. Don’t use pictures, colourful text, or unusual fonts. Ask a friend or family member to proofread it for you.
If you want some assistance in checking your grammar and don’t have anyone on hand to check it, then downloading and using Grammarly would really help you.
These tips should help you break down the best ways to move forward in creating an effective CV which will take you to the next step. Always approach a CV as if you were the employer and think whether the information and structure is something which would keep you in mind later within the same day.
