Okay, this seems simplistic and may even make you roll your eyes in irritation; after all, if you've written at least one resume, you probably already know this tip. Nonetheless, it bears restating because if not done properly, it can mean the difference between having your resume picked up and read, or simply relegated to the circular file right away.
So, put your contact information at the very top of the engineering resume, centered, with your name in bold capital letters. Put your mailing address underneath, then your e-mail address under that, then your phone numbers (landline and/or cell phone number).
Of course, typos are always a bad thing in a resume. However, if you get one of your digits wrong in your phone number(s), guess what? You don't get the job because no one can contact you. Doubly check the information you gave and make sure that there are no typos.
First things first: Your "master" engineering resume
We are going to be talking about customizing your resume to some extent for each employer you apply to. That can get tiresome, so it's a good idea to have a master engineering resume of sorts constructed. This master resume should include:
- Your contact information
- A basic format for your job objective; this will change slightly with each employer
- A "skills" list, where you list every single engineering-related skill you have; a bulleted list that has been alphabetized is a good idea.
- Your work history, with jobs and work projects listed in great detail, including job titles, responsibilities, and so forth.
- Education: This section may not change markedly with each application, but it is a good idea to include it in your master engineering resume so that you don't have to write it fresh for each position. It also ensures that if you do have to edit your educational history anyway to make it fit the job you are applying for, it’ll be much easier to do if you have something to work with.
- References: Here, list every professional reference you can use on your resume. (Alternatively, you can keep your references in a separate file not included in your master resume, because you'll send these to employers on request.)
By the time you get done constructing your "master resume," it's probably at least several pages long, and it contains a lot of information. You're not going to send this to employers; instead, you're going to use it to construct individual engineering resumes to send to each employer you contact.
In other words, once you get done constructing your master resume, your work is pretty much done. For each employer, you simply go into your master resume, save it with another name (such as the name of the company you are applying to), and then go through and delete any skill, job listing, etc., not relevant to that position. Rewrite your job objective slightly, check for typos, and you should be good to go.
Now, onto the resume itself.
Your Objective
This is one thing that has to be customized for the particular position you are applying for. It is okay, for example, to have a general job objective on your "master" resume that you can edit for each employer, but don't simply use the same objective for every employer. Customize it so that it is clear you paid attention to the job description and duties for the job you are applying for.
Job Skills
Using your "job skills" list on your master resume, choose four or five that are specifically related to the job you are applying for, and edit them slightly if needed. Delete the others. This will make it easy for the employer to see your skills at a glance.
Work History
With most jobs, you want to start with your most recent position first and work back chronologically over your past two or three jobs. However, with engineering jobs, it's better to have achievements, projects, and accomplishments listed instead. You can break these out by employer for easier reading. In that case, you can go in reverse chronological order if you wish. The point is, though, that you don't necessarily want to give the typical "job descriptions and duties" listing. Focus on major accomplishments and projects instead.
In addition, try to demonstrate how you can work on multiple projects at once. You need not come right out and say this, however; simply showing that dates on specific projects coincide by listing them one after the other will show this without seeming unprofessional.
Use Keywords
Make sure you incorporate keywords in your text so that engineering professionals can find you online quickly. If possible, use keywords similar to those used in the job posting itself so that that particular employer will have no problem picking you out as someone who meets that job's specific qualifications.
Put EVERYTHING in your engineering resume that you want read.
In other words, cover letters should be used simply because it is courtesy and they look professional. However, don't necessarily expect them to be read. Put everything you want that employer to know about you in your resume.
Conclusion
Today's engineering jobs market is competitive. However, writing the right engineering resume can help you stand out in the crowd. Putting together a sort of "master resume" will allow you to easily customize your resume to each specific employer. In addition, using the right keywords so that you'll be easily found even when employers are searching online. Remember that your goal is to get the interview call. So be as concise as possible and be professional. These tips will help you land the engineering job you want.
