Are you a DevOps engineer who dreams of working for the likes of Apple, IBM, Amazon, CBS, Epic Games, or Western Union? 

Do we have news for you: These companies were all looking to hire DevOps engineers at the time of writing. 

It’s no wonder why the demand for DevOps engineers is growing not only at big-name companies, but also at SMBs. Companies are quickly catching on to the fact that having a reliable DevOps engineer on-site is integral to facilitating effective collaboration between development and operations teams. 

So what exactly is the difference between a typical software engineer and a DevOps engineer? Study.com summarizes that the biggest distinction between these two professions is their focus. While software engineers are primarily concerned with how well software suits a given client’s needs, DevOps engineers have a broader focus that encompasses “software development, how the software is deployed and providing operational support through the cloud while the software is continually functional.” 

If you’re not yet a DevOps engineer but have been considering switching to this profession, you’ll be happy to hear that there’s never been a better time to get your foot in the door. As Atlassian points out, the DevOps movement is relatively new as it only started between 2007 and 2008 after, “IT operations and software development communities got vocal about what they felt was a fatal level of dysfunction in the industry.” However, it’s only been in recent years that interest in hiring DevOps has reached new heights.

Whether you’re an aspiring or experienced DevOps engineer, you’re no doubt looking for the key to finally getting hired – either for your dream job or any respectable job.

The answer is the same for both circumstances: it all comes down to your resume. Applying with a well-written, well-formatted, and engaging resume that ticks all of the boxes recruiters are looking for is the surest way to capture a recruiter’s attention. To create a resume that’s strong enough to attract more job offers than you can handle, take a read of this DevOps engineer resume examples and writing guide. You’ll discover: 

• How to charm recruiters by addressing precisely what they’re after
• Expert tips for impressing during your interview 
• Which qualifications you should highlight in your DevOps resume
• Which skills will get you in recruiters’ good books
• How to quickly create a job-winning DevOps resume

1. Multiple Template Examples

2. How to Write a DevOps Engineer Resume That Will Get You the Job?

How should you format your resume?

Optimally formatting your DevOps engineer resume is one of the simplest but most powerful things you can do to aid your job search. Well-formatted resumes are easier to read, skim through, and ultimately, capture a recruiter’s eye. Therein, they help to ensure your resume doesn’t drown in the sea of resumes recruiters receive for every job they post. 

For this reason, it’s important not to think of formatting your resume as a secondary consideration. To be completely clear, doing so is just as vital to the success of your job application as the words that make up your resume.

So which resume format do recruiters prefer a DevOps resume to have? A reverse-chronological format. This format essentially: a) positions your professional experiences towards the top of your resume and b) arranges your professional experiences from most to least recent. In turn, a recruiter reading your resume will be left with the impression that you’re a DevOps engineer who offers an abundance of experience.

Needless to say, if you don’t have much or any DevOps experience, this isn’t the most ideal resume format for you to use. Instead, we recommend using a functional resume format, which positions your skills more prominently than your professional experiences. 

As you’re tinkering around with your resume format, there are a handful of critical layout considerations that you should simultaneously keep top-of-mind. Recruiters will be looking to see if you’ve followed them, so make sure that you don’t stray from the guidelines we’ve provided below:

• • Number of Pages: 1 page at most.
  • Fonts to Use: Legible fonts that promote comprehension, such as Arial and Calibri.
  • Fonts to Avoid: Any fonts that are used in programming or are otherwise difficult to read, such as Fira Code or Input Mono.
  • Margins: 1 inch on all sides.

• Line Spacing: 1 or 1.15.

• Header size: 14-16 point size.
• Text size: 11-12 point size

What makes a great DevOps engineer resume?

There are numerous qualities that all great DevOps engineer resumes possess. To give you an insight into which ones are most critical to the success of your application, we’ve listed out 5 of the most important ones to keep in mind:

• Well-formatted: As we discussed in the previous section, correctly formatting your resume is crucial. To recap, experienced candidates should opt for a reverse-chronological format, while entry-level candidates should make use of a functional format. Great resumes also abide by standard layout guidelines, of which we’ve also listed above.

• Well-written: It may seem obvious to state, but one of the main differences that separates a good resume from a great one is the quality of writing – or lack thereof! A candidate may have all of the qualities a recruiter is looking for, but if they describe them in a lackluster way or their writing is riddled with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors, their application won’t go very far. That’s why the importance of writing your resume well cannot be overstated.

• Relevant: A resume may be considered great for one job but not for another. The reason is that a great resume highlights the most relevant qualities a candidate offers that would allow them to excel in that particular job – not every job out there. Therefore, if you want recruiters to be in awe at your resume, you need to target it to each application. To learn how to do this, make sure not to skip the next section of this guide.

• Evidence-based: If you make it to the interview stage of the recruitment process, you’ll get the opportunity to comprehensively explain all of the reasons why you believe you’re suitable for the role. However, when it comes to your resume, you’ll only have a very limited space to do so. The reason great resumes manage to be so convincing is that they provide relevant and quantifiable examples to showcase the candidates’ competencies.

• ATS-friendly: ATS, which stands for ‘Applicant Tracking System’ is a recruitment software that evaluates the suitability of your application based on the presence or absence of keywords on your resume. Keywords are words in a job ad that represent the specific skills, experiences, or qualities a recruiter is seeking from an ideal candidate.
  
  Great resumes need to be ATS-friendly, because if they’re not, the ATS will not pass them. If you want your resume to get the tick of approval from ATS, we suggest giving this article from Muse a good read. 

How to give recruiters what they’re looking for by targeting your resume to each application

As recruiters make their way through the sizable pile of resumes they’ve received, they’ll be taking note of whether each candidate has targeted their resume to align with the specific requirements of the particular job in question. Candidates who submit resumes that are customized to address such requirements will be far more likely to make it to the next round than candidates who hand in generic resumes. 

It’s therefore critical to target your resume to each application if you want to get hired. After all, why would a recruiter want to pay your resume any attention if it doesn’t present you as an ideal candidate for the job?

Remember, the whole point of a resume is to convince whoever’s reading it that you offer the perfect combination of relevant hard and soft skills, professional experiences, training, certifications, educational background, and any other qualities to completely smash the job. 

So how do you give recruiters what they’re looking for by targeting your resume to each application? It isn’t rocket science – you simply need to consult the job ad to identify what the recruiter is after and then touch on these qualities in your resume. Here is a handy 3-step process you can follow:

• Analyze the job ad: You can identify which qualities a recruiter is after by carefully analyzing the job ad for keywords. To refresh your memory, keywords are words that represent the very qualities a recruiter is seeking from an ideal candidate for the given role.

• Work out which ones apply to you: You should only target the keywords that are relevant to your professional profile. That’s why you need to spend the time determining which ones apply to you.

• Focus your resume around the keywords you wish to target: The final step is to focus your resume around the keywords that you wish to target. You can do this by incorporating keywords naturally throughout each section of your resume, where relevant. For example, if you identify the keyword ‘deploying cloud-based infrastructure,’ you should emphasize your skills and experiences doing so. 

What are ideal DevOps job qualifications and how to list them correctly?

Each recruiter’s idea of their so-called dream candidate will change depending on the nature of each job as well as their individual preferences. That being said, there are a handful of ideal DevOps job qualifications that any recruiter would be over the moon to see on a resume. Keep reading to find out what they are, as well as how to list them correctly in your resume.

Education 

In order to become a DevOps engineer, you’ll usually need to follow a specific educational path. While some workplaces may accept equivalent work experience, you will typically need to hold a Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to computer science, electronics engineering, or mathematics.

To add your education to your DevOps resume, you’ll need to create an “Education” section. But hold up before you start recounting the good ol’ days in college, like this candidate did:

EDUCATION

• I studied at the University of California, Berkeley, for four years, from 2016 - 2020. It was a great time, especially as I was able to complete my dream degree, a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science. I enriched my mind in so many ways, so I consider it a highly fulfilling time in my life. 

Recruiters only want to discover the cold hard facts about your educational background. Specifically, they want to see:

• The degree you obtained
• The educational institution you attended
• The state the educational institution is located in
• The years you studied your degree

So that you can get a clearer picture of the correct way to include your education in your resume, we rewrote the previous candidate’s “Education” section with this in mind:

EDUCATION

• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 2016 - 2020

Training and Certifications

Have you completed any in-house or external training that helped to build up your skills as a DevOps engineer? Or did you study for hours and hours to pass one or more DevOps certifications? It’s a good thing you did, because recruiters love candidates who have relevant certifications or training to their name.

In terms of ideal training and certifications, many recruiters consider an AWS Certified DevOps Engineer to be the gold standard. So if you are one, you’ll definitely want to feature this fact prominently on your resume. Even if you aren’t AWS Certified, recruiters will still be very impressed to see any DevOps related certifications or training you’ve undertaken. Some examples of useful ones to feature include:

• DevSecOps Engineering (DSOE)℠ Certification
• Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) Foundation℠ Certification
• DevOps Leader (DOL)® Certification
• Certified Agile Service Manager (CASM)® Certification
• DevOps Leader (DOL)® Certification

To list any certifications or training, provide the following information about each one:

• The name of the certification or training
• The name of the institution where you received it
• The state the institution is located in
• The year you received the certification or training 

For example:

• DevSecOps Engineering (DSOE)℠, DevOps Institute, FL, 2020

Which soft and hard skills should you mention? How can you do so correctly?

Every DevOps engineer has a unique skill set that distinguishes them from every other DevOps engineer out there. So which skills should you hone in on when you’re compiling your resume? 

The quick answer is those that are directly relevant to the particular job you’re applying for. Remember how we explained that keywords are the secret to targeting your resume? A huge part of doing so involves incorporating skills-focused keywords into your resume.

That is, you should identify skills-focused keywords in a job ad that apply to you and then: 

• Feature a few eye-catching ones in your “Resume Objective” or “Resume Summary.”
• List out 6 to 8 stand out skills in a dedicated “Skills” section.
• Incorporate the skills you mention in the above sections, as well as any other relevant skills, throughout your “Employment History” section. Ideally, every achievement should feature at least one skill.

So what types of skills-focused keywords can you expect to find in job ads for DevOps engineers? There are two types of skills you’ll come across: Soft and hard skills. To learn more about each type, keep reading. We’ve included a definition of each, as well as some typical examples that we identified by analyzing real-life DevOps job ads.

Soft skills

Soft skills are intangible skills that describe the way in which you work and interact with others. For example:

• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to grasp new concepts quickly
• Goal-oriented
• Naturally curious 
• Teamwork skills
• Solution-oriented
• Proactiveness
• Adjusts quickly to changing priorities and conditions
• Willingness to work hard

Hard skills

Hard skills are tangible skills that represent technical abilities that you can draw on to successfully complete the tasks that are assigned to you. For example:

• Building, maintaining, and improving AWS infrastructure
• Providing tools that help automate engineering workflows 
• Monitoring systems for health and availability
• Ensuring the companies systems are secure
• Conducting investigations into critical delivery issues
• Building, releasing, and configuration management of production and development systems
• Working with and supporting developers with their infrastructure needs
• Triaging and remediating production infrastructure, application, and database issues
• Applying knowledge of current industry trends and techniques to formulate solutions
• Reducing repetitive manual tasks performed by developers and scrum teams

In addition to the hard skills above, DevOps engineers also need to highlight their proficiency with certain operating systems, tools, cloud management platforms, and programming languages that are relevant to the given job. For example:

• Proficiency with developing in specific operating systems (e.g. Linux, Windows, etc)
• Proficiency with specific tools (e.g. Kubernetes, GitHub, Docker, Jenkins, SonarQube, Chef, Selenium, etc)
• Proficiency with specific cloud management platforms (e.g. IBM Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, etc)
• Proficiency with specific programming languages (e.g. PHP, Python, Java, etc)

How to write a resume objective or summary and examples of both

A “Resume Objective” and “Resume Summary” both serve as an introductory section in a resume. The best ones manage to convey what an amazing hire a candidate would be in just 2 to 4 sentences.

So what’s the difference between them? A “Resume Objective” is designed for entry-level candidates looking to get their start as a DevOps engineer. In contrast, a “Resume Summary” is reserved for use by experienced candidates who want to stand out from other experienced candidates. You can learn more about how to expertly craft the one that’s appropriate to your circumstances below:

Resume objective

We recommend all entry-level and aspiring DevOps engineers to include a resume objective because it’s the easiest way to convince a recruiter from the get-go that you have undeniable potential to excel in a given role. 

To develop an understanding of how to write an excellent resume objective, it’s useful to learn what not to do first. To that end, take a look at this not-so-convincing example of a DevOps resume objective:

• I am after an opportunity to kick off my career as a DevOps engineer, and I believe that this role is an ideal place to start. While I currently have zero experience in this field, my experience as a software developer makes me a naturally strong hire. I already have most of the skills a DevOps engineer needs, so I would only require minimal guidance to polish these skills.

This example is representative of how many entry-level candidates write their resume objectives. On the whole, both the tone and content comes across as highly unprofessional. This was of course not the candidate’s intention, but it’s very easy to make mistakes with your resume objective if you don’t know what standard to aim for.

So what exactly about this resume objective screams “amateur?” The candidate attempts to establish themselves as a “naturally strong hire”, but doesn’t provide a skerrick of evidence to support their claim. For example, they claim to have “most of the skills a DevOps engineer needs,” but then fail to specify even a single relevant skill they offer. They also leave the impression that they want the role to further their own goals, rather than to help those of the company at hand.

Now that you have a firm idea of what to avoid, let’s take a look at an example of a brilliant DevOps resume objective:

• Aspiring DevOps engineer with 5 years of experience as a software developer, including 2 years as a manager. As a Junior DevOps Engineer at Hexagon Solutions, I plan to draw on my experience triaging and remediating production infrastructure and proficiency with developing in Linux. My strong communication and analytical thinking skills would also ensure I excel in this role.

Any recruiter would agree that this candidate paints a far more compelling picture of themselves as a future DevOps engineer than the previous candidate. As an entry-level candidate, your goal should be to reduce any doubts a recruiter has about your application. 

This candidate does this by not only showcasing their relevant hard skills (triaging and remediating production infrastructure and developing in Linux), but also their relevant soft skills (communication and analytical thinking skills). This is notable because many aspiring candidates forget that soft skills are just as important to bring to the table as hard skills. 

The candidate also reassures the recruiter that they’re ready to take the leap to this new job by emphasizing their relevant professional experiences as a software developer and manager. 

Resume summary 

The key to writing a strong resume summary is to figure out which of your qualities a recruiter will be most interested to learn about. Above all else, you should emphasize your experience and skills as a DevOps engineer. After all, your primary aim is to persuade them that these qualities make you a shoo-in for the role.

That’s why it’s vital to convey what a professional you are. The last thing you want to do is miss the chance to impress, like this candidate did:

• Experienced DevOps engineer who is looking to start a new role where my strong skill set and professional experience will be genuinely valued. I previously interviewed at Google, so I know that I am an in-demand candidate. If you are looking for an amazing DevOps engineer, keep reading to discover more about my impressive professional profile. 

The reason this resume summary would leave a sour taste in a recruiter’s mouth is that it makes the candidate seem like they’re all talk. Notice how the candidate vaguely states that they have many attributes that make them “an amazing DevOps engineer,” but then doesn’t offer any clear examples of their supposed attributes.

The fact that they mentioned their interview at Google would also rub a recruiter up the wrong way. After all, a recruiter wants to know why you would be a perfect fit at the company they’re hiring for, not anywhere else!

So what does a fantastic resume summary look like? Take a look for yourself:

• Goal-oriented DevOps engineer with 5 years of experience who wishes to apply their superior skills building, maintaining, and improving AWS infrastructure at Silver Spoon Enterprises. With a history of resolving complex technical problems, including one which saved my current company over $30K, I also offer proven problem-solving skills as well as Kubernetes and Python expertise.

This resume summary looks a million times better than the previous one, right? There are numerous reasons for this, but let’s highlight the major ones. The candidate expertly sells themselves as a highly-experienced DevOps engineer who has the right mix of skills and competences to excel in the given role. 

They do this by emphasizing their hard skills (building, maintaining, and improving AWS infrastructure, resolving complex technical problems, as well as Kubernetes and Python expertise) and soft skills (goal-oriented approach and problem-solving skills). These aren’t just any skills, either; they’re the precise ones the candidate identified in the job ad. 

Another noteworthy thing about this resume summary is that it features an eye-grabbing achievement that quantifies the candidate’s skills (the $30K the candidate saved their company). If you can create a similarly well-written resume summary, we have every confidence that recruiters will be lining up to interview you!

How do you make your resume stand out?

While the increasing demand for DevOps engineers is certainly favorable news for you, keep in mind that this demand is coupled with greater competition. As such, it’s integral to make the extra effort to distinguish your resume from the pack. Here are some quick ‘n easy tips for doing so:

• • Include a resume header: This one-line, eye-catching summary of who you are as a professional can capture a recruiter’s attention instantly.

  • Don’t list duties, list achievements: A surefire way to send a recruiter to sleep is to list the job duties you completed in your “Employment History” section. Instead, phrase them as achievements that showcase how much value you brought to the given company.

  • Mention relevant open source projects you’ve contributed to: The fact that you’ve done so shows that you’re active within the engineering community, which is considered a major plus by recruiters. To learn how to do so properly, we suggest taking a read of Open Source’s article on the topic.
     

• Ensure your resume is 100% free of spelling and grammatical errors: Recruiters can’t stand seeing spelling and grammatical errors in resumes. Some ideas for detecting errors include running a spell check, using Grammarly, and asking someone else to read through your resume. 

How to prepare for a job interview as a DevOps engineer?

If you have one or more DevOp interviews locked in, congratulations! This means that your application left a strong impression on the right people. So how do you ensure that your interview further solidifies the fact that you’re the very best candidate for the job? It all comes down to careful and strategic preparation. Here are our experts’ top tips for preparing a job interview as a DevOps engineer:

• Be prepared to talk the talk: In order to answer any questions an interviewer throws at you with ease and confidence, you will need to put in hours of interview prep. One of the most effective methods is to practice your answers to common interview questions.
  
  We’ve listed out 30+ common questions in the next section that cover not only your professional experiences, skills, and qualities, but also your general DevOps knowledge. Also included are commonly asked questions about the company and position. Keep in mind that to prove that you really want a given job, you’ll need to show that you’ve done your research about the company and position.

• Engage in technical interview practice: The interview prep doesn’t end there. You also need to prepare to ace any technical questions you’re asked. Whether you get asked just a handful of technical questions or need to engage in a more extensive technically-focused interview, you won’t want to miss a beat. You should brush up not only on your coding, definitions,
  
  Fortunately, there are tons of innovative online resources to help you prepare for your DevOps interview. For example, Code Signal allows you to complete real-world assessments in an advanced IDE, while Pramp will pair you with an optimal peer to hone your interview answers.

• Get your clothes in order: As a general rule of thumb, you should always dress to impress as an interviewee. While the company you’re interviewing with may indeed allow its employees to wear anything short of a shower curtain, remember that you’re not yet working there. Interviewers expect interviewees to be neat and professionally dressed. Anything short of that may in fact cost you the job.
  
  So what exactly should you wear? Susan Hosage, Senior Human Resources Manager recommends that men wear a sports coat, dress shirt, and khakis and women wear a straight/A-line skirt, dress pants, blouse or sweater, and jacket. Make sure to get all of your clothes in order well before your interview so that you don’t end up scrambling to find this and that item. And don’t forget to iron your clothes!

Pro tip: Don’t forget to plan how you’re getting to the interview. Working out your route and in advance will ensure that you get to your interview on time. It’s considered best practice to arrive around 10 minutes early. Be sure to factor in additional time on your journey so that you’ll still be able to arrive on time should any unexpected obstacles crop up. 

Which questions are likely to be asked during the interview process?

As we explored above, preparation is key to impressing during your interview. Knowing which types of questions are likely to be asked during the interview process before the fact will allow you to refine your answers and reduce the chances of being caught out. Below, we’ve shared some of the most common questions candidates can expect to be asked at DevOps interviews: 

About Your Professional Experiences, Skills, and Qualities

• Can you give a brief overview of your work history to date?
• Why do you think we should consider you for the role?
• Describe yourself in three words.
• What about the position interested you most?
• What qualities do you believe make you stand out as a DevOps engineer?
• Why do you think you’ll be a good DevOps engineer even though you have no experience?
• Why do you want to change jobs?
• What are your pet peeves?
• How would you describe your communication style?
• How would your previous colleagues describe you?
• What is your proudest professional achievement to date?
• What do you need to improve?
• Describe a time when you encountered conflict within the workplace.

About Your DevOps Knowledge

• How would you describe DevOps to someone with no knowledge of it?
• What are some key DevOps KPIs?
• Can you name the different phases in DevOps?
• What are the main advantages and disadvantages of DevOps?
• What is the purpose of CI?
• Which DevOps tools do you believe are most valuable?
• What is the difference between git fetch and git pull?
• Describe how you would resolve a merge conflict in Git.
• Which commands can you use to restart Jenkins manually?
• Can you explain virtualization with Nagios?
• What is a virtual private cloud?
• Do you believe more companies should promote a DevOps work culture? If so, why?
• What are the primary challenges DevOps engineers face when fostering collaboration?

About the Company / Position

• Why do you want to work here?
• What do you think our company does better than our competitors?
• What do you know about our company?
• Which areas do you think we could improve on?
• Who is our typical customer?
• When were we founded
• Who are our biggest competitors?

3. How to Make a Superb DevOps Engineer Resume Using Resumebuild.com’s Resume Builder Tool

Remember how we said that top-tier companies are actively looking for DevOps engineers? These companies – and all companies for that matter – aren’t willing to hire an entry-level or experienced DevOps engineer unless they know that they’re completely committed to the job. 

If you’re lacking the time or motivation to get your resume in order but still want to impress recruiters, you’ll be glad to hear that there’s an easier way to make a superb DevOps engineer resume. We’re referring to none other than our feature-packed resume builder at Resumebuild.com.

Our resume builder is so easy and effective to use that you can even make an impressive resume in only a couple of minutes! Wondering how this can even be possible? For starters, our resume builder will completely handle all of the time-consuming formatting and layout considerations you’d usually need to configure on your own. It does this by offering you a variety of HR-aligned resume templates to choose from and make use of. 

You also won’t need to waste hours upon hours trying to figure out what information should go in which section. Instead, you can follow our resume builder’s clear step-by-step resume making process. We’ve included a plethora of inspiring pre-written examples throughout the builder, so you won’t need to rack your brains in order to make the perfect resume. 

If you want to show recruiters what they’ve been missing out on, create a brilliant DevOps resume at Resumebuild.com.

Getting hired as an electrical engineer may seem straightforward, you either have the education and credentials or you don’t. But getting the job you want requires demonstrating you have the kinds of skills that make a truly excellent electrical engineer. You need to be able to not just design complex systems, but help communicate those ideas.

What you need to remember is that a resume, even an electrical engineer resume, is all about communication. Engineers are not exactly known for their communication skills, so this is your chance to stand out from the competition by designing the perfect electrical engineer resume. Luckily for you, you’ve already found a complete guide to show you how.

What this guide will show you

• Electrical engineer resume template examples to get you inspired
• How to navigate ATS
• What you can do to appeal to a hiring manager or recruiter
• The proper format for an electrical engineer resume
• The ideal length for your resume
• Which sections you should consider including
• The best licenses and certifications to have and how to include them
• How to include skills on your resume
• The best hard and soft skills for an electrical engineer
• How to highlight your achievements for maximum impact
• How to decide whether to include an objective or summary and how to write either
• How to write an electrical engineer resume when you have little or no experience
• How using a resume builder can help you succeed

Electrical engineer resume template examples

Imagine being asked to design the electrical system of a sportscar without having ever seen one. Needless to say it would be difficult. A good electrical engineer knows that studying existing designs and the principles they’re based on is the basis for quality work. Creating your resume isn’t any different.

Before you start filling in your information, it’s smart to look at quality electrical engineer resume examples to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t. That’s why we’ve put together these examples to get you started. Have a look at them and begin taking notes about which elements you’d like to incorporate into your resume.

[Examples]

How to write a job-winning electrical engineer resume

Any electrical engineering project begins with a brief. You need to know what the requirements are before you begin designing. A resume works the same way. Creating a generic resume without any thought for the specific role it’s intended to apply for is like building an electrical grid for a town without knowing its climate, number of residents, industry, etc. True there are similarities across all such grids but the devil is in the details.

All that is to say, before you begin writing, you need to carefully study the job ad and think about who your resume is for. Treat it like fulfilling a brief. After all, that’s one of the key skills you’ll be demonstrating with your resume!

Who is your resume actually for?

While you may be tempted to begin by considering the job requirements, we recommend starting with the “clients.” It’s rare that resume writers consider who, or what, will actually look at their resume. Understanding the answer to this question is a key to success, so let’s begin there.

Your first audience is actually an algorithm

In most cases, the first hurdle your resume will need to overcome will actually be an algorithm. This is because most large employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to pre-scan incoming resumes. These tools use artificial intelligence to look through huge numbers of resumes quickly to establish whether you have the skills, experience, and qualifications they need.

All that sounds fine until you learn that ATS are full of errors and as many as 75% of resumes get rejected for all kinds of reasons. This is because there are dozens of different ATS companies out there, each with a slightly different product. Fortunately, there are some simple rules to follow that should ensure you can get through any of them. Let’s go over what these reasons are and what you need to do to ensure your resume makes it to a human recruiter:

1. Submit your resume in the right file type. This one is easy, simply make sure the resume you send in is a .pdf, .doc, or .docx. Don’t be tempted to think “Oh, wouldn’t it be clever if I created my resume in AutoCAD?” or something similar. In a world dominated by ATS, you need to stick to a standard format.
2. Use a resume builder to ensure your file is easily read by ATS. Not all .pdfs are created equal. The way the data in the file is structured can have a huge impact on whether an ATS is able to accurately read it. That’s why your safest bet is using a resume builder specifically designed to create ATS-friendly files.
3. Use keywords well. Maybe you’ve heard of how websites carefully use keywords to rank in Google. ATS scan resumes in a similar way to how Google would scan a website. That’s why you should use similar keyword optimization techniques. This involves studying the job ad and taking the requirements it lists and trying to include as many of them in your resume as possible. Phrasing your skills, experience, etc. using the same phrases you found in the job ad well helps ensure the ATS connects the two.

With these 3 techniques you’ll have a significant leg up on the competition who are far more likely to make a basic mistake that gets their resume automatically rejected by ATS.

How you can appeal to recruiters

Once you make it past ATS you still need to convince a recruiter that you’re the right electrical engineer for the job. The trick here is understanding their perspective and goals. In a perfect world they would simply hire the best engineer, but human psychology is much more complicated. Fortunately, you can use that to your advantage.

Besides having the right skills, experience, etc. you increase your chances of getting the job by making it as easy as possible for the recruiter to choose you. Make yourself the path of least resistance. But how can you do this?

That recruiter has their own brief for a candidate. They’ve got a set of criteria that they need to be able to fulfill in order to hire someone. Fortunately, you’ve almost got access to those criteria in the form of the job ad. Analyze it closely and list all of the skills, experience, ect. you think the job requires. Then try and ensure your resume clearly shows you have as much of it as possible. This will make it easy for a recruiter to look at your resume and say “yes.”

Besides that, the other main thing you can do to appeal to recruiters as an electrical engineer is write well. There’s no getting around the fact that engineers are not known for their writing, so you can bet that recruiter is reading through a lot of poorly written resumes. So put some time and effort into your resume’s writing. Get a friend to help or even pay a professional to get it just right. An exceptionally well written electrical engineer resume is sure to stand out from the competition.

How should you format your electrical engineer resume?

You know you can’t start designing or building the components of an electrical system until you’ve worked out its overall structure. The same approach is ideal for your resume. Start by deciding which sections you want to include and how long it should be.

As you make these decisions though, there’s one rule to follow: more important information goes at the top. Remember that your goal is to make the recruiter’s job as easy as possible and that requires getting them the most critical information about you quickly. So, keep this in mind when arranging your sections and use reverse chronological order when listing your work experience.

How long should your resume be?

If you’re looking for your first electrical engineering position or only have a few years of experience, the answer is: one page. If you have more experience and useful information to include, you can go up to two pages. The thing to keep in mind is that a recruiter doesn’t want to spend more time than necessary reviewing your resume, so try and make it as concise and short as possible while still providing valuable information about you as a candidate.

If you need help, this is an excellent time to bring in a friend. If they’re a fellow electrical engineer, they can help you with wording your achievements in the field. But even if they’re not, they can help you go through and ask “do you need to include this?” or “is there a way to say this in fewer words or more clearly?” This kind of help will make it far easier to get your resume more readable and manageable.

What are the most important sections to include?

• Resume objective or summary
• Work experience
• Licenses and Certifications
• Achievements
• Projects
• Education
• Hard skills
• Soft Skills

How to list licenses and certifications as an electrical engineer

The biggest initial piece of information you need to get across is whether you’re licensed. You need to make it clear upfront whether you’ve passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) or Professional Engineer (PE) exams. That’s why you should put EIT (Engineer in Training) or PE (Professional Engineer) after your name so it’s immediately clear. If you’re actively pursuing one of these licenses, you can mention this in an objective or summary (more on that below).

Beyond the basic licenses, adding certifications can show that you have special knowledge and have gone above and beyond to expand your skills. Having a certificate acronym next to your name adds professionalism and communicates that professionalism efficiently.

But how should you show off those certifications? Simply start with the certification followed by the organization which granted it and the year you obtained it.

Certified Energy Manager (CEM), The Association of Energy Engineers®, 2017

Licenses and certifications to consider including

• Energy Efficiency Management Certificate
• Key Accounts Certificate
• IPC-A-600 Acceptability of Printed Circuit Boards Certification
• Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP) (various certification levels)
• Electronics in Traffic Signal Technician Certification
• iNARTE Electrostatic Discharge Control (ESD) Certification
• Certified Energy Manager (CEM)
• Certified Lighting Efficiency Professional (CLEP)
• Certified Power Quality Professional (CPQ)
• Certified Sustainable Development Professional (CSDP)
• Distributed Generation Certified Professional (DGCP)

How to include your skills

Listing the right skills (and listing them correctly) is critical to both get past ATS and appeal to recruiters. Choosing the right skills comes down to carefully analyzing the job ad. Then, remember to list those skills the same way they’re listed in that ad.

But beyond choosing the right skills to include, it also comes down to how you show that you really have those skills. A simple list is great, but you’ll want to give examples of instances when you concretely demonstrated that you possess those skills (especially for soft skills, which are harder to prove). This can be down in a skills section, an achievements section, or in your work experience. Let’s look at some examples to see why this is effective:

Excellent presentation skills

There’s nothing inherently wrong with listing a skill like this, but you can do better.

Excellent presentation skills, presented my work on advanced RFID systems and subsequently presented my findings at 2 conferences and 3 other universities.

In this case, the reader can clearly see that you have extensive experience presenting your ideas and work. This description gives much more confidence in your presentation skills than the first example.

The best soft skills to include on an electrical engineer resume

• Presentation skills
• Communication
• Problem solving
• Working well in teams
• Attention to detail
• Self-motivated
• Emotional intelligence
• Conflict resolution
• Adaptability
• Patience

The best hard skills to include on an electrical engineer resume

• PLC
• EIT
• Linux
• Circuit designing
• Microcnotrollers
• Schematic entry
• Auto CAD
• NFPA Standards
• Linear systems theory
• Preparing and executing operational plans

Just bear in mind the precise skills you’ll want to emphasize will vary tremendously depending on which type of electrical engineering position you’re applying for, so always use the job ad as your guide.

How to highlight your most important achievements

Whether something you achieved on a job or perhaps something you did in your free time, showing off your achievements is an excellent way to reinforce your skills and make a strong impression on a recruiter.

In particular, electrical engineers are expected to show their work and prove their conclusions. Being vague about your conclusions or designs simply isn’t going to cut it. Because your resume should work to demonstrate all the qualities expected in you as an employee, you need to be specific about your achievements.

The same rules that you used for your skills apply here: be specific and connect your achievements with the electrical engineering position you’re applying for. This could also be a great place to show some personality and make yourself more memorable.

Rebuilt the electrical system of a Ford Mustang GT 5.0.

An achievement like this shows that you’re a talented electrical engineer, capable of complex problem solving, while also making you sound like an interesting person to work with.

How to write about your work experience

One error many people make when listing their work experience is focusing too much on responsibilities. Listing responsibilities doesn’t tell a recruiter anything about what you are capable of or even whether you met the expectations for those responsibilities. For example, you could write:

Responsible for ensuring electrical system safety requirements were met.

If you were the person in charge of safety at Chernobyl you could write on your resume that you were “responsible for safety” and be telling the truth. In other words, the responsible party isn’t what recruiters are concerned with. They want to know what the results of your work were.

Ensured that all 4 generators met safety guidelines resulting in no workplace accidents involving electrical systems in 5 years.

This example really shows that you did your job and got results. This kind of writing will make a far stronger impression.

Why your resume should start with an objective or summary

You only get one first impression with your resume, so you need to control it and make it count. The best way to do that is with an objective or summary. Both are ways to quickly get the most important information about you as a candidate across and to give important context for the rest of your resume.

The difference is mostly in length. A resume objective will usually be a simple sentence explaining who you are and what you aim to achieve with your resume. A summary by contrast can be a few sentences long and use the extra space to explain something like a gap in your work history or your motivation for applying to a position. Now let’s see what each should look like.

How to write an electrical engineer objective

The idea here is to cram as much valuable information as possible into a short, but well written, sentence. 

I’m an experienced and qualified electrical engineer looking for a new job.

Remember, the worst thing you can do with your resume is waste a recruiter’s time and this resume objective does just that. “Experienced” and “qualified” are too vague to mean anything to a recruiter and the fact that you’re looking for a new job is already obvious. Let’s see a better version:

EIT with background in large electric motor design looking to expand skill set at Elettra Technology Inc.

This example gives the reader a lot of crucial information quickly. Right away they know you’re an EIT, what your specialty is, and that you wrote this resume specifically for their company (meaning you took the time to do it right).

How to write an electrical engineer summary

The key thing to keep in mind here is that just because a resume summary can be longer, doesn't mean it should be. You still need to be economical in your language.

I recently finished one year of physical therapy and recovery after my car was T-boned by a drunk driver. I now feel it’s time to return to the workforce. I believe my previous experience working in magnetic resonance engineering is still highly relevant and I would be a great addition to your team. Thank you for your consideration.

This example shows you exactly how a poorly written resume summary can make a bad first impression. First, it’s written in the first person and resumes are generally written in the third person. But more than that, it wastes precious space going into details about a car accident, which could be interpreted as either fishing for sympathy or simply bad social skills (not knowing when to talk about something). It then takes more space to do things like “thank you for your consideration,” which is polite, but not really necessary. Let’s see a better version now:

PE specialized in magnetic resonance engineering looking to join the team at GE Healthcare after taking 1 year off to recover from a car accident. Passionate about MRI development after the technology helped save my life and particularly interested in GE Healthcare’s latest advancements in the SIGNA™ line.

This version switches up the gap in your work history due to an injury and emphasizes a passionate interest in a specific subfield of electrical engineering. This shows genuine motivation and being specific about a line of MRI machines gives a feeling that you are already familiar with the company as well as its products. Together, these make for a much stronger resume summary.

How to write an electrical engineer resume when you have little or no experience

If you’re applying for an internship or an entry level position as an EIT, showing you’ve got relevant skills and achievements is harder. This is when it’s important to remember that while companies can teach you plenty of the skills you’ll need, teaching the attitude needed to be a successful electrical engineer is much more difficult. So, in these cases it can make sense to emphasize relevant soft skills like attention to detail or problem solving.

In addition, obtaining certifications can show that you’re self-motivated enough to be trusted despite having less experience. Even if you’re in the process of obtaining a certification, mentioning it can be helpful. Just be sure to be honest about your experience and resist the urge to lie or bend the truth. Getting hired for a position you’re not ready for is not going to help your career in the long-run.

How to make your resume stand out: customize

While all of the advice presented here can help your resume stand out, if there’s one overriding piece of advice we would emphasize it’s customization.

While we’ve hinted at this above, it’s worth pointing out that few things will make a stronger impression on a recruiter than a resume which has clearly been written for this exact position. Mentioning the company name and position shows a recruiter that you took the time instead of simply sending off dozens of identical resumes to every job position you could find.

For electrical engineers, considering you’ll be expected to take the time to really get things right and focus on details, this leaves a strong impression.

Why a resume builder is an essential tool

You wouldn’t start designing a circuit board with 90s tech, so why would you create a resume the same way they did decades ago? Now, you can skip all of the frustrating formatting and design issues that come with building a resume in a word processor. These days, to stand out, you need great design and to reach a recruiter you need an ATS-friendly file. Fortunately, modern resume builders provide both and more.

With Resumebuild.com’s powerful resume creation tool you can feel confident that you’re ready for any ATS or recruiter. With plenty of expertly-curated examples to get you started and clean, modern designs to work with, you can easily create a resume that stands out without distracting from the content.

Beloved science communicator Bill Nye “The Science Guy” once said, “There’s nothing I believe in more strongly than getting young people interested in science and engineering, for a better tomorrow, for all humankind.”

Civil engineers will be quick to agree that civil engineering plays a vital role in shaping society. This discipline of engineering encompasses a number of critical tasks including designing, constructing, supervising, and maintaining the physical and naturally built environment and infrastructure.

As The Guardian points out, people tend to primarily associate civil engineering with the construction of world famous structures. But this represents just one small part of what this profession entails. The other much larger part involves attending to the infrastructure that we depend on every day, such as roads, railways, bridges, energy and water supply, waste networks, and flood defences.

Given how fundamental this role is to society, it’s therefore surprising that the profession’s projected job growth is just over average. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’s latest projections, employment of civil engineers will grow by 6 percent from 2018 to 2028. This is only 1 percentage point higher than the average for all occupations.

So what does this mean for civil engineers who are currently on the job hunt, gunning for a promotion, or simply want to secure their future in the industry? Your resume needs to be immaculate.

Don’t worry if you don’t know the first thing about improving your resume or making a new one from scratch. Our civil engineer resume writing guide will address everything you need to know. In it, we’ll share our top tips for:

• Selecting the right format and layout
• Showcasing your PE license and additional training
• Writing eye-grabbing achievements
• Captivating the recruiter with your resume objective or summary
• Creating a striking resume with a resume builder

1. Multiple Template Examples

2. How to Write a Job-Winning Civil Engineer Resume

How should you format your resume?

Many candidates who tick all the boxes a recruiter is looking for may be surprised when they receive a dreaded rejection email. They wonder how their resume got rejected when they wrote everything to perfection. While we can’t speak for all of these candidates, there’s a good chance that a good proportion of their resumes were rejected due to subpar formatting.

In the cut-throat recruitment process, every single element of your resume matters – including the format and layout you use. Some candidates try to invent their own format despite that time and time again this has proven to be a recipe for disaster.

It’s well worth keeping in mind that recruiters aren’t looking for creatively formatted resumes. They want to read well-organized resumes that stick to standard guidelines. That’s why we suggest using a reverse-chronological format.

We’re not the only ones who recommend this winning format, either. It’s generally accepted to be recruiters’ preferred format due to the fact that it hones in on your work history. After all, this section gives recruiters the biggest insight into what you bring to the table as a potential employee. In this format, your most recent work experience is featured first, followed by the next most recent one, and so on.

In terms of your layout, we strong recommend upholding the following layout guidelines:

• • Number of Pages: 1 page maximum. 
  • Fonts to Use: Legible fonts that won’t be misread such as Verdana and Didot.
  • Fonts to Avoid: Any font that makes it appear as if you don’t take your application seriously. For example, Bonzai and Dark Crystal.
  • Margins: 1 inch on all sides.

• Line Spacing: 1 or 1.15.

• Header size: 14-16 point size.
• Text size: 11-12 point size.

As you can see above, these layout rules aren’t complicated. The hard part is ensuring that you’ve implemented them in a uniform way throughout your whole resume.

What are the most important sections to include in your resume?

Each section of your civil engineer resume is a chance to demonstrate how your attributes perfectly align with what a recruiter is searching for. Here are the most important ones you will need to include in your resume:

• Contact information: List your name, address, email address, best contact number, LinkedIn URL, and any other information a recruiter could need to contact you.

• Resume objective or resume summary: Similar to an elevator pitch, these 2 to 4 sentence long sections communicate why you’re the ideal candidate for the job. Only include one or the other.
• Education: A summary of your educational background.
• License and certifications: Details about your PE license (if you have one) as well as any relevant training you’ve undertaken.
• Professional experience: An overview of your most relevant work history. Along with each company’s name and position, include key achievements in a bulleted list.  
• Skills: A list of 6 to 8 skills that have direct relevance to the advertised position.

Pro tip: Including a link to your engineering portfolio in your contact information section will help you stand out. For tips on making one, read this handy guide.

Where should you list your additional training and PE license as a civil engineer and how can you do it correctly?

You already know that you need to list your civil engineering degree/s in your resume’s “Education” section. But where should you correctly list any relevant additional training and your professional engineer (PE) license?

You should list your PE license (if you have one) and additional training in a dedicated “License and Certifications” section. Just make sure any certifications you feature are genuinely relevant to the job you’re applying for!

You will then need to create separate subheadings if you have both licensure and certifications to your name.

For your PE license, create a subheading called “License” and state:

• The license name (i.e. Professional Engineer (PE) License)
• The state you obtained it in
• The year you obtained it

For any training and certifications, create a subheading called “Training and Certifications” and state the following information for each one:

• The name of the training course or certification
• The name of the institution that issued it
• The state you completed it in
• The year you received it

In the end, your license and certifications section should look something like this:

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATIONS

License

• Professional Engineer (PE) License, NY, 2017

Certifications

• Geotechnical Engineering Certification, American Society of Civil Engineers, NY, 2020
• Autodesk Certified Professional, Autodesk, NY, 2017

Pro tip: You can put an additional spotlight on the fact that you hold a PE license by featuring it in your resume headline. For example, you could write:

[Your Name]
[Civil Engineer, PE]

What are the technical and interpersonal skills a civil engineer needs?

Civil engineers need to draw on a range of skills in order to effectively complete their work. Many job seekers searching for civil engineering jobs understand that it’s important to highlight their strong technical skills, otherwise known as ‘hard skills’, in their resume to catch a recruiter’s attention.

However, they’re unaware of or dismiss the fact that these skills are just one part of the story. Civil engineers also need to offer a plethora of interpersonal skills (often referred to as ‘soft skills’) in order to be regarded as a strong, well-rounded candidate.

The technical and interpersonal skills you need as a civil engineer will depend on the specific criteria of each job. You can discover what a recruiter is looking for by looking for ‘keywords’ in a given job ad. Keywords are words that indicate what a recruiter is seeking from an ideal candidate.

To determine what skills a recruiter values, you simply need to look for skills-based keywords.

We scanned real-life job ads for civil engineer positions to find some of the most popular skills-based keywords recruiters are using. Check out a selection of the keywords we found:

Technical skills

• Reading and understanding construction drawings
• Preparing designs
• Preparing permitting application packages
• AutoCAD Civil 3D proficiency
• HEC-HMS proficiency
• Calculating project costs based on analysis of collected data
• Ability to use computer assisted engineering and design software 
• Preparing, analyzing, and modifying reports, specifications, and plans
• Ability to interpret tests and aerial photographs 
• Reviewing submittals 

Interpersonal skills

• An analytical mind
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Determination
• Work ethic
• Teamwork skills
• Time management
• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving
• Research
• Creative thinking

Keep in mind that you shouldn’t just use the keywords we featured above in your resume. You will need to scan the job ad of any job you’re interested in to find the keywords that are relevant to that particular job.

Once you’ve identified the keywords in a job ad and have worked out which ones match with your own skill set, you can start adding them to your resume. Be sure to include them in the following 3 sections:

1. “Skills” section: Include 6 to 8 relevant skills in list form.
2. “Employment History” section: Incorporate relevant skills throughout your achievements (refer to the next section to learn how to do this).
3. “Resume Objective” or “Resume Summary” section: Include at least a few relevant skills.

Pro tip: There’s another vital reason why your resume needs to feature keywords: the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). The ATS is a tool recruiters use to field candidates. It works by rejecting or accepting resumes based on a number of factors. One of the most crucial ones is keywords. If the ATS identifies that your resume features little to no keywords, it will be rejected in a matter of milliseconds. So if you want to pass the ATS (and in turn, progress your application), be sure to include the right ones that the recruiter used in job description.

How to highlight your most important achievements

The achievements you feature in your resume’s “Employment History” section should cause a recruiter to take notice. Each and every one should serve as a testament to your suitability for a given role.

With no space to waste, you’ll need to be ultra selective about which ones you highlight. 

Consequently, only your most relevant achievements can make the cut. You can easily work out which are relevant by scanning a job ad for keywords that indicate what attributes a recruiter is seeking from the perfect candidate. You can then create achievements based on the keywords that apply to your professional experiences.

If this all sounds familiar, that’s because it’s the same method we outlined above to find relevant skills. In fact, most of the keywords you identify will be the same ones you listed in your “Skills” section. The primary difference is that by incorporating them into your achievements as well, you’ll be able to expand on how you utilized them.

Now that you know all about using keywords to select achievements, let’s analyze some examples of good and bad civil engineer achievements. For the purposes of this exercise, let’s make the focus keyword, ‘review submittals’.

First, take a look at this uninspiring achievement:

• Thoroughly review submittals to ensure everything is fine for approval.

A recruiter would be disappointed by it for a number of reasons. Not only is this achievement too general, but it also shows that the candidate is doing the bare minimum of what is expected from a civil engineer carrying out this duty.

Another problem with it is that it’s written as a simple statement of fact that they review submittables. A recruiter would be far more impressed if they also highlighted the result their submittal reviews have had, like this candidate did:

• Thoroughly review submittals to ensure they are always in line with the company’s expectations, as exemplified by my identification of a $2 million error.

How much more powerful does this achievement sound thanks to the fact that the candidate quantified it? Instead of merely stating that they review submittals, they showed how skilled they are at doing so by pointing out the huge error they were able to identify. The recruiter would be blown away reading this because it shows that the candidate truly knows what they’re doing when it comes to reviewing submittals.

To sum up, if you also want to ensure your achievements sound equally exceptional, always remember to center them around relevant keywords and provide eye-catching examples to back up what you say.

How to write a resume objective or summary

Your resume should either feature a 2 to 4 sentence long resume objective or resume summary. The former is ideal for entry-level candidates, while the latter is suitable for experienced candidates. Below, we’ll run through all of the details you need to make a perfect one that fits your circumstances.

Resume objective

A resume objective, also called a career objective, is an opportunity for entry-level candidates to summarize why they’re an ideal match for the position. It’s worth including one on your resume as it’s the only section that provides you with the opportunity to connect with the recruiter on a more personal level. It gives you the chance to highlight not only your suitability for the role, but also your career goals.

Before you dive in, keep in mind that there’s a certain art to writing a strong civil engineer resume objective. For example, you won’t want to follow this candidate’s suit:

• Recent civil engineering graduate who is looking for an opportunity to get their foot in the door at The McDonald Group of Civil Engineers. I plan to utilize the relevant skills I hold to ensure I am an asset to the company. 

While this isn’t even the worst civil engineer resume objective we’ve come across, it’s nevertheless completely lacklustre. The most obvious problem is that it’s far too general. The candidate provides a vague description of who they are and what they intend to do should they get the role at The McDonald Group of Civil Engineers.

As you may have noticed yourself, they don’t even specify which skills they plan to utilize – other than saying that they’ll be “relevant”. Consequently, the recruiter isn’t given any indication of what these skills actually are. Moreover, the candidate shares that they plan to be  “an asset to the company,” but they haven’t given the recruiter a single reason to believe this to be true.

What, then, does a great civil engineer resume objective look like? Take a peek yourself: 

• Recent Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) from Cal Poly Pomona (3.5 GPA) graduate wishes to bring their analytical thinking skills as well as their ability to confidently use a variety of computer assisted engineering software to a position at The McDonald Group Civil Engineers. As an aspiring civil engineer, I would ensure that I complete all tasks, including analyzing reports, to the best of my abilities. 

This example showcases precisely the high standard you should strive for when writing your own resume objective. Any recruiter would be impressed by it because the attributes the candidate has highlighted work to frame them as an attractive potential employee. This, in turn, gives the recruiter a reason to delve deeper into the candidate’s resume.

For example, the candidate specified which school they received their civil engineering degree from and even highlighted their impressive GPA. They also made known precisely which relevant skills they offer, including both useful soft skills (analytical thinking skills and motivation to succeed) and hard skills (their ability to confidently use a variety of computer assisted engineering software and analyzing reports).

What’s particularly impressive about this resume objective is that it sells the candidate so well that the recruiter may easily forget they’re an entry-level candidate! Despite having no formal work experience as a civil engineer, their resume objective effectively presents them as a highly skilled candidate who would be a valuable employee at The McDonald Group Civil Engineers.

Pro tip: Only mention your GPA if it’s 3.5 or higher.

Resume summary

Also called a summary statement, a resume summary is a way for experienced candidates to differentiate themselves from the other candidates they’re running against. A resume summary is vital because it’s often the gateway to a recruiter reading the rest of your resume.

In order to write one that convinces them to keep reading, rather than move on to the next candidate’s resume, make sure you don’t write a low-quality one like the following candidate did:

• Civil engineer with 5+ years of experience who is seeking a new position at a reputable company like Golden Designs Civil Engineering. I would not only draw on my extensive hard skills in civil engineering, but also my soft skills. 

The problem with this example is that it could be written by just about any civil engineer. The candidate hasn’t put a spotlight on any attributes that would make themselves memorable in the eyes of the recruiter. For example, they state the obvious fact that they’re seeking a position at Golden Designs Civil Engineering, but don’t expand on why the company should be eager to hire them.

Moreover, they share that they would draw on their extensive hard and soft skills in civil engineering if hired, but don’t clarify what these skills are. This is inadvisable to do as it puts the onus on the recruiter to figure out what they are, which is a big gamble, considering most won’t waste the time to do so.

Let’s now take a look at a superior example of a civil engineer resume summary:

• Analytically-minded civil engineer with 5+ years of experience utilizing their proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D and strong communication skills to see several multi-million dollar projects to completion. I am to bring my strong attention to detail and excellent mathematical skills to contribute to the great work Golden Designs Civil Engineering is already doing. Currently working towards my PE license.  

A recruiter would consider this to be one of the top resume summaries they read because it clearly outlines why the candidate is worth interviewing. The candidate frames themselves as a civil engineer who boasts a strong balance of soft skills (communication skills and attention to detail) and hard skills (AutoCAD Civil 3D and mathematical skills). They haven’t just stated they have them, either. They’ve quantified them by highlighting that they drew on them to complete “several multi-million dollar projects.”

Another reason this resume summary is so well-written is that the candidate was careful to demonstrate the value they will bring to Golden Designs Civil Engineering if hired. This is notable because many candidates make their resume summaries about what the company can do for them, instead of focusing on what they can do for the company.

One final thing the candidate did right is mention the fact that they’re currently completing their PE. A PE is highly valued by employers, so it’s important to mention yours if you hold one or are working towards it.

How to write a civil engineer resume when you have little or no experience

Rest assured that you’ll be able to write a stunning civil engineer resume even if you have little or no experience. Here are our top 5 tips for entry-level candidates looking to make a positive impression:

• Use a resume format that’s ideal for entry-level candidates: The best resume format for entry-level candidates is a functional resume format. It emphasizes the skills you offer rather than your professional experiences (or lack of them!) so you can let your skill set shine.

• Don’t forget about soft skills: Many entry-level candidates are intimidated by the fact that they don’t have many of the hard skills a recruiter is seeking. That’s why you should instead focus on the soft skills that they’re after.

• Include your internships: If you haven’t worked as a civil engineer yet, any internships you’ve undertaken should take center stage. In your resume, put a spotlight on the most relevant duties you carried out and the skills you had to utilize.

• Highlight any other relevant experiences: Have you taken any freelancing assignments or volunteer roles that required you to draw on some of the relevant skills you possess? We’re guessing that you at least had to demonstrate soft skills such as organization, excellent communication, diligence, and work ethic. Bonus points if you also had to use relevant hard skills!

• Write a cover letter: Writing an impressive cover letter to go along with your resume is sure to leave a positive impression with a recruiter. You’ll be able to provide a more in-depth explanation about why you’re an ideal candidate in your cover letter than in your resume objective or summary. To start, we suggest taking a read of this cover letter writing guide for entry-level candidates.

How to make your resume stand out

Ready to take your resume to the next level? The following 3 tips will help it get there:

• Highlight your promotions: One of the easiest ways to stand out is to highlight any promotions you’ve received. Unfortunately, many candidates don’t end up doing so as they’re unsure how to do so. Indeed explains that there are 3 ways to show a promotion on your resume:

1. Create stacked entries under the same company header for positions with similar duties.
2. Create separate entries under the same company header for positions with different duties.
3. Create two entries under duplicate company headers if you return to a company for a promotion.

As there’s one to suit each circumstance, make sure to read the article to determine which is best for yours.

• Ensure it’s free of fluff: A great civil engineer resume doesn’t only look professional, but it also boasts the necessary substance to catch a recruiter’s eye. This means that fluff or irrelevant information has absolutely no place in your resume. If any information you’ve included looks out of place, there’s a good chance that it’s not necessary to include. Be cut-throat when editing your resume so that it’s squarely focused on the specific job you’re applying for.

• Make sure your resume is 100% accurate: Even if you’d never lie on your resume, it’s still wise to double check that everything you’ve written is 100% accurate. Perhaps you finished your job in May 2020, but accidentally wrote March 2020. Or maybe you wrote the wrong job title. If a recruiter spots a mistake when they’re running a background check on you, they may not believe you just made an innocent mistake.

3. How to Easily Create a Fantastic Resume Using Resumebuild.com’s Efficient Resume Builder

If you’re reading this section, we’re guessing that you’re looking for an easier way to make a fantastic civil engineer resume. This is completely understandable given how convoluted the typical resume making process is.

After all,you’ll usually need to spend at least a couple of hours formatting your resume and getting the layout just right. Then, you’ll need to spend several days writing everything up. And let’s not forget that you’ll probably need to go back and fix any weird formatting errors that cropped up. All in all, it’s an unpleasant process to say the least!

That’s why you may find it worthwhile to use a resume builder to make your resume. In case you don’t know what one is, a resume builder is an online program that guides you through all of the fundamental steps to creating a resume.

The reason we say that they may be worth using is because sadly, there are many that just pump out low-quality resumes that look and sound terrible.

Fortunately, you’ll find that the state-of-the-art one we offer at Resumebuild.com is well worth using. Our team as well as our customers believe that our resume builder is superior to all other offerings because it’s 100% pain-free and super simple to use. It has all of the features you could hope for in a resume builder, including professionally-designed resume templates, job-specific pre-written examples to choose from, and a user-friendly interface.

If you’re interested in using a tried-and-tested method of making a civil engineer resume that is guaranteed to draw recruiters in, use our builder to start building your resume today.

Are you looking to move on up in the world of chemical engineering? Perhaps you’ve been waiting for years for your manager to finally recognize all of your good work. Or maybe you’re simply uninspired at your current job and spend your days waiting for the clock to tick down to home time. 

Whatever your reasons for wanting more from your career, you’ll need a strong chemical engineer resume to get you there.

Needless to say, a well-composed resume is the ticket to a great job in any profession. But it’s a particularly important document for chemical engineers considering that job growth in the sector isn’t exactly booming. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of chemical engineers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2018 to 2028. This certainly isn’t dismal, but it’s just one percentage point higher than the average for all occupations. 

Don’t worry if your resume is currently looking a bit scrappy… or if the last time you updated it was basically when Robert S. Langer got his start as a chemical engineer. We’ve compiled all of our very top tips for making a winning resume in this handy 2020 chemical engineer resume writing guide.

If you’re wondering why you should spend time reading this guide, the short answer is that it will help you snag the chemical engineer job you’ve always dreamed of. After all, spending your life in a job that you don’t have your whole heart in is never a good idea! You deserve to feel fulfilled at work, especially given that it’s estimated we each spend an average of 90,000 hours at work over our lifetimes. That equates to one-third of our lives!

So what can you expect to read? Our guide features all of the useful information and expert pointers you need to craft an amazing resume including:

• The right resume format to use to fit your particular circumstances 
• Which technical and interpersonal skills are worth emphasizing
• What an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is and how to effectively beat it
• Expert tips for featuring your education as well as training and certifications
• An easier way to make an explosive chemical engineering resume

1. Multiple Template Examples

2. How Do You Write a Chemical Engineer Resume That Will Get You the Job?

How should you format your chemical engineer resume?

Let’s start off this resume writing guide by discussing one of the most underestimated features of any good resume: a strong format. The format you select is incredibly important because it will impact two major factors:

1. The order in which a recruiter reads each section of your resume.
2. The overall perception a recruiter has of your job application.

Considering how critical these factors are to the success of your job hunt, there’s no room for error when it comes to selecting a resume format. 

Don’t worry, doing so is actually very straightforward once you know which one is most suitable for your situation. Below, we’ve shared a simple guide to determining the right one for you:

• If you’re an entry-level chemical engineer, select a functional resume format. This format positions your skills and abilities front and center to divert attention away from your inexperience. 
• If you’re an experienced chemical engineer, select a reverse-chronological resume format. This format positions your work history front and center in your resume. It also orders each role from most to least recent. In effect, these two features help to draw attention to the fact that you’re a candidate with plenty of professional experience.

Before we share all of our insider secrets for writing a stunning chemical engineer resume, there’s one more matter we need to draw your attention to. Below, we’ve included the standard layout guidelines that we strongly recommend you follow when piecing together your resume. 

To clarify, these guidelines don’t just represent our own preferences – they have been devised to reflect the general expectations HR personnel have when it comes to a resume’s layout. Follow them, and you’ll be giving recruiters precisely what they’re after. 

• • Number of Pages: 1 page at most.
  • Fonts to Use: A font that not only recruiters can read without a problem, but also one that can be easily processed by the ATS. For example, Calibri or Arial.
  • Fonts to Avoid: Any fonts that wouldn’t be appropriate to use when typing up a lab report, such as Ways to Say Goodbye and DJ Fiddlesticks. 
  • Margins: 1 inch on all sides.

• Line Spacing: 1 or 1.15.

• Header size: 14-16 point size.
• Text size: 11-12 point size.

What will recruiters look for?

When you get started on your chemical engineer resume, you’ll need the right elements in place. Essentially, you’re looking for a catalyst to spark the recruiter’s interest.

Recruiters will be looking for chemical engineer candidates that are knowledgeable in the field, bring a wealth of experience, have a professional outlook, and great communication skills. Within your resume, you’ll need to tick all of the above boxes. 

Chemical engineers are responsible for developing processes using science to support various industries. Much of the time, this role falls into one of two categories; design, manufacturing, and operating of machinery, or the ongoing development of substances and materials. Make sure to choose your specialization before applying for roles.

Whichever type of chemical engineering role you’re going for, the HR team will be looking for a set of technical and interpersonal skills. For this reason, it’s integral to highlight your abilities in problem-solving, project management, or the use of advanced IT, among other skills.

Pro tip: Speak the recruiter’s language. They may not be familiar with chemical engineering. State what certain terms mean, when possible. For example, if you say you’re an expert in ‘filtration’, explain that you mean passing liquids through a filter.

How do you get your resume past ATS?

Twenty years ago, you’d write your resume, send it off, and it would land in the hands of the recruiter. It was a simpler time. However, as the technological world advances, so does the way companies recruit candidates. Chances are, when you send out your resume, it will need to get through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) first. 

If you’re aiming high, there’s something you should know: 98% of Fortune 500 Companies use ATS when recruiting. Understanding what an ATS is and how you can get your resume past it will give you the best chance of success. Let’s start with the basics.

An ATS is a type of software that manages incoming applications for a company. Before passing the resumes onto a human, such as a recruiter, the system scans each of them looking for specific keywords and criteria. Essentially, it makes a recruiter’s job easier by presenting them with the very top candidates for a given role. 

There’s just one problem…These computer-based systems aren’t perfect. Since they search for specific keywords, some stellar applications slip through the cracks. It’s your job to stop that from happening with your own resume. 

Fortunately enough, there’s a way to beat the software. First things first, look at the language used in the original job posting. Take a moment to note down the exact phrases and keywords it uses. Next, edit your existing resume to match this wording. That way, the text used in your chemical engineer resume will match the keywords that the ATS is searching for. In turn, this will help to ensure your application gets past the system.

What technical and interpersonal skills does a chemical engineer need to excel?

Next up, let’s talk about the skills a recruiter is looking for in a chemical engineer. Avoid overloading your “Skills” section. While you may have an endless list in your mind, stick to around 6 to 8 skills. Remember, always put quality before quantity. 

When a recruiter takes their first glance at your resume, they’ll be looking for two types of skills: technical and interpersonal. Want to present yourself as the whole package? You’ll need to offer a mix of both skill sets. Show the recruiter that you’re more than just a scientific whiz kid. Highlight how you’re also the go-to person when it comes to dealing with people. 

At this stage, you need to refer back to the job advertisement. It’s a treasure trove of skills-related information you need to make the right impression. To get an idea of the skills you should include, take a look at the skills listed in the posting. The closer you can get to that list, the better your chances of landing a job interview will be. 

Need some inspiration? Here are some suggestions of the technical and interpersonal skills you may include in your chemical engineer resume in addition to the skills you identify in a given job ad: 

Technical skills

• Technical design 
• Complex problem solving 
• Process testing 
• Project management 
• Operations analysis 
• Quality control analysis 
• Knowledge of physics
• Design skills 
• Process safety management (PSM)
• IT skills

Interpersonal skills

• Time management 
• Active listening 
• Communication skills
• Dedication 
• Trustworthiness 
• Coordination 
• Negotiation 
• Approachability 
• Teamwork skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks effectively

How do you list your education?

It’s no easy feat to become a chemical engineer. According to the BLS, you’ll need to typically study for 4 years to earn a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or a related field. You’ll not only need to engage in standard college coursework, but also laboratory and field studies.

If you’re a particularly high-achiever, you may even enroll in a 5-year engineering program to earn a master’s degree in addition to your bachelor’s degree. 

So how do you ensure your educational achievements don’t simply blend in with the rest of your resume? Create a well-organized “Education” section. Recruiters prefer this section to be simple and easy to read, so make sure to feature only the most critical details about your educational background.

To be clear, you only need to include the following details in list form for each of your degrees or diplomas: 

• Title of the degree or diploma
• Name of the educational institution you studied at
• The state the educational institution is located in
• The years you studied 

You can refer to the following example in order to correctly fill out this section:

• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, PA, 2016 - 2020 

Pro tip: If you graduated with a GPA of 3.5 or above, don’t be shy about making it known! You should most definitely feature this amazing achievement in this section. If you’re an entry-level chemical engineer, you can also mention it in your “Resume Objective” so that you can immediately capture a recruiter’s attention. 

How to write a resume objective (including examples of it)

New to the chemical engineering game? If you can recall donning your graduation cap in the last year, you should make sure to write a “Resume Objective” section. You should also write one if you have a few years or less of professional experience in the industry.

Since you will only have limited experience (if any at all), your resume objective will serve as a snippet of your goals. It should primarily include information about your education, relevant skills, and any additional achievements you’ve gained that a recruiter would be interested to learn about. 

You’ll find it helpful to note down some ideas before working on your resume. Rack your brains to find the nuggets of information that will attract a recruiter. Ask yourself the following questions to get off to a strong start: 

• What is it that makes you special? 
• What achievements have you gained that give you the edge? 
• What are your main goals?

When you’ve done that, it’s time to put your fingertips to the keyboard and get writing. Here’s a quick tip: Ask not what the company can do for you, but what you can do for the company. Focusing on what you want out of your career may seem natural, but it’s a sure-fire way to turn a recruiter off. For example, here’s what you shouldn’t write: 

• Recent Chemical Engineer BSc graduate seeking a fulfilling role in a large-scale manufacturing business. Currently looking to further build my process analysis and troubleshooting skills with the aim of climbing the professional ladder. What I lack in experience I make up for in determination to succeed. 

The above resume objective is highly unlikely to pique a recruiter’s interest. For one thing, the entire statement is geared toward what the candidate can gain from this role. That’s mistake number one but, unfortunately, the sequence of errors doesn’t end there.

The second sentence suggests that the candidate would be fast to move jobs in hope of a speedy progression. That’s a major red flag for recruiters. It gives the impression that the candidate would use the role as a training opportunity before jumping ship. Last but not least, the final sentence says very little while coming across as a bit pretentious. Wrong, wrong, and wrong again! 

Let’s scrap the above attempt and move on. If you want to engage the recruiter, tell them what you have to offer the company while setting out your skill set. For example, the following resume objective is simple yet extremely effective: 

• Chemical Engineering BSc graduate with a deep interest in the pharmaceutical industry. Previous achievements include managing group projects during college, taking a lead on analysis, and sustaining a top 10% rank in classes. Seeking a role within a pharmaceutical company in which I can learn while supporting the team in developing streamlined systems and continually analyzing ongoing processes.

Can you spot the difference between the two examples? This resume objective tells the recruiter everything they need to know. The candidate is clear about their professional intent, which directly aligns with the company they’re applying to work for. As they don’t have any professional experience yet, they instead refer to their college experience and impressive achievements there.

Aside from that, the candidate directly states what role they hope to take within the team. They make it clear that they plan to learn on the job but also set out their goals that will benefit the overall business. All of the above makes them a far more attractive option for recruiters than the previous candidate. 

Pro tip: If you find it hard to identify what makes you special as a candidate, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion! Ideally, you can talk to someone who knows you professionally. For instance, you could ask a former lecturer to give you some tips you can use as a starting point.

How to write a resume summary (including examples of it)

The “Resume Summary” section is suited to people with experience in the industry. On the other hand, if you’re fresh out of college, you’ll need to write a “Resume Objective” section instead. 

Ready to create a chain reaction? When a recruiter takes a peek at your chemical engineer resume, their eyes will be particularly drawn to one section: Your resume summary. This section is your time to shine and show off your best attributes. Recruiters spend an average of five to seven seconds looking at each resume so keep things short, snappy, and engaging!

While you can ramble on about your skills, experience, and what you’ll bring to the role, sometimes less is more. Aim to write between 2 and 4 sentences for this section. Cover the highlights of your chemical engineer resume. Think of this like the blurb for an action-packed movie. What can the recruiter expect when they watch the whole thing?

Don’t make the biggest mistake here. Since the world of chemical engineering is varied, you have to be specific. Using vague and general terms will get you nowhere fast. For example, the following resume summary leaves way too much to the imagination: 

• Chemical engineer with over three year’s experience working within a professional department. My team was responsible for designing and operating machinery to support the company processes. Experienced in process analysis, project management, troubleshooting, and problem-solving. 

Put simply, the above resume summary could describe any chemical engineer candidate. This statement lacks any specifics or details. A recruiter would take one look at it and dump the resume in the ‘no’ pile. To add insult to injury, the language used in these lines is bland and shows no enthusiasm. 

So, how can you craft a resume summary that packs a real punch? Sprinkle in some juicy details and let your experience talk for itself. Combine that with some powerful adjectives and you’ve got a recipe for success. Here’s an example that highlights how to do this:

• Highly-efficient chemical engineer with experience in the waste removal field. Previous professional achievements include designing and operating innovative machinery which streamlined company processes by 16%. Experience working with a close team of waste removal experts. Additional skills include technical troubleshooting, excellent communication, and project management. 

The above resume summary is a show-stopper. Tailored to the company that the candidate is applying to, the statement details the candidate’s experience in that area. Aside from that, it quantifies their achievements using percentages. When a recruiter looks at this statement, they can quickly see how valuable the candidate is.

Pro tip: Saying you’re “highly-efficient” or “excellent” will catch the recruiter’s attention. Chemical engineer resumes will often use bland and direct language. Stand out from the crowd but make sure you can back-up any claims with facts.

How do you list any additional details, like certifications and training?

Got some extra achievements you want to shout about? Don’t worry, there’s room for them on your chemical engineer resume. Each one you feature should at least be related to chemical engineering. However, it’s most ideal if you have one or two that are directly relevant to the given job you’re applying for.

So where should you include your relevant additional training or certificates? Typically, you should include them within a “Training and Certificates” section in a bullet-point format. 

For instance, if you completed an optional Project Management course in a previous role, you can list it in this section. However, make sure to avoid adding too much detail. The following information is adequate to include for each one:

• The title of the training course or certification
• The name of the institute that administered it
• The state you completed it in
• The year/s you completed it 

That means your “Training and Certifications” section should definitely not end up looking like this:

TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS 

• Completed a Project Management course from L.A. Institute between 2014 and 2015. The course consisted of three classes over two semesters and included training on how to lead a team project successfully. 

The above description is full of fluff that the recruiter doesn’t need to read. Make their job simple by cutting to the chase and giving them only the essential details. With this in mind, we rewrote the previous training and certifications section. As you’ll see, it’s tenfold easier to read:

TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS 

• Project Management Course, L.A. Institute, 2014 - 2015

How can you target your resume for each application?

You’re a busy person, but that doesn’t mean you can fire out the same resume to fifty different employers. Be sure to tailor your chemical engineer resume to suit the company for which you’re applying. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all technique, be specific in your targeting. 

Before hitting ‘send’, tweak your resume to ensure it suits the requirements of the given company and role. Highlight the skills that the company is asking for within the job posting. As previously mentioned, you should also use the same type of language used in the respective job ad. 

Take the time to research each company and understand their goals and values. If you can align your resume to suit their outlook, you’ll instantly boost your chances of success. 

So grab your detective hat and monocle and get started. 

While you don’t need to do a deep dive into the history of the company, be sure to look for the basics. What are the company’s aims? What’s its mission statement? What are its central processes? 

All of the above will give you clues about what the company and recruiter are looking for in an ideal candidate. When you’ve done your research, you will have the information you need to ensure your resume conveys not only what attributes you offer, but also what you can do for the company in question. 

Pro tip: Should you make it to the interview stage, you’ll need to delve deeper into the company when doing your research. Interviewers love nothing more than to test candidates’ knowledge of their company, so it’s vital to remember a few company-related facts to avoid being caught out. If you really want to impress, you may wish to go a step further. For example, you can look for holes in their current system and suggest any viable solutions you could offer. 

How do you make your resume stand out?

At the time of writing, there are only around 1100 jobs on LinkedIn for chemical engineers in the United States. That’s not a whole lot of jobs to go around, is it? Especially when you consider that most will probably not even be located in your state. That means it’s crucial to go the extra mile to make sure your resume genuinely stands out. Here are our experts’ top tips for making this happen:

• List any relevant publications you have to your name: Not every chemical engineer will have relevant publications to their name. So if you do, including them on your resume is a surefire way to stand out! Keep in mind that you should only include publications that have a substantial connection to the job you’re applying for, or at the very least are relevant to chemical engineering in general.
  
  If you have the space to do so, you can include key details about each one in a dedicated “Publications” section. Alternatively, you can mention one or two in your resume objective or summary.

• Avoid fluff at all costs: As a chemical engineer, you’ll know full well of the importance of precision in your line of work. While their job couldn’t be more different, recruiters similarly value this quality, particularly when it comes to resumes.
  
  They much prefer to take the time to read resumes that are clear, concise, and 100% fluff-free. So if you want your resume to stand out, remember to be precise in your wording and avoid adding any extra words for the sake of it!

• Ensure your resume holds up however it’s viewed: One of the biggest errors a surprising number of candidates make is that they forget to check if their resume will retain its appearance when viewed in different programs or printed off. This is a simple but fatal mistake to make because it can lead to the downfall of even the most brilliantly-written resume.
  
  Think about it. A recruiter isn’t going to waste their time trying to decipher a resume that became misaligned and/or unreadable simply because they opened it up in Google Docs rather than MS Word.

These types of issues often crop up when a candidate uses a non-standard font, images, or a poorly-made resume template to make their resume. Using them can also cause problems with the ATS, so it’s best to avoid doing so altogether. If you want to ensure you don’t encounter such problems, your safest bet is to opt for a trusted ATS- and HR-friendly resume format.

3. How to Make an Explosive Chemical Engineer Resume Using Resumebuild.com’s Resume Builder Tool 

If you were to ask 100 job seekers to share what they dislike most about job hunting, the majority would be quick to say something about getting their resume in order. This task is crucial to take care of, given that it’s usually the only ‘in’ you have at a company.

But at the same time, it’s an unpleasant experience all round. Not only does making a resume from scratch take several days to complete, but it’s also very boring to do so! After all, whose idea of fun is it to write line after line about themselves? 

And let’s not forget the fact that this isn’t a task that you can do one time and be over with. As we explored above, it’s vital to target your resume for each application. As such, no two resumes you submit should ever be the same. That means that even once you finish making your resume, you’ll need to spend hours continually customizing it to suit each and every job you apply to. 

Truth be told, we think that job seekers simply don’t have the time nor energy (let alone the motivation!) to do all of this alone. It was this realization that encouraged us to rethink how job seekers create their resumes. Our revolutionary resume builder is the culmination of countless hours of research into how to make the resume creation process as easy, quick, and pleasant as possible. 

Should you give it a go for yourself, you’ll see that you don’t need to dedicate days or even hours to make a job-winning resume. Believe it or not, you can even make your chemical engineer resume in only a couple minutes using it! Our builder’s streamlined design, as well as handy features like job-specific pre-written examples and ready-made resume templates, make this a reality.

So what are you waiting for? Get hired sooner rather than later by making your chemical engineer resume at ResumeBuild.com.

Job searching can be daunting—or even downright difficult at times. And education can be an especially competitive field. Teachers today are an incredibly important part of our society. They help set up children to be successful citizens of the world afterall. 

All that’s to say, school boards and administrators take hiring new teachers seriously. In order to even land an interview, you need a top-notch teacher resume. 

In this writing guide, we’ll cover what it takes to create a resume that’s guaranteed to stand out.  We’ll include template examples and go into great detail about how to write the perfect teacher resume. Throughout this guide, you’ll learn:

• How to properly format your resume
• What recruiters, school boards, and principals look for in a teacher’s resume
• What skills you should mention (and how to demonstrate them correctly)
• What achievements you should include on your resume
• Things you should avoid mentioning and other common resume mistakes
• How to write a great resume objective or summary section
• How to list teaching association memberships
• How to list certifications, licenses, volunteer experience, and other interests
• How to write a teacher resume if you have little to no experience

We’ll also give you top tips and tricks for ways to tweak your resume for each school and position you apply to. You’ll be equipped with all the knowledge to write a resume that is sure to stand out and land you an interview.

Let’s start with some teacher resume template examples.

Multiple template examples

How to write a perfect teacher resume?

There are many things that go into writing the perfect resume. Unfortunately, it isn’t as easy as just word-dumping onto a piece of paper. It takes time and thoughtful effort to write something that will catch a recruiter’s eye.

To do so, you need to show why you’re a competitive candidate with concrete, creatively crafted words. Typically, teachers should plan to highlight their relevant teaching experience, education, credentials, certificates, and position-specific skills. 

Though it might be tempting to send the same resume out to each position you apply to, you should think twice about doing this. Every position is as unique as the school and district it’s at. Tailoring your resume for each job application will make you a much more competitive candidate. 

Writing a perfect resume also means writing about your accomplishments, not just your job responsibilities. It’s certainly important the hiring managers get a sense of what you do—and what you were responsible for—but that’s not enough. 

Recruiters don’t just want to know what you do. (They know what teachers do. Who doesn’t?) They want to know how well you can do it. A teacher who does the bare minimum won’t bring nearly as much value as a teacher with a long list of classroom accomplishments. 

Don’t sell yourself short. Focus on what types of change you brought at your previous places of employment and include them on your resume. What you write can make or break your candidacy. 

Once you’re happy with the content of your resume, start thinking about formatting.

How to format it

A resume that isn’t formatted properly is a resume that will get tossed in the trash. Though it used to be common practice to create a resume in Microsoft Word, that’s now an outdated way to format your resume. 

And it’ll stand no chance against resumes that were professionally-designed with formatting in mind.

A properly formatted resume should include the following sections:

• A header section that includes your name, phone number, and email address 
• An objective or summary section demonstrating why you’re the right person for the job
• An experience section that highlights your previous teaching positions and accomplishments
• An education section that includes your college or university as well as your degree 
• A skills section that shows you have the tools needed to succeed

As a general rule of thumb, your resume should never be more than a page in length. If you’re struggling to condense your content, try using a resume template. They’re designed to maximize space so you can make the most of every word. 

And speaking of words, your text should always be easy-to-read at a 100% zoom level. Meaning, a recruiter or principle shouldn’t have to zoom in on your resume in order to be able to read it. 

And lastly, remember that your resume should always be sent in PDF format. Otherwise, the formatting can get messed up when it’s opened on a new device. 

Those are the basic rules of resume formatting. Next, we’ll review exactly what recruiters look for in a teacher’s resume. 

What recruiters will look for

Recruiters want to hire someone they know will succeed. That being said, there are certain things they’ll look for in a teacher’s resume. 

They want to see what you can accomplish. Here are some accomplishment examples teachers can add to their resume:

• Improved student tests scores by 8% from the previous year
• Developed a new science curriculum that resulted in a 13% improvement in state testing scores
• Improved overall pass rates from 78% to 85%
• Teaching awards
• New programs and the results of those programs

It’s best to demonstrate your achievements numerically whenever possible. Doing so adds to your credibility tremendously. 

Recruiters also want to see that you’ve tailored your resume to the job. And trust us when we say, it’s clear if you don’t. Your resume should demonstrate why you’re the right teacher for the position, not just that you’re a great teacher in general. There are lots of great teachers. That doesn’t always mean they’ll be a good fit culturally. Or that they have the necessary skills to succeed in this specific position.

Read the job description carefully and tailor your resume based on the required skills and responsibilities. But don’t make the mistake of adding the obvious. For example, you don’t need to say that you did lesson planning. Every teacher does lesson planning. All that says is that you do your job. And that is already a given (or at least it should be). 

We’ll go into more detail below about the best ways to target your resume for each application. But first, let’s talk more about which skills recruiters will look for. 

What skill to mention and how to do it correctly

Your teacher resume should feature a skills section. In it, you can include both soft skills and technical skills that teachers frequently use. Typically, soft skills are a focal point, but sometimes schools use specific technology in their classrooms. If that’s the case, it’s best to add them to your resume. 

Here is a list of common teacher skills to add to your resume:

• Classroom management
• Student advocacy
• Conflict resolution
• Patience
• Teambuilding
• Leadership
• Organization
• Adaptability
• Creativity
• Behavior Management
• Blackboard
• Powerpoint
• Microsoft Office 

Soft skills are best demonstrated through real-world examples. Explain in 2-3 sentences how you used these skills in a classroom setting. It’s much more impactful than just adding them to a list.

What achievements to mention and how to do it correctly

Including achievements on your resume is another great way to make you a more competitive candidate. Include certifications you’ve earned as well as any teaching awards you’ve won. 

This can be a standalone section on your resume or it could be included elsewhere. 

What to avoid mentioning

Avoid mentioning anything that’s irrelevant or obvious on your resume. Whether it’s previous jobs or interests that are unrelated to teaching, if they don’t add value to your resume they aren’t worth including. 

Every word on your resume should add value. If it’s there just to fill space, it doesn’t belong. Find something else to add or use the extra white space to your advantage.

How to write a resume objective and examples of this

A great resume objective shows your personality, passion, and career-related goals. It should be short and sweet—just two to three sentences. And it should make a recruiter want to keep reading the rest of your resume.

All that’s to say, there’s definitely a right and wrong way to write a resume objective. Here are examples of both:

Elementary school science teacher, graduate of the University of Iowa, with 2 years of teaching experience seeking a new teaching position.

This summary gives only very basic information. And a recruiter can gather all of this from other sections of a resume in about 5 seconds. It doesn’t make you want to read more. And it certainly doesn’t add any value.

This summary section, on the other hand, is much more engaging and makes a recruiter think, “Wow, we have to hire this person.” 

Elementary school science teacher with 2 years of teaching experience. I’m passionate about cultivating STEM knowledge in students and encouraging girls to explore careers in science. I’m seeking a new position where I can improve test scores and launch a GirlsWhoCode club. 

This resume objective is much more engaging. You get a much better sense of the person and their goals. It incorporates specific details about the candidate and shows administrators exactly how their school will benefit if they hire this person.

This is a resume objective that is much more impactful.

How to write a resume summary and examples of this

If you don’t want to write a resume objective, you can opt for a resume summary instead. It really depends on personal preference and whichever option you think can better communicate why you’re the right person for the job.

An objective is more focused on your goals while a summary tends to focus more on your experience and accomplishments. Just like a resume objective, your resume summary should focus on the specific details that set you apart from other candidates. 

Writing a vague summary adds little, if no, value to your resume. Here are two examples of resume summaries (both bad and good):

Math teacher with 4 years of experience teaching algebra. 

This summary could apply to hundreds, if not thousands, of math teachers. Meaning, it won’t help you stand out. It could even be the decision factor in whether or not the recruiter decides to keep reading.

Compare that summary with this summary, which is much more specific.

High school algebra teacher with 4 years of experience. My students average in the 80th percentile for state-wide tests and I’ve increased school passing rates from 70% to 85%. 

This summary goes into much more detail about what kind of value you can bring to a school. It gives real-world examples of accomplishments and it’s anything but vague.

This kind of summary is what’s going to catch a recruiter's eye.

How to list teaching association memberships

To list teaching association memberships on your resume, you can create a specific section called Memberships. Below it, be sure to list the organization name and your title (especially if it’s something other than a member). 

And be sure to include any contributions to the membership. This could include fundraising, event planning, communications, etc. 

If you’re not a current member, but still want to add it to your resume, you can list yourself as a “former member.”

How to list any additional details, like certifications, hobbies, interests, volunteer experience.

Certifications and licenses are especially important for teachers to list on their resumes. They can vary state-by-state, but many times they’re required. They should be listed in an easy-to-see spot on your resume.

Consider adding them to your resume header underneath your name as a kind of subtitle. 

If you have extra space, you can also consider adding hobbies, interests, or volunteer experience. Just be sure they’re relevant to teaching or working with children. Otherwise, use that space for something else.

How to write a teacher resume when you have no experience

If you’re a recent grad who has no teaching experience, don’t worry. You can still create a compelling resume that will land you an interview.

Go into detail about your student teaching experience and show how it prepared you for the next step in your career. Include examples of successful classroom management, your ability to handle stressful situations, and how you can effectively think on your feet. 

Be sure to include certifications or licenses as well as any relevant coursework you completed in college. Have you ever substituted? Be sure to add that. Did you work with kids outside of a classroom setting? Include that experience too. 

How to target your resume for each application

It’s incredibly important to target your resume for each job application you submit. To most people, this sounds like a lot of work. 

You put so much time and thought into writing a great first resume, the thought of doing that over and over again for each application sounds like a waste of time. But the fact of the matter is, customizing your resume is critical if you want to show you’re the right person for the job.

The good news is, targeting your resume each time doesn’t mean you need to completely reinvent the wheel. Even if you’re applying to different school districts/positions, there are a number of things you can keep the same. 

For starters, you can follow the same outline and overall resume structure. No matter what, you’ll likely keep the same resume sections and some of the content within those sections. For any application, you won’t need to change which schools you’ve worked at, your titles, or your education. Other areas however will require more tailoring.

You’ll always want to update your resume objective or summary statement. This is usually your first chance to capture the attention of a hiring manager. Make sure this part of your resume always matches what they’re looking for. If the school you’re applying to focuses largely on pass/fail rates, be sure to include information surrounding that.

You’ll also want to update the bullets under your job experience. You should try to tailor them based on the needs expressed in the description of the new position you’re applying to. Think about how they measure success and demonstrate similar examples on your resume. 

Another section you’ll want to update for each application is the skills section.

How to list only the relevant skills for that specific school/district and position

Updating the skills section of your resume for each school/district and position is so important. Say you’re applying for three different teaching positions with the same job title. Just because the job title is the same doesn’t mean they have the same expectations or needs when it comes to skills they’re seeking.

One of the best ways to only list relevant skills for each position is to print out a copy of the job posting and circle or highlight the qualities and strengths the recruiter is looking for in a candidate. Then, try to match these with your skills section so that you can show exactly why you’re a good fit for the role. 

For example, if the position requires a teacher who has experience with Blackboard, you should intentionally include that skill on your resume.

How to make your resume stand out

As you know, education can be a competitive field. To ensure your resume gets picked from the pile, it needs to stand out. Here are some ways to do that. 

Add some color.

A splash of color will stand out from stacks of black and white resumes. Adding color isn’t only pleasing to the eye, but it can also highlight different sections on your resume and make it easier to read. 

Just make sure you don’t go overboard with it. Stick to neutral colors and make sure it doesn’t become overwhelming. 

Use unique fonts.

Yes, Times New Roman is considered professional—and probably even the standard. But that just means you’ll blend in. 

Instead, try using a font that isn’t overused. Try using Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, Garamond, or Avenir instead. They still look professional but will stand out from the rest. 

Choose a professionally-designed template. 

The design of your resume is the first thing employers will notice. Before they even start reading, they’ll notice what your resume looks like. Picking a professionally-designed resume is key to making a great first impression.

Use power verbs.

Begin each bullet with power verbs to emphasize your actionable accomplishments. Start sentences with words like, “increased,” “initiated,” “led,” “managed,” “developed,” and “improved”. 

Using power verbs is more impactful than simply stating your duties. 

Quantify your achievements.

Numbers will jump out at a recruiter. Determine what metrics your school uses to measure success (test scores, passing rates, etc.) and determine where the baseline was before you started. From there, calculate the difference you made and add it to your resume. 

For teachers, it can also be helpful to incorporate numbers to show how many students you’re used to teaching at a time. 

Demonstrate soft skills with real-word examples.

You can add classroom management as a skill to your resume, but what does that really mean? Without an example, it doesn’t add much value. Instead, think about a time you had to manage a tough class and how you did it. 

How the Resumebuild tool could be utilized for an easy resume setup

Resume Build is an online tool that can help you create a professional, HR-approved resume in just 5 minutes or less. With more than 20 tailored-built resume templates to choose from, you can turn your resume from drab to fab in just three simple steps. 

Step 1: Choose a resume template. With options for every industry, you can rest easy knowing they follow all resume guidelines and best practices.

Step 2: Show what you’re made of—and why you’re the best fit for the position. Easily upload your content right into the template. Or, if you’re struggling to find the right words, Resume Build has uploaded thousands of pre-written samples and resume examples. 

Step 3: Download your resume and start sending to employers! It’s as easy as 1-2-3. 

Ready to get started? Build my resume now.