Engineering Resumes –Stand Out for the Right Reasons
My approach to resume writing is viewing resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles as your own personal marketing materials. While this is true of resumes prepared for any field, here are a few key elements that will help your engineering or technical resume get attention for the right reasons:
MAKE IMPORTANT DETAILS EASY TO FIND: Are you a P.Eng, an EIT, or a P.Geo? This designation needs to be clearly listed with your name. A separate section of your resume should also list which professional organization(s) issued your designation (APEGA, APEGBC, etc.).
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE: If applying for jobs online, your resume WILL be scanned by an Applicant Tracking System. These systems will be searching your document for specific keywords and phrases, so make sure you document your technical skills and areas of expertise.
Once you are through this initial screening a hiring manager, engineering manager, or HR professional will see your resume. A diverse potential audience means your document must have wide appeal. If using technical acronyms, consider listing the full term as well. Balance technical language with business/economic impacts.
GET QUANTITATIVE: Quantitative facts will sell you to a potential employer – include these details whenever you can. Whether it’s listing the size of the team you supervised or what percentage you improved efficiency for a specific process, numbers bring impact to achievements.
AVOID REDUNDANCY: Technical roles can be quite similar from company to company, especially within the same industry. Rather than listing redundant tasks and responsibilities, focus on bigger achievements such as new technologies, upgrades, projects, or productivity improvements.
DEFINE YOUR SKILLS: Consider adding an “Areas of Expertise” or “Key Skills” section, as well as a “Technical Skills” area. These can also be combined, depending on the type of work you are targeting. Creating separate, keyword rich sections makes it clear to an employer why you are qualified.
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