⚙️

Engineer Resume Tips

ATS systems scan engineering resumes for technical standards, software tools, and project outcomes. Here's how to make yours pass and impress hiring managers.

Check My Resume Score (Free) →

Must-Have Keywords for Engineers

Technical Skills

  • • AutoCAD / SolidWorks / CATIA
  • • FEA / CFD simulation
  • • MATLAB / Python / R
  • • PLC / SCADA / HMI
  • • BIM (Building Information Modelling)
  • • GIS software
  • • MS Project / Primavera P6
  • • ETAP / EPLAN

Standards & Methodologies

  • • ISO 9001 / ISO 14001
  • • ASME / ANSI / BS / Eurocodes
  • • Six Sigma / Lean Manufacturing
  • • HAZOP / risk assessment
  • • ATEX / DSEAR compliance
  • • CDM Regulations
  • • IEC 61508 (functional safety)
  • • Design for Manufacture (DFM)

Certifications & Soft Skills

  • • Chartered Engineer (CEng)
  • • IEng / EngTech
  • • PMP / APM
  • • NEBOSH / IOSH
  • • Stakeholder management
  • • Cross-functional collaboration
  • • Technical report writing
  • • Budget & programme management

How to Structure Your Engineering Resume

1

Professional Summary

State your engineering discipline, years of experience, sectors (oil & gas, infrastructure, aerospace, etc.), and one standout project outcome. Include any chartership status.

2

Technical Skills Section

List software, standards, and tools in a dedicated section. ATS parses this heavily — include full product names (e.g. "AutoCAD 2024", not just "CAD").

3

Project Experience — Lead with Outcomes

Quantify every bullet: contract value, team size, timeline compression, cost savings, or efficiency gains. "Delivered $4M substation upgrade 3 weeks ahead of programme" beats "managed substation project".

4

Education & Accreditation

Include your degree, university, graduation year, and any accreditation body (IMechE, IStructE, ICE, IET). Spell out abbreviations — ATS may not recognise acronyms alone.

Common Engineering Resume Mistakes

  • ✗Listing software versions that are outdated — update to tools used in the last 2–3 years
  • ✗Describing duties instead of outcomes — replace "responsible for design" with "designed X, achieving Y"
  • ✗Omitting project values, team sizes, or regulatory standards — ATS and reviewers rely on these signals
  • ✗Using a graphic-heavy template — tables and columns confuse most ATS parsers
  • ✗Not tailoring keywords to the specific engineering discipline in the job description

Get Your Engineering Resume Scored Instantly

Paste your resume and a job posting to see exactly what keywords are missing.

Check My Resume Match →