Engineer Resume

Contents for the Resume

Name

• use a larger font size than the text of the resume; for example, 16-18
• upper case if a short name; may mix upper and lower case if a long name
• follow your personal preference

Examples

Robert E. Student

KATHY STUDENT

Contact information (Maintain accurate information)

• use both a local and permanent address with phone numbers may cell phone
• provide e-mail address; check on a daily basis
• use of captions, Local Address & Permanent Address, is optional; needed if both addresses in Ames
• may abbreviate the state; if you abbreviate, use the same style in other sections of resume
• recommend 10-12 font size for contact information and remainder of resume; if need space reduce contact information to 10 font size

Example

kstudent@iastate.edu

Cell phone: 302-333-2222

Local Address Permanent Address

0000 Eaton Tilden 67 Jones Lane

Ames, IA 50012 Any City, IL 60000

555-111-1111 555-222-2222

Objective

• indicate position desired, for example, co-op, internship or summer employment and include the month or semester desired and year
• maintain flexibility if possible among co-op, intern or summer positions
• use phrases rather than complete sentences
• do not use the pronouns, I or me
• do not use general statements, for example, “a challenging position,” “progressive company;” each word chosen should add value
• may use name of company and location

Examples

To obtain work experience beginning summer 20XX in Electrical Engineering

or

Summer, intern, or co-op employment in the field of Mechanical Engineering starting in June 20XX

or

Obtain a co-op, intern, or summer Construction Engineering position in 20XX to develop_______________

Education (Update each semester)

use reverse chronological order; begin with Iowa State University

include the degree sought, the major and minor(s), year of graduation.

may list major as Undeclared Engineering

GPA = 0.00 or first semester at ISU

Examples

Iowa State University Ames, Iowa

Bachelor of Science: Electrical Engineering

Graduation: May 20XX GPA: 0.00

A. E. Brown High School Any Place, IL

Graduation: June 2002 GPA: 3.75/4.00

or

Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Expected Graduation: May 20XX

GPA: 0.00

Anytown North High School, Anytown, WI

GPA: 4.583/4.00

or

Iowa State University Ames, IA

• Major: Construction Engineering with mechanical emphasis

• GPA: First semester at ISU

• Graduation: May 20XX

Work experience

Think like an employer. Remember employers think of competencies. Is work experience always the next section? Usually it is next unless your skills or activities are more important than your work experience. Organize the remaining sections in order of the importance of your skills or competencies and remember your STARs.

• use reverse chronological order and begin with the most recent employment
• include the name of the company or organization, city and state
• list dates of employment on the right side of the page or on the line with job title or type of work
• list part-time and/or summer jobs
• choose the most relevant; do not need to include all jobs
• use phrases
• choose keywords and action verbs to describe your duties
• if no work experience, call the section Experience or Volunteer Experience

Experience Examples

Sally Green, Any City, IL

Care giver/household helper 5/8/2000-2002

• Organized household collections

• Provided indoor and outdoor maintenance

• Repaired and painted three rooms

or

Newspaper Delivery Des Moines, IA 5/2000-7/2002

Laborer Corn Shelling Ernie, IA 6/1999-7/2002

Lawn Mowing Business Anyplace, IA 4/1998-7/2002

Laborer Excavating Ernie, IA 6/2002-7/2002

Laborer Construction Anna, IA 8/2001

Laborer Family Farm Anyplace, IA Whole life

Volunteer Experience Example

Spanish Honor Society

• Tutored Spanish speaking students

Senior Board - Co-Chair of mini-board

• Organized Seniors Day with neighborhood nursing home

• Raised money for September 11th relief fund

Track Team - Team leader and motivator

Relevant Skills

may use different captions, for example Computer Skills or Professional Skills

emphasis on Computer Skills may require sub-sections for example, applications, software, languages, operating systems, etc.

list competencies only if you have STARS to support the resume entries

may include foreign language abilities

list Microsoft Office although all students must have this skill because when resumes are uploaded at employer websites this may be part of a keyword

search

Examples

Skills

• C, C++, MS-DOS

• Windows

• Microsoft Office & Publisher

• Adept at originating and recording data

or

Computer Skills

Experienced with the following software:

Microsoft Word: business letters, reports

Internet Explorer: e-mail, searches to find information

Skilled in following Microsoft Windows operation:

Hardware installation

Software installation

Computer maintenance and troubleshooting

Activities

• combine Honors and Activities if the list is short
• may include high school activities; list ISU activities first
• include extra-curricular activities, volunteer experience, athletics and/or social organizations
• recommend emphasizing Activities before Honors if you have two entries because Activities demonstrate your initiative

Example

Iowa State University

American Society of Mechanical Engineers-Student Chapter

Women in Science and Engineering

• Volunteer to plan math/science learning day for elementary age girls

Carver Academy

• Volunteer at The Octagon Center for the Arts

• Volunteer with Hispanic Heritage Month

Anytown North High School Anytown, WI

School and club volleyball - Team leader and motivator

• Special Olympics Volleyball Tournament

Orchestra - Principal Viola

• Elementary Monday Night Orchestra

• Brown College Chamber Ensemble

Honors

• include in Education or may combine Activities and Honors
• may include high school honors; list ISU honors first
• may include any recognition or scholarships

Example

• Awarded Academic Scholarship from Iowa State University

• Top Gun Winner (MVP) Varsity Badminton junior and senior years

• High Honor Roll

References

• may omit statement “References available upon request” on resume
• list references on separate page and include your name on the page
• ask references for permission to list their names and provide them with a copy of your resume; usually have three references
• use correct abbreviation such as Mr., Ms., or Dr. before the name
• allow your references to decide if they want their e-mail address listed

Example

Mr. Todd Smith

Physics Teacher

Any City High School

0000 Windsor Dr

Any City, IL 60000

(847) 333-4000

Mr. Steve Cord

Pre-Calculus Teacher and Basketball Coach

Any City High School

0000 Windsor Dr

Any City, IL 60000

(847) 555-5555

Ms. Beth Johnson

Geometry Teacher and Basketball Coach

Any City High School

0000 Windsor Dr

Any City, IL 60000

(847) 444-4444

Final Checklist

• present your qualifications and competencies honestly
• use an original format rather than a template
• check for spelling and grammatical errors
• keep length to one page
• do not use the title “resume” or use a date
• use good quality, light colored paper and a laser printer if presenting the resume to a person
• use standard fonts such as Arial, Bookman or Times New Roman
• do not fold or staple; use a large envelope
• maintain accurate contact information on your resume if using postal mail
• do not include a photograph on your resume

Professional Impact

• voice mail for cell/residence phones
• recommend brief response without music
• alert roomates to your job search for more professional response

Examples of resumes: