Best Guide to Write a Civil Engineer Resume
Being a civil engineer can be an extremely rewarding and in-demand career, but it does take a lot of hard work to get there. The more you know about what your future employer needs and expect the better prepared you can be. This is where writing a resume for civil engineers comes in handy! If you are looking at becoming a civil engineer then check out this handy guide on how to write the perfect resume for Civil Engineers.
Get the Guide to Write Civil Engineer Resume
The following article is a guide to write a civil engineer resume. In this article, you will discover what you can do to get your resume noticed and why you should make it stand out from other resumes. You will also find out about some of the common mistakes made in writing resumes that cause more than just a dent in your chances of success.
- Making it too simple:
A CV or a resume is something that can be quite personal, and many people feel like there isn’t a right way or a wrong way to make it. However, if you are writing your first resume and you want to make an impression, then it may be worth investing in some professional help. Although some of the top designers in the business sell their services for a pretty penny, there are plenty of websites that will help you out for free.
The most important thing to do when you are creating a first resume is to stay away from plain black text on a white background. Using overly-simple formatting will only cause you to fall into the background of more sophisticated applicants. The time and effort that it takes to create a top quality resume is all worth it in the end, so use those simple formats for your CV’s instead. - Using a CV template:
When it comes to creating a resume for civil engineers, you will have to keep in mind what employers expect from your work portfolio. A professional CV is designed with the aim of showcasing your skills in a way that will make you stand out from the rest of your competition. If you are using something that does little to show off your skills, then this is likely to have some negative effects on your chances of getting the job.
Don’t get too concerned if your CV uses a standard CV template. If the employer you are applying to has a clear idea of how they want their CVs to look, then that is the perfect time for you to fully utilize this information. The last thing you want is for your resume to be seen as lacking in professionalism because it does not follow the guidelines set out by an employer. - Not knowing what to include:
Your resume doesn’t need to be ridiculously long, though it will need to include everything that an employer needs to know about you. Mostly, this will contain information about your work history, but if you want the employers in question to take you seriously then you should expand on this. For example, if there are positions open for civil engineers then make sure that they have easy access to your education and skills. - Going overboard with the language:
While you may think that choosing to use colorful language will send a message of fun and excitement to your prospective employer, this may not be the case. Putting too much emphasis on your personality may not be as effective as you think it is. Taking too many risks with the text can end up making it hard for an employer to keep their attention on what you are trying to say. The more straightforward your writing is, the better a chance there is they will decide that you are worth hiring. - Not choosing the right form:
While you may be aware that the content of your resume is extremely important, a lot of people forget that the choice of format can make a big difference too. For example, if your CV is nothing more than a simple list of dates of employment and education then this information probably isn’t suitable for a resume. Those who are applying for work as civil engineers should consider getting some help to create their CVs since having someone look at it can create an advantage over other applicants.
Civil Engineer Job Description:
The duties of a civil engineer differ from those of other engineers. The scope of work for civil engineers is wider. A civil engineer works on the maintenance, improvement and construction of roads, highways, dams, and other projects that are meant to serve the needs of individuals or society as a whole.
Civil Engineers are similar to Architects in that they both design structures and objects and do construction work on them. However, their job responsibilities are different.
Civil Engineer Responsibilities:
- Building a road
- Constructing bridges and other structures
- Constructing dams, levees, dikes, etc.
- Making inspections on buildings to make sure they are safe (the structural integrity of them)
- Performing load analysis of different materials used on different projects (Ex. steel vs concrete)
- Testing the strength of different materials, etc.
- Performing mapping of roads, etc.
- Inspecting buildings to make sure they are enclosed in a proper way (the structural integrity for them)
- Performing surveying and land surveys.
- Making inspections on structures to make sure they are safe (the structural integrity of them).
- Inspecting bridges to make sure they are sound.
- Inspecting different forms of steel used in different projects and check the strength of them.
Guide to Write a Civil Engineer Resume Summary:
A great way to introduce your resume is to start off with a summary at the top of your resume. The summary can be located at the top of your resume or within your work experience section, depending on what you think is best. This area of your resume should always be about one to two sentences and will give the reader an idea about what kind of job you are looking for and how your skills relate to that position. You can include any of the following in your summary section on your resume:
- Key Qualifications
- Experience
- Education
- Skills and knowledge
- Achievements
There are many different ways to format your summary section. Just remember to keep it concise and organized so that the reader does not get confused or bored while reading through your resume. This will result in lost interest in reading further and may even discourage the person from viewing your resume at all!
Summary: The Summary portion of your resume is located at the top of your resume and should be very short and concise.
Civil Engineer Resume Summary Example:
“Self-motivated team player with strong leadership skills. Skilled in technical and organizational tasks. Proficient in Microsoft Office Software and communication technologies.”
“My name is Melissa R. Smith. I have been working as a Civil Engineer for the past 4 years in the construction industry in central Texas. Most of my work experience has been with Trucking and Industrial companies such as Thompson, Corp., Ashford Tube, and TPI. As an employee at these companies, I was heavily involved in all aspects of their business. I took on projects ranging from heavy construction projects to complete remodeling and improvement of property layouts.”
“My Civil Engineer education and experiences at these companies have equipped me with the skills, knowledge, and experience to handle myself on a variety of different types and levels of construction projects. I am proficient in both technical applications as well as organizational tasks. My people skills help me to relate to others easily and I am highly self-motivated.”
This summary is a great example of how one can pick the most important skills that would be attractive to potential employers. Notice how they narrowed their list of skills as well? The way you should look at listing your skills is that if the interviewer asks you “can you do this?” Your answer should be “yes.
Top 15 Must-have Civil Engineer Skills on Resume:
- Ability to read blueprints
- Extensive knowledge of Construction Materials
- Understanding of different types of business skills (barter, cash, shares, stock)
- Desire and ability to work overtime if needed
- Comfortability in working with people at all levels
- Ability to think on his/her feet and identify potential problems before they occur.
- Ability to read job specifications and understand the level of detail that is required.
- Knowledge of all current safety and health regulations.
- Good organizational skills.
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
- Strong knowledge of numerous construction techniques.
- Work well with other teams and potentially with many different people.
- Understanding of construction software applications and technical specifications.
- Strong safety and health background required for OSHA compliance.
- Ability to stand on his/her feet for prolonged amounts of time without experiencing back problems.
How to Write Civil Engineer Resume with no experience:
This guide will help you write a resume for a person with no experience, and it will also be helpful for someone who is a recent grad or an experienced civil engineer. You are about to go through the process to make your resume amazing.
- If you do not have work experience yet or if you are a new grad, the best is to add a section called volunteer work. It will show that you are interested in the field, which is important for getting employers’ attention. That way you can show that you are passionate about civil engineering and it will also be easy to put your skills into practice without experience.
- If you have some experience but not a lot, it is okay, include your work history but also start with your education and any relevant background information.
- If you are an experienced civil engineer, it is okay to have an objective but I would recommend adding a bit more detail on your work history.
- Try to make bullet points short and sweet, no one wants to read a lot in the resume. A resume is not the place to be long-winded.
- Include relevant education such as certification you have completed, special training, or seminars.
- Don’t forget your contact information (phone number and email).
- Education: include relevant information about your education and training. List names of schools, dates attended and degrees awarded. If you’re still in school, you can include the expected graduation date, if not already on your diploma.
- Professional Memberships: List any professional organizations you are a member of, including attendance at conferences or seminars.
- Honors and Awards: List any awards or recognition you have received for your work as an engineer.
Guide to Write Civil Engineer Cover Letter:
- Get an understanding of the position you are looking for. The objective here is to ensure that you’re making a good impression as you are applying for a position, showing thorough knowledge of the job and the company and also credentials to fit your qualifications.
- Be brief and concise in your Cover Letter, it should be only one page long.
- List some examples of projects you have worked on at various job levels and employers.
- Explain your obligations and time commitment to the position you are applying for.
- Make sure that you provide your contact information and professional references in case the employer wants to follow up.
- Be sure to have the Cover Letter be professional and free of any errors.
Final conclusion:
Writing a civil engineer’s resume requires time and effort because it requires the subject to write his own resume of experience. The resume must be written in a way that will stand out.
The main purpose of writing such a resume is to get a job in the field of civil engineering. To do this, the candidate must follow some tips in order to make his resume stand out from the rest.
