Civil Engineer Resume Sample—20+ Examples and Writing Tips

What’s wrong with most civil engineer resumes?

They give a lot of details, but no specs. They don’t cite any metrics or give specifics about what you’ve done right.

The good news?

It’s not hard to write a great resume for civil engineering jobs.

You just have to find the right details in your past.

Then put them in a format that makes it easy on the hiring manager.

Do it right, and you’ll be solving massive puzzles and making throngs of lives better, fast.

This guide will show you:

• A civil engineer resume sample better than most.
• How to make the perfect civil engineer job description for resumes.
• How to write a civil engineering resume worthy of Bechtel or ACS Group.
• Why you can’t just list civil engineering skills (and what to do instead).

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In the wrong place? See our other guides:

• Engineering Resume Sample
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• Software Engineer Resume Sample
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• Computer Science Resume Sample
• Entry-Level Engineering Resume Sample
• Entry Level Mechanical Engineer Resume Sample
• Electrical Engineering Resume Sample
• Industrial Engineer Resume Sample
• Network Engineer Resume Sample
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• Engineering Student Resume Sample
• Engineering Internship Resume Sample
• Science Research Resume Sample
• Quality Assurance (QA) Resume Sample

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Resume Examples for Any Job.

Civil Engineer Resume Sample You Can Copy and Use

Now here’s how to write a civil engineer resume they’ll love:

1. Start With the Best Civil Engineer Resume Format

Civil engineers design, construct, and refurbish our infrastructure, including roads, pipelines, bridges, airports, dams, and canals. They are routinely responsible for completing multi-million dollar or even billion-dollar construction projects that support the lives of millions. That’s why a civil engineering resume is so important.

And it all starts with proper formatting.

Why?

Because a sloppy civil engineer resume will terrify the hiring team.

Use these tips to stay clean and clear:

Civil Engineer Resume Format

• Break ground with the reverse-chronological resume format.
• Pick resume fonts like Arial or Georgia in 10–12pt.
• Use 1-inch margins with plenty of dead space.
• Write a one-page resume unless you’ve got pages of civil engineering projects.
• Divide it into proper resume sections: Header, Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, and “Additional.”

Expert Hint: Save your civil engineering resume as a PDF file provided the job offer doesn’t say no. Resume PDFs look the same across multiple platforms.

2. Tempt Them with a Civil Engineer Resume Objective or Summary

Imagine:

The busy hiring manager skims your resume.

Not interested, he quits the window and moves on to the other 100 resumes.

What happened?

You didn’t grab him fast enough.

So—

Write a civil engineering resume summary that catches him.

Use:

1. One adjective (detail-oriented, efficient, creative)
2. Job title (Civil Engineer)
3. Years of experience (2+, 4+)
4. How you’ll help (raise quality and cut lead times)
5. Nicest few achievements (completed 5 $2 million projects)

These civil engineer resume examples show how:

Civil Engineer Resume Summary—Example

That’s black and white.

The first of those civil engineer resume samples is Thomas-Telford-level. It shows off your Herculean skills.

Civil Engineer Resume Objective—Example

Not enough experience in your civil engineering resume?

Don’t fret.

Mention accomplishments from freelance work or civil engineering internships.

So you didn’t build the Palm Islands. Still, that civil engineer resume example proves your worth.

Expert Hint: Write the objective of your resume for civil engineer jobs last. You’ll have an easier time because all your material will be lined up and ready.

3. Write the Best Civil Engineer Job Description

You’ve done so much.

How do you show it all in a civil engineer resume?

Here’s the trick:

You don’t have to.

Just list the few things guaranteed to prove you could’ve built the Brooklyn Bridge.

Here’s how to write a civil engineer job description for a resume:

1. Take your specs from the online posting.
2. Note the civil engineering skills and responsibilities in it.
3. Brainstorm when you’ve used those skills to great effect.
4. List those in your civil engineering resume, with metrics.

This way you’ll make sure your resume has all the necessary keywords.

These civil engineering resume examples show how:

Civil Engineer Job Description for Resume [Sample]

Wow.

One of those civil engineer resume examples should be condemned. The other could teach Albert Frink a thing or two.

Writing an entry-level resume for civil engineering jobs? Read on.

Entry-Level Civil Engineering Resume Job Description [Sample]

Easy.

The first of those civil engineer resume examples nails it.

Just list your best and brightest wins from freelance work, volunteer work, and your civil engineering internship.

But don’t forget to add those metrics! They make all the difference.

Are you writing a civil engineering intern resume or student resume?

List educational achievements.

Civil Engineer Resume Skills

Beware:

Don’t overload your civil engineering resume with skills.

The job ad lists all the hard and soft skills to put on your resume.

Expert Hint: The best places to find civil engineering jobs? Indeed, Google, and EngineerJobs.com. Post your resume on those sites for a recruiter boost. 

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.

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4. Turn Boring Education to a Reason to Hire You

You know a civil engineering resume depends on education.

But—

Even your resume education section must prove skills.

These civil engineer resume examples show how:

Civil Engineer Education—Example

Wow.

That shows structural design skills, ETABS skills, and PMP proficiency.

Expert Hint: Is your civil engineering experience paltry? Your education and internship can take up ¾ of your resume. Just make sure to pack it with achievement.

5. Build Up Your Civil Engineer Resume With Bonus Sections

Is that it?

Nope.

Your civil engineering resume can’t just show your work history, skills, and education.

You’ve got to show you get stuff done.

So—

Add some “other” resume sections:

• Additional Activities
• Conferences
• Awards & Honors
• Volunteer Experience
• Publications
• Foreign Languages
• Continuing Education
• Certifications
• Freelance Work

These two civil engineering resume examples show code from violation:

Civil Engineer Resume—Extra Sections

Massive difference.

The applicant who wrote the first of those civil engineer resume samples could have built the Panama Canal.

Expert Hint: Writing a cover letter to add to your civil engineering resume will boost your chances of getting hired. If you don’t, about half the hiring teams out there will skip your application.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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Key Points

For a civil engineering resume that gets jobs:

• Use the civil engineer resume template up top. It’s respectable and has all the building blocks for getting interviewed.
• Put civil engineer accomplishments in your objective, work experience, education, and “bonus” sections to prove your Smeaton-level skills.
• List the right civil engineer skills. They’re in the civil engineering job description in the online posting.
• Include a civil engineer cover letter. In it, show how you fit the job by proving that you understand the job.

Got questions on how to write a great resume for civil engineer jobs? Not sure how to show civil engineer on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!