How to Write a Technical CV: Skills, Examples, Template
You worked hard in school, and now you’ve got the knowhow to make big things happen. Show the hiring manager your skills with this professional technical CV sample.
Tom Gerencer
Career Expert
Personally, Boston Dynamics robots freak me out. If they don’t scare you, here’s how to write an entry-level mechanical engineering CV.
You have to learn to walk before you can run. The first robot wasn’t a Boston Dynamics super-electro-deer that can open doors and recover from a push kick.
The first humanoid robot, WABOT-1 had the intelligence of a 1.5-year-old child. Apparently, dogs have the mental capacity of a 2-2.5 year old. The first humanoid robot was dumber than a dog.
Something to keep in mind next year, when your entrails are being devoured by the first bio-friendly robot that can run on organic matter while it’s simultaneously uploading your memory of every person you ever saw naked to the cloud.
The point is (yes, there is one coming): Everyone starts somewhere. You start here. With this guide, you will get your first entry level mechanical engineering job. However, it may be the case that senior engineers treat you as if you had the intelligence of a 1.5 year old child.
In this guide:
Here’s a sample CV for entry level mechanical engineering that breaks ground.
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In need of a more advanced CV? Check out our specialist engineering CV guides:
Anne E. Smith
3912 Tennessee Avenue
Southfield, MI 48075
864-123-2321
annesmith@rapide.com
Personal Statement
A 4.0 GPA Mechanical Engineering graduate from the University of Maryland, Dean’s List student. The founder of the Female Engineers Society at UoM with 37 members. Under my lead, FES constructed 250+ Arduino-based Ventilators for Covid-19 to supply local hospitals and clinics. Awarded the Robotics Institute Commendation for the best graduation project at UoM—Oxygen Concentrator Generator For Covid-19. Vice-President of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) organising monthly speaker series. Seeking to apply my initiative to an employer with enough resources to allow me to develop as fast as possible.
Education
BS in Mechanical Engineering, 2016-2020
GPA: 4.0
University of Maryland, University Park, Maryland
Achievements:
Work Experience
Mechanical Engineer Intern
PRC Fabrication, Charlotte
January 2020
Projects
Oxygen Concentrator Generator For Covid-19, June 2020 (Graduation Project)
Ventilator for Covid-19 (254 units to date), March 2020-present
Skills
Languages
Following this blueprint sets you up for success. Now to draw up your own plans:
When the iPhone came out, it was already outdated. The same technology had already been used elsewhere. But it was sleek, wasn’t it? Presentation can be everything, and that’s why you need to nail your CV style.
The blueprint is very straight forward:
If you’re familiar with the tool, you can use LaTex CV templates. Make sure they’re ATS-compliant, though.
Let’s get the wrench out!
Your CV will no doubt be a pretty long list of different miscellaneous things you did. Some will catch the eye of one employer, others will suit another’s taste. This is why your CV profile needs to be adjusted for each employer. 7.4 seconds of attention is all you’re getting.
Tailor your CV for each application, and in your profile, focus on 2-3 things that are most important to this particular employer. Back them up with numbers and metrics. Just before that, tell them where you graduated from and with what distinctions.
Wrap everything up by stating your motivation to learn, grow, develop, and become the Intergalactic Captain that will take on Elon Musk in a flamethrower duel for the control of Saturn and the surrounding areas. That will make your profile a CV objective statement.
Writing your CV objective comes much easier after you have finished all the other sections.
Expert Hint: Considering an internship? Not all of them will give you exposure to real work, some of them will just keep you busy. The right question to ask first: What do you want? What is success?
If you have work experience or internships under your belt, list the most recent one with 5-10 bullet points, again focusing on achievements, metrics and results, as well as what you learned. For position older than your most recent one, limit yourself to 3 bullet points. Use CV power words such as updated, executed, streamlined to show your impact.
If you don’t have any professional experience whatsoever, skip this section and write about your education instead.
When writing a CV with no experience, it’s important to introduce a CV skills section. Focus on the tools, software and technologies you can use. Add a few soft skills too as they are getting more and more important.
If you are really scarce in experience, add a sentence or two of elaboration to each skill on how you acquired it.
Expert Hint: Need to show an ability to develop holistic solutions and work in multidisciplinary teams? See Design For America for events, courses and ideas. Putting these projects, achievements and awards on your CV will boost your chances.
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 CV in our CV builder now.
Nail it all with a splash of colour, choose a clean font, highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You’re the perfect candidate and we’ll prove it. Use the ResumeLab builder now.
I bet when you first were introduced to Thermodynamics, you didn’t think you would actually get this degree. You’re here, so list your degree and graduation date. Below, list your GPA, and then school name.
Since this education section is a big part of all you’ve got, start with an Achievement section. Then, understand the role you’re applying for, and choose your most relevant modules to list in the Relevant Coursework section.
Expert Hint: If you are writing a CV with no experience, you can add scholarships to your CV, too.
Have you got some space left at the bottom of your CV? Feel an itch to express yourself and list your favourite anime? Or perhaps your mind has gone blank after I gave you that traumatic Thermodynamics flashback in the last section?
There is a right way to do bonus CV sections. It’s rooted in relevance. If it doesn’t pertain to the job, show your ability to multitask, or doesn’t show your ambition and drive—leave it off.
Use clear, separate headings instead of throwing everything together:
This is how:
One last thing. Attach a mechanical engineer cover letter to your CV. It’s the easiest way to explain your motivation and engineering interests.
Double your impact with a matching CV and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There’s 18 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
To make sure your application can withstand the stress testing:
Still not fully clear how to write a great entry level mechanical engineering CV? Did our engineering CV examples for students? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply.
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You worked hard in school, and now you’ve got the knowhow to make big things happen. Show the hiring manager your skills with this professional technical CV sample.
Tom Gerencer
Career Expert
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