Engineering Resume Guide: Student Edition

In Western engineering, tailoring is key. A general resume rarely works. You should have a “Master Resume” with everything on it, but for each application, cut it down to one page that matches the specific job description.

A. Essential Sections (The Structure)

• Summary if Qualification: A 2-3 sentence summary of your value.

• Example: “Mechanical Engineering student with strong proficiency in SolidWorks and Python. Experienced in rapid prototyping and seeking to apply design skills in the automotive industry.”

B. Education (Top Priority for Students)

• List your Degree, University, and expected Graduation Date.

• Crucial: Include your GPA if it is above 3.0/4.0.

• List relevant coursework (e.g., “Fluid Dynamics,” “Circuit Analysis”) to show you have the theory down.

C. Technical Skills

• Western recruiters scan for keywords. Categorize them:

◦ Software: AutoCAD, MATLAB, Python, C++.

◦ Hardware: Soldering, CNC Machining, Arduino.

◦ Soft Skills: Technical Writing, Project Management.

D. Engineering Projects (The “Experience” Substitute)

• If you lack formal work experience, list your University Capstone or personal projects.

• Treat these like jobs: Title the project, list the tools used, and explain what you built.

E. Work Experience

• List Company, Title, Location, and Dates.

• The Golden Rule: Use bullet points that show Action + Result.

◦ Bad: “Worked on a car design.”

◦ Good: “Designed a suspension component using SolidWorks, improving vehicle stability by 15%.”

Formatting Rules (Strict)

• Length: Maximum 1 page for students/graduates.

• No Photos: Never include a photo in North America (US/Canada/UK). It creates potential for discrimination lawsuits, and HR will often delete resumes with photos instantly.

• Clean Layout: Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri). No graphics, charts, or rating bars for skills.

• ATS Friendly: Most Western companies use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) to read resumes before a human does. Complex formatting confuses the bots.

What to Leave Out

• References: Do not put “References available upon request” on the resume. It wastes valuable space. Have them ready on a separate sheet if asked later.

• Hobbies: Only include them if they are technical (e.g., “3D Printing,” “Restoring Vintage Cars,” “Hackathons”). Do not list generic hobbies like “watching movies.”

💡Fun Fact: Recruiters spend an average of 6 to 10 seconds scanning a resume.

• The Strategy: Your most important skills and keywords (e.g., “Python,” “Civil Engineering,” “Intern”) must be bolded or easy to find at a glance. If they can’t find why you are qualified in 6 seconds, they move to the next person.