You know how they say, “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.”
It is true, especially when it comes to your CV!
The CV has the potential to put you on a high pedestal and mark you as a better candidate long before you come in for an interview. But in most cases, if a CV doesn’t show potential, the candidate isn’t even considered for the further selection process.
So how to show your skills and willingness to work and develop through the written word only? For the basic rules, the information you need to include, and a few extra tips, read in the text below!
As an engineer, you already know how vital the project layout is. For your CV format, you need to keep the mindset as when starting a sketch on a blank A3 paper. Please keep it clean and keep it simple!
We recommend that you use a chronological format and start with your most recent experience. Take as much white space as you need, and define clear divisions between the sections.
If you have more than 5 years of experience, you will probably have a two-page resume. Other than that, we recommend that you keep it to one page.
Tip: As a friend to do proofreading for you when you finish. A fresh set of eyes can be something that we all need sometimes.
This section of the resume is like an introduction, and you can add it right after your name on the top of the page.
You need to either use a summary or an objective.
People with a lot of experience often use summery, and it usually shows the company’s goals.
Example: Award-winning Civil Engineer with 5 years of experience. At Kiewit Corporation, completed 4 $2 million projects+ 10% under budget.
Applicants with no experience or at the junior level usually use the objective. It focuses on the job seeker’s goals and qualifications.
Example: Detail-oriented Civil Engineer with solid math and physics background. Is seeking to provide design and project management excellence.
Tip: Don’t get discouraged if you don’t have much experience. Use your internships, faculty projects, and willingness to learn in your favor.
Imagine that you are one of 200 applicants. How will you stand out from the crowd?
We suggest that you carefully analyze the job description and the company itself when applying for a job. Adapt your CV and don’t send out the same document everywhere! It is wise that you include the bullet points from the job app into your experience section. Show the HR manager that you have worked on similar challenges and have accomplished them. When you show results, keep them short and also include specific numbers.
But what to write in this section if you have no experience yet?
List your academic accomplishments, involvement in university projects, volunteering, and most importantly – note your internship here and not under education.
Tip: Don’t include summer jobs that are not related to this job position. If you feel underqualified, remember that managers love people who can grow into the role and are willing to learn.
You should always include the university’s name, location, years in school, and the degree. Try not to sound too vague in this section. Instead of listing Completed degree, add an accomplishment. Your projects and rating in the class look better than just your Grade Point Average.
Tip: There is no need for you to add your High School name. In most cases, it isn’t relevant at all.
The skills in your resume can fall under two categories, soft and hard skills.
Soft skills are personality characteristics, and they represent how a person interacts with other people. For a civil engineer as soft skills, you can list problem-solving, organization, detail-oriented, and time-management abilities.
The hard skills refer to the person’s knowledge, and they represent their occupational abilities. Here you can name your understanding of AutoCAD, Project Management, Math, and Structural Design.
Tip: The company usually lists the set of skills they are looking for in a future employee in the job ad. Our advice is to show them as bullet points concisely with facts from your personal experience.
This section is significant for every hiring manager because it shows the person’s ability and willingness to continue learning. Make sure to place them in the correct order and include the relevant details.
Tip: You should always separate them because years of training for a specific license are much different from a three-month course.
Maybe you ask yourself, why is this even important? But when a company hires someone is like they are choosing their ambassadors and their brand’s face. They want to make sure that you, as a candidate, represent the values the company shares.
It is not wise to only list things like TV shows, cooking, or video games, if this, of course, is not relevant to the industry.
Tip: When you write your CV, analyze what you have done in your spare time for your professional growth, and add that to this segment.
Example: Conferences, webinars, non-profit projects, volunteering, and active club memberships.
You have finished the hard part, but now you must also update your contact info. Imagine the HR department cannot reach you because you don’t use that email address anymore. The necessary information here is your full name, updated phone number, and professional email address. We say professional to remind you that you should use a professional-looking email address name.
Tip: We recommend that you also update your LinkedIn profile and include the link in your CV. And remember, it is a common practice for the hiring team to check social media before an interview.
When the document is ready, proofread, and saved in a pdf format, it is time to send it out.
It is the easiest part for most job applicants, and maybe that is why there are so many mistakes made. It is essential for you not to rush and not send it out as an unnamed attachment.
It will help if you name the CV correctly. Use your name and the job position. Also, the email should have a suitable subject line and a personalized body text. Make sure to check the company’s official language, your grammar, and include a proper salutation, customized text, and a call to action sentence at the end.
Tip: Keep a professional tone of voice and express your gratitude.
The hiring process is not easy! Neither for the company or the people applying for the job. That is why these couple of rules, advice, and tips are essential for maintaining smooth, professional communication, which will allow you to show your true potential!
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You can apply for a job at BREON at the following link.
