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What is an engineering personal statement?

Your engineering personal statement should tell the university all about your strengths, skills, experience and ambitions.

It should also convey your enthusiasm for engineering (either in general, or for a specific branch such as civil, aeronautical, etc.), and what aspects of the subject you enjoy and why.  

Your engineering personal statement will be used by universities to decide whether you are a good candidate to study engineering, and whether they want to offer you a place on their course.

How do I write an engineering personal statement?

It’s a good idea to start your statement with why you want to study engineering at university. Try to pick one or two specific aspects that you like in particular and why they appeal to you.

Make sure you back up everything with examples (always show, don’t tell). You need to convince the admissions tutors that you they should offer you a place on their engineering course over anyone else.

A successful engineering personal statement should be written clearly and concisely, with a good introduction, middle, and conclusion.

For inspiration on how to write your own unique statement, take a look at some of our engineering personal statement examples above.

What should I include in my engineering personal statement?

It’s important to include skills and experience from all areas of your life and try to relate them to hobbies or extracurricular activities if they helped you to build on certain strengths.

Think about how any work experience has benefitted you, and how it might be useful in your degree. University admissions tutors want to know what you can bring to their department and what value you can add.

Engineering also required you to demonstrate experience in highly practical subjects.

For example, for an electrical engineering personal statement, you could talk about your hands-on skills and interests. Have you repaired a radio or television? How did you do it and what did you learn from it?

Make sure you explain with enthusiasm – tutors want passionate students on their course that are really going to make the most of their time at university.

For more help and advice on what to write in your engineering personal statement, please see:

• Personal Statement Editing Services
• Personal Statement Tips From A Teacher
• Analysis Of A Personal Statement
• The 15th January UCAS Deadline: 4 Ways To Avoid Missing It
• Personal Statement FAQs
• Personal Statement Timeline
• 10 Top Personal Statement Writing Tips
• What To Do If You Miss The 15th January UCAS Deadline.

What can I do with an engineering degree?

There are many career options available to those wishing to study engineering. These include:

• Mechanical / electrical / chemical / aerospace / marine engineer
• Operations manager
• Building site inspector
• Signalling technician
• Metrologist
• Technical brewer
• Boat builder .

However, there are other areas or industries you can choose to work in where an engineering degree would be useful, such as teaching or research. For more information and advice, please see AllAboutCareers and the National Careers Service .

Which are the best UK universities for engineering?

Currently, the best universities in the UK for studying engineering at in 2023 are:

Other top universities for engineering include the University of Strathclyde , University of Manchester and the University of Edinburgh . For more information about UK university engineering rankings, please see The Complete University Guide .

What are the entry requirements for engineering?

If you want to take a degree in engineering you need an A level (or equivalent) in maths. In many cases you also need physics.

Some chemical engineering degrees ask for maths and chemistry instead; some ask for maths and physics; and some ask for all three.

Therefore, it's important to check the entry requirements carefully for any engineering course you are considering applying for.

A level entry requirements range from CCC to A*A*A*, with universities and colleges usually asking for ABB.

Find out more in our engineering subject application guide .

Which is the easiest engineering degree?

Most students would say that although still considered challenging, civil engineering is the easiest engineering degree to obtain.

However, it is still a rigorous course and you will need all the necessary entry requirements to secure a place (as well as a great personal statement !).

What engineering job has the highest salary?

According to the Engineer Salary Survey 2022 , engineers in the manufacturing sector are the highest paid in the UK, with an average salary of £65,340; followed by engineers in the energy, renewables and nuclear sector, who earn an average of £62,709.

The average salary for all engineers in 2022 was £58,108, which compares reasonably well with other professions in the UK, sitting below those in strategy and consultancy, qualified accountants, and those in banking, but above those working in financial services.

Is studying engineering hard?

Engineering ranks among one of the hardest degrees you can do.

The degree requires you to have everything from logic and common sense to a tremendous amount of patience when things don't go your way.

Engineering can be very difficult because you're essentially becoming a “professional problem solver”.

Remember that all engineering fields require a sting grasp of mathematics but some require more than others.

Engineering disciplines like electrical , mechanical , chemical , biomedical , software , aerospace and civil engineering all require very good math skills. However, some disciplines, like industrial engineering require slightly less.

Further resources

For more information on engineering degrees and careers, please see the following:

• What type of engineering should you study?
• Engineering and technology subject guide
• Engineering degrees in the UK
• Engineering and maintenance careers
• What are all the different types of engineering jobs?
• 5 exciting careers in engineering
• Engineering careers advice for school leavers .

Related resources

Engineering vs medicine.

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Engineering Personal Statement Guide

Applying For An Engineering Degree

Engineering Apprenticeships Guide

Engineering Graduates: What Next?

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Personal Statement for Engineering: Examples and Advice

In this article, we look at how to write a personal statement for engineering courses with examples and advice.

A roller coaster helped one student to decide to specialise in engineering, and her experience in coaching younger students helped her application.

Why did a student volunteering in Mississippi decide to study structural engineering? How much of your family history should you add in? Keep reading for useful tips and great examples.

Table of Contents

What is a personal statement for engineering, how to write an engineering personal statement, engineering personal statement example 1 – structural engineering, engineering personal statement example 2 – general engineering, engineering personal statement example 3 – marine engineering, faq (frequently asked questions), more personal statement tutorials.

It’s an important document used by universities to evaluate a student’s strengths, skills, experience and ambitions.

It is also used to show a student’s enthusiasm for engineering (either in general, or for a specific type such as civil or aeronautical), and what aspects of the subject they enjoy and why.

It is essential for an applicant to craft a 100% unique, yet effective personal statement as it allows universities to make an informed decision on who to admit to their engineering course.

Step 1: Start with your proudest achievement

Volunteering to help construct houses in Mississippi through Habitat for Humanity was a life-changing experience that made me want to become a structural engineer.

Starting with your proudest achievement in your engineering personal statement can help make your application stand out.

By mentioning your most impressive achievements first, the admissions committee will be able to quickly recognize your capabilities, dedication, and skills.

Step 2: Describe your ambitions and experience

In an engineering personal statement, it is important to clearly explain your ambitions and experiences that demonstrate your skills and passion for the field.

A good framework to follow is to first explain your motivation and enthusiasm for the course, and provide examples of any specific knowledge you already have.

Then, outline any relevant experience, insights, interests or achievements you have that relate to engineering, starting with the most impressive.

Step 3: Show evidence of being capable, by describing a project in depth

When writing a personal statement for engineering, it’s important to showcase your capabilities (skills) and qualifications to potential admissions committees or employers. Here are a few tips to help you demonstrate your capabilities in your personal statement:

• Highlight your technical skills: As an engineer, you will need to have a strong foundation in technical skills. Make sure to list the technical skills you possess and provide examples of how you have used them in your past experiences.
• Showcase your academic achievements: Highlight your academic achievements, including your GPA and any awards or honours you have received. This demonstrates that you have a strong academic foundation and are capable of handling challenging coursework.
• Discuss relevant work experience: If you have relevant work experience in engineering, make sure to discuss it in your personal statement. Highlight any projects you have worked on, problems you have solved, or skills you have developed in your previous roles.
• Emphasize your problem-solving skills: Engineers are problem solvers, so make sure to emphasize your ability to analyze and solve problems. Provide examples of how you have approached problems in the past and the steps you took to solve them. These can include time management, teamwork, or leadership

By focusing on one project and exploring it in depth, you can demonstrate your understanding of the subject and show that you are ready and committed to study engineering.

Step 4: Leave out (most of) your family history

Growing up, it was my job to fix anything that broke around the house. My father, a third-generation oil rig supervisor, was often away for months at a time and he taught me resilience and problem-solving along with practical DIY.

Why is it important to leave out (most of) your family history in an engineering personal statement?

The personal statement is an opportunity to tell a university or college about yourself and why you are a suitable candidate for the program.

Every word you spend writing about your family’s history and experiences is a word that you’re not using to tell the university about your own achievements, plans and passions.

Your family’s history and experiences may be influential on your choice of course, but keep it very brief – less than a sentence, to give a bit more context to your achievements, plans and aspirations.

By doing so, you can demonstrate to the university that you have the necessary skills and qualifications to succeed in their program.

Step 5: Include your hobbies

While hobbies may not be directly related to engineering, they can still be included in your personal statement to showcase your personality, interests, and skills.

Here are some tips on how to effectively include hobbies in your engineering personal statement:

• Choose relevant hobbies: Make sure to choose those that are relevant to your engineering career or showcase your technical or problem-solving skills. For example, if you enjoy building and programming robots as a hobby, you could mention this as evidence of your technical skills.
• Explain how your hobbies relate to your engineering goals: For example, if you enjoy designing and building furniture as a hobby, you could mention how this has honed your ability to create complex designs, which could be applicable to engineering projects.
• Showcase your teamwork and leadership skills: If you participate in team sports or volunteer in leadership roles, make sure to mention this in your personal statement.
• Avoid irrelevant or controversial hobbies: I f you enjoy partying or binge-watching TV shows, these hobbies may not be seen as relevant or professional.

Overall, including hobbies in your engineering personal statement can help the panel to get to know you a bit better and showcase your skills and interests beyond your academic achievements and work experience.

Step 6: Edit and proofread your statement

Editing and proofreading your engineering personal statement is an important part of the application process. To ensure your statement is professional and free of errors, follow these tips:

• Read your statement aloud slowly to catch any minor spelling or grammatical errors.
• Ask a friend or colleague to read it for you and provide feedback.
• Analyze your document with an online application to provide suggestions for improvement.
• Have a mentor, professor, or trusted friend look it over before you submit it.
• Make sure you dedicate enough time to the process by planning ahead and leaving time for editing and proofreading.
• Be truthful and concise, and ensure it is 100% unique.
• Avoid including unrelated information, maintain your professionalism, and make it a reflection of yourself.

By following these tips, you can make sure your engineering personal statement is as polished and professional as possible.

Growing up, it was my job to fix anything that broke around the house. My father, a third-generation oil-rig supervisor, was often away for months at a time and he taught me resilience and problem-solving along with practical DIY.

Volunteering to help construct houses in Mississippi through Habitat for Humanity was a life-changing experience. I worked with a group that included veterans being trained in construction skills and volunteers from all over the country. I saw first-hand how important it is to have a safe, well-run construction site and communicate clear expectations to the whole team.

As a result of an incredible team effort, families are able to transition from temporary, unsafe accommodation to having their own homes. I want to combine my love of construction, design and problem-solving in a career that makes a positive difference to people.

Already drawn to civil engineering, my fascination with designing made me want to become a structural engineer, specifically to design buildings. Majoring in structural engineering will allow me to further develop my IT skills by using computer-aided design technology, which I have been fortunate enough to learn to use during an internship with a local company this summer. I am already confident with using the AutoCAD program.

My time-management skills have been honed this year as I have combined volunteering, my internship and working 16 hours a week on a local construction crew to save for college while maintaining a 3.7 GPA. I am confident that I am well able to handle any workload asked of me.

I am highly analytical and can approach a problem from several angles. I am particularly drawn to your structural engineering program because of its reputation for hands-on, practical experience. I am confident that I will be a positive addition to the team and your program will provide me with the skills and experience I need to achieve my dream of becoming an outstanding structural engineer.

I am excited by the prospect of applying fundamental principles to real-world design challenges. Of all things, it was the mechanics of roller coasters, which I learned about in a lecture, that highlighted the practical applications of engineering principles and sparked my interest in pursuing a career in this field.

Studying engineering has always appealed to me because of its heavy reliance on problem-solving and its integration of two of my favourite subjects, Math and Science. The ability to apply logical reasoning to create solutions to complex problems is what attracts me to engineering as well as the huge range of specialisms to choose from further down the road.

My academic background has prepared me well for a degree in engineering. I have excelled in my Math and Science coursework, receiving high grades in all of my relevant subjects. I have also participated in extracurricular activities, such as robotics competitions and science fairs, where I have had the opportunity to apply my knowledge and skills in practical settings while mentoring and coaching younger students.

I am eager to pursue a degree in engineering to further develop my problem-solving skills and gain a deeper understanding of the principles and concepts that underpin this field. I believe that a degree in engineering will enable me to make a positive impact on society by contributing to the design and development of innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, in a field in which women are still under-represented.

In addition to my academic and extracurricular experiences, I bring a strong work ethic, determination, and a passion for learning to my studies. I am confident that my skills, combined with the resources and opportunities provided by your engineering program, will enable me to excel in my studies and make meaningful contributions to the field.

I look forward to the opportunity to pursue a degree in engineering and whether I will be designing roller coasters or factory equipment, I will be making a positive difference in the future and hopefully, inspiring other young women to become engineers.

As an aspiring engineer, I am driven by the opportunity to apply fundamental principles to the design of complex systems. With a fascination for engineering plants and an interest in the sea, I have been drawn to the marine industry as a way to combine my passions with the challenge of problem-solving.

I have chosen a major in marine engineering because it will allow me to further explore the fascinating findings of physics and put my mathematical knowledge into practical application. It is my ambition to work in the submarine design industry and gain Chartered Engineer status, and I believe that pursuing a graduate degree in marine engineering will help me achieve these goals.

Throughout my academic and professional career, I have demonstrated a strong work ethic, determination, and a passion for learning. I have excelled in my coursework and participated in research projects, internships, and other extracurricular activities that have allowed me to apply my knowledge and skills in practical settings.

My own experience in the marine industry has given me a unique perspective on engineering and the challenges of designing complex systems in a dynamic environment. As a mature student, I am excited by the opportunity to further develop my skills and knowledge in a graduate engineering program and to apply these to real-world challenges in my chosen field.

I am particularly drawn to your graduate engineering program because of its reputation for academic excellence and its focus on hands-on, practical experience as well as strong links with the outstanding teams at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyards. I am confident that your program will provide me with the resources and opportunities I need to achieve my goals and make meaningful contributions to the engineering industry.

In conclusion, I am passionate about engineering and am committed to pursuing a career in this field. I am excited about the prospect of joining your graduate engineering program and am eager to continue developing my skills and knowledge in this dynamic and challenging field. Thank you for considering my application.

Some of these questions were already covered in this blog post but I will still list them here (because not everyone carefully reads every paragraph) so here’s the TL;DR version

What are the key components of a personal statement for engineering?

The key components of a personal statement for engineering include:

• expressing your enthusiasm for engineering
• conveying your strengths, skills, experience and ambitions
• being truthful, concise, and authentic
• providing specific examples of your interests, goals, and strengths.

Additionally, you should explain why you want to study engineering at the university level, back up everything with examples, and have a good introduction, middle, and conclusion. Finally, be sure to save time for editing and proofreading the statement.

What qualifications should I include in my personal statement for engineering?

In your engineering personal statement, you should include qualifications that are related to engineering as well as other academic or practical qualifications, such as project management.

What skills should I demonstrate in my personal statement for engineering?

In your personal statement for engineering, you should aim to demonstrate a range of skills that are important for success in this field. Some of the key skills that you may want to highlight include:

• Problem-solving: Engineering is all about solving problems and coming up with creative solutions to complex challenges.
• Technical knowledge: Engineering is a technical field, and it is important to demonstrate that you have a strong foundation in math, science, and other related subjects.
• Communication: Engineering often involves working in teams and communicating complex ideas clearly to a range of stakeholders.
• Creativity: While engineering is a technical field, it also requires a certain level of creativity and innovation. Highlight any projects or activities that have allowed you to demonstrate your creativity or come up with innovative solutions to problems.
• Leadership: As you progress in your engineering career, you may be called upon to lead teams or manage projects. Show that you have leadership potential and are able to work effectively with others.
• Adaptability : Engineering is a dynamic and ever-changing field, and it is important to demonstrate that you are adaptable and can handle uncertainty and change calmly and flexibly.

How should I structure my personal statement for engineering?

Writing a successful engineering personal statement can seem like a daunting task. But by breaking it down into smaller steps, you can make the process much easier. To get started, here are some steps you can take to structure your engineering personal statement:

• Start with an introduction: This should take up about 15-20% of your statement and answer the question “Why do you want to study engineering?” Talk about the experiences that shaped your love of the subject and the things about it that you find interesting.
• Add in body paragraphs: In these paragraphs, address questions such as “What have you done that has prepared you for this course?” “How have you cultivated the knowledge you need to succeed in this field?,” and “Did you receive high marks in the classes relevant to an engineering course?”
• End with a conclusion: Here you’ll sum up your personal statement and bring it to a close. Include any other extracurricular activities that might not be directly related to engineering, but are impressive enough that you want the admissions team to know about them.

What should I do to make my personal statement for engineering stand out?

To make your engineering personal statement stand out, follow these steps:

• Be truthful, concise, and authentic. Avoid plagiarism and cheating.
• Start your statement by explaining why you want to study engineering and which aspects of the field you enjoy.
• Back up everything with examples.
• Write your statement clearly and concisely, with a good introduction, middle, and conclusion.
• Take inspiration from engineering personal statement examples, but make sure yours is unique.

How do I avoid plagiarism in my personal statement for engineering?

In order to ensure that your engineering personal statement is completely original, here are some steps to take to avoid plagiarism:

• Research: Spend some time researching engineering topics and schools before writing your statement. This will help you to get a better understanding of the field and come up with unique points and ideas.
• Brainstorm: Take the time to brainstorm some ideas for your statement before putting your pen to paper. This will help you to come up with unique ideas, rather than using someone else’s.
• Outline: Create an outline for your statement that includes all of the points that you want to make. This will help you to stay organized and make sure that your statement flows naturally.
• Write: Once you have your outline and research, start writing your engineering personal statement. Be sure to use your own words and phrase each sentence the way you would say it.
• Check: Once you have finished your statement, it is important to double-check that all of your words and phrases are unique. Use a plagiarism checker (such as this one) to make sure that there are no similarities to any other statement.
• Proofread: Finally, make sure to dedicate enough time to the editing and proofreading stages after you have finished your first draft. This will help to ensure that there are no errors or mistakes in your statement.

By following these steps, you can be sure that your engineering personal statement is unique and free from plagiarism. Remember to be truthful, concise, authentic, and professional when writing your statement. Good luck!

What should I research when writing my personal statement for engineering?

When writing your personal statement for engineering, it is important to conduct thorough research to ensure that you are able to tailor your statement to the specific program or institution you are applying to. Some areas to research include:

• Curriculum: Look into the specific courses and areas of focus within the engineering program. This can help you highlight relevant coursework or projects you have completed that align with the program’s focus.
• Faculty and research: Look into the faculty members within the engineering program and their areas of expertise. This can help you tailor your personal statement to align with specific research areas or interests within the program.
• Industry partnerships and internships: Look into any partnerships the program may have with industry organizations or companies, as well as any internship or co-op opportunities offered through the program. This can help you highlight any relevant industry experience you may have and demonstrate your interest in pursuing practical experience in the field.
• University values and culture: Research the university’s overall mission and values, as well as the culture of the campus community. This can help you tailor your personal statement to demonstrate your fit with the university and program culture.

By conducting thorough research on these areas, you can tailor your personal statement to align with the specific program and institution you are applying to, demonstrating your interest and fit for the program.

How can I check my personal statement for engineering for errors?

Checking your engineering personal statement for errors is an important step in the application process. You should:

• Read your statement aloud to catch any minor spelling or grammatical errors.
• Ask a friend, colleague, or mentor to read your statement and provide feedback.
• Use online applications to analyze the document and suggest improvements.
• Seek advice from a careers centre or advisor to help polish the statement.
• mxddasasProofread and edit the statement multiple times.

By following these steps, you can ensure your engineering personal statement is professional and error-free before submitting your application materials.

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Goldsmiths, UOL

235 courses

Uni of Suffolk

122 courses

166 courses

London Met Uni

322 courses

dBs Institute

232 courses

Uni for Creative Arts

284 courses

Heriot-Watt Uni

203 courses

Ravensbourne

336 courses

121 courses

Uni of East London

261 courses

348 courses

Leeds Beckett Uni

375 courses

Uni College Birmingham

104 courses

Uni of Surrey

476 courses

Uni of Roehampton

Middlesex Uni

393 courses

Uni of Bradford

244 courses

Northeastern Uni

Uni of Bedfordshire

411 courses

Escape Studios

400 courses

Uni of Sunderland

211 courses

Uni of Chester

346 courses

Uni of Huddersfield

592 courses

Wrexham Uni

125 courses

Uni of Staffordshire

233 courses

Queen's Uni

415 courses

Uni of Southampton

362 courses

Kingston Uni

444 courses

Uni of Winchester

126 courses

Uni of Derby

366 courses

Uni of Hertfordshire

497 courses

Leeds Arts University

Uni of Westminster

373 courses

Uni of Hull

289 courses

Edge Hill Uni

308 courses

Uni of Leicester

248 courses

Bath Spa Uni

276 courses

Swansea Uni

988 courses

Uni of Kent

323 courses

Uni of Portsmouth

512 courses

Uni of Reading

447 courses

Nottingham Trent

584 courses

UWE, Bristol

259 courses

Bournemouth Uni

281 courses

Uni of Brighton

274 courses

Coventry Uni

Cardiff Met Uni

318 courses

Highlands & Islands

260 courses

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Writing a Winning UCAS Engineering Personal Statement: Ultimate Guide w/Analysed Examples

Engineering Personal Statement: Why It’s Important

With careers in engineering providing  over 20% of the UK’s total economic productivity and with over one-fourth of its workforce working in engineering fields , it’s no surprise that some of  the best and highest-ranked  engineering schools in the world are located in the United Kingdom. So how do you get a spot in one of the best engineering programmes in the world? You need impressive marks, a good resume, and a stellar engineering personal statement.

Before we get to that, though, let’s back up a little and examine everything it takes to get into a good engineering programme.

Engineering Programme Prerequisites

Before you get ready to apply for an engineering programme at any university, there are  several prerequisites  you need to have met first. While these prerequisites may differ slightly from university to university, the majority of them should remain the same.

Completed Coursework

You must have, at a minimum, at least two A-Levels if you expect to get into an engineering programme. In the most popular programmes, you’ll need at least three, with grades of A’s and B’s in each. The exact entry requirements may vary, but they tend to range from CCC to AAA. Most universities prefer you to have ABB.

Additionally, one of your A-Levels needs to be in maths. A second A Level in physics is also encouraged for students hoping to study engineering at Uni. There are other courses that may be accepted in place of physics, such as other science courses, additional maths courses, or design and/or computing courses, but your safest bet will always be maths and physics as two of your A-Levels. If you don’t have an A-Level in maths, you may be required to take a maths and/or mechanics aptitude test before being considered for admission.

Vocational Courses

If you don’t have the required A Levels, another option you can use at some schools is to substitute vocational courses for them. For example, if you have Level 3 or Level 6 qualifications, you might be able to use these as replacements for the A-Level courses. These qualifications include the following:

• SVQ Scientific, Technical & Formulation Processing (SCQF Level 6)
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Engineering or Construction and Built Environment

It’s important to note that not all universities will accept these as substitutes for A-Levels, so check with each school individually.

Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering

If you’re interested in a biotechnology or chemical engineering programme, the required A Levels are a little different. Universities usually require two A-Levels in science or a Scottish Highers with either biology or chemistry as one of the subjects. Additionally, you’ll also be required to have five GCSEs that include English, maths, and a science.

Scottish Highers

The most common range for entry into Highers is between ABBB and AAAAB. The majority of universities require AABBB. If a university requests an Advanced Highers to supplement Highers, they most often ask for an AA.

Additional Qualifications for Admission

The only true prerequisites for admission into an engineering programme are those listed above, but there are some additional things you may want to have on your application to make it more memorable. These include relevant work or apprenticeship experience, volunteer experience, and personal references.

Applying for Admission

To apply for any undergraduate programme at a university in the UK, particularly an engineering programme, you have to fill out an application through the  UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) . If you’ve ever applied to a college or university in the United States using the Common App, the UCAS is very similar.

It’s a centralised location for applying to a multitude of different schools/courses, and you’ll use it whether you live in the UK or are an international student. The actual name of the application is the UCAS Apply. Once you’ve completed it, you can apply to up to five separate universities (or five separate degree programmes if you aren’t set in your engineering course) simultaneously.

Filling out the UCAS Apply: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: register for the ucas site.

This is a simple setup process. You’ll sign up by setting up a username and password. You’ll create some security questions in case you lose your password, and then you’ll be asked some basic information such as your name, birth date, and other personally-identifying information.

Step 2: Verify Your Account, Sign In & Enter the Rest of Your Information

After verifying that you really did create an account, you’ll be asked to sign in using the username and password you just created. Then you’ll fill in the rest of your personal information, including your residency status. You’ll also be asked about how you plan to pay for university and whether or not you’ll be requesting scholarships.

Additionally, you’ll be asked about any special needs you have or the accommodations you’ll need. If you have any type of criminal record, you’ll indicate that in this section. You can also give permission for an adult in your life – parent, adviser, mentor, guardian, etc. – to have access to your UCAS profile. This gives them permission to talk to university staff about you, your university goals, and anything else of note.

Steps 3 & 4: For UK Residents Only

If you’re an international student, you won’t be required to fill out steps three and four. (Note: Residents of the EU might possibly be asked to fill out step 4.) Section three asks about your national identity, ethnic origin, and occupational background. There are some additional questions in this section that are optional. These ask about your religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

You’ll also be provided with space to discuss your own, personal circumstances, especially as they relate to your ability to pay for and succeed at Uni. This could include information about your parents’ education or background, activities in which you’ve been involved, whether or not you’ve been in care, etc.

Section four isn’t always asked and only appears if questions in the personal details section have been answered a certain way. If they do appear, they’ll be asking about your finances.

Step 5: Choose Your Courses/Universities

In this section, you’ll be able to apply for up to five different courses and/or universities. This is where you choose what programmes you hope to be accepted into. You can only choose five though, so choose wisely.

Step 6: Provide Your Educational History

Here you’ll enter your entire educational history beginning at secondary education. You’ll enter your A-Levels as well as any vocational courses you’ve taken. It’s important that you list all of these exactly right, including the marks you received in each.

Step 7: Employment History

This is where you’ll attach your work resume. This is for paid work only. If you have any volunteer experience or other unpaid work, it’ll be listed in your personal statement instead. You can only list five places of employment, so if you’ve had more than five jobs, choose the five most relevant to the programme you’re pursuing (in this case, engineering).

Step 8: Your Personal Statement

We’ll discuss this in-depth a little later on.

Step 9: Review the Details

Once you’ve completed all the above-listed steps, you’ll have a chance to review everything. Review it thoroughly and make any changes necessary. You won’t be allowed to edit it once it’s been submitted.

Step 10: Personal Reference, Application Fee & Submit

Finally, you’ll need at least one personal reference. This should be from someone who knows you in a professional capacity, either from working with you or having had you in class. You’ll also be required to pay an application fee of £20 if you’re applying to only one course and £25 if you’re applying for multiple courses. Then you’ll submit the application.

Once you’ve submitted your UCAS Apply application, you’re all set. You can track it using the UCAS Tracker to see if your desired universities have received it. Then you wait for the university to reach out to you for more information, an interview, or acceptance.

Writing Your Personal Statement

If you’re applying to an engineering programme, you’ll be required to write a  personal statement  as part of step 8 on the UCAS Apply application. We can’t overemphasise how important step 8 truly is. There are very few universities that require you to write an additional essay or personal statement for entrance into their engineering programmes, so this is your one chance to get it right.

So what exactly should you write about?

There isn’t exactly a prompt for writing your UCAS personal statement. Under this same question – “What should I write about?” – on the  UCAS website , the answer given is simply, “You.” In other words, write about yourself.

The admissions team wants to know why they should give you a coveted spot in the engineering programme over every other applicant. You need to tell them why you want a spot at the university, but you also need to tell them why you  deserve  a spot  and  what it is about you that should make them want to  give  you a spot. This means showcasing your strengths, achievements, and drive to succeed.

In case you need a little more guidance, here are some questions to ask yourself to help you get started:

• Why are you interested in attending university, and what aspects of university life are you most looking forward to experiencing?
• What are your career goals?
• What first interested you in engineering, and what about it continues to interest you?
• What experiences have you had, either in school or in the work environment, that would prepare you for studying at university?
• Was there anything about your earlier education studies you found to be particularly helpful or interesting?
• What do you most hope to gain from your time at the university, and what strengths and positive characteristics will you bring with you?
• What makes you a good candidate for a position at Uni?
• What elements of your future studies are you looking forward to most?
• Have you taken any higher education courses already, received any awards or accolades, or been recognised for outstanding academic or professional ability?
• What can you write about to prove that you’ve researched engineering beyond what you learned in your early education?

If you consider these questions and keep them in mind while writing, you’ll likely cover everything you need to cover to make a good impression on the admissions team. UCAS also provides you with this  personal statement worksheet  to help organise your thoughts and guide your writing.

Standard Engineering Personal Statement Length & Format

One thing to keep in mind while writing your personal statement is that it has to stay within a  certain character limit . No matter how much you have to say, you have to keep it under 4000 characters or 47 lines of text.

While this isn’t an exact word count, that averages out to approximately 500 words, which isn’t a ton of words. It’s about one single-spaced page worth of text. This means that you must be concise. You want to get in all the important information that’ll help your application stand out from all the other applications universities receive, but you have to do it without being too wordy.

Format Requirements

Worrying about the formatting requirements (double-spaced, single-spaced, font size, etc.) is unnecessary for your engineering personal statement because you’ll be typing or pasting it into a text box on the website. As long as your paragraphs are clearly defined and your font is easy to read, you should be fine on formatting guidelines.

However, because you only get 47 lines of text, it’s important that you  structure your paper correctly . This means breaking your personal statement into roughly three sections, with each section answering a specific question. For the sake of clarity, we’ll call these sections the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Now let’s break it down a little further.

A Brief Introduction

The introduction should take up about 15-20% of your personal statement. That’s approximately seven to ten of the 47 provided lines. In your introduction, try to answer the question, “Why do you want to study engineering?” You can talk about the experiences that shaped your love of the subject and the things about it that continue to interest you. You might even touch on why you feel it’s important that people study engineering at all.

Full, Rich Body Paragraphs

Your body paragraphs should make up about 55-65% of your engineering personal statement, or 26 to 30 lines. In these paragraphs, you’ll address the questions, “What have you done that has prepared you for this course?” and “Why do you deserve a spot in the programme?” This is when you go in-depth into your experiences, educational history,  relevant  employment, etc.

Other questions you may want to address in your body paragraphs are:

• How have you cultivated the knowledge you need to succeed in this field?
• What did you learn while preparing for this course?
• Did you receive high marks in the classes relevant to an engineering course?
• Did you win any awards or receive any other accolades?
• What about your life experiences that has fully prepared you not just to enrol in the course but to excel in it?

A Brief Conclusion

Your conclusion should make up between 20-25% of your engineering personal statement, which is roughly ten to 12 lines. Here you’ll sum up your personal statement and bring it to a close. This is where you’ll add in any other extracurricular activities that might not be relevant to engineering but are impressive enough that you want the admissions team to know about them. You can also touch briefly on your future career goals in this section.

Other Things to Remember

One statement – five applications.

One of the most important things to remember about your engineering personal statement for your UCAS Apply application is that you can only write one statement, even though you could be applying to five different courses/universities. This means you don’t want to mention any specific university by name. If you do, the four other universities to which you’ve applied may think you aren’t seriously interested in them and disregard your application altogether.

Additionally, if you’ve applied to study different subjects rather than simply applying to five different engineering programmes, you won’t be able to focus your personal statement quite so much on the field of engineering. Instead, you’ll have to take a much more general approach to writing your personal statement, discussing your strengths in general terms as opposed to how they would apply specifically to the field of engineering.

Proofread and Edit

Do  not  submit your application and your included engineering personal statement without first proofreading and editing your statement. It’s even better if you can ask a  mentor, professor, or trusted friend  to look over it for you before you submit it. Having a fresh set of eyes looking over your paper is a great way to find errors you might have otherwise missed. Proper grammar and writing style are important, so don’t rush ahead without a proper amount of time spent editing and cleaning up.

The Website Will Time Out

Another important thing to remember is that the UCAS website will time out after 35 minutes of inactivity. For this reason, it’s better if you write your personal statement ahead of time in a separate document and then simply copy and paste it into the text box once it’s been fully edited and is ready to go.

Engineering Personal Statement Examples

Example personal statement 1.

“I hope a degree from your University will allow me to transfer key abilities from a place of study into, eventually, a place in industry. After much extended research, my admiration for the engineering innovator, Karl Benz, has been truly established. Commonly regarded as the originator of the first automobile powered by an internal combustion engine, his contributions to the vast domain that is engineering are simply colossal. One creation of his that captivated my mind tremendously was the ‘Blitzen Benz’; a vehicle fabricated solely for the purpose of speed. […]

Understandably, I am mindful that the finest engineers must possess a resilient skill-set, which should include the ability to thrive in both collaborative and solo tasks, flourish under pressure and blossom in positions requiring a leadership mentality. Hopefully, a place on this course will allow me to reinforce and augment my previously developed skills whilst allowing me to simultaneously acquire many more essential abilities that will prove beneficial in later life.”

– Read the rest  here

Although this excerpt is a little longer than we usually like to include, we had to include it. It’s just too impressive to ignore. First of all, you’ll notice the author refers to “your University.” This is how you should always speak of the prospective university in your engineering personal statement because it sounds personal, but it doesn’t call any specific school by name, which would alienate the other four universities to which you applied.

Secondly, the author speaks of his admiration for the engineer and inventor Karl Benz. This shows that he’s researched his field of study outside of what he learned in school. It shows he has a genuine interest and passion for engineering, which means he should do well at Uni. The section that’s been removed goes into more detail about the ‘Blitzen Benz,’ using language that shows he has a solid knowledge of the technical terms associated with engineering.

Finally, he smoothly transitions into highlighting his strengths. He mentions many of the qualities that make for a good engineer and then mentions he has those qualities. In the next section, which has also been removed for the sake of brevity, he talks a bit about how he cultivated those qualities. He also says he hopes his time at Uni will help further these necessary qualities in him, and then transitions into talking about his future goals.

It is a powerfully written personal statement that shows the writer to be an excellent candidate for the engineering programme.

Our Verdict:

Example Personal Statement 2

“Engineers build societies. More specifically, mechanical engineers apply fundamental maths and physics laws to construct mechanical devices that we use every day, despite sometimes going unnoticed. For this reason, I would like to pursue a career in engineering, as it is such a key component in societies. It combines my fascination of how things work and the mechanics behind devices, with the ability to apply maths and physics concepts to real-life situations.

Studying Maths Mechanics at A-level has given me experience with calculus and more advanced mathematics, including differential equations, creating a firm grounding for the mathematics I should encounter at degree level. Physics has given me an understanding of fundamental notions and reinforced the mechanical aspects of maths […]”

his is another example of a well-written engineering personal statement. The introductory paragraph, in particular, is superb and covers everything that should be covered. The writer starts by highlighting why engineering is important to society as a whole. In doing so, she also demonstrates a solid knowledge of what engineering is all about.

She transitions smoothly into why she wants to become an engineer and mentions that she has a fascination with both  “how things work”  and  “the mechanics behind devices,”  which are two key elements for a successful engineer. In her next paragraph, she begins talking about her educational history, showing she has the experience and education necessary for a foundation in engineering.

Altogether, she presents herself as someone with passion, clearly defined goals, and a solid foundation that should allow her to hit the ground running when she begins at the university.

Example Personal Statement 3

“My desire to study Engineering stems from the practical application of Maths and Physics to real world situations to enhance and improve them is a field that I find fascinating and perplexing. After partaking in different engineering-based experiences, I learnt how varied and inclusive this subject is, and that is the reason I want to study Engineering at University.”

In contrast to the first two examples, this is an example of a weak engineering personal statement that wasn’t done well. This is the author’s introductory paragraph, and right from the beginning, it fails to paint the writer in a good light. The first sentence is grammatically incorrect and makes no sense as written. The paragraph is also much too short and vague.

Referring back to the common structure of a personal statement, you’ll remember the introductory paragraph should be about seven to ten lines long. This one is about four. It doesn’t have enough information on it, and the information that’s there is too general. It sounds like a child’s version of what an engineer does and why it’d be fun to be an engineer.

The student mentions  “partaking in different engineering-based experiences”  but doesn’t give any examples to back up that claim. Even his reason for wanting to be an engineer isn’t clearly defined. This is a weak, unmemorable statement that isn’t going to impress anyone on an admissions team.

Example Personal Statement 4

“My extra-curricular activities in and out of school have enhanced my ability to lead a group. I joined stem club at the beginning of year 12 and this has contributed to the improvement of my problem-solving skills which has helped me significantly in my maths modules and physics. […] I play the piano […] piano allows me to improve my thinking skills on the spot. My schedule is very busy and challenges me to manage my time carefully […] I am always challenging my own understanding and I believe that I have the right attitude, skills and personality for this degree. I feel that a career in engineering will make good use of my strengths.”

– Read the rest  here

Let’s look again at the typical structure of a personal statement listed above. You’ll see that the conclusion paragraph should be about ten lines long. It’s also a good place to list all the extracurricular activities that aren’t strictly associated with engineering but that you want the admissions team to know about you.

This author wrote a great conclusion paragraph. Although sections have been removed, you can see it’s close to the right length. Additionally, she uses the conclusion paragraph exactly as it should be used, listing all of her extra achievements she wants the admissions team to know. Beyond that, though, she uses these extracurricular activities as another way to show her strengths – strengths that would make her a good fit for any engineering programme.

She mentions having good leadership skills. She also talks about being part of a STEM (science, technology,  engineering,  and mathematics) club. She talks about playing the piano but then adds that her ability to play has improved her on-the-fly problem-solving skills. She talks about work and her busy schedule, but then stresses that this has helped her learn good time management skills.

Instead of just using her conclusion to provide a list of her extracurricular activities, she uses it as another opportunity to casually and naturally highlight her skills. She ends by saying these skills she learned in all these activities will serve her well in her future career as an engineer, which is a great way to end the personal statement on a relevant note.

Example Personal Statement 5

“During my school life, I have enjoyed taking part in sporting events organised by the French charity “Justice au Coeur” […] My extracurricular activities include athletics […] I also attended a scouts’ club in my neighbourhood, and have passed Grade 7 in drama. […]

I am a native speaker of English and French […] I have also studied Latin at my school for six years, and am going to take it as a subject at the French Baccalauréat.

One of my main hobbies is model rocketry. […]

I completed two weeks of unpaid work experience in a WHSmith bookshop in Wimbledon in June 2012. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.”

By contrast, this is an example of a writer who didn’t do a good job of adding in her extracurricular activities. First of all, even though it’s not evident here, this information is listed in this author’s body paragraphs, not her conclusion. These sentences, along with several similar ones that have been removed, make up  four paragraphs  of the body of her engineering personal statement.

She used  four paragraphs  talking about things that have absolutely nothing to do with engineering. She wasted those four paragraphs. All this information is nice information to provide, but it should have all been condensed into one small paragraph at the end of the personal statement.

Instead, she took the paragraphs that should have been devoted to what she’s done to prepare her for engineering and why she deserves a spot in the programme and wasted them on extracurricular activities that aren’t really relevant.

Remember: You only have 4000 characters to write your personal statement, and use those characters wisely.

To Sum It All Up…

The main things to remember when writing your engineering personal statement are to be truthful, be concise, and be authentic. It’s also important that you write a 100% unique, “personal-to-you” personal statement. It’s okay to look at other people’s statements for inspiration or to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t, but there are severe consequences for plagiarism ( here’s a plagiarism-checker you can use ) and cheating, including having your entire application trashed at all the universities to which you applied.

Finally, make sure you dedicate enough time to the process. You want to plan your statement out ahead of time and have enough time to write it thoroughly and completely. It’s also important to save time for the  editing and proofreading stages  after you’ve finished your first draft.

Be specific when talking about your interests, goals, and strengths. Remember, this is one of the few times in life when it is okay to sell yourself. You want to make a good impression, and you want to be memorable. The more easily the admissions team can recall you and your engineering personal statement, the more likely you’ll get a spot in a good engineering programme.

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Engineering Resume for 2024 [w/ Examples & Template]

Whether you’re a mechanical, electrical, civil, software, or chemical engineer, you’re great at solving problems.

And yet, when it comes to writing a job-winning engineering resume, you experience the equivalent of writer’s block.

You know you have the right skills, education, and work experience to land your next dream engineering position, yet you can’t seem to express all that effectively in your engineering resume.

And, for better or worse, a strong engineering resume is a prerequisite to land an interview and, eventually, land your next job.

Well, you actually have no reason to worry! 

Writing a job-landing engineering resume that shows off your professional background is not hard and we’re here to guide you through the process.

So, in this article, we will cover:

Engineering Resume Example

• How to Build Your Engineering Resume (Step-By-Step)
• 40 Skills For Your Engineering Resume

Like the look of the template above? Create your own modern and professional engineering resume in minutes with these easy-to-update templates.

If you were applying for a different position in this field, you might find one of our other resume examples more useful:

• Software Engineer Resume
• Artificial Intelligence Engineer Resume
• Computer Science Resume
• Data Scientist Resume
• Data Analyst Resume
• Data Entry Resume
• Java Developer Resume
• Web Developer Resume

Here are the elements that make this engineering resume example outstanding:

• Reverse-chronological format. This resume format puts your engineering work experience in the spotlight AND is the most popular resume format around the globe.
• Contact information. The engineering resume example above includes relevant contact information, such as the candidate’s email address, phone number, LinkedIn profile URL as well as Skype handle.
• Resume summary. The engineering resume example above includes an engineering resume summary that briefly introduces the candidate and his areas of expertise.
• Achievement-focused work experience section. This engineering resume example includes the candidate's professional achievements, making his engineering resume stand out among other candidates’ resumes.
• Brief education section. In the engineering resume example above, the candidate only mentions his highest degree details, such as his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
• Use of bullet points. The information in this engineering resume example is presented in bullet points to make the resume look well-organized and easy to skim through.
• Relevant engineering skills. The engineering resume example above mentions only engineering-related skills, including computer-aided design and project management.
• Use of additional sections. The candidate included relevant additional sections in the engineering resume example above, such as certificates and field-related interests. 

How to Build Your Engineering Resume (Step-By-Step) 

Now that you know exactly what makes an effective engineering resume, let’s put theory into practice and see how you can create a powerful engineering resume!

Here are the steps to building your engineering resume:

#1. Pick the Right Format For Your Engineering Resume 

Before you start filling in the contents, let’s address how you should format your engineering resume.

Now, there are 3 resume formats you can choose from:

• Reverse-chronological
• Combination  

You’re best off using the reverse-chronological resume format for your engineering resume. 

It’s the preferred resume format among recruiters worldwide, so it’s obviously the safest and most obvious choice for you!

And the best part? It starts off with your most recent - and relevant - engineering work experience, highlighting your achievements and skills first.

Here’s what it looks like:

Next, let’s talk about the resume layout . 

Here are the guidelines for making a great resume layout:

• Pick a professional font style . Choose a font that’s easy to read on a PDF file and use it throughout the length of your engineering resume.
• Choose the right font size. Use 11-12 pts for the body and 14-16 pts for headings in your engineering resume.
• Bullet points. Whenever possible, use bullet points to present the information and make it easy for the recruiter to skim.
• Mind the length. Recruiters shouldn’t go through a 3-page resume to see whether you’re the right candidate, so the optimal length of your engineering resume should be one page (unless you’re a professional with 10+ years on the job, that is).
• Save your engineering resume in PDF format . Unless asked to do otherwise, your best bet is to save your resume as a PDF file to ensure it looks the same on every device and OS.

Use Our Tried & Tested Templates

As an engineer, you should use every opportunity to show the recruiter how innovative you are and your engineering resume is your first chance to do that.

Like most people, you probably tried creating a Word resume… admit it, using 30+-year-old software is the opposite of being innovative.

Think about it. You can spend hours on formatting alone, but in the end, your engineering resume will still look boring and outdated.

Well, what if we told you there is an easy way to save time AND stand out with your engineer resume?

Just use a resume template !

Our resume templates are created in collaboration with professional recruiters, so they don’t just look fresh and modern - they’re also well-organized and easy to scan.

Want to check for yourself?

Here’s how our resume templates compare to basic text-editors resumes:

#2. Add Contact Information

Now that the formatting is out of the way, you can start filling in the contents of your engineering resume.

Let’s start with the basics - your contact information .

You don’t have to invent anything new here - just make sure to avoid making any mistakes (you don’t want the recruiter to think you aren’t capable of successfully providing your contact information - after all, attention to detail is key to being an engineer!).

So, simply include the following details:

• First name and last name
• Professional title
• Phone number
• Email address
• Relevant social media profiles, such as LinkedIn 

Here’s an example of the contact information section:

Sam Edwards

Mechanical Engineer

012-345-6789

[email protected]  

Sacramento, California

linkedin.com/in/samedwards71

#3. Write an Engineering Resume Summary or Objective

After including your contact details, you should add a 2-3 sentence resume summary or objective to your engineering resume to quickly decide that your engineering resume is worth taking a closer look at.

Here’s how to choose which one to use:

• If you have lots of engineering experience , write a resume summary to highlight your skills and achievements.
• If you lack engineering experience , use a resume objective to show your career aspirations and how you can benefit the company.

First impressions matter, so whether you’re writing a resume summary or objective, it must effectively show your professional background or how you can be an asset for the company you’re applying to. 

Otherwise, the recruiter might just move on to the next resume.

So, here’s what an impressive resume summary should include:

• Your position and years of experience
• Your most important engineering skills
• Your top 1-2 professional achievements 

And here’s an example of an eye-catching engineering resume summary:

Driven and detail-oriented Electrical Engineer with 4+ years of experience with the design and fabrication of integrated circuits. Excellent troubleshooting, problem-solving, and analytical thinking skills. Solved a long-standing testing bug at Company X which increased the average testing time by 17%. 

Now, if you don’t have the relevant experience and opt for a resume objective, this is what you need to include to make it as memorable as possible:

• Title of your engineering degree
• Any engineering-related experience
• Your motivation to work for the company

Specifically, it should look something like this:

Enthusiastic Software Engineering undergraduate student looking for an entry-level job at Company X. Experienced with Python, C++, and MATLAB programming languages. Looking to apply coding skills and creativity in educational game development.

#4. Make Your Engineering Work Experience Stand Out

Now, let’s move to the most important section of your engineering resume - your work experience .

First, let’s address the formatting.

Begin with your most recent/current job position and simply do this:

• Start off with the job title. This shows the recruiter what role you had in the company.
• Add company details. Include the name and location of the company you worked at. Optionally, you can briefly describe the company if it’s relatively unknown.
• Include the date of employment. Use the mm/yyyy format to write down how long you worked in each company.
• Add responsibilities and achievements. Use 5-6 bullet points for the most recent jobs, and 2-3 for older jobs.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about making the most out of your work experience section.

Of course, you want your engineering work experience to stand out among hundreds of other applications, so simply listing your responsibilities isn’t enough.

Luckily, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel!

Here are some tips to perfect your work experience section:

• Tailor your work experience section to the job. If you’re an engineer, your work experience section should show exactly that, so skip the barista job you had in university and use the space for your achievements or to include additional sections instead.
• Focus on achievements over responsibilities. Every civil, electrical, mechanical, or another type of engineer has the same responsibilities, more or less, but it’s your achievements that can really set you apart from the competition.
• Use action verbs to describe your achievements. Power words (e. g. developed, organized, operated, redesigned, assisted…) will spice up your engineering resume.
• Make your achievements quantifiable. Whenever possible, use numbers to drive the point home (e. g. “Led a team of 15 engineers” instead of “Led a team”).

And here’s an example of an effective work experience section:

02/2017 - 01/2022

• Worked with a team of 14 to design, build, and install industrial air compressors.
• Ensured compliance with safety rules and regulations.
• Increased production efficiency by 9% by strategically minimizing production bottlenecks. 
• Planned and redesigned equipment layout to optimize workflow, resulting in a 7% production capacity increase over the span of 3 years. 
• Consistently met the company's needs at 12% under budget.

What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?

Now, if you’re a fresh engineering graduate or haven’t graduated just yet, you likely don’t have relevant work experience.

That’s totally okay - even Elon Musk didn’t have enough relevant work experience at one point in his life.

But the lack of work experience shouldn’t set you back from building a powerful engineering resume!

You probably have more engineering-related experience to choose from than you think - after all, engineering studies typically involve lots and lots of practice.

So, instead of your work experience, consider including your internships, assistantships, academic projects, and merits, or extracurricular activities.

Here’s an engineering experience example:

Electrical Engineering Experience

Teacher’s Assistant for Electromechanics II

University of Bristol, UK 

10/2019 - 03/2020

• Led problem-solving tutorials for 80+ second-year students.
• Created 10+ laboratory assignments for students using MATLAB Simulink and Adam Pluto transceivers.
• Took attendance, made questionnaires, and helped with other administrative work.

#5. List Your Education the Right Way

Nikola Tesla is a role model to many engineers. 

As such, you probably already know he dropped out of university .

Of course, the lack of an engineering degree didn’t stop Nikola Tesla from becoming one of the greatest engineers, but today the situation is quite different.

Most engineering jobs ask for a Bachelor’s degree at the very least, because engineering is a highly technical field, where theoretical knowledge goes hand in hand with your practical skills.

But, even though your higher education is important to the recruiter, let’s face it - they don’t care which high school you went to.

So, instead of wasting space, make sure to only include relevant education details in your engineering resume.

To keep your education section short and snappy, start with your latest degree and include the following:

• Degree title
• University/college/other institution
• Program location (optional)
• Years attended

And here’s an example of the education section on an engineering resume:

MSc in Electrical Engineering

Eindhoven University of Technology

10/2017 - 05/2019

Of course, you can also include relevant education details, such as your academic achievements, the courses you’ve taken, your GPA, projects, etc. - if they add value to your resume, that is. 

#6. List Your Engineering Skills

Skills are an important part of your engineering resume. They testify to your professional abilities, so you should only include the skills which are relevant to engineering.

Now, although engineering is a technical job, you’re also expected to have a variety of soft skills .

After all, no engineer works in total isolation, so communication and teamwork skills are must-haves for most positions.

So, here are some tips to better organize the skills section on your engineering resume: 

• Write your soft and hard skills separately. 
• Your hard skills largely depend on the type of engineering you do (mechanical, electrical, software, etc.), so make sure to customize the skill section to fit your engineering resume.
• If you're unsure which skills to include in your engineering resume, you can always check the job ad and see if you have the skills the company is looking for.

Need more ideas on which skills to add to your engineer resume? 

Check out our list of the 40 most in-demand soft and hard engineering skills!

Write down your hard skills as specifically as possible to give the recruiter a clear idea of your skills. For example, if you’re good at programming, make sure to include all programming languages (Python, C++, PHP, MATLAB, etc.) you know.

40 Engineering Skills to Put on Your Resume

25 soft engineering skills.

• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving 
• Communication skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Analytical thinking
• Active listening
• Prioritization
• Time management
• Emotional intelligence
• Organizational skills
• Adaptability
• Brainstorming
• Interpersonal skills
• Self-motivation
• Reliability
• Self-management
• Flexibility

15 Hard Engineering Skills

• Mechanical skills
• Project management
• Troubleshooting
• Prototyping
• Machine Learning
• Workflow development
• Web Development
• Computer skills
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes
• Knowledge of applicable laws
• Technical documentation
• Data Structures

#7. Add Your Engineering Certifications & Licenses

Your university diploma is just one part of engineering training, so the next step is to include your engineering licenses and certifications .

This part is especially important if you want to work abroad because each country has different rules on what kind of education, licenses, and qualifications you need to work in engineering.

So, if you’re a certified or licensed engineer, list your licenses and certifications in your engineering resume in reverse-chronological order and include the following:

• Certification/license name
• Name of agency 
• Year of obtainment
• Location (optional)
• Expiration date (if applicable)
• In progress (if applicable, and add the expected date of obtainment)

Here’s an example:

Professional Certificates

Certified Chemical Engineer (2019)

National Certification Commission in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

#8. Make Use of Additional Resume Sections 

Do you still have some space on your engineering resume?

Consider adding any of these additional sections to make your engineering resume stand out and paint the full picture of your engineering experience:

• Conferences , such as International Conference on Sustainable Energy Engineering, International Conference on Internet Technologies and Society, International Conference on Power Control and Embedded System, International Conference on Industrial Engineering, and others. 
• Associations and organizations , such as engineering societies, including your role in them (if applicable).
• Awards , no matter if they’re company-wide or nationwide.
• Publications , such as studies, scientific articles, interviews, etc.
• Personal projects , if any of them are related to engineering.
• Languages , especially if you’re applying to a company overseas.
• Hobbies and interests , especially if they’re related to engineering. 

And here’s what these extra sections should look like on your engineering resume:

Organizations

• Caspian Engineers Society (2018 - Present) - Board Member

Conferences

• Nanotech Eurasia 2021
• Nanotech Eurasia 2019

#9. Attach a Cover Letter to Your Engineering Resume

If you got this far, you’re just a step away from writing an effective engineering resume for yourself!

But before you get to it, there’s one more important element to your resume we need to address - writing a compelling cover letter.

The point of a cover letter is to convince the recruiter that you are the engineer they’ve been looking for. 

Essentially, you need to prove you’re a competent engineer and a great match for the company, its values, vision, and goals.

So, your cover letter is a chance to give a detailed description of your engineering experience and include any important information that didn’t make it to your engineering resume.

But how exactly do you do that?

Actually, it’s quite simple with the right guidance! 

Here’s how to write a job-winning cover letter :

• Include your contact details in the header.
• Address the cover letter directly to the recruiter.
• Grab the recruiter’s attention from the start by including your 1-2 top achievements in the first paragraph.
• In the body of your cover letter, give a detailed picture of your engineering background and explain why you want to work for this particular company.
• Lastly, end your cover letter with a call to action.

Want to make sure your cover letter is flawless? Check our cover letter writing tips and cover letter mistakes !

And here’s an example of a top-notch cover letter : 

Want your cover letter to catch recruiters’ attention? Match it to your engineering resume by picking one of our cover letter templates !

Key Takeaways

By now, you have all the tools and tips you need to write an outstanding engineering resume (and a cover letter, too!).

Before you go, let’s go over some of the main elements of an impactful engineering resume:

• Choose the reverse-chronological format to focus your work experience and make your engineering resume easy to read.
• Write an impressive resume summary if you have plenty of work experience, and an eye-catching resume objective if you lack engineering experience.
• Make your work experience section stand out by quantifying your achievements.
• Show off your unique engineering experience with licenses, certifications, associations, publications, and other additional information that fits your engineering resume.
• Don’t forget to add a compelling cover letter to your engineering resume to prove you’re the perfect candidate and a great asset to the company.

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