As a mechanical engineer, your specialized technical skills make you an asset to teams across a range of industries. Your resume should demonstrate how you use these in-demand abilities to develop innovative solutions and optimize processes. This guide offers expert tips to help you craft a mechanical engineer resume that shows you can apply theoretical knowledge to real-world engineering challenges.
Convey your attention to detail and engineering precision by using a professional resume template. Whichever one you choose, ensure your mechanical engineer resume includes these sections:
Ensure hiring managers can easily reach you for further questions by including your contact information at the top of your resume. List your full name, phone number, email address, location, and a link to your online professional profile and portfolio, if applicable. Double-check that your contact information is current and free of typos so you don’t miss any opportunities.
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
The profile is a formal introduction to your mechanical engineer resume, giving hiring managers a good idea of who you are in just a few sentences. Include your job title, years of engineering experience, and a few things that make you the best engineer for the role. Customize this section to the needs of the employer, matching your qualifications with those mentioned in the job ad.
Innovative senior mechanical engineer with more than seven years of experience in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and mechanical systems sector. LEED-Accredited Professional certified in HVAC Excellence. Focused on lowering energy consumption within new and pre-existing HVAC systems. Strategic leader with proficiency in Revit, HeatCAD, Chvac, AutoCAD, and Bluebeam.
Within the vast landscape of mechanical engineering, you rely on a diverse set of technical and interpersonal abilities to get the job done. It’s important for hiring managers to quickly assess these skills and creating a bulleted list makes it easy for them to reference. Include skills that you know the employer seeks, referencing the job ad to determine what to include or exclude.
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
---|---|
3D modeling | Analytical thinking |
AutoCAD | Communication |
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) | Creative solution finding |
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) | Detail-oriented |
Machine design | Emotional intelligence |
Mechanical systems analysis | Multitasking |
Project management software | Organization |
Thermodynamics | Project management |
Tolerance analysis | Teamwork and collaboration |
Troubleshooting | Time management |
Action verbs help transform mundane tasks into dynamic depictions of your engineering knowledge and skills. Instead of using repetitive first-person language (e.g., “I was responsible for…”), start each bullet point of your past job descriptions with an action verb. These words break down your complex duties into easily digestible takeaways, helping hiring managers envision what you accomplished in each role.
Use action verbs like the ones below to optimize your mechanical engineer resume:
Action Verbs | |
---|---|
Analyzed | Collaborated |
Designed | Developed |
Evaluated | Fabricated |
Implemented | Innovated |
Integrated | Led |
Optimized | Programmed |
Resolved | Simulated |
Tested |
In this section, highlight the scope of your mechanical engineering abilities, focusing on those most related to the job you’re applying for. Each bullet point should provide a key takeaway of your duties and things you did to innovate, solve a tough problem, or lead a team. When you can, quantify these points to show the value of your contributions.
Senior Mechanical Engineer, CTI Heating and Air Conditioning, Boston, MA
March 2022 – present
Mechanical Engineer, Johnson Solutions Inc., Salem, MA
January 2016 – February 2022
When you quantify your work history, it can help validate your technical engineering skills and transform abstract duties into measurable results. Throughout your professional experience section, use numbers to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments. You can do this for things like project outcomes, efficiency improvements, analysis, and team leadership.
To stand out in the job market, it’s best to adjust your resume for every application you submit. With the mechanical engineering field projected to grow rapidly over the next decade, tailoring your resume is key to landing the best jobs. This approach shows your genuine interest in the specific role while optimizing your resume for applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Start by studying the job ad to identify the essential skills, technologies, and experiences the employer seeks. Then, incorporate these keywords throughout your resume to increase your chances of making it through an ATS and reaching the hiring manager. Highlight those engineering projects and abilities that are closely related to the job requirements.
Applying for your first mechanical engineering job can be intimidating, but a strong resume will help you sail smoothly through the application process. First, start with your education toward the top of your resume, as this is your strongest asset as an entry-level engineer. Go into greater detail on coursework, honors, and GPA scores (if they’re over 3.5).
Emphasize any internships, externships, extracurricular activities, or volunteer work related to mechanical engineering. These experiences are valuable, showing you’ve spent time doing hands-on work and collaborating within a team. Even if it wasn’t directly related to engineering, you’ve gained transferable soft skills just as important to hiring managers.
As an engineer, you rely on a deep foundation of knowledge to excel in your work, and most roles you apply for will require at least a four-year degree in mechanical engineering. If you have a master’s or PhD, list those first and include the names of the degree, institutions, and dates of attendance. Be sure to also include relevant certifications, such as a Professional Engineer (PE) License or other industry-related credentials that distinguish you from other qualified engineers.
Certifications
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation zip code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Innovative senior mechanical engineer with more than seven years of experience in the HVAC and mechanical systems sector. LEED-Accredited Professional certified in HVAC Excellence. Focused on lowering energy consumption within new and pre-existing HVAC systems. Strategic leader with proficiency in Revit, HeatCAD, Chvac, AutoCAD, and Bluebeam.
Senior Mechanical Engineer, CTI Heating and Air Conditioning, Boston, MA
March 2022 – present
Mechanical Engineer, Johnson Solutions Inc., Salem, MA
January 2016 – February 2022
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Mechanical Engineering, September 2012 – May 2016
Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, MA
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