The key elements of a great CV

Struggling to write your CV? Don’t settle for sloppy – as the first hurdle towards getting an engineering job you love, your CV will need to be eye-catching and relevant to the job you are applying for. Below, we have highlighted some key elements of an engineer’s CV that are crucial if you want to catch a recruiter’s eye:

Opening statement

An opening statement on your CV sets the scene for the rest of your application. It should give the recruiter an insight to you, and urge them to read on. Include your job title, length of experience, examples of industry background and outline what you are looking for in your next opportunity. Remember to tailor this to the role you are applying for.

Key skills

Your endearing opening statement should lead nicely on to your key skills section. This is where you can highlight your ability by mentioning the key requirements the recruiter requests in their job description. Look at the role you are applying for carefully and shout about the skills you have mastered.

Experience

Before you start talking about the epic experience you’ve gained over your time as an engineering, don’t forget to first list the dates you worked at each company, and the job title you undertook. Don’t make the mistake of writing out a huge, detailed job spec. Simply relate back to the recruiter’s job description and pick out the key elements of your role that are relatable to the job you are applying for.

Key tip: Whatever you include, keep it specific to the role – everything you write should suggest to the recruiter that you can perform the job they are hiring for. For example, when you are applying for a job, you should reiterate the key responsibilities you have experience with, like liaising with customers, or demonstrating use of emergency equipment.

Education

Training courses and other qualifications will go down well here, as well as any relevant high school, college or university qualifications. Always shout about your degree, especially if it was a stepping stone towards your career like electrical engineering, chemical engineering or aerospace engineering.

Hobbies and interests

We are all our own person outside of work. Use the last section of your CV to talk about what you get up to in your own time. Showing key interests that involve leadership or teamwork e.g. sports, are of particular interest to a recruiter who is looking for the right fit for their team. Think twice about writing ‘’watching TV” or “going on holiday” and maybe find the team to think about hobbies that emphasise intelligence, leadership or social skills.

Formatting

Are you a serial Comic Sans user? Stop. Pick a more professional font for your CV. Maybe not something as typical as Times New Roman, but something that is slightly different to the norm. This will help your CV stand out. Also, DO NOT FORGET TO SPELLCHECK. We cannot stress this enough!

Key tip: Don’t spend all of this time on your CV to fall at the first hurdle – your introduction email. Make sure you are applying to the right person and that you are applying within the designated time.