In our last post we talked about the most demanded programming languages, and today we are going to talk about how to trasnlate all your skills in a CV.
If you have been in your current job for several years and you feel it is time for a change, there is something that you’ll need to fine-tune as soon as possible: your CV. But how do you do up a CV for engineering that highlights your professional strengths and that will win over your future employer?You will find hundreds of online resources, templates and websites that will offer you excellent generic advice for creating a good curriculum vitae, all of them very valuable. However, they are not focused on your particular situation. What you need are direct and precise directions which focus on your engineering career; instructions that get to the point!
Don’t worry: you don’t have to go far to look for them. At BETWEEN, we tell you the essentials for creating a complete and effective engineering CV.
How to create an engineering CV: 5 things to keep in mind before you start
Before getting down to work, take note of these five basic ideas that distinguish the CV of an engineering specialist from the CV of any other professional:
- Classical and clean layout. Those responsible for selection seek clarity and order in the presentation of engineering applications. Don’t take the risk of doing up a super-creative CV with a triple pirouette and somersault... that’s more suited to graphic design or advertising. Choose fonts such as Arial or Calibri and organise the information leaving enough space between sections to make it easy to read.
- Submit the document as a pdf. Unless they ask for something else, always send your CV in pdf format.
- Professional experience first. What matters most to a company in the engineering sector are the companies that you have worked for and the duties you had. Don’t make the mistake of putting your education or other complementary information ahead of this.
- Including examples of your work is vital. If you work in programming, the simplest thing to do is to mention your profile on GitHub so they can assess your code writing skills. In other engineering CVs it might be a good idea to include links to app stores, personal blogs or online portfolios where you have posted some of the projects you have developed.
- Up to three pages, but only if the occasion warrants it. Human Resources departments usually recommend that a CV never be longer than two pages. However, the CV of an engineering professional can in exceptional circumstances be three pages if necessary in order to properly outline your professional achievements and to include examples of your work.
Sections of an engineering CV
Work experience: the key feature of the engineering professional’s CV
A CV has to give the people in charge of the selection process just what they want. It shouldn’t beat around the bush. That’s why, unless you’ve just left university and have no experience in the job market, your engineering CV has to give prominence to your career path.
For each one of your professional experiences you need to state:
- The company or entity where you worked.
- The position you held and related duties.
- If you have had periods of unemployment, look for ways to explain them in your CV (training activities, residencies, sabbatical years, development of personal initiatives, etc.).
- Projects you have been involved in and main achievements in each of them.
- What technologies you have worked with and for what purpose.
Professional profile
In the event that your professional experience is a bit all over the place, it’s a good idea to draw up a professional profile that summarises your strengths and expertise, tweaking the information depending on the characteristics of the position you are applying for.
The professional profile should be short (just three or four lines) and direct. Top it off with some key knowledge, skills and abilities.
Summary of technologies in the engineering professional’s CV
Apart from work experience, what companies value most in an engineering CV are the technologies that are mastered. Knowing the programming languages most in demand in engineering will be a point in your favour, as will being up to date with other tools in your field.
For your CV to attract attention instantly, we recommend that you create a summary of technologies in the form of a table in which you briefly state what you are capable of doing and in what environments.
Education
Reserve a space in your engineering CV for your university degree and your education in other institutions or with specialised courses.
Languages
Speaking another language is often the key to getting a job, as is highlighted in this report from El País. And obviously to an engineer it is useful both in order to enter the working world and to further advance in one’s career. Of special importance here is English and, in second position, German, although any foreign language that you have can open unsuspected doors for you.
If you can certify your level in each language with an official qualification, perfect. If not, be honest! Those who interview you will be easily able to check your level with a short test, so it’s better if the results fit with the expectations created by your CV.
And that's all! Now you know how to create a first-rate engineering CV. Do it now and apply for the best jobs offered in your sector with BETWEEN. We give you the growth opportunity you are looking for!BETWEEN. We give you the growth opportunity you are looking for!
