Civil Engineer resume examples & templates

A proven job specific resume example + writing guide for landing your next job in 2024. You can edit this Civil Engineer resume example to get a quick start and easily build a perfect resume in just a few minutes. Just fill in your details, download your new resume & start your job application today!

How to write a civil engineering resume
• Choosing the right resume format for a civil engineer
• Include your contact information
• Make use of a summary
• Outline your civil engineering work experience
• Include the relevant key skills that make you a great civil engineer
• Detail your education & relevant civil engineer certifications
• Pick the right resume layout and design for a civil engineer resume

Civil engineering job market and outlook
• What type of salary you can expect as a civil engineer

Key takeaways for building a civil engineer resume

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With the help of this civil engineer resume writing guide, you will learn:

• How to write a civil engineering resume
• Choosing the right resume format for a civil engineer
• How to add your contact information
• Using summaries
• Adding your civil engineering experience
• Listing education and relevant experience
• Picking the right resume design/layout
• What the civil engineering market looks like and what salary you can expect

How to write a civil engineering resume

The very first step in writing your civil engineering resume is understanding what sections to include. Your resume should contain the following elements:

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• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Civil engineers need a wide variety of skills in addition to job-specific mathematical and engineering skills. This civil engineer resume example and writing guide will help you include all the most important skills for each position. These sample keywords will also play a big role in getting you past the programs designed to limit the number of resumes recruiters review.

Civil engineers work closely with professionals such as architects, construction managers, mechanical engineers, and urban and regional planners. They spend time in offices during the design phase of a project but may be outdoors much of the time during construction supervision. Civil engineers may also be expected to work onsite at locations away from home.

Stick to this winning formula:

• Highlight accomplishments instead of only your responsibilities. Everyone can list what tasks they were assigned, but not everyone has achieved the same impact you have. Be specific and show your impact.
• Adapt each version of the resume you submit to a specific employer and role. If you are just starting your career, individualize your resume for each different specialty. If you are taking the next step in your career, decide whether you are looking into the same specialty or want to make a lateral move. Your civil engineer resume should reflect those goals.
• Convey a professional image with a resume template that’s polished and professional without being stuffy or dull.
• Leverage relevant keywords to make sure it’s clear to the reader—whether that’s a recruiter or ATS screening software—why you’re the best fit.

Applicant Tracking Systems

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software tools used by companies to streamline their hiring processes. The software scans resumes hunting for keywords and other information employers identify as important, and then it uses algorithms to rank resumes. If your civil engineer resume doesn’t include the information the ATS is scanning for, or if it is poorly formatted, your resume will be rejected before it ever reaches the hands of a person. Beating the ATS requires a careful effort to include the words/skills used within job listings on your resume.

Choosing the right resume format for a civil engineer

As a civil engineer, you know how to create streamlined projects. Think of your resume as one of them. Recruiters want to be able to quickly access your information without hunting for it, so you want your resume to be neat and professional. This means you should use a clean, clear, modern or professional layout.

The best format for most civil engineering resumes is reverse chronological; this format focuses primarily on your employment history, which is listed in reverse chronological order.

Career changers or those new to the workforce may want to try alternative formats, like the functional format, which focuses more on skills and less on employment history. There’s also a hybrid format which blends aspects of both functional and reverse chronological formats.

Check out the resume templates in our resume builder and select a format that best suits your situation. There are plenty of versions of the three formats available as resume examples.

Include your contact information

While your resume has a lofty goal of showing why you’re the best fit for the job, it will get you nowhere if your header isn’t clear and readable. That’s because the header is where your resume displays your contact information.

Make sure it’s professionally presented and easy to read, and include the following:

• Full name & title. List your first and last name and use the title of the role you are pursuing.
• Professional email address. Use a clean format like [email protected], not an unprofessional email address.
• Phone number. List a number where you can be readily contacted, with a professional voicemail greeting and an inbox that isn’t full.
• Location. List only your city and state. Avoid listing your street address; that’s unsafe and outdated. No need to list your zip code, either. If you’re willing to relocate, list that here.
• LinkedIn. If your LinkedIn profile is active, relevant, and shows your engineering experience and network, feel free to include it here.

• Date of birth: Not necessary and could lead to age discrimination.
• Personal details: Marital status, social security number, passport number, etc.