Writing a Resume
Career Development Office
www.calvin.edu/career/students-alumni/engineering.html
The Engineering Resume Book
 Published by the Career
 Organized by concentration
Development Office
 Employers use to pre-select
 Sent to 200 companies last
year who employ engineers;
also available electronically
candidates for on-campus
interviews or to contact
students directly regarding
job openings
 In addition, resumes available
to employers on CalvinLink
No unprofessional or late resumes will be accepted.
Resumes
The Goal
 Win an interview
 Connect “dots” for employer: How can my education and
experience meet the needs of the position?
Caveats
 Lots of opinions…varied, sometimes conflicting
 Exceptions to every rule
 Do not use Microsoft Office Word Templates
Personal Experience
Perfect. Honest.
Nice to look at. Easy to use.
 One full page
 Simple and Consistent formatting
 Line up and left justify – invisible table or set tabs (no Word templates; no space
bar)
 White Space and Balance
 Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri (10-12 pt)
 20-22 lb bond, neutral colored paper on a good printer
 PDF format
Name:
 Large (18pt font)
 For professional use
Max Harris
Current Address:
645 Broad St. SE
Kentwood, MI 49508
(616) 555-1212
Permanent Address:
3201 Burton St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
mbs3@calvin.edu
Email Address:
 Use “professional”
email address (not
lovetoparty@gmail.
com)
 Remove hyperlink
 Consider your online presence
Mailing Addresses:
 Current and
permanent
Phone Numbers:
 Current and
permanent with
area codes
 Consider who/what
answers the phone;
voice mail message
Objective:
Michael Johnson
Current Address:
1234 Knollcrest St. SE
Kentwood, MI 49508
Cell (616) 55-1212
Permanent Address:
3201 Burton St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
mlv3@calvin.edu
Objective:
Senior engineering student seeks to obtain full-time position where civil
engineering experience and technical skills will add value.
 Concise – Don’t use




personal pronouns or
flowery language
Indicate your year
Internship or permanent?
Part-time or full-time?
Employer-focused: What
do you bring to the table?
(unique knowledge, skills,
experience)
Be Careful!
Objective/Summary
statement is a great way
for employers to screen
Education:
Michael Johnson
Current Address:
1234 Knollcrest St. SE
Kentwood, MI 49508
Cell (616) 55-1212
Permanent Address:
3201 Burton St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
mlv3@calvin.edu
Objective:
Senior engineering student seeks to obtain full-time
position where civil engineering experience and
technical skills will add value.
Education:
Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
Bachelor of Science in Engineering, May 2013
Civil Concentration with a Mathematics Minor
• Overall GPA 3.57/4.0
 Name and location (city,




state) of school
Degree (spelled out),
concentration, month and
year of expected
graduation
GPA: cumulative or major,
do not include if under 3.0;
also academic honors
May include relevant
coursework, international
experience, other colleges
Do not include high school
– unless….
Experience:
Max Harris
Current Address:
645 Broad St. SE
Kentwood, MI 49508
(616) 555-1212
Permanent Address:
3201 Burton St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
mbs3@calvin.edu
Objective:
Senior civil engineering student seeking full-time position in which
past experiences and education will contribute to a company’s goals.
Education:
Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Civil Concentration (May 2013)
•
GPA 3.45/4.0
Experience:
Engineering Department, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
Senior Design Project (September 2012 to Present)
•
Led a team on the design process from research and
development to modeling and presentation.
•
Designed a navigable channel of fixed water level in a Nigerian
city.
Land and Water Engineers, Grand Rapids, MI
Engineering Technician (September 2011 to September 2012)
•
Performed field pavement evaluation studies of 320 miles of
road in the metropolitan Grand Rapids area.
•
Worked independently and successfully with virtually no direct
supervision over 100 miles from the office.
 Most relevant and most





recent first (“relevant;”
“additional”)
Include jobs, internships,
class projects (don’t forget
senior design!) and
volunteer positions
Position title
Company and location
Dates
Bullet List of
Accomplishments/Job
Duties
Concise, Specific,
Quantifiable
- Begin with a strong and
unique Action Verb
- Short phrases/fragments;
No personal pronouns
- Consider transferable skills
and key words/buzz words
-
Skills and/or Activities:
Computer
Skills
AutoCAD
Mathematica
Algor
Excel
Microstation
KYPIPE
EPANET
STAAD.Pro
PowerPoint
C++
Word
MathCAD
 Simply list relevant skills,
such as computer programs,
languages, etc.
 May classify them: familiar,
proficient, fluent…
Activities, Hobbies,
Interests and Awards:
 Keep concise and interesting
 Include volunteer positions
or community involvement
 Why valuable?
 Why dangerous?
References:
 Include as last item on resume or make available as a separate




document
3-4 individuals – past supervisors are best
Consider what they will say about you
Get permission from all references first
Include name, position, company, phone and/or e-mail (no
hyperlinks)
CalvinLink
Calvin’s on-line national job posting site
www.calvin.edu/career
 Create your profile
 Post (upload) your resume (Word .docx, will convert to pdf)
 Search (often) for internships and career opportunities
 Create a job search agent
 Sign up for Interviews
 Career Development Office open M-F, 8:00 am–5:00 pm