Writing a good CV as a Design Engineer must include all the usual critical information a CV should have....
However, in the below article we explain in detail how to write a CV specifically for a Design Engineer to help increase your chances of securing an interview with the best employers. As mentioned we still recommend including all the basics that a CV should include.
Examples of these would be a personal profile at the top of the CV, giving a concise overview of your Design Engineer experience. It’s also important to add key skills, and clearly highlight each employer along with the dates. Also, don't forget to list your career history from most recent at the top, down to least recent at the bottom. You want your current employment as a Design Engineer to be the first tenure the Hiring Manager reads.
These are just the basics of CV writing and can be applied to any job. However, below we really focuses on the key points to include as a Design Engineer as it is more technical and there’s important information to add.
Design Engineer Software
It is important to ensure there is a section within your CV that includes the software you have used and the level of competency with using each one. This can include SolidEdge, CAD and Microstation as an example. No doubt, as a Design Engineer you will have used a variety of software. However, including which type of software you have used most frequently and how competent you are in each is beneficial when writing your CV. We also recommend you adding in each software you’ve used for that particular employer and project, as this helps the Hiring Manager to really understand where your competencies lie.
Project information whilst being a Design Engineer
It’s crucial to include all key project information on your CV. We recommend including what projects you have designed, which aspects of the design you were solely responsible for, and again what software did you use whilst working on the project. When writing project information, it is important to include specific project details.
For example, was it the components you designed, control panels or was it an electrical system? Be really specific and detailed when outlining project information as this really helps to showcase where your expertise lies and what types of projects you are experienced working on.
Design Engineer challenges
Adding in information on your CV around what challenges you have had whilst being a Design Engineer and how you have rectified them will help to show your innovative approach and what the outcome was. For example, if you had a situation where the initial design wasn’t correct, and you had to go in and make changes throughout the project, ensure to highlight this.
If you can demonstrate your challenges whilst being a Design Engineer on your CV whilst also covering the process, how you adapted the designs and then the overall outcome it will help the hiring manager to understand your processes and how detailed you are.
Design Engineer relationships
If you have experience working with the client directly, where you have had to effectively communicate with the client about time costs and quality (as an example) then it's crucial to specify this within your CV. This clearly shows that you have good internal and external stakeholder management, so ensure you don't miss this off, as it could be the difference between securing an interview or not.
Quantify your achievements
Including achievements on a CV is great because it doesn’t just tell the Hiring Manager what your good at, but quantifies your results and successes. Where you can, ensure to include numbers when it comes to your results as these really stand out on a CV against loads of words. It also helps to back up what you've done, as you're not just explaining what you've done, but actually putting the results into numbers.
Looking for a new Design Engineer job?
We have over 18 years’ experience recruiting for Design Engineer professionals across the rail, civil engineering, telecoms, construction and power sectors. We recruit for both permanent and freelance positions. Follow the link below to find out what Design Engineer jobs we currently have available across the UK and worldwide.
Want more CV writing advice?
Below we have listed more articles around CV writing to help you get the most out of your Design Engineer CV and increase your chances of securing an interview.
Interested in what sectors we can support your Design Engineer job search?
At Navartis, our Recruitment Consultants specialise in recruitment across the global Technology sector, Energy sector and the Infrastructure and Built Environment, which includes the Construction, Civil Engineering, Rail, Power and Telecoms sectors.
