Resume Writing Tips to Help You Land Civil Engineering Jobs

Engineering companies in Malaysia resumed their recruitment efforts as the country entered the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) phase. While this is great news for jobseekers like you, it also means stiff competition for civil engineering jobs in the market.

To set yourself apart from the rest, you need to have a winning resume that will catch the employer’s attention. This is where a purpose-driven resume comes in. It is a curriculum vitae customised to highlight a specific purpose or objective, which allows potential employers to see your worth as a jobseeker better.

Resume Sample for Civil Engineers

How to write a resume for civil engineering jobs

Career summary/objectives

A good career summary can capture the interest of employers. It makes them want to continue reading your resume. It should clearly state your skills, work experiences, and career goals in one to five sentences.

You can also take it up a notch by briefly explaining how you can leverage all these to bring value to the company you are applying to. This shows employers that you are proactive, results-oriented, and a great asset to the organisation.

Example:

I am a detail-oriented civil engineer with 10+ years of experience working on site-based and linear projects. In my previous work, I completed eight multi-million-ringgit projects on time and at least 15% under the budget. I aim to leverage my skills and experience to do the same, if not better, for your company.

Key skills

An effective resume should only be one to two pages long. That is why it is better to use the space wisely by using only the information that employers want to know. In this case, you should emphasise the skills related to the role you are applying for; and, place them strategically into different parts of your resume (i.e. employment history and educational background).

Before writing your key skills section, list down all the technical skills the role requires and compare them with the abilities you possess. You can then choose the skills you want to highlight on your resume. Do not forget to add your transferable skills to the list. These are the fundamental abilities that you can utilise regardless of the role or industry. For civil engineers, they can be communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills.

Example:

• Leveraged AutoCAD and STAAD Pro to design 50 client projects
• Collaborated with a team of five engineers for an important infrastructure project
• Oversaw the design and construction of eight multi-million-ringgit projects
• Completed all jobs on time and at least 15% under budget

Employment history

This section demonstrates your professional growth. It explains your previous jobs and what you have achieved in each position. When listing your work experiences, write down your most recent role first and then work your way backwards. Doing so helps employers see your latest accomplishments instantly.

It is also important to add a key skill section underneath each role. Be as descriptive as possible, and make sure to use keywords and phrases related to the job description. You can also add measurable achievements to show employers how well you perform.

Example:

[Name of the Company], Malaysia

Civil Engineer, November 2010 – February 2015

• Used AutoCAD to create a 3D model of our proposed railway design for the company’s biggest client to date
• Leveraged AutoCAD and creative materials sourcing to cut project costs by 20%
• Managed five projects with an average budget of RM2 million

Education

If you are a young engineer with no prior work experience, then you need to take advantage of this section to help you land a job interview.

Instead of just mentioning your basic educational background (i.e. your university, degree, and the year you graduated), you can take it a step further by listing some of your accomplishments during your stay in school. Doing so helps employers see your passion and motivation for your profession.

Example:

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

[Name of the University], 2006 – 2010

• Graduated summa cum laude with GPA of 4.00
• Elected President of Civil Engineering Society in 2010
• Represented Malaysia in an international design contest in 2010

Employers sift through thousands of job applications daily. Providing them with a resume that straightforwardly highlights the information they need can increase your chances of landing a job interview. So, make sure to craft a purpose-driven resume before applying to an engineering company of your choice.

Search for the #JobsThatMatter on JobStreet’s website or mobile app. Do not forget to update your profile and upload your latest resume. You can also add the #WorkNow on the “Additional Info” tab to notify potential employers that you are available for immediate hiring.

If you need more resume writing tips, you can visit our Career Resources Hub.

At JobStreet, we believe in bringing you #JobsThatMatter. As a Career Partner, we are committed to helping all jobseekers find passion and purpose in every career choice. And as the number 1 Talent Partner in Asia, we connect employers with the right candidates who truly make a positive and lasting impact on the organisation.

Discover Jobs That Matter. Visit JobStreet today.

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