Engineering Resume Checklist
1. Format
Easy to scan and follow; your reader should not have to
search hard to find information
Concise (one page)
½” to 1” margins all the way around page
8.5 x 11 resume paper
No colors or flashy font styles
(font size can be 10 – 12 point)
Looks professional & aesthetically pleasing
2. Heading
Name is centered and largest font on the page (16-18
recommended)
Can list both current address and permanent address
(centered if you only use one)
Phone number and professional or school e-mail address
LinkedIn personalized URL (if you have a complete
profile)
Personal website if it is professional & presentable
3. Objective (Optional)
If using an objective, it needs to be specific
States the type of job/industry you are seeking, when,
and geographic location
Avoid pronouns
4. Education
Only schools from which you received degrees are listed
Graduate school is listed first (if applicable)
Degree(s) are spelled out (not abbreviated)
Major(s), Focus Area (s), and minor(s)
Graduation month and year is included
You should include your GPA if over 3.0, can include it if
less than 3.0, but be prepared to chat about it
5. Skills
List software, programming languages, & foreign
languages (fluent, conversational)
o Looking for familiarity; you don’t need to be an
expert
Can alphabetize or list my importance or relevance
6. Industry / Engineering Experience
Include internships and co-ops (#1 on resume to
employers)
Jobs/internships are listed in reverse chronological order
(most recent is first)
Month and year started and ended are included
(“present” if still working; Seasons are not used)
Include the city and state of the job location
Include your job or internship title
List major achievements and skills developed/displayed
in bullet point format
Start each statement with an action verb trying to vary
each verb
Bullet point formula: “Action verb + Task + Result”
Utilize numbers and metrics when appropriate
Percentages and numbers can add clarity & value
“which resulted in a cost savings of $1,500”
7. Engineering Projects
Share your most meaningful projects whether they are
group or individual projects
It is appropriate to highlight 2-3 engineering projects
8. Campus Involvement
Name of organization and leadership positions you hold
or have held
List bullet points under leadership roles
9. Volunteer Experience
Name of organization, role, and bullet points describing
what you have done
10. Study Abroad Experience
Include location, school, and dates
List or describe courses studied in bullet point format
Describe any relevant projects in bullet point format
11. Relevant Coursework (Optional)
Courses relevant to the job are listed (not just in your
major)
No need to list ALL courses, this is not your transcript
Spell out the name and subject of the course, not the
course number
12. Honors and Awards
Name of honor/award is included (little or no description
is needed)
Scholarships are included
Dean’s list is included (3.7/4.0), # of semesters
Other Section Headers to Consider: Licensures, Certifications,
Job Shadowing, Personal Projects (for example, “I built my
computer”, Achievements, Professional Associations
* References
Are listed on a separate sheet of paper
Do NOT include “References available upon request” on
resume