Research has shown that you only have about 17 seconds to capture the attention of the hiring manager. If you have trained to the engineering field, it is important to create a resume that will increase your chances of obtaining the job you really want. Putting together a compelling resume can be a challenge for most people, but its importance is incredible. Like any feat of engineering, a resume is a construction that must be planned, built and, in the end, eye-catching. Use these tips to create a superior engineering resume to help you stand apart from your competition.

Past Experiences

Your past experiences are important to your current prospects, even when not related to engineering. Your resume for engineering should highlight longevity at past workplaces, as well as relevant skills and knowledge that translate well into the engineering field. Even if you worked for a company that was not in the field, you can list the skills you used or gained on the job and emphasize how those skills have applied to your engineering career.

Stand Out From Other Candidates

To get the job you want, you need to stand apart from all the other candidates who apply for the job. Highlighting your certifications, any advancement you have made in the field and security clearances you already possess. Giving a potential employer real examples of your past work, including facts and numbers that support your success, can give them an indication of your value as an employee.

Use Bullet Points

Because many hiring managers spend little time reviewing resumes, using bullet points to highlight your main points and sub-points is a great way to draw attention to the most relevant accomplishments and experiences detailed in your resume. While you don’t have to use bullet points solely, use them to break out lists (such as lists of duties at a past job) to make it easier for hiring managers to quickly assess if you are qualified for the job to which you are applying.

Tailor to Your Audience

Every company at which you apply has its own individual needs. Do your research before you submit a boilerplate resume to an employer. Look at what they do and what types of candidates they are most likely to hire. Go through your resume and make alterations that focus on this company and its needs in particular. If you can show the company you know something about how they operate and how your skills and experience will benefit them, they are more likely to look at your resume more in-depth and invite you in for an interview.

What to Avoid

As much as learning what you should do with your resume for engineering is important, it is also important to learn what to avoid. Typos, grammatical errors and missing information will acts as red flags to HR departments, reducing your chances of getting asked for an interview. These problems, however, are easy to avoid.

Check your resume over carefully, not just once but twice. Make sure you have eliminated all grammatical and spelling errors. It can be helpful to have someone else check it over as well. One seemingly minor typo can quickly lose you the job.

Find any gaps in your employment history. If possible, include a valid, valuable reason for the gaps. Most hiring managers do not want to see any gaps without a good reason.

Make sure you meet the qualifications of the job. If you don’t have any experience that directly relates to the job or easily translates into the job for which you are applying, it may be best not to apply.

Submitting a clear, relevant engineering resume is the best way to get noticed. By following these tips, you are more likely to advance to the next level, the interview.

Note: This is a sponsored article and has NOT been written by the PaGaLGuY Editorial Team. It is intended from an informational perspective only and it is upto the readers to research and verify the claims and judgements in the article before reaching a conclusion.