How to write an effective electrical engineer resume?

Electrical engineers make our technologically-advanced world possible. From designing and testing new products to supervising the production and manufacturing processes, there are many key responsibilities held by an electrical engineer.

In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about writing a resume as an electrical engineer. Keep reading to learn the answers to the following key questions:

• What is the best resume format for an electrical engineer?
• How do you write an eye-catching electrical engineer resume summary?
• Which electrical engineering skills are best for a resume?
• What details should you include in your work experience descriptions?
• How do you properly list electrical engineering education on a resume?

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1. What is the best resume format for an electrical engineer?

Before you can begin writing your resume, you must first decide what resume format to use.

Generally speaking, the reverse-chronological resume is the most commonly recommended format for electrical engineers. This format focuses mainly on work experience, making this section the largest and most central on the document. It works well for electrical engineers, as most employers are more interested in your hands-on experience rather than your education or other credentials.

However, if you are recently graduated or otherwise new to the field, a reverse-chronological format may not be the ideal choice if you lack sufficient relevant experience. In this case, you may want to opt for one of the following alternative formats:

• The functional resume: A resume format that shifts focus from work experience to education, skills, and unpaid experience. Recent graduates with educational and internship experience will often choose this formatting option.
• The hybrid resume: A resume format that combines elements of both reverse-chronological and functional resumes. This format will spread the focus of the document more evenly between all sections and is commonly used by applicants who are changing career paths or who have large gaps in their employment histories.

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2. How do you write an eye-catching electrical engineer resume summary?

A resume summary is a short statement used at the beginning of a resume to grab an employer’s attention. This is accomplished by an applicant including their most pertinent and impressive professional details, such as key accomplishments and years of experience.

To illustrate how to write an effective resume summary, we have provided a weak example followed by a correction and explanation.

Why is this incorrect?

Though you do want to keep your resume summary brief, you should still aim to include as many specific details as possible. In this incorrect example, the applicant could improve by offering exact numbers and percentages to provide the reader with greater context around their accomplishments.

Why is this correct?

In this corrected example, the applicant provides much more detailed information, such as the years of experience they hold and the specific percent increases for efficiency improvements they have achieved. Additionally, they provide greater context around their project management expertise by stating they have held a leadership role for more than 3 years. 

3. Which electrical engineering skills are best for a resume?

You should always include a dedicated skills section on your resume that includes 5 to 10 different abilities in the field of electrical engineering. This section should include both technical and interpersonal skills to show you have a diverse range of abilities.

Technical skills refer to your learned abilities gained through education and training. Comparatively, interpersonal skills refer to your ability to work well and communicate effectively with other people. These people skills can be both inherent and learned.

Here are 10 ideas for both technical and interpersonal skills to include on your electrical engineering resume:

4. What details should you include in your electrical engineer work experience section?

Your work experience section is typically the main section of your resumes, tying together your specializations and skills to showcase your level of expertise.

As you write your work experience section, you should consider how valuable the information included is to potential employers. Rather than simply listing out all your core responsibilities from previous jobs, you should strive to also include key accomplishments.

5. How do you properly list electrical engineering education on a resume?

To become an electrical engineer, you generally will need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Most employers will require you to have this level of degree from an accredited school.

However, to become a more competitive candidate and to earn higher-paying projects and positions, you will likely need a master’s degree or Ph.D. in the field. Whenever you have more than one degree to describe, always place the highest degree first and work backward from there.