Mechanical Engineer Resume Example

Mechanical engineering is a competitive field, and hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit specific criteria and possess a highly specialized set of skills.

You’ll need to write a professional mechanical engineer resume that highlights your qualifications and skills if you want to impress hiring managers and land an interview.

Check out our four writing tips and mechanical engineer resume template below for help.

1. Open with a convincing resume summary

Good mechanical engineering jobs are highly competitive, so your application is likely one of the hundreds that will end up on the hiring manager’s desk.

To get the hiring manager’s attention and ensure they read your resume instead of tossing it in in the trash, you need to write a strong and convincing resume summary that makes you stand out from the crowd by highlighting the following information:

• Highest job title or profession
• Length of relevant experience
• A career achievement
• Your relevant certifications and skills

Here’s an example of a well-written mechanical engineer resume summary:

Skilled Mechanical Engineer with 4+ years of experience designing and maintaining tools, industrial processing systems, and equipment. At current company, increased production by 14% by minimizing bottlenecks, and increased industrial output by 4% through the planning and execution of technical drawings and blueprints. Seeking to leverage my expertise to join Tack Inc. as a Lead Mechanical Engineer.

2. List specific mechanical engineer skills

Mechanical engineers need to be versed in a wide array of hard and soft skills to perform their jobs effectively. To make sure you’re qualified for the role, employers will be looking for your mechanical engineer skills to be listed on your resume.

The best place on your resume to list your engineering skills is in a  dedicated resume skills section. This way, the hiring manager will quickly see if you possess the necessary expertise to excel at the job.

Regarding hard skills, mechanical engineers need to be proficient at using several software programs and other technology, such as developing prototypes and technical drawings, using programs like AutoCAD, and having knowledge of FEM and FEA.

However, you’ll also need to focus on your soft skills. Employers are always looking for mechanical engineers who know how to do their job and possess great communication skills, leadership abilities, and attention to detail. This is especially true if you’re applying for management-level positions or will be guiding a team of people.

Here’s an example of a mechanical engineer resume skills section that properly showcases the candidate’s abilities:

3. Back up your experience with hard numbers

One of the first things employers look for when hiring a new mechanical engineer is that you’re able to achieve tangible results. That’s why backing up your engineering accomplishments on your resume with hard numbers is key if you want to impress the hiring manager.

Adding quantifiable examples to the bullet points in your work experience section will help the hiring manager understand the range of your previous responsibilities and give them a better idea of what value you bring if hired.

Here are three examples of how to back up your engineering accomplishments with hard numbers:

Production

Planned and executed blueprints and technical drawings for state-of-the-art high-capacity cooling systems, increasing industrial output by 4%

Management and teamwork

Work with a team of 12 to design, build, and install a wide range of cooling equipment for use in industrial food preservation systems

Organization

Researched new materials and production techniques, writing and distributing 2 reports annually to the engineering team

Quantifying your experience is one of the best ways to demonstrate your accomplishments in a digestible, compelling manner.

4. Ensure you use the right resume format

Using the right resume format for your mechanical engineering resume is important if you want to display your qualifications in the most convincing way possible.

There are three main resume formats, and your unique circumstances will determine which type you choose when making your resume.

For most mechanical engineers, whether you’re entry-level or experienced, we’d recommend using the chronological resume format because it presents your qualifications and skills in a logical order, accommodating a wide range of candidates.

Additionally, it’s easy to switch sections around on a chronological resume, allowing you to focus on either your skills, work experience, or education, depending on how far along you are in your career.

For example, if you’re a recent graduate and looking for an entry-level mechanical engineer position, you can easily list your education section before your work experience or skills so that the hiring manager notices it first when reviewing your job application.