Mechanical Engineer Resume: Free Guide with Tips

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As a Mechanical Engineer, you’re an expert in designing plans and equipment, but are you having trouble designing a job-winning resume? If the answer is yes, have a look at our resume templates to create the perfect job application.

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An in-demand and competitive industry like mechanical engineering will always need new, talented candidates, but that means that creating a polished resume is more important than ever.

Even if writing isn’t your strongest skill, making the best mechanical engineer resume that a hiring manager will read is definitely within your reach. 

All it takes is some time, effort, creative problem-solving (your specialty!) and some help from online tools like a resume template to bring all the pieces together.

This guide explains:

• The best way to plan and write each section of your resume, including how to write a career objective for mechanical engineer jobs, list your work history, and more
• How to choose the correct headline with a resume summary for mechanical engineers or a resume objective for mechanical engineers
• Ways to describe your achievements in a way that connects to the job description
• The skills and other sections you’ll need to show you’re the best fit for the job

Just like a guide for a network engineer or someone working in computer science, below you’ll find out all the correct ways to show off your technical abilities and experience.

The hardest part of creating a resume is often getting all its parts on the page. Take a look at this example to get started:

Resume Example

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Lindsay Cartwright

[Mechanical Engineer]

344 Oak Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205 | 112-698-7547 | linsdaymcartwright@gmail.com

>> Summary <<
Mechanical Engineer leader with 7+ years of experience designing, repairing, and maintaining parts and tools for state-of-the-art heating and cooling technology. Adept at creating high-quality technical drawings and blueprints to drive efficiency. Skilled leader and mentor with a proven track record of increasing output by 5% in two years.

>> Experience <<

Mechanical Engineer

FixIt Technologies | Brooklyn, NY

May 2019 – Present

• Designed 10+ product plans for new refrigeration and freezer units equipment, now used across all models.
• Synthesized and executed technical drawings and blueprints for heating and cooling system prototypes, increasing product output by 5%.
• Coordinated with production teams to see product development through from start to finish. 
• Enforced careful adherence to project requirements and safety standards, mentoring two junior engineers into roles with increased responsibility.

Assistant Mechanical Engineer

Lance Hardware | Ithaca, NY

August 2014 – June 2015

• Assisted with the planning of equipment design and workforce use, increasing site productivity by 10% over one year.
• Gained significant client relations skills; met with potential clients to discuss equipment and maintenance needs.
• Researched new production techniques while adhering to production and safety standards.

>> Education <<

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

New York State Institute of Technology | Ithaca, NY

May 2019

• Graduated with honors. GPA: 3.78

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

New York State Institute of Technology | Ithaca, NY

May 2014

>> Skills <<

• Soft Skills: Attention to detail, analytical skills, collaboration, problem-solving
• Hard Skills: AutoCAD 2D design, Microsoft Office Suite, technical report writing, project management

>> Licenses <<

Professional Engineer License – New York Department of State, 2019

>> Personal Interests <<

Programming and web design, model train construction, travel, and hiking

In addition to the example, use a resume builder to make the writing process much simpler.

The format of your engineering resume is the blueprint for your writing; take the time to do it well, and you can save yourself a lot of hassle and mistakes. 

The first thing to consider is the format style you’ll use. 

The ideal resume length is typically one page unless you’ve worked in the field for quite some time.

regardless of length, you must choose a format that works your experience level, and prioritizes the qualifications you care about most.

There are three typical format options to consider when creating a mechanical engineer resume template:

• Reverse-chronological
• Functional, or “skill-based”
• Combination

Reverse-chronological	Functional	Combination
Ideal if you have two or more years of experience in the field.  It lists your most recent experiences (educational and professional) first.	Best if you have little experience . This format focuses on skills to describe your abilities rather than listing time spent at specific positions.	A better fit if you’re switching from another field as it’s a mix of functional and reverse-chronological.

Below are a few more tips for drafting a format that works well for you and helps you create a flawless-looking product:

• Fonts: 
  • Use a font style that’s legible, professional, and clean, like Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, and similar options. 

• Margins and spacing: 
  • Opt for standard 1” margins with single spaced lines. This setup breaks up text without leaving too much white space.

• Layout: 
  • Choose a straightforward design for your resume. Avoid flashy decorations and use different text styles (bold, headers, italics, etc.) thoughtfully.

• Images: 
  • Don’t add a photo. In fact, adding a resume photo is typically discouraged for this sort of position. Save the space to talk about your qualifications instead.

• File type: 
  • Always save and send your resume as a PDF file unless another file type has been specified. Using a PDF means that your mechanical engineering resume will be compatible with and look great on any device.

Your resume profile or headline is like a quick rundown on who you are, where you’ve been, and where you’d like your career to go.

But whether you choose a summary or objective statement depends on where you are in your career. 

Those who are already well-established in the field should opt for a resume summary, which showcases your value by detailing your professional qualifications, achievements, and goals.

New graduates, interns, or folks looking to switch fields will find better luck with a resume objective, which focuses on showing a potential employer what you can bring to the table and where it can take their company.

Mechanical Engineer Resume Summary Example

A great resume summary should be just a few lines that detail the specfic work experiences mentioned in the job description.

Check out these resume summary examples for mechanical engineers and take note of how the strongest statements include specific, tangible achievements and skills.

This is on the right track but doesn’t get the job done. A hiring manager wants to see that you made a positive impact in your previous job(s). 

How to Write an Entry-Level Mechanical Engineer Resume Objective

When creating a resume with little previous experience, use a strong objective statement to show hiring managers why you’re a hire they can’t pass up and the best fit for the job.

Even if you don’t have much – or any – experience in the field, you can still create a meaningful career objective in engineering by focusing on what you have to offer. 

🌟 Featured Content: Match the skills and experiences listed in your resume objective to the job description as best you can. If you have lots of practice building your analytical skills from time spent as a lab assistant, for example, mention these keywords.

Experienced Mechanical Engineer Resume Objectives

If you’ve only dipped your toes into mechanical engineering or a similar field and therefore lack experience, opt for a resume objective.

A good way to ensure your resume objective ticks all the boxes is to focus on the skills you’ve developed and how they connect to the job. 

Make use of mechanical engineering buzzwords as much as you can. 

These will help position you as a great fit for the job, regardless of your experience level.

An objective is supposed to show why you’re eager to work for the company and what skills you’ll bring. This example is pretty bland and doesn’t tell the employer anything of value.

This is what a job recruiter or employer wants to see! An objective like this shows off the applicant’s skills and what they can bring to the company.

Keep things clear and concise when listing your work history; start by listing your most recent job and up to five or six achievements or responsibilities under each one.

Remember to pay close attention to the job description and tailor the language to it.

List specific skills, projects, and accomplishments to manufacture an experience section that goes above and beyond.

At the same time, avoiding being too wordy or using too much jargon is important.

Be sure that any hiring manager, even one who might not be a mechanical engineer, can understand your qualifications.

Again, the job description is a great place to turn for guidance on how formal or niche-specific your language should be.

It’s all in the details. 

Mechanical Engineer Resume Examples: Experience

Take a look at the work history from these two resume examples:

This example is pretty good, but it’s missing some key elements. Remember, it’s a great idea to show off the positive impacts you made in previous jobs (especially by using data). 

Note how using specific accomplishments and action-oriented wording creates a much stronger, more persuasive description.

Entry-Level Mechanical Engineer Resume: Experience Section

A lack of field-specific experience doesn’t mean that your work history has nothing to offer your resume.

Use your attention to detail and passion for solving problems to connect your personal achievements to the job you want. 

Be honest about where you’re at, but also make it a point to note where you’re capable of going. 

You’ll want to avoid being bland like in this example. There are action words and data that is noticeably missing.

This example shows quantifiable data and uses all the correct wording to drive the point home that you’ll be a fantastic and eager employee.

Mechanical engineering jobs and other related fields usually require at least a bachelors degree.

That means that your education section should focus on your post-secondary achievements.

If you’re still in or recently finished school, place your education section toward the top of your resume.

If you have industry experience, lead with your work history followed by your education.

No matter where you list it, always include the name of your school, your degree, and graduation year.

List your most recent degree first. There’s typically no need to list your time in high school.

As you list your educational experiences on your resume, remember the following tips:

• Describe relevant coursework. If you took any courses specific to your field or gave you valuable skills related to the job description, be sure to list them.
• Talk about big achievements. Things like awards, distinctions or honors, etc. that connect to the job show your commitment and value.

Note any major involvements. What you did outside the classroom can also demonstrate why you’re the best fit for the job.

Mechanical Engineer Resume Education Section

Keep things relatively simple as you draft your education section. 

Focus on what matters most – let your experience and skills do the talking for you.

This example provides the school and degree but is missing some crucial information. 

This is more like it! While it’s not much more, it’s helpful to provide the years you attended the school, and if you had a GPA of 3.7 or higher, you should also include that.

The skills section of your resume is a great opportunity to list keywords and highlight details that didn’t make it into other parts of your resume.

Resume skills for mechanical engineers are divided into two categories:

• Soft skills
• Hard skills.

Soft skills are general enough to apply to different fields and come from work experience of all kinds. 

Examples of soft skills include things like teamwork and time management.

Meanwhile, hard skills are usually learned on the job and are thus more specific to your niche, like analytical methodologies or CAD drawings.

When choosing the best mechanical engineering skills for resume building, keep it to about five or six examples per category.

Below are some examples:

Adding “other” sections to your resume can make a good resume great.

Mechanical engineering is a field that’s full of academic and professional achievements. So, you may need additional space to discuss specific accomplishments like awards, special skills, or something else – on your resume.

Mechanical Engineer Resume Sample “Other” Sections

When listing details in an “other” section, keep things brief and be specific. For example, list the certification and award organizations, not just the award itself

While these are nice hobbies, it doesn’t really give an idea of how they will help you as a mechanical engineer.

Adding a certification or license is a great idea as it shows your capability to handle the job. 

Below are some examples of sections you might want to add to your mechanical engineer resume to build it up:

Certifications and Licenses

If you have any specific certificates or official licenses relevant to the job, be sure to list them on your resume. If they don’t make it into your work history, create a section just for them.

Awards

Professional or academic awards show that you’re a distinguished, accomplished member of the field.

Projects

If you’ve participated in any noteworthy projects, employers want to know these details.

Personal Hobbies and Interests

Hobbies and interests can give employers an idea of who you are outside of work and help them determine a culture fit.

Resume writing for a mechanical engineer position isn’t the beast it may appear to be at the start.

With careful planning and fine-tuning, you can create a resume that fits any job you set your targets on.

In this guide, we’ve broken down all you need to take your resume to the next level, including:

• How to plan, format, write, and refine the written material of your resume
• How to write a resume objective or a resume summary for mechanical engineer jobs
• How to describe your work history and education
• The best tips for listing analytical and technical skills for mechanical engineers in resumes
• Taking your resume to the next level with thoughtful other sections

If you feel that these tips aren’t enough, use a professional template and other online resume drafting tools for more inspiration and creativity.