Civil Engineer Resume Examples & Templates
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Civil engineers design, build and maintain infrastructure projects, including buildings, roads, bridges, airports, water systems and more. They use their knowledge of physics, mathematics and engineering principles to analyze and solve problems related to construction and infrastructure.
To land a job as a civil engineer, you’ll need a compelling resume that showcases your skills and qualifications. Take a look at our professionally made civil engineer resume examples and writing tips to craft a standout resume that lands interviews.
Start by editing the civil engineer resume samples from this page, or browse our selection of 40+ resume templates to find one that catches your eye.
Civil engineer resume example (text version)
Sofia Duncan
Atlanta, GA 30006
(555) 555-5555
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Career Objective
Diligent and detail-oriented junior civil engineer focused on precision in structural design, AutoCAD drafting and geotechnical engineering. Possesses a keen understanding of construction materials, methods and quality control. Adept at conducting thorough site inspections and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Seeking a civil engineer role to apply technical expertise, contribute to innovative projects and continue professional development within a collaborative engineering team.
Skills
- Project management
- Regulatory compliance
- Safety consciousness
- Geotechnical software: PLAXIS
- Cost estimation and budgeting
- Quality control and assurance
- Adaptability
- Problem-solving
Professional Skills
Structural Analysis and Design
- Conducted structural analysis and designed foundations, retaining walls and structures by industry standards.
- Collaborated with senior engineers and successfully designed foundations for five residential projects, reducing construction costs by 10%.
- Implemented a more efficient structural analysis method, resulting in a 15% reduction in project completion time.
AutoCAD and Civil 3D Proficiency
- Utilized AutoCAD for drafting and detailing engineering plans, elevations and cross-sections, increasing productivity by 20%.
- Produced accurate and comprehensive engineering drawings for 12 projects, including roadways, drainage systems and site plans.
- Maintained and updated as-built drawings for construction documentation.
Communication and Collaboration
- Communicated project updates and challenges effectively with project stakeholders.
- Strengthened collaboration between engineering and construction teams, improving project productivity by 30%.
- Facilitated regular team meetings to ensure alignment on project goals and timelines.
Work History
September 2019 – Current
The JKM Group – Atlanta, GA
Junior Civil Engineer
January 2019 – May 2019
AKS Incorporated – Atlanta, GA
Civil Engineer Intern
Education
June 2019
Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA
Bachelor of Science Civil Engineering
Certifications
Professional Engineer (PE) certification – (2023)
5 essentials of a standout civil engineer resume
Contact details
Add your contact information to the top of your civil engineer resume. Include your full name, city, state, ZIP code, phone number and professional email address. Add your LinkedIn profile and professional website, if applicable. Reference our guide on how to write a resume for more advice on creating your contact details section.
Professional summary
Your professional summary is where you introduce yourself to the hiring manager and highlight your top qualifications in three to five sentences.
Your civil engineer resume summary should showcase your top relevant skills, include one or two notable professional accomplishments and touch on how long you’ve been in the industry.
Here is an example civil engineer resume summary:
“Licensed civil engineer with over eight years of experience in performing construction engineering assignments and working in various capacities. Particular expertise in directing early works, earthworks, concrete works, installation of underground utilities and demolition on green and brownfield projects worldwide.”
For an entry-level civil engineer resume, we recommend including a resume objective instead of a professional summary.
Take a look at our guide on how to make a resume with no experience for additional guidance.
We also recommend exploring our engineering student resume examples for professionally crafted samples and expert insights.
Skills
List your top civil engineer resume skills using bullet points to let hiring managers know what you bring to the table. An impressive resume will showcase a mixture of hard skills and soft skills.
Here are a few examples of skills for a civil engineer resume:
- Analytical skills: Civil engineers must be able to analyze complex data and make decisions based on their findings.
- Problem-solving skills: Civil engineers should be able to identify problems, develop solutions and implement effective strategies to address them.
- Communication skills: Civil engineers should be able to communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders, including clients, colleagues and government officials.
- Leadership skills: Civil engineers may need to lead teams of engineers and construction workers, so strong leadership skills are essential.
Remember to note your interpersonal skills, which help you communicate effectively with your colleagues. You can also take a look at civil engineer job descriptions for resume skills that are relevant to your target role.
Work history
Your resume needs a clear work history section that starts with your present or most recent job and lists your remaining work experience in reverse-chronological order.
Remember to mention the job title, employer’s name, company location and the duration of your employment. Use bullet points to showcase your accomplishments and quantifiable achievements for each role.
Some specific tasks that civil engineers may include in their work history sections include:
- Planning and designing infrastructure projects: Civil engineers plan and design infrastructure projects, including determining the most suitable materials and methods for construction. They use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create detailed plans and blueprints.
- Analyzing site conditions: Civil engineers analyze site conditions, such as soil, water flow and environmental factors, to determine the best approach to a construction project.
- Managing construction projects: Civil engineers may manage construction projects and oversee workers to ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.
- Evaluating project costs and scheduling: Civil engineers evaluate the costs associated with a project, develop a budget and create a schedule for completion.
- Conducting inspections: Civil engineers may conduct inspections of infrastructure projects to ensure that they are structurally sound and meet safety standards.
Read up on how to write work experience in a resume for civil engineer positions and reference our civil engineer sample resumes for additional guidance.
Education
List your educational background starting with the most recent degree and working backward. Include the name of the schools and the year of graduation.
To become a civil engineer, you need a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related field. In addition to a bachelor’s degree, many civil engineers pursue professional licensure. To become licensed, civil engineers typically need to pass a state licensing exam, which tends to require a degree from an accredited engineering program and a certain amount of work experience.
Some civil engineers also pursue graduate degrees in civil engineering or a related field, such as a Master of Science in Civil Engineering or a Master of Engineering. These degrees can help civil engineers advance their careers and may be required for certain positions.
See why MyPerfectResume is a 5-star resume builder
Action verbs for a standout civil engineer resume
If you take a look at our sample resumes for civil engineers, you’ll notice that the work experience bullet points use strong action verbs to make an impact. Here are some examples of action words you can use for your civil engineer resume:
- Design
- Plan
- Analyze
- Develop
- Manage
- Supervise
- Coordinate
- Implement
- Construct
- Inspecte
- Evaluate
- Calculate
- Draft
- Model
- Test
- Optimize
- Research
- Communicate
- Present
- Budget
Use the civil engineer sample resumes from this page or make a resume from scratch using our Resume Builder.
Top skills for your civil engineer resume
Make sure the resume skills you include are relevant to the job description and what the employer is looking for in a candidate.
Here are some examples of skills for a civil engineer resume:
- Analytical thinking
- Design and construction
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Leadership
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Creativity
- Innovation
- Resourcefulness
- Collaboration
- Organization
- Efficiency
- Project management
- Quality assurance
- Safety-consciousness
- Regulatory compliance
- Client-focused service
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
Civil engineer resumes should feature a mix of soft skills and technical skills to demonstrate your balanced experiences and qualifications. Get inspired by our library of 800+ professionally made resume examples.
Certifications to include on a civil engineer resume
Create a separate section on your resume for certifications and licenses and list them using bullet points.
Here are some widely recognized certifications for civil engineers:
- Professional Engineer (PE) License
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification
- Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
- Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
- Certified Cost Professional (CCP)
- Certified Bridge Safety Inspector (CBSI)
- Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC)
- Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM)
- Certified in Plumbing Design (CPD)
- Certified Geotechnical Engineer (CGE)
- Certified Energy Manager (CEM)
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
- Land Surveyor-in-Training (LSIT)
- Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)
- Certified Water Rights Examiner (CWRE)
- Certified Construction Specifier (CCS)
- Certified in Stormwater Management (CSM)
- Certified Public Infrastructure Inspector (CPII)
Review our civil engineer resume examples for additional guidance on listing certifications on your resume.
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
Civil engineer resume FAQ
How do you make an ATS-friendly civil engineer resume?
We recommend using our free ATS resume checker to scan your resume for common errors that might prevent your resume from passing ATS.
Additionally, you can follow these tips to make an ATS-friendly civil engineer resume:
- Use relevant keywords: Use relevant keywords from the job description, such as “project management,” “design” and “construction.”
- Use simple formatting: Use simple formatting and avoid graphics, tables and columns.
- Use standard fonts: Use standard fonts such as Arial or Times New Roman. This will help the ATS read your resume more accurately.
- Use bullet points: Use bullet points to break up your resume into easy-to-read sections. This will help the ATS scan your resume more easily.
- Avoid abbreviations: Avoid using abbreviations or acronyms that the ATS may not recognize. Instead, spell out the full name of the skill or certification.
- Spell out numbers: Spell out numbers instead of using symbols or abbreviations. This will help the ATS read your resume more accurately.
By following these tips, you can create an ATS-friendly civil engineer resume that will increase your chances of getting past the initial screening process and landing an interview.
How do you make a resume for a civil engineer position?
Using an AI resume builder such as MyPerfectResume can help you make a civil engineer resume in a matter of minutes.
Remember to highlight job-specific skills that make you a great fit for the role. For instance, here are a few skills civil engineers might consider adding to their resumes:
- Attention to detail: Civil engineers must be detail-oriented and able to ensure that all aspects of a project are completed correctly.
- Time management skills: Civil engineers should be able to manage multiple projects at once and prioritize tasks effectively.
- Knowledge of regulations and standards: Civil engineers should be familiar with applicable regulations and standards related to construction and infrastructure projects.
- Strong math and science skills: Civil engineers should have a strong understanding of physics, mathematics and other sciences related to engineering.
- Creative thinking: Civil engineers should be able to think creatively and develop innovative solutions to complex problems.
Reference our civil engineer resume samples for additional ideas on how to add your job responsibilities to your resume.
What is the best format for a civil engineer’s resume?
The resume format you use for your civil engineer depends on your years of professional experience and the areas that you want to showcase.
The chronological format is the most commonly used layout because it highlights years of experience. The combination format is great for midlevel job seekers who want to showcase a blend of work experience and job-relevant skills.
Entry-level civil engineers can use the functional format, which focuses on relevant skills such as communication and problem-solving.
Whichever format you choose, make sure to touch on job-relevant skills such as safety and risk management, analytical and problem-solving abilities, and technical skills in design and construction.
Do’s and don’ts for your civil engineer resume
- Use measurable achievements to describe your experience.
- Use strong action verbs to describe your work experiences, such as “drafted,” “assisted” and “supervised.”
- Tailor your resume to the civil engineer job you’re applying for.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your civil engineer resume. For example, “supervising contractors” and “leading complex projects.”
- Format your civil engineer resume with clear sections and appropriate fonts so that it is easy for ATS software to parse and hiring managers to read.
- Don’t lie about your experience and skills as a civil engineer.
- Don’t make vague claims about your skills. Instead, provide specific examples of your ability to manage building projects and implement quality assurance measures.
- Don’t include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Don’t include irrelevant skills and work experience. Focus on relevant skills instead such as installing underground utilities, directing early works or complete engineering assignments.
- Don’t forget to proofread. A civil engineer is expected to have high attention to detail — your resume should reflect that.
Top 4 tips for interviews for a civil engineer job
Learn about the company or organization.
When applying for a civil engineer role, it’s important to learn about the organization to demonstrate your interest in the position and to tailor your resume to the company’s needs. Here are a few areas to consider researching:
- Industry and market position: Research the company’s industry and market position, including its competitors and key trends. This will provide insight into the company’s current and future prospects.
- Projects and clients: Look for information about the company’s past and current projects, as well as its clients. This will give you an idea of the types of work the company does and its areas of expertise.
- Company culture: Try to learn about the company culture and working environment, including the management style, team dynamics and employee satisfaction.
Taking the time to research and learn about the company before applying for a civil engineering job can help you tailor your application and demonstrate your interest and fit for the position.
Practice your answers.
It is important to prepare for your job interview by practicing commonly asked questions. Here are a few behavioral questions to prepare for:
- Provide an example of how you deal with change
- Describe a time when a colleague disagreed with you
- Describe a time in which you took initiative
During your interview, you will be asked a variety of questions to assess your knowledge, skills and experience as a civil engineer. Here are some common questions that you might encounter:
- How do you stay up to date with industry developments and advancements in technology?
- How do you ensure that your projects meet quality standards and are completed on time and within budget?
- Can you describe a challenging project you have worked on in the past and how you overcame any obstacles?
Prepare questions to ask during the interview.
Prepare for the interview process by brainstorming informed questions that you can ask. This will help you showcase your interest in the company’s mission and values.
Here are a few questions you can ask the interviewer to demonstrate your interest:
- Can you tell me more about the company culture and working environment?
- What types of projects are currently being worked on, and what opportunities for growth and development are available within the company?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the civil engineering industry right now, and how is the company addressing these challenges?
Gather references.
Gather your professional references to share with the hiring manager if requested. Make a list of two or three former colleagues and a former manager willing to speak highly about your abilities and performance as a civil engineer.
CV examples for the next step in your civil engineering career
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Civil Engineers
- LinkedIn. Article. Nixon, Ross. Civil Engineering Jobs: A Growing Field
- U.S. News & World Report. Article. Civil Engineer Overview