Civil Engineer Resume Examples & Templates

5 essentials of a standout civil engineer resume

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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. 

4. 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. 

5. 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.