Electrical engineers use the principles of electricity to develop novel solutions to problems. They design, test, and oversee the manufacturing of electrical technology such as computers, cell phones, and navigation systems.

These professionals typically have a wide range of duties such as conducting research, developing products, testing systems, and optimizing manufacturing processes. Electrical engineering is a diverse field that encompasses numerous sub-disciplines -- so specializing in a niche area such as electronics, signal processing, or telecommunications could help you take your career to the next level.

With their arsenal of skills, electrical engineers can find employment in a variety of industries, and the job outlook within the field is quite positive. The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) has projected a 5% increase in electrical engineering positions between 2019 and 2029.

Being a great electrical engineer demands excellent problem solving and technical skills. At the same time, you’ll also need to be able to think creatively and collaborate effectively with others. When you’re applying for jobs, your resume needs to show that you have the right skills for the role -- so let’s cover how to write a competitive electrical engineer resume in 2021.

Electrical Engineer Resume Templates

Electrical Engineer Resume Sample

As an electrical engineer, you’ll use your keen understanding of electrical systems to solve various types of problems. Your job could require technical skills such as electrical design, automation, and even programming. Create a skills section on your resume and list your relevant hard skills there so your technical prowess will be readily apparent to any hiring manager.

Electrical engineer resume with measurable achievements and separate skills section

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Recruiter Insight: Why this resume works in 2021

Skills section showcases technical proficiencies in electrical engineering

When you’re seeking a job in engineering, you should make it clear on your resume that you have the specialized training and skills that the role demands. If you have knowledge of MATLAB, AutoCAD, or other engineering-specific softwares or computing languages, it’s wise to list those in a dedicated skills section on your resume.

Also see: How to Write Your Resume's Skills Section

Call out measurable achievements from past engineering jobs

In technical fields such as engineering, professionals are often measured and evaluated by the results they achieve. Talk about your achievements at past jobs using specific numbers (e.g. “boosted production in design tasks by 18%” or “reduced manufacturing time by 40%”) to show recruiters what you’re capable of achieving for their company.

Also see: How to Write Resume Bullets That Get Interviews

Entry Level Electrical Engineer Resume Sample

When you first begin your career in electrical engineering, you’ll likely start out in an entry-level position that requires little to no experience. But because electrical engineering is such a specialized field, your odds of getting hired are much better if you have a degree in engineering. Internships and volunteer projects related to electrical engineering also look great on your resume and can make you extra competitive for jobs.

Entry level electrical engineer resume with educational history, internships, and volunteer projects

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Recruiter Insight: Why this resume works in 2021

Start with educational background in electrical engineering (or related field)

As an entry level job candidate, you probably won’t have much work experience to list on your resume. Focus instead on the skills and experience you do bring to the job, which could include a degree in electrical engineering or relevant coursework such as digital electronics or power system analysis. Your education is one of your strongest qualifications for a potential job, so make sure to emphasize it on your resume.

Also see: How to List Your Education on a Resume

Include relevant internship and volunteer experience as an alternative to work

Any internships where you’ve helped design or develop electronics should also be featured prominently on your resume. Even community projects and extracurricular activities can be valuable experiences to list if they are relevant (e.g. if you were a committee member of an electrical engineering club or you volunteered to help install solar panels on local homes).

Also see: How to List Volunteer Work on a Resume

Electrical Site Engineer Resume Sample

Electrical site engineers specialize in projects taking place at construction sites. They are not only responsible for tasks such as testing electrical systems and fixing problems; they also act as project managers, overseeing all work that’s being done and making sure it’s completed to the necessary standards. Your resume should reflect the unique blend of engineering, project management, and leadership skills that the job requires.

Electrical site engineer resume with relevant work experience, leadership skills, and strong action verbs

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Recruiter Insight: Why this resume works in 2021

Focus on relevant electrical engineering work experience

Since there are many niche areas within electrical engineering, you may want to hone your skills within a specific area and focus your resume on those abilities. Make your electrical site engineer resume as relevant as possible by showing how you’ve developed your skills in electrical testing or design (e.g. in previous engineering positions).

Also see: How To Write Your Resume's Work Experience Section

Electrical Design Engineer Resume Sample

An electrical design engineer conducts research and creates designs for new electrical systems. They also develop and test these systems, making any necessary changes as they go. You’ll need a strong knowledge of electrical theory and design software for this role, so your resume should highlight your technical skills as well as your educational background.

Electrical design engineer resume with hard skills section and relevant educational background

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Recruiter Insight: Why this resume works in 2021

List both electrical and design technical skills in skills section

To become an electrical design engineer, you’ll need to be fluent in computing languages such as MATLAB, and you should also be familiar with design tools like CAD software. Having the right technical skills for the job is essential, so make sure to list your computing and software proficiencies in a skills section on your resume.

Also see: How to Write Your Resume's Skills Section

Highlight your education section on your resume especially if it’s relevant

While this candidate has an impressive work history within electrical design, it’s worth noting that he or she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering along with a Master’s degree in Electrical Design. Your educational background becomes less important than work experience as you advance in your career, but if you have advanced degrees within a relevant field, don’t skip mentioning them on your resume.

Also see: How to List Your Education on a Resume

Senior / Experienced Engineer Resume Sample

In a senior electrical engineering position, you’ll oversee other engineers and support them in their roles. You’ll be tasked with reviewing, changing, and approving electrical designs, and you’ll also perform some project management. To land this job, use your resume to showcase your exemplary performance at past jobs as well as your outstanding leadership skills.

Senior electrical engineer resume with past promotions and management action verbs

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Recruiter Insight: Why this resume works in 2021

Prior promotions show growth potential

The best leaders lead by their own example. Show how you have been a leader at past jobs by listing promotions you’ve received. This resume shows the candidate beginning as an assistant electrical engineer, advancing to become a full electrical engineer, and then rising to the rank of manager all at the same company. Promotions on your resume like these ones demonstrate proactivity and professional growth.

Also see: How to Show Promotions on Your Resume

Action verbs underscore management skills

Being a leader isn’t always simple, and it takes a special kind of person to do it well. Using action verbs such as “directed”, “managed”, and “oversaw” to discuss your past accomplishments shows evidence of your initiative and tells hiring managers that you can handle the responsibilities of a leadership position.

Also see: Effective Action Verbs for your Resume

Skills For Electrical Engineer Resumes

As an electrical engineer, you will be working with numbers and data, and you’ll also be using the principles of electricity to design equipment and systems. But there’s much more to engineering than just math and science: You also need the ability to think logically about problems and devise creative solutions.

Great communication skills are also essential. Electrical engineers often work with team members, clients, and other professionals to help bring projects to fruition. So if you’re applying for jobs within the field, be sure to highlight not only your technical expertise, but also your people skills and your creative problem solving abilities.

Electrical Engineering
Engineering
AutoCAD
Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Design
Electronics
Power Distribution
Electrical Design
Power Systems
Electrical Wiring
Testing
MATLAB
Project Engineering
Embedded Systems
Engineering Management
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)
C (Programming Language)
Manufacturing
Altium Designer
Automation
Control Systems Design

Action Verbs For Electrical Engineer Resumes

When you’re detailing your work history on your resume, you should always include clear and specific bullet points with examples of what you accomplished at past jobs. For maximum effect, those bullet points should always begin with clear and specific action verbs. You’d be surprised what a difference a handful of carefully-chosen words on your resume can make!

The best action verbs for electrical engineers reflect the mix of communication, problem-solving, technical, and creative skills needed for their jobs. Some of these verbs could include the ones on the left.