At its core, engineering is all about creating innovative solutions to the problems of our times. Mechanical engineers design and develop mechanical devices such as auto engines, computer hard drives, and aircraft parts to help solve these problems and improve people’s quality of life.
These professionals apply the concepts of physics, science, and math as they conceptualize, plan, design, and test new devices. They may also oversee the manufacturing of the products they create.
Mechanical engineers can find work in a wide range of industries including automotive, manufacturing, aerospace, and biotechnology. And the job outlook for mechanical engineers is positive -- the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) estimates a 4% growth in mechanical engineering positions from 2019 to 2029.
To become a mechanical engineer, you’ll need a strong foundation in math and physics, and you’ll also need a healthy dose of ingenuity and resourcefulness. You need to be an “outside-of-the-box” thinker who can devise new ways of solving problems.
If you’re seeking a mechanical engineering position, your resume should show that you’re up to the challenge of the job. Let’s talk about what a great mechanical engineering resume should look like in 2023.
Mechanical engineers are multicompetent individuals with a unique blend of technical, problem-solving, and creative skills. A hard skills section on your resume is essential for displaying your industry-specific knowledge. Because mechanical engineering is a competitive field, it’s also important to highlight specific examples of what you’ve achieved at previous jobs so you can show potential employers what you have to offer.
As a mechanical engineer, you’ll be working with scientific and mathematical principles to design your products. You should also be comfortable using a variety of engineering softwares to model your ideas and analyze how well they’re working. Your resume should clearly list your skills with software such as AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator, and Microsoft Visual Basic.
Showcase your engineering expertise by quantifying the results you’ve achieved for past employers. Mentioning that you improved equipment reliability by 40% or reduced component cost and assembly time by 20% gives hiring managers a taste of your capabilities.
Junior mechanical engineers work under the supervision of senior engineers to develop new tools and devices. You don’t need to be an experienced engineer for this entry-level position, but you will probably need at least a bachelor’s degree in a technical field. Make sure to also point out any internships or extracurricular activities you’ve done that are relevant to math, science, or engineering.
If you’ve held an internship in mechanical engineering, that experience is every bit as valuable as a job. Mention specific engineering projects you’ve worked on, such as developing pumping systems or repairing engine problems. Even extracurricular activities like peer tutoring in math and science can help bolster the strength of your resume.
When you have less work experience to fall back on, it’s helpful to emphasize your educational background, especially if you hold a Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in engineering or a related field. While studying mechanical engineering in school won’t teach you all the tricks of the trade, it will give you a strong foundation of knowledge for your future jobs.
Mechanical design engineers are focused on creating prototypes and models, doing research, and generating reports for new products. Because they are so focused on the design aspect of engineering, they need to be proficient with CAD software and other design tools. Recruiters also like to see a proven track record of design successes in previous roles you’ve held.
Lead into your past achievements with strong action verbs that tell recruiters about your capabilities. Engineering-specific action verbs like “prototyped”, “designed”, and “evaluated” are especially good choices because they highlight your industry expertise.
Mechanical design engineering is a bit more specialized than mechanical engineering -- and since you’ll be spending extra time working with design software, you’ll want to show hiring managers that you know how to use programs like AutoCAD or CATIA. It’s best to list these types of hard skills in a separate skills section so they’re easy to see.
In a senior mechanical engineering role, you’ll have general engineering duties while also overseeing processes and coordinating with customers and teams. You might also supervise junior engineers in their roles. To get this job, you need to be an accomplished engineer and adept at managing others. Use your resume to showcase your greatest engineering successes, and be sure to emphasize any leadership roles or promotions you’ve had in the past.
Senior mechanical engineers typically have years of work experience within the field. When you’re applying for jobs, assume you will be competing with other applicants who are equally experienced and qualified. Listing measurable achievements on your resume (such as “managed a team of 30+ engineers” or “increased production output by 23%”) helps set you apart and shows recruiters what you can accomplish.
Having past promotions on your resume is always a plus, especially when you’re going for a leadership role. When recruiters see that you’ve been promoted from a mechanical engineering intern to a junior engineer, they can tell that you’ve excelled in past jobs and that you’ve shown the potential to be a leader within the field.
Entry-level mechanical engineer positions are highly sought after by recent engineering grads. Mechanical engineers are responsible for developing, designing, and troubleshooting mechanical devices. Every machine you see out in the world was developed with the help of a mechanical engineer.
This position requires strong technical knowledge, so hiring managers will want a candidate with an educational background in mechanical engineering. A bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering will show recruiters you have the basics mastered. If you went on to receive additional engineering certifications, highlighting those will help you stand out. In addition, it helps to have experience. Whether it be through an internship, co-op, or past role, showing you have applied the academic principles of mechanical engineering in a real setting will be effective.
The fundamentals of engineering exam is necessary to receive your EIT. Receiving this credential shows employers you are ready for a mechanical engineering role. Though you can try to apply for jobs without one, most companies are looking for engineers who have passed this exam. It’s best to take this while you are newly graduated, as it covers an array of topics often only taught in engineering coursework.
College offers more than education. Most universities have well-developed career centers. These career resources are put in place for students to find entry-level opportunities in competitive fields, such as mechanical engineering. Your academic advisor and/or career center director will talk to you about what jobs you’re looking for and put you in contact with companies that have a history of hiring grads from your university.
An experienced mechanical engineer is someone who has several years of real-world engineering experience under their belt. An experienced mechanical engineer designs and develops machinery. These engineers are also responsible for problem-solving issues with machinery, making an innovative mindset and critical thinking skills crucial for the role. They may also oversee a team of junior engineers.
This position is a more senior-level role. An ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and several years of engineering job experience. Sometimes, they may have a master's degree. An experienced mechanical engineer would be expected to have passed their FE exam and may have a PE license as well.
Obtaining your Principles and Practices of Engineering license (also known as the PE) is a fundamental step to take if you are an engineer looking to obtain a more senior role. To obtain a PE license, you must first pass the FE exam, complete four years of consecutive work as an EIT under a licensed PE, and pass the exam. In the workplace, PEs are certified for higher-level operations, such as stamping and approving engineering plans.
Engineers can obtain several certifications in more specialized sectors of engineering. You might obtain certification in certain mechanical engineering functions, such as dynamic systems or stress analysis. Obtaining the certification(s) that will apply best to the industry or company you want to work for will make your resume more attractive to these employers.
Mechanical engineers need a firm understanding of science and math, but they also need to work well on teams and be effective communicators. They are typically logical, analytical thinkers with a solid creative streak. If you’re looking for a job in the field, your resume should highlight pertinent hard skills that all engineers need to have (such as skills with computing and software) as well as creative and collaborative projects you’ve worked on in the past.
For more senior roles, make sure to emphasize past work experiences where you’ve managed, supervised, or mentored others. Excellent technical and problem solving skills will get you a long way, but if you want to advance in your engineering career, seek opportunities to develop your abilities as a leader.
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Mechanical Engineer job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
Use your resume’s work history section to show recruiters that you have the skills and experience to succeed in your desired position. Create concise bullet points listing key accomplishments from each job you’ve had, and be sure to lead each bullet point with a bold action verb that describes exactly what you achieved and how.
Mechanical engineers should opt for a blend of verbs that highlight their problem-solving, analytical, creative, and technical abilities. On the left are just a handful of possibilities.
For more related action verbs, visit Engineering Action Verbs.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
If you're a senior-level employee, or you're changing careers to become a Mechanical Engineer, it's useful to add a paragraph at the top of your resume highlighting your most impressive accomplishments. This is called a resume summary.
Here's an example of a summary that can be used on a Mechanical Engineer resume.
A resume summary is a totally optional section, and in most cases, it's better to leave it out of your resume than include it. For example, if you're a student or mid-level hire, you should not include a summary, and instead use the space to add to your work experience.
To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your Mechanical Engineer resume, or figure out if you need one, please read Resume Summary Examples for Job Seekers: When To Include One.
