Here are the keywords and skills that appear most frequently on recent Mechanical Drafter job postings. In other words, these are the most sought after skills by recruiters and hiring managers. Go to Sample Templates ↓ below to see how to include them on your resume.
Remember that every job is different. Instead of including all keywords on your resume, identify those that are most relevant to the job you're applying to. Use the free Targeted Resume tool to help with this.
Does your resume contain all the right skills? Paste in your resume in the AI Resume Scan ↓ section below and get an instant score.
Paste your resume below and our AI will identify which keywords are missing from your resume from the list above (and what you need to include). Including the right keywords will help you get past Applicant Tracking Systems (i.e. resume screeners) which may scan your resume for keywords to see if you're a match for the job.
The following word cloud highlights the most popular keywords that appear on Mechanical Drafter job descriptions. The bigger the word, the more frequently it shows up on employer's job postings. If you have experience with these keywords, include them on your resume.
Here are examples of proven resumes in related jobs and industries, approved by experienced hiring managers. Use them as inspiration when you're writing your own resume. You can even download and edit the resume template in Google Docs.
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.
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.
Design is an important component of mechanical engineering. Engineers need to follow designs for projects, and often these are made by a mechanical design engineer. Mechanical design engineers create accurate and proportional designs for machinery, so engineers can act on these designs and create physical products that are effective and safe. Mechanical design engineers meet with stakeholders to understand the vision for the product, create designs using technical skill and software, and meet with engineers to ensure the design is being built to plan. To land a job as a mechanical design engineer, you’ll need a bachelor's degree in engineering, industrial design, or another related field. Hiring managers will be looking for candidates with previous experience in the engineering space, such as prior roles as a design engineer or quality control engineer. It’s important that candidates for this role have a deep understanding of design concepts and principles, as well as a strong mechanical engineering background. Overall, ideal candidates for this role should be technically knowledgeable, as well as effective project managers and communicators.
Since designs are oftentimes very visual concepts, it can be a good idea to include a portfolio or previous mechanical engineering designs and prototypes you’ve completed with your resume. By giving a company your portfolio alongside your resume, you can allow your work to speak for itself.
You will use a variety of software tools to create mechanical design concepts. Some of the most common software includes autoCAD, Adobe, SOLIDWORKS, and more. Be sure to highlight relevant knowledge you have regarding software and tools on your resume.
Junior mechanical engineers assist experienced mechanical engineers in designing, implementing, and manufacturing machinery. Junior mechanical engineers are usually on the path to become a mid-level mechanical engineer. Taking a role as a junior engineer can help you gain mentorship from more experienced engineers. Junior mechanical engineers may assist with routine testing, inspections, product designs, and troubleshooting efforts. To become a junior mechanical engineer, you will first need a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. This may be a great entry level role for a new grad, as long as the new grad can showcase relevant projects they’ve completed and technical knowledge on their resume. However, hiring managers like to see someone with some experience in related fields, such as previous experience as an assistant engineer. Ideal candidates for this role will have strong technical foundations, an eagerness to learn, and great problem solving skills.
Since this is an entry level position, many candidates may lack professional experience. To supplement this, you can highlight significant projects, research, or academic accolades you have that are relevant to mechanical engineering on your resume.
Some effective Mechanical Drafter skills you can add to your resume include:
While the keywords above are a good indication of what skills you need on your resume, you should try to find additional keywords that are specific to the job. To do this, use the free Targeted Resume tool. It analyzes the job you are applying to and finds the most important keywords you need on your resume.
It is personalized to your resume, and is the best way to ensure your resume will pass the automated resume filters.
Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.
