5 Electrical Engineering Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Electrical еngineers seem to be running the world these days. From hair dryers to smartphones, telecommunication, transportation to power generation, transmission, and everything in between. It’s no exaggeration to say electrical engineers help build our modern world.

We continue to progress towards a digital future, so electrical engineering remains a profession with increasing demand and diversification. In fact, employment of electrical and electronics engineers is projected to grow 7% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

Crafting your electrical еngineering resume is complicated because the field is broad, but job offers are usually specific. One of the major difficulties electrical engineers face when applying for jobs is keeping their resume relevant to each position.

Fear not! The following guide will teach you how to put together an effective electrical engineering resume and bring a positive impression to your employers.

Let’s look at a sample resume for an electrical engineer. Then, you can easily visualize what you need on your own.

Electrical engineering resume sample

This sample includes all the key sections of an electrical engineer resume.

Now, let’s break down the elements of a successful resume, one by one. Starting with formatting.

How to format an electrical engineering resume

Think of the right resume format as the switch of an electric system. It should be easy to use, intuitive, and bring what’s needed to light. Use a resume template that would do just that—put your best qualities into the spotlight!

Take a look at our tips:

Resume format:

The reverse-chronological format is a timeless classic, and classic bodes well with engineering, don’t you think? It provides an orderly list of your work endeavors so far and begins with the most recent one for optimal reading experience.

Resume designs

• Less is more when applying for a job, and a 1-page resume captures this goal perfectly. Opt for 2 pages only if you’ve got extensive experience.
• Our resume builder ensures your margins stay within the preferred 0.5”—1” scope. Any less, and it’ll be hard to read, anymore, and your experience will look sparse.
• A two-column layout provides space for all the important info you want to feature and is easy to scan.
• A little color goes a long way to accentuate your best features.
• Choose fonts such as Arial, Rubik, or Lato to maintain a professional appearance suitable for an electrical engineering role.

Contact information

Your resume header will probably be the first thing hiring managers see. Мake sure it contains all the essentials: a name, job title, and contact information. A photo is generally not needed, as it can cause bias. Always check with the job description, though!

File formatting

A PDF format will ensure all the elements of your chosen resume layout stay in place. You can name your file using this formula: FirstName_LastName_JobTitle.

Top sections on a resume

Here’s a list of the top resume sections:

• Work experience
• Skills
• Education
• Summary/Objective
• Additional sections

We’ll discuss them in more detail below.

Have you tried the Enhancv resume builder? It guarantees your resume comprises all the key sections.

We’ve got the design covered, now let’s move on to your strongest suit—your experience.

How to write your electrical engineering resume experience

The great thing about electrical engineering is you can see the direct results of your work—and others can, too! Why not use these examples to make your resume experience tangible?

Key components of an experience section

Make sure your experience section lists:

• The companies you worked for, your roles, and the period you spent there.
• The purpose, your contributions, and the outcomes of the projects you worked on.
• Specific technical skills and tools you used (e.g., AutoCAD, MATLAB, PLC programming. etc.).
• Quantifiable achievements. We’ll discuss this in more detail in a second.

Tailor your experience to your resume

Be strategic about your electrical engineer experience. Select keywords from the job description and include them in your resume summary or experience section—these will signal to recruiters you’re a good fit for the position. What this does is tailor your resume to the job posting. The more relevant your application is, the higher your chances of scoring an interview.

Let’s take a look at a real electrical engineer job description.

Here’s an example experience entry tailored to that same job description (we’ve bolded the sections we’re targeting in the job ad):

Here’s why this section works:

• Aligns with job responsibilities: The experience entry mirrors the specific duties and responsibilities outlined in the job description, demonstrating direct relevance and applicability to the desired role.
• Highlights key skills: By explicitly mentioning skills such as electrical system design and partnership with third-party consultants, the experience entry showcases the candidate's technical proficiency and preparedness for the role.
• Fieldwork capability: Including the design of critical systems such as studios, broadcast spaces, and data centers emphasizes the candidate's practical experience and adaptability to the specific demands of the job.

The most effective way to describe your experience is through real results. Let’s see how to quantify your achievements.

How to quantify your experience on a resume

Quantifiable experience is crucial for an electrical engineer. Engineering employers prioritize candidates who show proven success through concrete data, as it clearly evidences competence, efficiency, and problem-solving skills.

For instance, instead of saying "Improved the efficiency of a power system," you might say, "Enhanced the efficiency of a power distribution system by 20%, resulting in a cost savings of $50,000 annually." This example underlines the technical improvement made and translates it into financial terms, making it more impactful and understandable to hiring managers and non-technical stakeholders.

Being inexperienced can be scary but we’ve got you covered with some tips.

How do I write an electrical engineering resume with no experience

It’s perfectly understandable to be inexperienced at the beginning of your career. What’s important is your willingness to learn and focus on your strengths.

Focus on your skills, education, and projects/volunteering:

• Your education is integral in your electrical engineering career, so list a relevant degree, high GPA, and other academic accomplishments.
• Think of what transferable skills you’ve got, such as communication, teamwork, attention to detail.
• Avoid the rookie mistake of not participating in projects or volunteering. Engaging in such activities demonstrates your eagerness to contribute and grow professionally. For example, volunteering as a STEM mentor, conducting workshops, and guiding students through projects, are all activities enhancing teaching and leadership skills. These are qualities that employers will highly appreciate.

Don’t just take our word for it. Here are a few specific tips on how to approach this section, according to the advice of an HR interviewing for an electrical engineering department:

Format for an entry-level electric engineer resume

Finally, a resume for an electric engineer with no experience will shine with a strong resume objective. Keep it short (1—3 sentences) and to the point. Ask yourself, what can I bring to the table? How can I best show my passion and willingness to work in the electrical engineering field?

Here’s a good resume objective example:

The objective is short, engaging, and to the point, making a strong entrance by pointing out energy and eagerness. It mentions a strong academic background and hands-on experience in electrical design, directly addressing key qualifications. Additionally, it emphasizes collaboration with cross-functional teams and compliance with regulatory standards, aligning with the job responsibilities.

Your skills and experience go hand-in-hand. Let’s see how to position your abilities on your resume.

How to list your hard and soft skills on your resume

Your skills section should clearly describe your capabilities to potential employers. Organize your skills into two categories: hard and soft. Hard skills are those technical proficiencies specific to your industry. Highlight these in a distinct section for easy readability.

Here are our top picks:

Soft skills, on the other hand, are best dispersed in your experience section, with concrete examples. Don’t underestimate those, because even in a technical-oriented environment, people skills are still fundamental.

Consider adding some of these to your resume:

Your resume would be incomplete without an education section. Let’s see how to structure it.

How to list your certifications and education on your resume

Did you know that nearly half of the students who start an electrical engineering degree drop out before completing their program? The reasons behind this include challenging coursework, poor teaching methods, and a lack of hands-on experience in the early years of the curriculum.

So, if you’ve completed such a challenging degree, you need to list it on your resume.​ It’ll prove you’re dedicated, hard-working, and consistent.

We’ve got a few tips on how to structure your education section:

• Clearly state your degree and major (e.g., a BA in Human Resources Management or Psychology).
• List your educational institution to highlight the credibility of your education.
• Specify the year you graduated to provide context and the recentness of your education. Skip the month.
• Mention courses related to recruitment and human resources, such as Talent Acquisition, Organizational Behavior, or HR Management.
• If you’ve been on the Dean's List, graduated Cum Laude, or received a scholarship, point it out in your application.

We’ve crafted an education entry targeting the job description from above:

We believe this is a great example because it:

• Aligns with job requirements: The degree and specialization directly relate to the job's focus on electrical systems, critical power plants, and instrumentation.
• Mentions relevant skills and tools: Mentioning specific tools like AutoCAD and Bluebeam REVU highlights proficiency in the software required by the job posting.
• Includes a capstone project: The capstone project on Critical Power Plant design demonstrates hands-on experience and a direct link to the responsibilities of the position.

In addition to your higher education, you could mention you’re keeping up with the novelties in electrical engineering through certifications.

Consider listing some of these:

With your educational foundation in place, let's shift our focus to creating a compelling resume summary that underscores your key achievements.

How to write your electrical engineering resume summary

A compelling resume summary is crucial for an experienced electrical engineer. If well-written, it can hold hiring managers’ attention to your resume. Keep it concise (3–4 sentences), use active voice, and focus on how your experience can help the company you’re applying for.

This summary is tailored to the job description above:

This summary is concise and relevant. It emphasizes specific technical expertise, while also underlining the candidate's collaborative and proactive approach to working with internal teams and external consultants.

Finally, let’s explore the optional sections you can incorporate on your resume.

Additional sections for an electrical engineering resume

Why constrain yourself to the usual resume sections when you can add sections that can make it one of a kind? They still need to be relevant to your desired position, of course, so we’ve got a few suggestions:

• Recognition or awards for your achievements in electrical engineering.
• Memberships in professional organizations like IEEE or NSPE demonstrate your dedication to the field.
• Volunteer work related to engineering, such as STEM outreach or mentoring programs.
• Proficiency in additional languages, beneficial for working in diverse engineering environments.
• Significant electrical engineering projects or initiatives you’ve led or contributed to.
• Personal interests and hobbies that showcase transferable skills.

In conclusion

An effective electrical engineering resume should highlight key technical skills, professional achievements, and relevant experience. Essential components include a concise summary showcasing expertise and accomplishments, a detailed work experience section focusing on specific projects and quantifiable results, and a clear presentation of educational background and proficiencies.