Create a Resume
Now that you have started your college career, it is time to create your professional resume. The purpose of your resume is to get you an interview. There are several different kinds of resumes for various purposes. This first section is about the most commonly used resumes for students and new graduates at the Steve Sanghi College of Engineering, an industry resume, which is a condensed, easy-to-read summary of your qualifications and achievements. For most graduates, one page is the best length. If you have five years of industry experience and/or a graduate-level degree, you may need to use two pages, but not more than two pages total. Do not crowd the page; leave intentional “white space” in order to make it easy to read. Finally, save your resume as a PDF to ensure your formatting stays consistent across devices.
Core Resume Vs Target Resume
As you gain more experience during your college years, it’s helpful to maintain two versions of your resume: a core resume and a target resume. Your core resume is a comprehensive working document that stores all of your projects, experiences, and achievements; it’s not intended for submission but serves as a valuable reference for building tailored versions later. On the other hand, your target resume is a concise, customized version created specifically for a job or internship. This version should highlight the most relevant skills and accomplishments based on the position you’re applying for, aligning closely with the job description. Keeping both resumes updated ensures you can quickly respond to opportunities with a well-targeted, professional application.
Action Verbs to Emphasize Skills and Keywords
Though keywords may impress a computer enough to get your resume to the hiring manager’s desk, you still have to convince that person to keep it out of the trash. As any writer will tell you, the key to compelling marketing of your value lies in the action words: verbs. Use action words to clearly describe your experience and accomplishments. You can find the list of action verbs here.
Resume Checklist
A well-crafted resume should be between one to two pages in length and free of any spelling or grammatical errors. It must use formal, professional language avoiding slang and abbreviations and maintain a consistent font style and size (typically 10–12 pt.) throughout. Spacing should be uniform to ensure readability. Your resume should include a brief summary of qualifications that highlights your strengths and relevant experience. Dates of employment or involvement should be clearly aligned on the side of the page, using both the month and year. Avoid listing references directly on your resume. Most importantly, tailor your resume to the specific position and organization to showcase how your background aligns with their needs.
A header is the first part of your resume. This header will also be used for cover letters, thank-you letters, and reference lists, allowing for a professional, cohesive look to your job search package. This should have your name, contact information including address, email, phone number, and LinkedIn address. Make sure when including your LinkedIn address that your profile is up to date.
Example:
Louie Lumberjack
LL1899@nau.edu | 928.523.1234 | linkedin.com/in/Louie | Flagstaff, AZ | He/Him/His
A professional profile is an introductory section to your resume that highlights your relevant qualifications and skills. It has become the replacement section for the outdated “Objective” section. Since employers do not spend very long when reviewing a resume, having this section on the resume can be an effective way to quickly show the employer how you will be a fit for the position you are applying for. When creating this section, make sure to be brief and descriptive, not to exceed four sentences in bullet point or paragraph format. This section should include accomplishments and skills that are relevant to the job or industry for which you are applying.
Professional Summary
- 5+ years of experience in project management, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
- Proficient in Python, SQL, Excel; skilled in preparing and delivering professional presentations.
- Excellent communication skills in English; conversational in Spanish.
For college students and recent graduates, education should be at the top. This allows the recruiter to see which field the individual is seeking and what type of employment they are looking to obtain.
Tips:
- The current school is listed at the top. High school will only stay on your resume until you earn a college GPA (after your first semester).
- List your graduation date (month and year), justified to the right of the school name, not the dates of attendance. You do not need to include “anticipated graduation.” Your graduation date quickly lets the recruiter know if you are looking for full-time or an internship.
- Clearly state the title of your degree or diploma with your major field of study. If you have not officially declared your major, just list Bachelor of Science versus Undecided.
- GPA’s are a way for some recruiters to determine whether or not you qualify for a job. If a GPA is 3.0 or higher it should be displayed in a prominent place in this section. GPA’s that are 2.5 – 2.9 are good and should be on your resume, but perhaps under the major. If your GPA is under 2.5, it should not be on the resume.
A Skills section is designed to highlight your strengths to the company and set you apart from the list of applicants. Recruiters recognize that you are a current college student or recent graduate with basic-level skills. Even so, they want to gain a brief idea about your abilities, so it is important to list these and keep them up to date. Skills can be obtained through classes, labs, projects, sports, clubs, previous employment, etc.
Keep in mind that recruiters search resumes using industry-specific keywords. Engineering and technical skills can be listed at the top of this section; professional and general skills are important and should be listed, and they are typically best kept at the end of the list. To save room, skills should be grouped together. Certifications, languages, and even work authorization can be listed in this section if applicable.
EXAMPLES OF SKILLS SECTION
Computer:
SolidWorks, Mathematica, Microsoft Excel, Outlook
Laboratory:
Safety measures, titrations, and documentation
Communication:
Public speaking, technical writing
Qualities:
Organized, problem solver, good team and leadership skills
You can have a look at Transferable skills here.
The purpose of this section is to include applicable work experience, paid and unpaid, full-time and part-time. Various titles can be used, such as Work Experience, Engineering Experience, Relevant Experience, or Additional Experience.
Begin with the most recent experience. List the company name, the title of the position you held, the location of the employer, and the dates in which you held the position. Stress your accomplishments and the skills used to get results. Start with an action verb to give an action-oriented description of your work. If you were in a non-related job, stress the skills that are transferable. Your accomplishment must grab the reader and quantify the results. Were you responsible for a project? Did you increase profits?
Related Experience
NAU Engineering Makerspace |Flagstaff, AZ
Student Technician August 2022 – Present
- Assisted over 200 users with 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC machining, ensuring adherence to safety and quality standards.
- Created and maintained documentation for troubleshooting common equipment issues, reducing downtime by 30%.
- Trained and mentored 10+ peers in CAD software usage and laboratory procedures.
Steve Sanghi College of Engineering students have a great opportunity to start gaining valuable team project experience as soon as their freshman year through design courses; some students obtain project experience even before they come to the Steve Sanghi College of Engineering through engineering camps, high school, etc. A variety of titles can be used, such as Project Experience, Engineering Projects, Team Project Experience, or Technical Projects.
List the class and project title in bold and your role on the team. Start with an action verb to give an action-oriented description of the project tasks, requirements, your work, and results.
Additional Sections
Below sections are very important as they show that you go over and beyond just your basic academics and work, though they may be included at the bottom of your resume. List the most important items for each section.
Including volunteer and community service work on your resume is a great way to show your engagement beyond academics. It’s especially impactful if you’ve applied your engineering or technical skills in these roles. When relevant, use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and the outcomes of your work. Even if the experience isn’t directly related to engineering, listing the organization, role, location, and dates still reflects your commitment, teamwork, and leadership abilities.
Volunteer Work
STEM Outreach Program, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
Volunteer Mentor January 2024 – Present
- Guided middle and high school students through engineering-focused activities such as circuit design and bridge modeling
- Presented career pathways in engineering to inspire interest in STEM fields
Including honors, awards, and scholarships on your résumé is a great way to demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and recognition for your achievements. For engineering students, this may include merit-based scholarships, technical competition awards, or departmental honors. If space allows, you can also include the criteria or significance of the award to give more context.
Awards and Scholarships
Lumberjack Engineering Scholarship
August 2020 – May 2024
Merit-based scholarship awarded for academic achievement and declared engineering major
Best Capstone Project – Mechanical Engineering Department
May 2024
Recognized for innovation and practical application in senior design project focused on renewable energy systems
Attending workshops, webinars, or training events related to your field is a great way to show your commitment to continuous learning and professional development. These experiences demonstrate your willingness to explore new tools, stay current with industry trends, and gain deeper knowledge beyond the classroom. You can also include employer-led training or external training, if they help strengthen your technical or professional skills.
Workshops and Webinars
| IEEE Student Leadership Conference | March 2024 |
| AWS Cloud Fundamentals for Engineers | February 2024 |
| NSPE Engineering Ethics Webinar | November 2023 |
Being involved in professional organizations and memberships shows your active engagement with the engineering community and your commitment to staying connected with industry developments. Unless you held a leadership role or had specific responsibilities related to your career, simply listing your memberships is enough to highlight your professional involvement.
Professional Organizations or Affiliations
Society of Women Engineers (SWE) August 2022–Present
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) August 2022–Present
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) August 2021–Present
Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society) August 2020–2023
Listing involvement in clubs and organizations is a great way to showcase your extracurricular activities, especially if you held leadership roles relevant to your engineering career. Employers value well-rounded candidates who demonstrate teamwork, leadership, and community engagement beyond the classroom.
Engineering Club Involvement
Society of Women Engineers (SWE), NAU Flagstaff, AZ
Vice President August 2021 – May 2023
- Led monthly meetings and coordinated professional development workshops for 50+ members
- Organized campus outreach programs to promote STEM education in local high schools
- Managed budget and fundraising efforts, securing sponsorships for annual engineering conference attendance
Participating in athletics, whether at the collegiate, intramural, or club level, offers valuable leadership, teamwork, and time management experience. You don’t need a formal leadership title like “captain” to highlight your contributions and skills on your resume.
Leadership Experience or Collegiate Athletic Involvement
Northern Arizona University Women’s Soccer Team Flagstaff, AZ
Defense/Midfield 2022 – Present
- Commit 30-40 hours per week to team practices, study sessions, tutoring, mentoring, and travel
- Collaborate with teammates to analyze performance and develop strategies for improvement
- Maintain a full academic course load of 15+ credits while balancing athletic responsibilities
Engineering students often develop leadership and teamwork skills through class projects, student organizations, research teams, or campus involvement. Highlighting these experiences on your resume shows employers your initiative, communication abilities, and capacity to manage responsibility in technical and collaborative environments.
Leadership Experience
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ
Project Manager – Mini Baja Team August 2023 – Present
- Directed a team of 10 students in designing and building an off-road vehicle for national competition
- Coordinated timelines, delegated tasks, and led weekly progress meetings to ensure project milestones were met
- Partnered with local sponsors to raise $5,000 in funding and in-kind donations
Bullet Point Formula
Are you wondering how to take your experiences and list them in descriptive, but concise language? Use the bullet point formula to create rockstar bullet points!
Action Verbs + Skills Used/Job Duty + Results/Purpose
Since building quality bullet points is not always as easy as “1, 2, 3,” go through the bullet point building process listed here based on the formula above to help get you started.
Write out everything you did in the position/experience. Make note of technical skills, “soft” skills, technologies utilized or strengths displayed. Talk with a friend or family member about what you did in the experience to help you brainstorm. We often forget about or downplay the accomplishments or responsibilities we had, and having someone with whom to talk about them will make you more likely to remember and capture accurately.
How did you display or use the skill? Many of us have similar skills that we may use very differently than one another. For example, you may have used Microsoft Excel to complete a project. However, the specific way you used Excel is important since Excel can be used for many different functions. Being specific in how you displayed or used the skill is helpful in the brainstorm process and can prevent leaving out important information about what you did in the job/project.
While this piece of the bullet point formula may be optional, it can be extremely beneficial as it showcases your accomplishments and the “why” behind what you were doing.
Examples
| Before | After |
| Graded assignments | Managed multiple priorities, including reviewing and providing feedback on 20+ assignments |
| Contacted suppliers and read technical documents for part information | Enhanced team’s design by acquiring part information and costs through various suppliers |
| Designed an efficient AC system | Analyzed and redesigned an AC system to be more efficient and convenient for the user |
| Wrote memos and kept people on task | Directed a team through multiple projects and documented our team’s work for our supervisor |
| Learned how to work with a team efficiently and effectively in field session | Coordinated with a team to provide an efficient and effective solution to problems |
Curriculum Vitaes (CVs)
A curriculum vitae (CV) is a detailed document showcasing your academic, technical, and professional accomplishments. Engineering students typically use a CV when applying to graduate programs, research roles, or international opportunities. It includes sections like education, projects, internships, research, certifications, and affiliations providing a comprehensive view of your background.
Unlike a resume, which is usually one page, a CV can span multiple pages and grow with your experience. Be sure to include all relevant achievements and keep your CV regularly updated to reflect your skills, technical growth, and professional development.
If you’re unsure where to begin or want feedback, we’re here to help! Explore resources in the “Career Resources” section for sample resumes and templates, attend a resume-building workshop under “Build Experience & Skills” or book a one-on-one review appointment with a career advisor.
