Mechanical Engineer Resume: Guide to Achieve the Job that you Want

All jobs require a solid, well-formatted, and tailored resume. Whether you are looking for a job in an office, a physical job, or a job that requires creativity and design, you need to construct a solid resume. However, that can be difficult when you're looking at a job that requires parts of the categories described above. We will discuss one such position and the resume it requires—a mechanical engineer resume.

A mechanical engineer resume showcases several skills. It requires physical work, design, creativity, and problem solving. Putting all those factors together on a resume may seem hard, but don't worry. We'll be going over exactly what a mechanical engineer does, what is required to be one, and how to put together a strong mechanical engineer resume.

Mechanical Engineer Career Overview

Before you get a mechanical engineer resume ready, you need to make sure that this is the job for you. A mechanical engineer's job is broad. They research, design, develop, build, and test a variety of devices. So if you're interested in this job, be ready to work at it!

Mechanical engineering works best for people who enjoy problem solving or learning about how things work. As you can imagine from the job description, problem solving is essential for this kind of job. It's also one of the broadest fields that exist in modern engineering. Engineers develop and design everything from medical devices to batteries.

This wide variety of work means mechanical engineers work many different jobs. However, that doesn't mean there isn't a method to what mechanical engineers do. No matter what their field, mechanical engineers will work certain jobs. We have listed these below.

Despite these basic job functions, mechanical engineers do exist in different forms. Because of the variations in their work, mechanical engineers are classified into different types. These can range from building cars to designing robotics. While there are too many to list, here are some general examples of mechanical engineers.

Auto Research Engineers

As you might have guessed by the name, this type of mechanical engineer works with cars. Their main goal is to improve the car in whatever way they can. This means they can work to improve structural parts of the car like the suspension. However, they also work on aerodynamics and creating new fuels.

Heating and Cooling Systems Engineers

No, these are not air conditioning repairmen. These types of mechanical engineers work to control temperature and humidity in specific environments. This usually means areas with sensitive devices, such as computer rooms. However, they also work on planes, cars, trains, and schools.

Robotic Engineers

Again, the name says it all. These engineers work on building, designing, and maintaining robots. Their most important job is sensor design and placement. A robotic engineer will plan how the robot will use sensors to detect anything from light to smell, and also determine where the sensors will be placed.

Drafters

This type of engineer generally uses computer software for design conversion. They will convert designs from engineers and architects into technical drawings. These workers generally specialize in architectural, civil, electrical, or mechanical drafting. They may work on everything from microchips to skyscrapers.

Nuclear Engineers

Mechanical engineers can work within all sorts of jobs, even ones that work with dangerous substances. These engineers work to research processes that can be used to harness the power of nuclear energy. They even found a use for radiation in surprising ways. For example, some medical diagnoses and treatment devices are the result of the work of these engineers.

Sales Engineers

You may not think the sales business is one that require engineers, but surprisingly, it is. Sales engineers sell complex technological products to businesses. As you'd expect, they have an extensive knowledge of their products and how they work. You never want to sell someone a dud!

Mathematicians/Statisticians

Math plays a big part in the development of a mechanical engineer (which we will go into further below). People in these fields use mathematics and statistical techniques to solve many real-world problems. These engineers, therefore, work in many diverse and varied fields. They can be found in business, healthcare, or engineering, just to name a few.

Educational Requirements

As the lists above show, mechanical engineering is a varied, complex job that involves different work. Therefore, gaining an education is crucial in order to be a success. Luckily, colleges offer degrees for this specific field. A potential mechanical engineer needs to have a B.A. in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology on their mechanical engineer resume.

These degrees will generally contain courses in mathematics and life and physical sciences. Mechanical engineering also includes courses on education and design. The programs for a mechanical engineering technology degree often focus more on practical application of engineering principles. As a result, they often encourage students to try for internships and co-ops to prepare them for the real world.

Some schools will offer a five-year program. This allows students to pick up a bachelor's and master's degree. Itis  also essential to go to an ABET accredited school. Potential employers will only hire those with ABET accreditation.

Getting Started: Mechanical Engineer Resume Tips and Samples

So now that we've gone over exactly what is required to be a mechanical engineer, you may feel ready to craft your resume. However, your mechanical engineer resume still needs to be properly formatted and contain all the relevant information. Luckily, that's the next part of our guide. Below are some tips and samples for crafting the best mechanical engineer resume from the samples listed at zety.com.

Format

Formatting is key in crafting any resume. For a mechanical engineer resume, you will need to choose from three formats. We have them listed as reverse chronological, combination, and functional. Of these three, reverse chronological is the most common and generally considered the best.

However, the other formats are valid too. Combination works best for people with a long career or those are switching fields. Functional allows you to show off your skills before listing your experience. Regardless of what format you choose, make sure it is straightforward, clean, and has strategic use of bolds, caps, and italics.

Summary or Objective?

A potential employer will focus strongly on where you are in your career. For mechanical engineers, this means one of three possibilities: you are either applying for an internship, you are looking for your first job, or you are an experienced engineer. Whichever you fall into will determine your approach.

Internship/Graduate

If you are looking for an internship or are a graduate, then you should start with your objectives. Ideally, you should start your resume off with these. They will showcase you to a potential employer. They will know where you are, and whether or not you'd be a good fit for the role.

Summary

An experienced engineer should summarize their experience on a resume. Your career will showcase your objectives to a potential employer, so they don't need to be spelled out. If you still aren't sure about how to write these examples. don't worry. We have samples below from zety.com.

Sample Mechanical Engineer Intern Resume Objective

This example showcases a big mistake that is often made on modern mechanical engineer resumes. Old-school resumes have used this sort of style in the past, but it no longer works to tell an employer what you want. You need to tell them how you can give them what they want. Remember, the purpose of any resume is to show employer you are the right fit for their company.

Sample Mechanical Engineer Student Resume Objective

Again, this sample showcases what shouldn't be done in a resume. The experiences described here are vague and don't appear specific to any job. Don't be afraid to add more experience and skills to your objective. Just make sure they match the job you're applying for.

Mechanical Engineering Resume Summary Example

This type of mechanical engineer resume focuses on linking experience to the specific job. It should be placed at the top of your resume in a few short lines. Be sure to add a couple of tangible skills as you write. This shows a hiring manager what you've done right away.

Conclusion

A mechanical engineering resume may seem daunting at first. You have to complete work for an accredited degree and gain practical experience, all to work in a field that will test you in a variety of ways. However, if you truly want to be in this line of work, then it's the same as any job. You just need to gain the experience and present them accordingly.

Overall, your resume is going to sell you to a potential employer, so be sure to watch your formatting. Be aware of your level of experience, and tailor the resume accordingly. As long as you do that and follow the instructions in this guide, you can achieve the job you want. Best of luck in your field!