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  • What Engineering Recruiters Really Look For in a CV

    If you’re an engineer looking for your next role, your CV is your first chance to make an impression. But with recruiters and hiring managers often reviewing hundreds of applications, how do you make yours stand out?

    At Thomas Lee Recruitment, we’ve been placing engineers in aerospace, automotive, and high-tech manufacturing for nearly a decade. Here’s what we really look for in an engineering CV—and how you can maximise your chances of landing an interview.

    1. A Clear, Well-Structured Layout

    Recruiters scan CVs quickly—so if yours is a wall of text with no clear sections, it’ll likely get ignored.

    ✅ Keep it simple: Use bold headings, bullet points, and a clean format.
    ✅ 2-3 pages max: Avoid lengthy paragraphs—stick to key achievements and technical skills.
    ✅ Reverse chronological order: Start with your most recent role and work backward.

    Pro Tip: Avoid fancy fonts, tables, or graphics. A well-structured, easy-to-read CV will always win over a visually complex one.

    2. A Strong Personal Summary (Not Just a Generic Paragraph)

    Your personal statement (or summary) is the first thing recruiters read—so make it count.

    ✅ Tailor it to engineering roles—Highlight your specialisation (e.g., mechanical, electrical, design, project engineering) and key skills.
    ✅ Avoid clichés—No “hard-working, passionate team player.” Instead, be specific:

    • “Chartered Mechanical Engineer with 10 years’ experience in precision aerospace components.”
      ✅ Include a key achievement—Something measurable, like:

    • “Reduced manufacturing downtime by 30% through process optimisation.”

    Pro Tip: Personalise it for each job application by tweaking key skills and industry keywords.

    3. Clear Job Titles & Responsibilities (With Achievements!)

    Recruiters need to quickly understand what you’ve done, so each job entry should include:

    ✅ Job title & company—Don’t assume we know what “Project Specialist IV” means; be clear about your function.
    ✅ Dates of employment—Include months & years to show stability.
    ✅ Key responsibilities—Keep this short; focus on your core duties.
    ✅ Achievements (most important!)—Show the impact of your work:

    • ❌ Bad: “Worked on aerospace component design.”

    • ✅ Good: “Led the design of a new lightweight aircraft component, reducing weight by 15% and cutting production costs by £100,000 per year.”

    Pro Tip: Use numbers! Recruiters love quantifiable results (cost savings, efficiency improvements, reduced downtime, etc.).

    4. Relevant Technical Skills & Software

    Don’t make recruiters guess what you’re good at—highlight your technical expertise clearly.

    ✅ Industry-specific skills (e.g., FEA, CFD, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, PLC programming).
    ✅ Software/tools proficiency (e.g., SolidWorks, CATIA, AutoCAD, MATLAB, SAP).
    ✅ Certifications & training (e.g., Chartered Engineer status, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, safety certifications).

    Pro Tip: Create a dedicated ‘Skills & Tools’ section to make them easy to find.

    5. Education & Qualifications (But Keep It Brief)

    Recruiters care about your experience first, but qualifications still matter—especially in regulated industries.

    ✅ Degree(s) & institution—Include relevant engineering degrees (BEng, MEng, MSc, etc.).
    ✅ Additional certifications—e.g., Chartered Engineer (CEng), IMechE/IEE/ICE memberships.

    ❌ No need to list GCSEs/A-levels if you have higher qualifications—just “BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham” will do.

    6. Keywords & Industry Terminology (To Get Past ATS Systems)

    Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which scan CVs for relevant keywords before a human even looks at them.

    ✅ Use the right keywords—Check the job description for key skills, software, and industry terms, and match them in your CV.
    ✅ Avoid overly creative job titles—Use standard terms (e.g., “Mechanical Design Engineer” instead of “Innovation Specialist”).

    Pro Tip: If you’re applying online, submit your CV as a Word document (not PDF)—some ATS systems struggle to read PDFs correctly.

    7. No Gaps Without Explanation

    If you have employment gaps, briefly explain them—otherwise, recruiters will assume the worst.

    ✅ Be honest & keep it short:

    • “Career break for further study (2022-2023).”

    • “Redundancy due to company closure—used time for professional development.”

    Pro Tip: If you freelanced or worked on personal projects, include them to show you stayed engaged in engineering.

    8. No Waffling, No Generic Statements

    Recruiters don’t need your entire life story—just the information that shows you’re the right person for the job.

    ❌ Bad: “I am a hardworking, dedicated engineer who thrives under pressure.”
    ✅ Good: “Designed and implemented a new manufacturing process, reducing waste by 20% and increasing productivity.”

    Pro Tip: Keep it focused, factual, and achievement-driven.

    9. A Professional Touch (No Silly Email Addresses!)

    First impressions matter, and small details count.

    ✅ Use a professional email (e.g., john.smith@email.com not bigjohn99@email.com).
    ✅ Include a LinkedIn profile link (if it’s well-optimised).
    ✅ No unnecessary personal info—No need for date of birth, marital status, or a photo (especially in the UK).

    Final Thoughts: Make Your CV Work for You

    A strong engineering CV is clear, concise, and achievement-driven. It should quickly tell recruiters:
    ✔️ Who you are
    ✔️ What you do
    ✔️ Why you’re a strong candidate

    Free CV with notes what to do – click here to download -> Formatted_CV_with_Notes