How to tailor your CV for a graduate mechanical engineer job in the UK
Mechanical engineering ads focus on design, analysis and hands-on experience. Projects, placements and competitions such as Formula Student carry a lot of weight.
Keywords to look for in the job ad
Check the ad for these words. Use them only where your experience genuinely backs them up.
SolidWorksCADFEAMATLABmanufacturingprototypingIMechEproject worktestingproblem solving
What to show
+Describe a design project: the problem, your part and the result.
+Name the software and any testing or manufacturing you did.
+State your chartership intentions if the ad mentions them.
A common mistake
Writing 'worked in a team' without saying what you personally designed or built.
Example bullet, before and after
Before
Part of a university engineering project.
After
Designed and modelled the [add: component] in SolidWorks for a team project and ran stress analysis, cutting weight by [add: percentage].
Items in [square brackets] are for you to fill in with real figures. Never add numbers you cannot back up.
Tailor your CV to the real ad
Paste the job ad and your CV. You get a free preview, and you pay £4.99 only if you want the full rewrite, cover letter and keyword checklist.