Engineers are always in demand. So, you don’t need to worry about making a fuss about your CV, right? Not so fast. This session examines how to strategically write and format a CV to help you stand out and land that job you're applying for!

1. How to write a CV that will land you
more interviews
Presented by |Amelia Brooke

2. Amelia Brooke | Founder ABCV Solutions
 4 Years Automotive
Automotive & Siemens VDO)
 4 Technical Recruitment
Walters & NES Global Talent)
 8 Years Oil & Gas
& BP)
Established ABCV Solutions in 2014 – The UK’s only
professional CV writing company 100% dedicated
engineers & technical specialists.
| 2ABCV SOLUTIONS

3. | 3ABCV SOLUTIONS
“Automotive companies are struggling to fill
vacancies requiring higher skilled employees; in
particular engineering positions” June 2017 “Candidate Availability an Uphill
Struggle for the Auto Sector” Feb
2018
“Running On Empty: Skills
Shortages in the Automotive
Sector” July 2017
“Motor recruitment agencies warn
of workshop skills shortage” Jan
2018
“Skills shortage leaves up to 5,000 automotive
industry jobs vacant, claims new report”
Feb 2016

4. | 4ABCV SOLUTIONS
CORRECT SPELLING
CONTACT
DETAILS
EMPLOYMENT DATES
AVOID BUZZWORDS

5. What we’re going to cover:
1. Choosing The Best CV Format.
2. Visual CVs – Are They The Answer?
3. Experience – Keywords, Content & Context.
4. Types of Skills.
5. Adding Other Sections.
+ Bonus: Pro Tips to Stand Out from
the Rest!
| 5ABCV SOLUTIONS

6. | 6ABCV SOLUTIONS
REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL FUNCTIONAL / SKILLS FORMAT COMBINATION
BEST FOR
Those whose work history is
very closely related to the
desired job.
BEST FOR
Those who want to highlight
their skills and people who are
seeking a career change
BEST FOR
Those who have a mix of
relevant skills and similar work
experiences
What’s the Best Format for a CV?
There are three standard CV formats for engineers to choose from:

7. | 7ABCV SOLUTIONS
Are Visual CV’s the Answer?
Image from www.visualcv.com

8. | 8ABCV SOLUTIONS
Lets take a look at some
examples:

9. | 9ABCV SOLUTIONS
Lets take a look at some
examples:

10. ABCV SOLUTIONS
Visual and infographic CVs contain about
one third of the words found on regular CVs
Prefer single words or phrases as opposed
to full sentences
Design limitation to 1 page CV
Limited Infographics styles
ATS incompatible
Are visual CV’s the Answer?
| 10
“We have to find
balance, by reducing
the bells and
whistles and focussing
on the strong
differentiating qualities
that tell your story and
outline your
suitability”.

11. How to Describe Your
Experience on a CV to get
any job you want
Career Objective or
Professional Summary?
| 11ABCV SOLUTIONS
Articulate your value to the
employer
Convey your unique selling points
Emphasis your relevant strengths

12. | 12ABCV SOLUTIONS
Sample Professional Statement:
RIGHT: Outgoing Mechanical Engineer with the know-how to produce system
drawings, general arrangement drawings, sub-assembly drawings and detail part
drawings in 2D and 3D. Took part in the 2017 SAE International Formula programme
to build a small formula-style racing car. Recently graduated with a MEng
(Hons) Automotive Engineering from the University of Warwick and ready to join a
thriving business developing new product lines.
WRONG: Mechanical Engineer from University of Warwick with an MEng
(Hons) Automotive Engineering . Seeking to obtain in a suitable position with your
company.

13. How to Describe Your
Experience on a CV to get
any job you want
Adding experience
| 13ABCV SOLUTIONS
Keep it clear and relevant.
Be honest.
Separate responsibilities,
accomplishments and skills.

14. | 14ABCV SOLUTIONS
How to Describe Your Experience on a CV to get any job you want
Action words for your engineering CV
Planned Devised Achieved
Developed Liaised Evaluated
Supervised Co-ordinated Managed
Administered Controlled Selected
Created Instructed Negotiated
Designed Researched Analysed
Discovered Recommended Tested
Diagnosed Budgeted Monitored
Evaluated Examined Assessed
Promoted Assessed Advised
Selected Trained Taught
Explained Presented Conducted
Distributed Organised Solved
Represented Persuaded Calculated
Completed Arranged Facilitated

15. How to Describe Your Experience
on a CV to get any job you want
Adding accomplishments
Common Formulas for Writing
Accomplishments:
Situation + What you did + Result
Work challenge + Action + Result
End result + Why it was needed
(situation) + Action
ABCV SOLUTIONS | 15

16. How to Describe Your
Experience on a CV to get
any job you want
Other considerations
| 16ABCV SOLUTIONS
Back up your duties with technical skills.
Avoid jargon & acronyms
Tailor your CV to match the language of
the job vacancy
Pay attention to details.

17. Tips and examples of how to
put skills on your CV
Why skills matter
| 17ABCV SOLUTIONS
ATS stands for “applicant tracking
systems”,
Software systems used by 90% of
Fortune 500 companies to sort and
search applicants.
ATS sort and rank applicants using
keywords specific to the job description.

18. | 18ABCV SOLUTIONS
HARD/JOB TRANSFERABLE SKILLS SOFT or PERSONAL SKILLS
Provable,
experience-based
skills learned through
education or
employment.
Applicable to
different roles and
industries.
Character
traits and qualities that are hard
to prove on paper but
important in showing the kind
of employee you are.
Skills can be categorised into three types:
So, what might your skills section look like?
Tips and examples of how to put skills on your CV

19. | 19ABCV SOLUTIONS
HARD/JOB TRANSFERABLE SOFT/PERSONAL SKILLS
Electrical Engineering
Prototype & Product
Design
2D & 3D Modelling
Commercial Awareness
Visualisation Skills
Research & Analysis
Communication & Presentation
Critical Thinker
Multilingual
(French, Spanish, English)
Tips and examples of how to put skills on your CV
Example of the types of skills

20. How to add other sections for
an effective CV
| 20ABCV SOLUTIONS
Here are some examples of other
sections you might want to add:
 Awards and Honours
 Software & IT
 Publications
 Conferences
 Languages
 Hobbies and Interests

21. | 21ABCV SOLUTIONS
Bonus: Pro Tips to Stand Out
from the Rest!
• Community Involvement
• Industry Certifications
• Professional Memberships
• A link to your website
• Links to GitHub, LinkedIn, or other
professional networking site
• Testimonials: No one said you can’t put in a
good word about yourself, in advance!
Add a some pizzazz to really get noticed!

22. | 22ABCV SOLUTIONS
Bonus: Pro Tips to Stand Out
from the Rest!
• Stick to a clean, straightforward layout.
• Allow the reader’s eyes to skim from top to
bottom and retain essential facts.
• Balance text and whitespace.
• Use the same font, being careful with
alignments and spacing.
• Make strategic use of bold, caps, and italics.
• Avoid underlining text, shading subject
headings or adding page borders.

23. Do you have any questions?
For more information about all our services visit
www.abcvsolutions.com
Let’s connect!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amelia-brooke/