CV Writing Tips for Engineers
How to Write an Engineering CV That Gets Interviews in the UK Manufacturing & Machinery Sector
Writing a strong engineering CV is not about clever formatting or buzzwords. It’s about clearly showing what you can do, what you’ve worked on, and how you add value in real engineering environments.
As specialist engineering recruiters working with manufacturing, machinery and industrial businesses across the UK, we review hundreds of engineering CVs every year. This guide explains how to write an engineering CV that hiring managers actually want to read, and that gets you interviews.
What Employers Look for in an Engineering CV
Engineering hiring managers typically scan CVs looking for:
- Relevant technical skills and experience
- Exposure to specific machinery, processes or environments
- Evidence of problem-solving and responsibility
- Stability, progression and hands-on experience
- Clear alignment with the role they are hiring for
Your CV should make this easy to see - quickly.
- Start with a Clear Engineering Profile (Not a Generic Personal Statement)
Your opening section should be a short professional summary, not a vague personal statement.
Good Engineering Profile Example:
“Apprentice-trained Mechanical Engineer with 8 years’ experience working in machinery-led manufacturing environments. Strong background in fault-finding, installation, commissioning and continuous improvement, with experience supporting bespoke and automated equipment.”
Avoid:
- “Hard-working team player”
- “Looking for a challenging opportunity”
- Long paragraphs with no technical detail
Keep it 3–4 lines, focused on your discipline and environment.
- Tailor Your CV to Your Engineering Discipline
One of the biggest mistakes engineers make is using the same CV for every role.
A Maintenance Engineer CV should not look the same as a Design Engineer CV or a Field Service Engineer CV.
- Maintenance Engineer CV
- Design Engineer CV
- Field Service Engineer CV
- Controls / Automation Engineer CV
- Production / Manufacturing Engineer CV
- Project Engineer CV
Hiring managers want to see relevance immediately.
- Detail Your Engineering Experience (This Is the Most Important Section)
This is where most CVs fall down.
For each role, include:
- Job title
- Employer
- Dates (month/year)
- Short description of the environment
- Bullet points showing what you actually did
Example – Maintenance Engineer CV:
Maintenance Engineer – Company Name (Food Manufacturing Facility) 2019 – Present
- Mechanical and electrical fault-finding on automated production lines
- Planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and reactive breakdown support
- PLC fault-finding (Siemens / Allen Bradley - diagnostics level)
- Supporting continuous improvement and reliability projects
- Working in a hygiene-critical, FMCG environment
Focus on machinery, systems and responsibility, not generic duties.
- Be Specific About Machinery, Systems and Technology
Engineering CVs perform far better when they include specific detail.
Where relevant, include:
- Types of machinery (special purpose, packaging, conveyors, robotics, etc.)
- Control systems (Siemens, Allen Bradley, Omron, etc.)
- CAD software (SolidWorks, Inventor, AutoCAD)
- Manufacturing processes
- Automation level
- Industry (Food, FMCG, machinery, pharma, etc.)
This helps:
- Recruiters match you accurately
- Hiring managers quickly assess fit
- Your CV appear in keyword searches
- Education, Qualifications and Training
List qualifications clearly and simply:
- Apprenticeship (with discipline)
- NVQ / HNC / HND / Degree
- Electrical qualifications (18th Edition, etc.)
- OEM or manufacturer training
- Health & safety or compliance training
Avoid long descriptions, the experience section carries more weight once you’re established.
- Keep It Practical, Not Over-Designed
Engineering CVs do not need fancy layouts.
Best practice:
- 2–3 pages (UK standard)
- Clear headings
- Bullet points
- Simple formatting
- Easy to scan
Avoid:
- Graphics-heavy CVs
- Icons and charts
- Overly creative templates
- Walls of text
Most engineering CVs are read quickly - clarity wins.
- Common Engineering CV Mistakes to Avoid
We see these all the time:
- Being too vague (“responsible for maintenance”)
- Listing duties without outcomes
- Missing technical detail
- Using American CV formats
- Not tailoring the CV to the role
- Hiding strong experience in long paragraphs
Your CV should make it easy for someone to say “Yes, this engineer fits.”
Should You Include a Cover Letter?
For many engineering roles, a cover letter is optional, but a short, targeted introduction can help if you’re changing role type (e.g. site maintenance to field service, or shopfloor to design).
If used, keep it brief and relevant.
Final Advice for Engineers Writing a CV
Think of your CV as: A technical overview of your engineering career, not a sales pitch
Be honest, be specific, and focus on what you’ve worked on, not just what you’re “responsible for”.
Speak to a Specialist Engineering Recruiter
SimWest Engineering Recruitment works closely with engineers across manufacturing, machinery and industrial environments throughout the UK.
If you’d like confidential feedback on your engineering CV, or advice on positioning your experience for the right type of role, we’re happy to help.
Whether you’re actively job hunting or just exploring options, a conversation with a specialist engineering recruiter can make a real difference.
Contact SimWest Engineering Recruitment to discuss your CV or next career move in confidence.