What achievements should I add to my Engineering CV?

Like most industries, engineering requires people who can offer a range of abilities to sustain its needs and drive it forward. And because of the pace of change affecting many sectors such as renewable energy or defence, engineers who can demonstrate a track record of achievements will continue to be in high demand.

However, too many people fall into the trap of simply stating what their job role is on their CV which does little more than give a recruiter a synopsis of what your duties entailed and is therefore, a waste of valuable space. Remember, your CV is a marketing tool with the sole purpose to sell you as the best candidate for the job.

Employers are looking for evidence of what you have achieved during your career so far and what makes you stand out from all the other candidates who are applying for the same position.

To boost your chances of being considered for a more senior post you need to demonstrate your achievements within your current role and keep them relevant to the engineering jobs you are applying for.

You might show evidence of how your aptitude for problem solving and analysing data that saved a power plant from nuclear meltdown. A slight exaggeration, but you get the point.

Try to include achievements that nobody else can claim. Have you won any awards? Have you delivered a project on time and on budget? Have you developed an innovative product that set your organisation apart from its competitors? Maybe your strong analytical, financial tracking and budgetary control skills have identified cost-cutting measures for your employer?

Always try to include facts and figures so the person reading your CV can relate to the achievement and see how it had an impact on the business as a whole.

Here are a few examples that you could include on your CV:

• "Produced a range of 2D and 3D visualisations that led to the company winning the contract for a £6m building project."

• "Submitted tenders for 170 contracts within 12 months, resulting in a successful contract with over 80%"

• "Awarded ‘Top Achiever’ status above all other employees who joined through the company graduate scheme."

Think of as many relevant examples of instances when you have done something beyond your current job remit - something that won the recognition of your colleagues and had an impact on the business.

Find Good Engineering Jobs Faster

When your CV is ready to go, remember to upload it to Monster and make it visible to recruiters who can contact you with top engineering positions. It's a quick and easy (and free) way to have a smoother job search.