Electrical engineer CV examples

A great electrical system is well-planned, efficient, and free of unnecessary components – your CV should be the same. If recruiters have to search too hard for your qualifications and experience, they might just pull the plug on your application.

This guide will take you step by step through how to structure your CV, highlight your key electrical engineering skills, and present your experience in a way that keeps your application fully charged and ready for the next stage.

Writing a CV should ensure recruiters can quickly assess your qualifications and technical expertise without getting lost in a tangle of details. If they have to dig through your CV structure like an electrician tracing a hidden fault, they might just pull the plug on your application

Here’s the CV layout you should follow:

• Name and contact details – Ensure your name and personal details are easily visible at the top. A photo is optional and depends on the role.
• Profile – Craft a short introduction that showcases your professional background and key accomplishments.
• Core skills – List your key abilities in this section, focusing on those that will be most relevant to the job, such as circuit design, power distribution, and fault diagnosis.
• Work experience – Provide a detailed breakdown of your work history, starting with the most recent job first.
• Education – List your qualifications, including degrees and relevant certifications, in reverse chronological order.
• Additional info – Use this optional space for relevant hobbies, professional memberships, awards, or personal pursuits that enhance your application.

A messy circuit leads to system failures, and a messy CV can short-circuit your chances of landing an interview. Keep your application well-structured, professional, and easy to read. Even the most well-qualified engineers will miss out if formatting mistakes overshadow their expertise.

Here are some tips to keep your format the best it can be:

• Bullet points – Use short, sharp bullet points to present your responsibilities and achievements clearly.
• Divide sections – Make use of distinct headings and logical spacing to guide recruiters through your CV.
• Use a clear and readable font – A simple, professional font ensures readability while keeping the layout polished and tidy..
• No more than 2 pages – This length gives you space to detail your experience while keeping it concise enough to respect the recruiter’s time.

Your CV profile is your chance to showcase why you’re the perfect candidate. Think of it as the schematic that maps out your expertise, industry knowledge, and problem-solving approach: your ultimate goal here is to convey the benefits of hiring you over someone else.

Your profile should include the following:

• Industry experience – Whether it’s energy, automation, telecommunications, or manufacturing, highlight your sector experience.
• Technical expertise – Specialised skills in power systems, control systems, or PCB design should be mentioned.
• Project achievements – If you’ve optimised efficiency, reduced downtime, or improved electrical systems, showcase the impact.
• Problem-solving abilities – Highlight your experience diagnosing faults, enhancing systems, or ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
• Software and tools – Mention any experience with CAD software, MATLAB, or electrical simulation tools.

Your core skills section should give hiring managers a quick glance at your technical expertise with a simple column of bullet points. Since electrical engineering covers a wide range of specialisms, tailor this section to match the job description.

For example, if the role is focused on power systems, highlight skills like grid analysis and electrical safety. If it’s electronics-based, emphasise circuit design, PCB development, and microcontrollers.

Your work experience section should show that you’re not just plugging things in – you’re solving real problems. Recruiters want to see how you’ve applied your expertise to solve problems, enhance systems, and drive improvements.

List your roles in reverse chronological order, keeping each entry structured with bullet points. If you’re a graduate or have limited industry experience, highlight projects, internships, or research work related to electrical engineering.

• Outline – Introduce the company, your role, and the type of electrical work you handled.
• Responsibilities – List key tasks, such as designing systems, troubleshooting faults, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Use action words like “designed”, “implemented”, and “analysed”.
• Achievements – Highlight measurable results, such as improved system efficiency, reduced energy costs, or enhanced safety measures.

Electrical engineering is a field where qualifications matter, so make sure your education section is clear and well-structured. Past experience is still key, however, so this part should still be brief.

List degrees in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, or related fields prominently. If you’ve completed specialist training in automation, control systems, or renewable energy, highlight those qualifications to strengthen your application.