Getting to the interview stage is possibly the toughest part of the job application process… And an excellent cover letter and resume is what’s going to get you there.

The Curtin Careers & Employment Centre offers a range of services to help get your job application docs to a professional standard and get you closer to the job you want. Here are our top tips and resources for Engineering students:

1. Quality is paramount – write professionally, spellcheck, use clear headings and don’t clutter your pages.
2. Key resume sections include: Personal Details; Career Objective; Education; Skills; Employment History; Volunteering / Extra-curricular; Awards & Achievements; Professional Membership; and, Referees. View the Engineering Student Resume Sample and Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Resource for more explanation and examples.
3. Your resume is an advert – you’re selling a product in an extremely competitive market. It’s therefore important to understand your audience, tailor it to match their needs and demonstrate a point of difference. You can use the Resume and Personal Branding modules via Curtin Challenge to build these skills.
4. Simply stating skills isn’t enough – being able to provide strong evidence is important. Try using the STAR technique (Situation + Task + Action + Result) to help construct meaningful sentences and demonstrate impact. This Graduate Cover Letter & Resume Sample for the Oil & Gas industry is a great example of this. (And the candidate was successful with their application!)
5. Keep it concise – get the most relevant and powerful information at the start of your resume and avoid long paragraphs.

Want more personalised advice? Submit your resume via CareerHub or Drop In at Level 2, Building 303 on Bentley Campus Monday – Friday 8.45am – 5pm (no appointment necessary). (Eligible to all Curtin students at no charge)