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Civil Engineer CV example

Civil engineering ads ask about your discipline, the projects you've designed or delivered, the software you use and where you are on the path to chartership. This example answers those in the headline, summary and details, then backs them up with projects that have a size and a result.

Written for New Zealand, with notes for Australia · Checked

Free. Then compare it with a real Civil Engineer job ad.

The example

A Civil Engineer CV, start to finish.

Miguel Santos is made up, and so are the employers. The layout and the wording are what New Zealand employers expect: no photo or date of birth, the most recent job first, and every bullet showing what was done and what came of it.

Miguel Santos

Chartered Professional Engineer, civil and three waters

Wellington · 027 555 0163 · miguel.santos@email.com

Profile

Chartered civil engineer with nine years in stormwater, wastewater and roading design for councils and developers. Leads design from concept to construction, checks graduates' work, and stays involved on site so what's built matches what was designed.

Skills

Stormwater and wastewater design · Roading and subdivision design · Hydraulic modelling · 12d Model and AutoCAD Civil 3D · Design reports and calculations · Construction monitoring · Resource and building consent support · Mentoring graduate engineers

Experience

Senior Civil Engineer, Pūriri Consulting Engineers

Wellington · 2022 to now

  • Lead the civil design for a 140-lot subdivision in Upper Hutt, from concept to approved engineering plans
  • Designed a stormwater upgrade for a flood-prone street in Porirua, reducing modelled flooding of homes in a 1-in-10-year storm
  • Check and sign off design calculations from three graduate engineers
  • Monitor construction on site and resolve contractor queries, keeping changes to a minimum
  • Prepare engineering reports that support resource consent applications

Civil Engineer, Harakeke Civil

Palmerston North · 2018 to 2022

  • Designed road and intersection upgrades for district council clients
  • Built hydraulic models of wastewater networks to find capacity problems before growth
  • Took part in tender reviews and helped the client choose a contractor on value, not just price

Graduate Civil Engineer, Harakeke Civil

Palmerston North · 2017 to 2018

  • Drafted designs in 12d Model and Civil 3D under a senior engineer's supervision
  • Carried out site inspections and kept construction records on a water main renewal

Education

Bachelor of Engineering with Honours, Civil Engineering, University of Canterbury

2016

Other details

Registration
Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng), civil
Driver's licence
Full
Site safety
Site Safe passport

Referees

Available on request

Miguel wrote a cover letter to go with it. Read the civil engineer cover letter

Skills and keywords

What civil engineer job ads look for.

Use the ad's own words where they're true of you. An ATS, and a recruiter skimming, both look for them.

  • CPEngSenior roles often ask for it. If you're working towards it, say how far along you are.
  • Three watersDrinking water, wastewater and stormwater. Say which you've designed for.
  • 12d Model or Civil 3DName the design software. Many ads list one by name.
  • Hydraulic modellingName the modelling software you use. It's a separate skill from design.
  • Construction monitoringShows you follow a design through to what's built.
  • Resource consentConsultancies want engineers who can support consent applications.
  • SubdivisionName the type of work: land development, roading, water or structures.

Bullet points

9 strong lines to borrow from.

Each says what was done, how, and what came of it. Swap in your own facts: a line is only strong if it's true.

  1. 1Led the civil design for a 140-lot subdivision, from concept to approved engineering plans
  2. 2Designed a stormwater upgrade that reduced modelled flooding of homes in a 1-in-10-year storm
  3. 3Checked and signed off design calculations from three graduate engineers
  4. 4Built hydraulic models of wastewater networks to find capacity problems before growth
  5. 5Monitored construction on site and resolved contractor queries with few design changes
  6. 6Designed road and intersection upgrades for district council clients
  7. 7Prepared engineering reports that supported resource consent applications
  8. 8Helped a client choose a contractor on value, not just price, through tender review
  9. 9Kept construction records on a water main renewal that closed out without disputes

Common mistakes

What costs civil engineer CVs interviews.

  • Listing projects with no part or size.

    Say what you designed or led, the size of the job (lots, kilometres, dollars) and what came of it.

  • Hiding where you are with chartership.

    Put CPEng in your headline if you have it. If you're working towards it, say so in your details.

  • One long skills list of every software package from university.

    Name the design and modelling tools you've used on real projects, and leave the rest out.

  • Writing for engineers only.

    The first reader may be a recruiter. Make the outcomes plain, such as fewer homes flooding or a design approved first time.

New Zealand and Australia

What changes across the Tasman.

New Zealand

Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) is a registration under the Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Act 2002, and Engineering New Zealand is the Registration Authority that assesses it. Say whether you hold CPEng or are working towards it.

New Zealand CV format

Australia

Engineers Australia offers Chartered status, and some states require registration: in Queensland, professional engineering services must be provided by a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) or under one's direct supervision. Australian employers usually say resume rather than CV, and expect about two pages.

Australian CV format

Sources: Engineering New Zealand: CPEng Registration Authority, Engineers Australia, Board of Professional Engineers Queensland.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Something else on your mind? Email support@smartcvs.ai and a person will reply.

Should I include a project list?

Yes, if you have many projects. Keep the CV to your strongest four or five, and add a one-page project list at the end for the rest.

I'm a graduate. What do I lead with?

Your degree, any summer internships and your final-year project. Say what you designed, the software you used and what you learned on site.

Does CPEng carry across to Australia?

Not automatically. Check with Engineers Australia and, if the work is in Queensland or another state with registration, the state's registration requirements.

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