Engineers: Interview and resume tips straight from the hiring managers

So you want to be an engineer (or you’ve been one for a while, but are on the hunt for a new job). Before you send out your resume or step into that interview have a read at these tips from the hiring managers at major engineering companies.

First things first

1. Get real life experience
Coursework is fine, but we are more interested in seeing what you have built and how you have built it. – Marc Raibert, Co-founder and President, Boston Dynamics

Boeing prefers to hire students with demonstrated experience in their field, either through outside coursework, an internship or a relevant project while in school . – Pamela R. Simpson, Vice President of Human Resources for Engineering, Operations, and Technology, Boeing

2. Set higher goals
We look for engineers who establish a goal of pursuing their Professional Engineer licenses after four years in the workforce with the hopes of growing in their careers and advancing within the organization. – Heather Robb, College Recruiter, Parsons & Janine Sarmiento, Senior Talent Management Representative, Parsons

3. Think about the future
We appreciate candidates that demonstrate passion, relentless creativity and the determination to imagine the impossible. – Shannon Freeze-Flory, Worldwide Recruiting Leader, Texas Instruments

4. Appreciate the difficulties
We look for engineers who appreciate the complications that come from designing the best-in-class equipment for our customers. – Chris Armsey, Human Resources Director, Motorola Solutions

5. Teamwork
If you have some experience working on a team, that helps too.  – Marc Raibert, Co-founder and President, Boston Dynamics

The resume

1. Tailor your resume to the specific job opening you’re applying for
This is the best way to stand out. We recommend that you pay close attention to the sections of the job opening called ‘Competencies’ and ‘Job Description’. Link your skills and attributes to these requirements using the same specific wording you see. – Pamela R. Simpson, Vice President of Human Resources for Engineering, Operations, and Technology, Boeing

2. Add a section on your resume for relevant coursework

3. Include GPA

4. State graduation date and major early on your resume

5. List master’s degrees and engineering certifications and licenses

*Tip : Make sure to proofread your resume (or better yet, have someone else do it). Having grammatical errors or formatting issues on a resume lead recruiters to believe the candidate lacks in detail and accuracy.  – Heather Robb, College Recruiter, Parsons & Janine Sarmiento, Senior Talent Management Representative, Parsons

The interview

1. Provide narrative examples of past accomplishments
Express how this related to the job you are applying for. This becomes more meaningful if we understand what you have done, not just what you know . – Jennifer Terry, Director Talent Acquisition, AT&T

2. Ask questions

3. Listen
Be sure to really process the questions and take a moment to collect and organize your thoughts before responding.  – Shannon Freeze-Flory, Worldwide Recruiting Leader, Texas Instruments

4. Do your research
Have a strong background about the company and role for which you are applying. If you don’t do your research, it often becomes very apparent in your interview.  – Shannon Freeze-Flory, Worldwide Recruiting Leader, Texas Instruments

What NOT to do

1. Don’t misinterpret your skill level  – Jennifer Terry, Director Talent Acquisition, AT&T

2. Don’t be vague
The worst thing is not being specific and not focusing on results. Questions need to be answered with a specific example of the situation, action you took, and result. – Pamela R. Simpson, Vice President of Human Resources for Engineering, Operations, and Technology, Boeing

3. Don’t speak negatively about a past employer – Heather Robb, College Recruiter, Parsons & Janine Sarmiento, Senior Talent Management Representative, Parsons

4. Don’t mention that the position you are interviewing for will just be a stepping stone for you until you find what you’re really looking for. – Heather Robb, College Recruiter, Parsons & Janine Sarmiento, Senior Talent Management Representative, Parsons

5. Don’t be cocky
Don’t state that you are the most qualified candidate for the position.  – Heather Robb, College Recruiter, Parsons & Janine Sarmiento, Senior Talent Management Representative, Parsons

*Tip: When interviewing by phone, it’s important to be succinct and speak clearly. You may have to express more over the phone in order to get your passion and excitement for the job across. Shannon Freeze-Flory, Worldwide Recruiting Leader, Texas Instruments

Other than that, happy job hunting!