Creating a resume for use in the automation and controls engineering sector can be a daunting task, especially for those who already have an extensive career history behind them. With that in mind, it’s important to highlight your most important skills, achievements and certifications that pertain to the specific position you are applying for, as opposed to writing a long list of menial tasks and duties you’ve completed at each and every position. Obtaining the perfect blend of technical skills and past roles can be a difficult and even monotonous task, but doing so will go a long way in making that critical first impression.

Here are some tips for creating a stronger automation and controls engineering resume:

Timeline

For those that do have an extensive career history, it’s probably neither necessary nor beneficial to include details of every single position you’ve held throughout the years. The first job you had at a local fast food restaurant isn’t nearly as important as your recent positions, so it’s best to focus on these roles. In fact, some job seekers only list their career history from the past 10 or 15 years. Not only is this a great way to take the emphasis off from your age, but it gives you more space on your resume to list achievements that are more recent, relevant and important.

Applicable Skills

If possible, create a section on your resume that simply focuses on your most valuable and relevant skills. You can use this area to list project management roles, related IT proficiencies, leadership prowess, managerial experience or anything that relates to the area of automation or controls engineering. Positioning this section near the top of your resume is a great way to make sure your most valuable skills are seen.

Facts and Figures

It is important to craft a resume that portrays yourself as an achiever as opposed to a doer. Solid facts, figures or numbers always look great on a resume, and the automation and controls engineering industry is no exception. Employers are far more impressed by a resume that displays quantifiable results rather than common tasks, and listing verifiable facts or figures is a great way of demonstrating how you can have a direct impact on day-to-day productivity.

Education, Training and Certifications

As with your career history, you don’t necessarily have to list every single training course or certification you possess. Obviously you’ll want to list any and all college degrees you have, as well as pertinent training or certifications, but you may be able to forego some training sessions or accreditations that simply don’t apply to the field of automation and controls engineering. Again, doing so will free up space on your resume that could be put to better use.

Cover Letter

Finally, always send a copy of your cover letter along with your resume. Not only does this provide your potential employer with a conversational introduction to yourself and your professional profile, but it also serves as a chance to list some additional skills, training courses, achievements or other details that just didn’t fit on your resume. Miscellaneous software or hardware proficiencies, community involvement and volunteerism can all be described within the cover letter, which ultimately leaves more space on your resume for hard facts, figures and achievements.

Automation Personnel Services, a national staffing firm, offers a number of opportunities for job candidates. Contact us today to get started on finding your next job!