Computer Hardware Engineer Resume Example | The Best Tips to Write an Outstanding Resume

The first step to staying ahead in the technology world is keeping up with the latest trends and upskilling whenever necessary. However, if you want to get your next job, you need a computer hardware engineer resume that has your best qualifications to stand out.

It should also be well-structured to allow the recruiter to see everything they need quickly. Our resume templates will make that easy for you, so check them out if you don't know how to structure your resume.

In this article, we'll cover a couple of topics that will help you craft your resume. They include:

• Computer hardware engineer resume examples with great tips and an easy structure to follow.
• The best hard and soft skills to add to your resume.
• The right work experience for your resume.
• The layout and format that suits your resume.

Computer Hardware Engineer Resume Sample for Senior Engineers and Consultants

Salary & Employment Rates for Computer Hardware Engineers

According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, the employment of computer hardware engineers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2020 to 2030.

The industries with the highest levels of employment in Computer Hardware Engineers include:

• Computer Systems Design and Related Services
• Scientific Research and Development Services
• Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing
• Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing
• Federal Executive Branch

The average yearly salary for a computer hardware engineer is $74,000. The typical range is $68,000 to $81,000, depending on the education level, experience, and skills.

How to Write a Job-winning Computer Hardware Engineering Resume

Computer hardware engineers develop specific parts for different purposes and must know what they do before implementing them in the appropriate systems. If you have this knowledge, you need to know how to present it in a resume to take advantage of the best opportunities available.

Check out our resume examples that will give you some ideas on what you should have in your resume.

You should use the correct format and layout for your resume. Also, ensure that you don't leave out any important sections in your resume.

Resume Layout, Format, and Structure

Choose the best format for your resume from these options:

• Reverse-chronological order - This format focuses on your professional experience and is perfect if you've worked as a hardware engineer for many years.
• The functional resume format focuses on your skills and is perfect for hardware engineer graduates and career changers.
• Combination/hybrid resume - This format is a mixture of the functional and reverse-chronological order resume formats. It's suitable for candidates with the right blend of experience and skills.

The layout covers your resume's font, font size, and general design. It should be simple to read and understand. Choose easy-to-read fonts such as Georgia, Helvetica, Cambria, Calibri, Time New Roman, and Arial. The font size should be 10-12pt.

The structure of your Computer hardware engineer resume should have the following sections:

• The header section
• Professional summary/objective
• Work experience
• Education section
• Skills section
• An additional section (Computer skills and certifications, languages, awards/honors, and interests)

Other resumes in this field that you might want to check out include:

• Software developer resume
• Resume for software engineers
• Software engineer cover letter
• Programmer resume
• Cyber Security Resume

Begin with a Header & Contact Information

The first section of your resume is the header, and it has the following information:

• Your full name
• Job title
• Phone number
• Professional email address
• Location
• A link to your LinkedIn profile.

The details in this section are vital. Therefore, you should proofread this section to ensure there are no mistakes.

A good header

A bad header

Photo or No Photo?

This is a common question among job seekers. Recruiters advise against having a photo on your resume because it increases the chances of unconscious bias and discrimination. However, some recruiters will want you to add a photo, in which case you should ensure it's a professional passport-size one.

Detail Your Experience

Computer engineering is a technical field that requires training and experience to become an expert. Showing the recruiter that you have the training needed in the experience section increases your chances of landing the job.

You'll need to give a detailed description of your employment history and include the following information:

• The name of the workplace
• The job title
• The years you've worked at each place
• Three to five job duties/responsibilities under each workplace

Start with the most recent computer hardware engineer job and go backward. Also, quantify your achievements with figures and facts for you to stand out from the other candidates. Focus on adding the relevant experience to the job unless there are specific transferable skills that will be useful in the new position from other jobs.

Example for Entry-Level Computer Hardware Engineers

Example for Senior Hardware Engineers

Add Your Educational Qualifications

Computer engineers need at least a bachelor's degree to get a job, whether in software or hardware. Managerial and top-executive positions might require a master's degree.

This section hosts all your educational qualifications, including your high school diploma. However, if you have a master's, you can leave it out.

Here are the details you'll add under this section:

• The name of the degree/diploma
• The name of the school
• Graduation date/Expected graduation date

Correct example

Computer Hardware Engineer Skills for Your Resume

The skills section lists the unique abilities that make you the best person for the job. Hiring managers use an applicant tracking system to check if your resume has the relevant skills. It's always important to check the job description where you'll find some of these skills. This section must have both hard and soft skills. A technical field like computer engineering requires hard skills that might take some time to learn. You can learn these skills through on-the-job training at work or school. You also need soft skills, which are interpersonal attributes that help you relate well with people at the workplace.

When listing your skills, use bullet points to make it easy for the hiring manager to see them.

Here is a list of key skills for computer hardware engineers.

Hard skills

• Data analysis
• Project documentation
• System architecture
• Scripting languages
• Quality control
• Artificial intelligence
• Product Development
• CAD software expert

Soft skills

• Oral communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Critical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Decision-making
• Attention to detail
• Creative thinking
• Excellent customer service

A Hardware Engineer Resume Summary

A resume summary is a short paragraph after the header section that introduces your resume. It also summarizes your resume by highlighting your top achievements, experience, and skills. This section should be engaging to entice the recruiter to read the rest of the resume.

Correct example

Incorrect example

Professional Objective (And How to Write It)

A professional objective summarizes your career goals and how they align with the company goals. It's perfect for recent graduates and career changers who would also love to express their interest in the position. It does the same job as a resume/professional summary and should not be used together.

Correct example

Additional Sections for Your Resume

Hiring managers only take a few seconds on each resume. This means that it's easy for them to miss some of the qualifications on your resume. An additional section makes it easy to highlight specific skills and qualifications you don't want the recruiter to miss on your resume.

This section is a significant part of your resume, so don't leave it out. Let's look at some of the skills and qualifications you can add here.

Certifications

Certifications are often added under the education section, but that's not always the best idea. It's so easy for the recruiter to miss them, yet they play a significant role in setting you apart from the other candidates. They show the hiring manager that you have additional training in hardware engineering. Some of the certifications that will help your resume stand out include:

• Certified Hardware and Technology Engineer(CHTE)
• Apple Certified Macintosh Technician(ACMT)
• CompTIA Server+

Languages

Candidates who can read and write in more than one language always stand out. Instead of adding your language skills in the skills section, you should add them in a separate section. Always use the official language reference as follows:

• SIELE for Spanish
• TOEFL or IELTS for English
• Goethe Zertifikat, TestDaF, or DSH for German

Publications

If you have published work, whether it's in a magazine or journal, you should add it under this section. The hiring manager might want to check it out, so don't forget to add a link to the publication. You'll include the title of the publication, the name of the journal/magazine, and the year of publication.

Example of a Publication

Tips and Tricks to Enhance Your Resume

• Always check the job description to get the right keywords and action verbs for your resume.
• Tailor each job title and ensure that it's keyword-optimized.
• Highlight the relevant work experience.
• Use a professional resume template to organize the sections in your resume correctly.
• Refrain from using one resume for multiple job applications, even if they're in the same field.
• Choose the right resume format.
• Summarize your resume with a catchy summary/objective.

Summary: Making an Excellent Resume for Hardware Engineering

• Keep the header section short and add the relevant contact details that the hiring manager requires.
• Use a professional objective to introduce your resume if you're a recent graduate or career changer and don't have achievements, experience, and skills to add to the resume summary.
• Quantify your results with figures and facts to stand out from the competition.
• When listing your skills, use bullet points that make them easier to scan on ATS systems and for the hiring manager to spot on your resume.
• Choose a simple layout and design for your resume.
• List your educational qualifications in the education section, starting with the most recent one.
• Proofread your resume to ensure it doesn't have any mistakes.

Accompany Your Resume with a Cover Letter

A cover letter complements your resume and allows you to inject some personality as you showcase your writing skills. It describes your accomplishments, experience, and skills in a more detailed manner and expresses your interest in the position. Some hiring managers will ask you not to send one, but you should accompany your resume with one if that's not the case. Check out our cover letter examples.

Frequently Asked Questions