Geotechnical Engineer Resume Example + Tips, Templates
The geotechnical sector has continued to grow over time as more people are interested in understanding the soil structure. If you're ready to take your career to the next level, you have come to the right place.
Douglas Chavez Geotechnical Engineer 452-009-678 douglaschavez@gmail.com Johnstown. PA linkedin.com/in/douglaschavez
Professional Summary
Highly accomplished geotechnical engineer with eight years of experience working on complex geotechnical engineering projects. Skilled at delivering top quality and optimum performance for the construction industry and looking to bring my skills and knowledge to a challenging new role at Brisket Limited. A proactive and inspiring leader with experience and a respected track record of success conducting engineering analysis and formulating geotechnical reports.
Work experience
Red Owl Senior Geotechnical Engineer June 2018-Date
Conducted geotechnical site investigations and advised on ground improvement for construction projects to move forward.
Performed environmental investigations and submitted geotechnical findings as required.
Worked effectively with the building engineer and contractor as a team to undertake and complete large geotechnical projects on time and within budget.
Formulated appropriate geotechnical controls and performed geotechnical assessments to assist in completing projects.
Body Fate Geotechnical Engineer January 2016-May 2018
Managed geotechnical laboratory and tested soil and rock samples to ensure construction quality assurance.
Directed laboratory testing programs and assisted with soil and rock classification.
Monitored earth retaining systems and geotechnical parameters and wrote and submitted technical reports.
Coordinated soil testing procedures and helped the senior engineer with geotechnical investigations.
Education
Bachelor of Civil Engineering - Geotechnical Engineering University of Pittsburgh June 2015
The first step is to create a geotechnical engineer resume that sets you apart from all the other candidates. Our resume examples and writing guide will give you all the tools you need to create an outstanding resume.
Geotechnical engineers are vital in building and construction as they are in charge of structures' foundations. Hiring managers may get hundreds of resumes every time they advertise a position so let's help you make yours stand out.
In this writing guide, you will find some valuable tips that will help you write a resume that makes you a unique candidate. Plus:
A well-structured resume example
Ideas on how to add your education and skills to your resume.
A tactical and tasteful guide on how to include an additional section.
Some of the best work experiences to add to your resume as a geotechnical engineer.
Salary & Employment rates for geotechnical engineers
According to the U.S Bureau of Statistics, employment of civil engineers is expected to grow eight percent from 2020 to 2030, with 25,000 openings projected every year. Together with construction, environmental, structural, transportation, and water resources engineers, geotechnical engineers fall under this category.
The average salary per year varies depending on the candidate's professional experience, skills, and education and is as follows:
0-2 years $68,000
2-4 years $75,000
4-7 years $97,000
7+ years $119,000
How to make a good resume for Geotechnical Engineering
We know that creating a good resume can be a challenging task, especially if you've never done it before. Finding the perfect guide is essential and can enable you to craft a geotechnical engineer resume that gets you multiple offers to interview.
An effective resume template is also an excellent option to consider because it allows you to structure your resume correctly and professionally. Our resume templates will help you build your resume ensuring you don't leave out any vital information.
If you are looking for other engineering resume guides, you can check them out below:
The structure of your geotechnical engineer resume should have the following sections.
The header section
A professional summary/resume objective
Work experience section
Education section
Skills section
An additional section(languages, volunteer work, computer skills and certifications, awards/honors, and interests)
You can also personalize your resume in the following ways:
Match your language to the one in the job description. For example, attention to detail and detail-oriented or excellent communication skills, and excellent communicator. Changing your words to match the ones in the job description can help your resume get past the ATS systems.
Add the right skills to your resume. You can also check the job description for the skills the recruiter requires and prioritize them on your resume.
Tailor each job title for every job. When applying for a job, always add the right job title and avoid using one generic title as this shows a lack of attention to detail.
Change up your layout and style. The layout of your resume should vary depending on the company. Some companies don't mind a creative and fun layout, while others prefer a formal design for applications.
The layout for this resume
Hiring managers take less than ten seconds on each resume, so if your resume is hard to read then, you'll miss out on many opportunities. A resume builder can help you enhance your resume, as most of them have unique professional designs.
Easy-to-read fonts such as Arial, Cambria, Calibri, and Times New Roman are the way to go, and the recommended font size is 10-12pt.
Best resume format for a geotechnical engineer
There are three resume formats you can consider for your geotechnical engineer resume::
Reverse-chronological format: If you have lots of relevant experience, this is the format for you. It highlights your expertise first and ensures it is the first thing the hiring manager sees on your resume.
Functional resume format: You may not have years of experience under your belt for the position you want to apply for, but you could be having the engineering skills required. This format shines a light on your skills and educational training and is perfect for recent graduates and career changers.
Combination resume: This format, also known as the hybrid resume, combines the best features of the reverse-chronological and functional resume. Candidates with years of experience and the required skills can use this format for their resumes.
Start with the Header Section for your Geotechnical engineering resume
The first section of your resume is the header. This section will have your full name, phone number, email address, job title, location, and website or portfolio link. The accuracy of the information in this section matters because if something like your phone number is wrong, the hiring manager won't reach you, and you'll lose the opportunity.
CORRECT EXAMPLE
George Williams
Geotechnical Engineer
675-430-889
georgewilliams@gmail.com
Orange, TX
linkedin.com/in/georgewilliams
INCORRECT EXAMPLE
George Williams
Geotechnical Engineer
675-430-889
georgewilliams@gmail.com
2979 Burwell Heights Road
Orange, TX 77630
House no. 009
Date of birth 03/05/2000
linkedin.com/in/georgewilliams
The hiring manager only requires the most vital information in this section, so it's better to leave out any information that may not be useful.
Most recruiters advise against adding a photo to your resume to avoid discrimination and unconscious bias. However, if it is a requirement for a particular job, ensure that the photo is professional.
Work Experience in Geotechnical Engineering
Let your work experience section speak for you. If you've worked in similar positions, add it to this section and include your roles and responsibilities. Most hiring managers love to take their time in this section because your work history tells them what you can do.
Each geotechnical engineer job is different, so you can check the job description and match your duties with what the recruiter needs. With most recruiters using ATS systems to filter out resumes that do not match the requirements, you need to use the same language in the job description while listing your duties, not forgetting the keywords.
Remember to start with your most recent workplace going backward. Under each workplace, add roles and responsibilities, usually around three to five, and quantify them using figures and facts.
It is always better to focus on the relevant experience, but you may not have worked in the same industry in some instances. In this case, take advantage of the transferable skills you gained in your previous job and show the recruiter how they will be helpful in the new position.
Examples of work experience for graduate and entry-level geotechnical engineers
Rivera Property Maintenance
Geotechnical Engineer Intern
May 2015-December 2016
Collaborated with other experts from other engineering firms to ensure all civil engineering projects were completed in the estimated time.
Assisted with geotechnical exploration and field investigations before every building project, following all ground improvement procedures.
Conducted a geotechnical investigation and slope stability analysis with the supervision of a senior engineer and determined the design for each construction project.
Example of work experience for mid-level geotechnical engineers
Handy Limited
Geotechnical Engineer
January 2018-June 2020
Developed project scope by analyzing soil samples and soil boring locations and presented a detailed analysis to the project manager.
Conducted a geotechnical analysis of earth retaining structures and assisted with construction monitoring of deep and shallow foundations.
Applied various engineering principles to help with complex data interpretation and prepared geotechnical reports.
Performed geotechnical engineering analyses and submitted the reports to the senior engineer for review.
Example of work experience for senior geotechnical engineers
Steve and Barry's Co.
Senior Geotechnical Engineer
October 2017- June 2021
Conducted geotechnical exploration effectively and ensured the success of all business development activities.
Reviewed all geotechnical engineering reports for every subsurface investigation, ensuring all geotechnical data was filled correctly.
Used geotechnical engineering technology to design shallow and deep foundations for various developments.
Education: include your academic background
Geotechnical engineers, like all other engineers, need a solid educational background. A degree in civil engineering specializing in this area is an excellent place to start. Most geotechnical engineer jobs require a bachelor's degree, so a Master's degree gives you an edge over the other candidates if they don't have one.
When listing your educational qualifications, you will add the following details in order,
The name of the degree
The name of the school
Year of completion
Location(optional)
GPA(optional)
You can leave out your high school diploma if you have a Master's degree in geotechnical engineering.
CORRECT EXAMPLE
MSc Geotechnical Engineering
University of Wisconsin
May 2018
Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering
University of Wisconsin
December 2016
Skills for a geotechnical engineer resume
A geotechnical engineer job is highly technical, but that doesn't mean they don't need soft skills. A perfect mix of technical skills and soft skills is what every hiring manager desires in a candidate. These unique abilities allow you to perform your duties efficiently and can help set you apart from all the other candidates.
Hard skills are teachable, job-specific abilities acquired through education, experience, or training. Soft skills are related to your character and personality traits that determine how you work with people.
Adding the right skills to your resume also plays a part in ensuring your resume passes through the applicant tracking systems. Here is a list of skills you should add to your geotechnical engineering resume.
Hard skills
Geotechnical design
Field investigations
Geotechnical instrumentation
Risk assessment
Foundation engineering
AutoCAD
Project Management
Soil testing
Soft skills
Interpersonal skills
Critical thinking skills
Time management
Analytical skills
Problem-solving skills
Decision-making skills
Communication skills
Organizational skills
Professional summary for a geotechnical engineer
The professional summary should be short and engaging to interest the hiring manager in reading the rest of your resume. The summary should have your top achievements, years of experience, and professional skills that will be useful to the company. When writing this section, avoid being vague and impress your future employer with your best accomplishments, quantifying them using figures and facts if possible.
CORRECT EXAMPLE
Seasoned Geotechnical engineer offering nine years of extensive experience in the construction industry. Highly skilled at developing robust stakeholder relationships, planning construction projects, conducting geotechnical investigations, and utilizing technical knowledge in the geological field. Increased the company revenue by 24% by introducing geotechnical core logging as a service to our clients.
The example above highlights the candidate's skills in detail, which allows the recruiter to know what they are good at and adds a figure to quantify their results.
INCORRECT EXAMPLE
Driven and conscientious Geotechnical Engineer with a strong reputation for consistently delivering on geotechnical engineering projects. Looking for a position in your organization to showcase my skills.
The example above is vague and fails to detail what the candidate can do.
Professional objective (and when to use it)
Don't worry if you recently graduated and don't have significant accomplishments to add to your resume in the professional summary section. A professional objective gives you a chance to introduce your resume, express your interest in the position and show the recruiter how your career goals align with the company goals.
CORRECT EXAMPLE
Dedicated and motivated Geotechnical Engineer graduate looking to leverage my technical knowledge of various engineering principles. Excellent team player, willing and ready to share my skills and passion for Geotechnical engineering analysis to help achieve the company goals.
The example above shows the candidate's enthusiasm for the position and expresses their interest in wanting to help the company achieve its goals.
Additional sections for your resume
Your document would be incomplete without an additional section. This is where you'll add your extra qualifications that help your resume stand out. There is so much competition for jobs, and hiring managers always look for that special thing that makes you unique.
You can check out some online geotechnical engineer resume examples to help you with some ideas on what you can add to this section.
Let's discuss some of the sections below.
Computing Skills & Certifications
Every engineer should have some computing skills to help them use computer-aided design software. While you can add these skills in the skills section, it helps to list them in a separate segment to make them more visible to the recruiter.
Certifications are essential and help to boost your resume. In some instances, having a bachelor's degree is not enough and having a certification that shows you have some additional training enables you to secure a position. An example of a certification that will help your geotechnical engineer resume stand out is the Geotechnical Engineering Certification.
Interests can work for you or against you in your resume. It is always better to focus on adding interests that help you build on valuable skills. Examples of significant interests that you can add to your resume include baking, reading books, hiking, painting, and blogging/podcasting.
Languages
Language skills deserve their section to ensure the recruiter does not miss them. Bilingual candidates always stand out, so you want the hiring manager to see this qualification even if they only take a glance. When listing your languages, you will use the official language reference as follows:
French - Delf, Dalf,
Spanish - SIELE
English - TOEFL, IELTS
Publications
Having your work published in any publication is a significant accomplishment for anyone, so you don't want the recruiting manager to miss it in your resume. You will list your publications under the publication section, starting with the title of the publication, the name of the journal or magazine, and the year of publication. Remember to add a link to the publication to make it easy for the recruiter to check it out.
Example of a publication
'Soil Liquefaction in Geotechnical Engineering,' International Journal of Civil Engineering, June 2014.
Tips to boost your resume
Check the right keywords and action verbs in the job ad or description and add them to your resume.
Highlight your top qualifications to impress the recruiting manager enough for them to call you for an interview.
Tailor each resume you send out instead of using one resume for all your applications.
Proofread your resume to ensure there are no errors or mistakes.
Choose the correct resume format and layout for your resume.
Summary: Writing a perfect resume for jobs in geotechnical engineering
Do some research on the company you want to work for and use the right tone and language to show that you are a cultural fit.
Your resume should be one page because some recruiters will not read a resume longer than a page.
Focus on adding the relevant working experience and leave out any experience unrelated to the job.
If you don't have the relevant experience, you can add some transferable skills useful in the new job.
The professional summary/objective is essential because it introduces your resume to the recruiter.
Write a proper cover letter for your resume.
An exceptional cover letter always boosts your application, so you should always accompany your resume with one. A cover letter allows you to express your interest in the job, talk about your career goals and showcase your writing skills. With the help of some great cover letter examples, you can write a cover letter that interests the recruiting manager to call you for an interview.
Frequently Asked Questions
What companies offer the best salaries for geotechnical engineers?
According to Glassdoor, some of the companies that offer the best salaries per year are as follows:
NV5 $106,000
McMillen Jacobs Associates $105,000
Hardesty and Hanover $101,000
Black & Veatch $96,000
Mott McDonald $95,000
Betchel $94,000
GEI Consultants $93,000
DOWL $93,000
CH2M $90,000
How is the hiring process for geotechnical engineers?
The hiring process in this field varies depending on the company, but there is more than one interview in most cases. The first interview may be online, and you'll be required to fill out some personal details and attach documents such as a resume and transcripts.
The second interview might be a series of aptitude and personality tests before meeting face to face with a manager or a panel of senior engineers. The last stage of the interview process will be to negotiate your fees and conditions before being offered the position.
Please, be careful, the word "geotechnical engineer" and its variations were overloading the introduction in almost every single line.
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