Materials Engineer Resume With the Best Guide, Tips, and Examples

The right skills and experience play a significant role in putting you ahead of the competition. However, this information should be presented properly on your resume.

This article will give you tips on writing a resume that gets you your dream job. Also, check out our resume examples and professional resume templates, which are great resources for every job seeker. Here are some of the topics that we'll cover:

• A resume example that guides you as you craft your resume for materials engineering.
• How to add your work experience to the resume.
• The best academic achievements to add to your resume.
• The right format and layout for your materials engineering resume.

Salary and Job Prospects for Materials Engineers

According to the U.S Bureau of Statistics, the employment of materials engineers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2020 to 2030.

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

• Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
• Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
• Scientific Research and Development Services
• Federal Executive Branch(OEWS Designation)
• Management of Companies and Enterprises

The average salary for a Materials Engineer is $70,000. The typical range is between $62,000 and $79,000, depending on the level of education, experience, and skills.

How To Make a Resume for Material Engineering

Writing a resume is challenging to most job seekers, but it doesn't have to be. First, you should note that every materials engineer job has specific requirements. Therefore, you cannot use one resume for multiple applications. Create each resume to match the job requirements of the position you're applying for.

The way you present your qualifications matters because the hiring manager only has a few seconds to read through your resume.
Use a professional resume builder or template to ensure your resume is structured correctly.

Your resume should also have the keywords the recruiter is looking for, and you'll find these in the job description.
The format, layout, and structure are other factors you should consider. We'll look at them in detail.

Best format for you

• The first format you should consider is the reverse-chronological format. It prioritizes your experience and is suitable for candidates with materials engineering experience. This format is easy to scan on ATS systems, so you should consider using it if you have experience.
• The second format is the functional resume format. It focuses on skills and is perfect for candidates who recently graduated or are changing careers.
• The third format is the hybrid/combination resume. It combines the best features of the two previous formats and is perfect for candidates with the required skills and experience.

The layout of the resume must be easy to read. Fonts like Georgia, Cambria, Helvetica, and Times New Roman are perfect for your resume. A font size of 10-12pt is also suitable. If your resume is hard to read, the recruiter might not bother with it, and you'll miss out on a great opportunity.

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

• A header section
• Professional summary
• Work experience section
• Education section
• Skills section
• Additional qualifications(Computer skills and certifications, languages, interests, and awards/honors)

Start with the Header Section

The header section has your personal details, and they must be accurate. This ensures that the recruiter can reach you when they need to. These details include:

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

A good header

A bad header

Photo or No Photo?

You should only have a photo on your resume if the recruiter asks for one. Otherwise, always leave it out because it may cause discrimination or unconscious bias. If you're adding a photo to your resume, it should be a professional passport-sized one.

How to Showcase Experience in Your Resume

The first section that every recruiter will look at is this one. Before any employer gives you the job, they'll want to see what you've previously done. Summarize your work history, starting with your most recent position.

Under each position, you'll add a few responsibilities and use keywords to optimize them. Three to five responsibilities are okay; don't forget to use figures and facts to quantify them. Check the job description to find the keywords the hiring manager is looking for. This also ensures that your resume gets past the ATS systems.

The details you should have as you add each workplace include:

• The name of the workplace
• Job title
• The employment dates

Example for Entry-level Materials Engineer Resume

Example for Experienced Materials Engineers

Education: Include Your Academic Qualifications

You'll miss out on the position you want if you don't have the right academic qualifications. Check the job description to see what the hiring manager is looking for. In most instances, materials engineers need at least a bachelor's degree to get a job.

When listing your academic achievements, you'll start with your most recent ones. You may not have to add your high school diploma if you have a Master's degree. Start with the name of the degree/diploma, the name of the school, and the year of graduation.

If you don't have much experience, add the relevant courses that have prepared you for the position.

Correct example

Relevant Skills for a Materials Engineer

Working in the field of material science and engineering requires specific skills that will help you perform your duties diligently.

When you're writing your resume, it may be hard to figure out which skills you should add to your resume. The job description usually has some of the skills the recruiter is looking for. Adding them helps your resume get past the applicant tracking systems and increases your chances of landing an interview.

Skills are categorized into two; Hard and soft skills.

A technical field like materials engineering will require technical skills that show you have a good understanding of the job at hand. These are also known as hard skills, and they are job-specific abilities that take some time to learn at school or through on-the-job training. Soft skills are personal attributes that help you relate well with colleagues and clients.

The skills section is more visible when you use bullet points to list the skills. This also makes it easy to scan them on ATS systems.

Here are some skills you should add to your materials engineer resume.

Hard skills

• Materials testing
• Technical leadership
• Microsoft office
• Material properties
• Research skills
• Project management
• Welding processes
• Data analysis

Soft skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Good communication skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Time management
• Analytical skills
• Teamwork
• Decision-making

Professional Summary

The second section of your resume is the professional/resume summary. This section introduces your resume to the recruiter giving them a glimpse of what they'll see in your resume. Make it catchy to get their attention and interest them in reading the rest of your resume.

The resume summary should also be short, with two to four sentences. Optimize it with keywords, and include a figure or fact to quantify your accomplishments. This helps to show the hiring manager the value you'll bring to the company.

Correct example

Incorrect example

Professional Objective

If you're changing your career or recently graduated, you'll introduce your resume with a professional objective. It doesn't require you to mention your top achievements like the professional summary. Instead, it summarizes your career goals and how they align with the company goals. The summary and the objective serve the same purpose, so don't use them together.

Correct example

Additional Sections for Your Resume

An additional section is vital if you want your resume to stand out. This section highlights the skills and qualifications you don't want the recruiter to miss. If you're tied on all the other qualifications, this section will help set you apart from the other candidates.

Here are some sections you should consider for your materials engineer resume.

Computer Skills and Certifications

A materials engineer requires strong computer skills, which should be easy to spot on your resume. If you understand a specific computer program well, mention it with your other computer skills under this section. Certifications are always a great addition to your resume; you should list them to this section instead of the education section. Here are a few certifications that will help your materials engineer resume stand out.

• Certified Welding Supervisor
• Certified Materials and Resource Professional
• Certified Reliability Engineer

Languages

Applying for a job as a bilingual candidate gives you an advantage over the other candidates. This is because you can interact with candidates from all cultures, which is a major plus for any company. Add your language skills here to make them more visible, and use the official language reference as follows:

• Goethe Zertifikat for German(with a score of 36 points and above)
• DELF for French(with a score of 60 points and above)
• SIELE for Spanish

Interests

Your interests allow you to showcase what you love to do outside of work. The way you structure this section will vary depending on the company you're applying to. Research the company and find out more about their culture before adding your interests.

Tips to Enhance Your Resume

• Keywords and action verbs are essential because they optimize your resume.
• Tailor your job title for each materials engineer position.
• Using one resume for multiple applications reduces your chances of landing a job, so create a new resume for each position.
• Check your resume for errors before sending it to the hiring manager.
• Choose the right layout and format for your resume.

Summary: Writing a Perfect Resume for Materials Engineering Jobs

• Start your resume with a header and ensure that the contact details are accurate.
• The resume summary/objective should be catchy and exciting.
• Figures and facts quantify your achievements and show the recruiter what you can do for the company.
• Make your skills more visible by using bullet points to list them.
• Start with your most recent academic achievement when listing your educational qualifications.
• An additional section is crucial if you want your resume to stand out.

Write a Proper Cover Letter for Your Resume

A complete application must have a cover letter and a resume. A cover letter describes your qualifications in-depth, giving you a chance to showcase your personality and writing skills. Some hiring managers will ask you not to send a cover letter, but this is rare. Unless this happens, always accompany your resume with a cover letter. Use our cover letter examples to craft a cover letter that takes your application to the next level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which are some of the careers available for individuals with a materials engineering degree?

• Automotive sheet metal engineers
• Ceramic engineers
• Composites engineers
• Forensic materials engineers
• Glass science engineers
• Metallographers
• Welding engineers
• Metallurgists

Which top companies are hiring materials engineers?

According to Glassdoor, the top companies hiring materials engineers include:

• Boeing
• Honeywell
• Lockheed Martin
• Apple
• Cummins
• Lowe's Home Improvement
• GE
• Northrop Grumman