Civil engineering CVs are read for project types, your role on them and where you are on the route to chartership. This example is for a highways and drainage engineer who has worked in design and on site. Put your ICE membership and the software and contracts you know near the top.
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Example civil engineer CV
A fictional person, employers and figures, to show the format. Replace every detail with your own.
Civil engineer with five years' experience in highways and drainage, split between design consultancy and site. Designs in Civil 3D and MicroDrainage to DMRB and local authority standards. Member of the ICE, working towards chartered status, and holds a CSCS card. Looking for a senior engineer role on infrastructure projects.
Design highway and drainage schemes in Civil 3D and MicroDrainage for developments of up to 600 homes.
Prepared the Section 38 and Section 278 technical submissions for a new junction, approved by the highway authority at first submission.
Value-engineered a surface water design, reducing attenuation volume and saving the client around £120,000.
Mentor two graduate engineers through their ICE development objectives.
Site Engineer, Westway Civils, Swindon (Sep 2021 - Aug 2023)
Set out roads, drainage and structures with a total station and GPS on a £14m housing infrastructure contract.
Kept quality records and inspection and test plans, and managed temporary works permits.
Education
MEng Civil Engineering (ICE accredited), 2:1, Cardiff University, 2016 - 2021. Industrial placement with a highways contractor.
Training and certifications
Member of the ICE; working towards CEng, Institution of Civil Engineers, Current
CSCS card (Professionally Qualified Person), CSCS, Valid to 2028
SMSTS, CITB, 2024
NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract, Professional training provider, 2024
Skills
Highways design (DMRB), Drainage design, Civil 3D and MicroDrainage, Setting out, Section 38 and 278 agreements, NEC4 contracts, CDM 2015
A civil engineer personal statement to adapt
Civil engineer with five years' experience in highways and drainage, split between design consultancy and site. Designs in Civil 3D and MicroDrainage to DMRB and local authority standards. Member of the ICE, working towards chartered status, and holds a CSCS card. Looking for a senior engineer role on infrastructure projects.
Key skills for a civil engineer CV
Design - Highways, drainage, structures, geotechnics or water, and the standards you design to.
Software - Civil 3D, MicroDrainage, InfoDrainage, Tekla or analysis packages.
Site skills - Setting out, quality records, temporary works and supervising subcontractors.
Contracts - NEC or JCT, and your role in managing them.
Health and safety - CDM 2015 duties, risk assessments and site safety.
Stakeholders - Clients, local authorities, utilities and the public.
Commercial awareness - Value engineering and keeping to budget.
What a UK civil engineer CV needs
ICE membership and chartership progress - Your grade and progress towards IEng or CEng through the Institution of Civil Engineers.
An accredited degree - Say if your degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM), which accredits civil engineering degrees for the ICE and other institutions.
CSCS card and safety training - Your CSCS card type, and SSSTS or SMSTS if you supervise or manage on site.
Project types and values - Highways, rail, water, flood defence, structures or housing, with scale.
Contracts and standards - NEC or JCT, DMRB, Eurocodes and local authority standards.
Achievement bullets to adapt
The figures are invented to show the format. Use your own.
Designed highway and drainage schemes for developments of up to 600 homes.
Prepared Section 38 and 278 submissions approved at first submission.
Value-engineered a surface water design, saving the client around £120,000.
Set out roads and drainage on a £14m housing infrastructure contract.
Mentored two graduates through their ICE development objectives.
Civil Engineer CV questions
Should a civil engineer CV list projects?
Yes. For each role, give two or three projects with type, value, your role and a result. Some engineers add a short project list at the end.
Do I need a CSCS card as a civil engineer?
If you work on construction sites, you usually need one. Engineers often hold the Professionally Qualified Person or Academically Qualified Person card.
How do I show I am working towards chartership?
Give your ICE membership grade, say you are working towards CEng or IEng, and mention your development objectives or a training scheme.