- Our customers have been hired by : *Foot Note
Creating a strong civil engineer CV is essential if you want to stand out in applications for competitive engineering roles. Your CV should highlight your technical expertise, demonstrate your success in delivering complex projects, and show your ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
This guide will help you build a civil engineer CV that gets results, with proven examples, professional templates, and expert writing advice.
Here’s what you’ll find:
- Civil engineering CV examples to inspire your own application.
- Civil engineer CV templates you can customise.
- A step-by-step guide to writing your civil engineering CV.
- Dos and don’ts for creating a job-winning civil engineer CV.
- Answers to common questions.
SEARCH ALL CV EXAMPLES
Civil engineer CV sample
James Brown
07912 345 678
james.brown@example.co.uk
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Chartered Civil Engineer with over eight years of experience in infrastructure design and project management across transport, energy, and water sectors. Skilled in delivering large-scale construction projects on time and within budget, with expertise in AutoCAD, Revit, and structural analysis. Known for clear communication, leadership, and a collaborative approach that drives results.
WORK HISTORY
January 2020 – current
AtkinsRéalis – Manchester
Civil Engineer
- Lead engineer on a £25M flood defence scheme, improving community resilience and reducing risk to 1,800 properties.
- Coordinated a multidisciplinary team of 12 engineers and technicians to deliver designs ahead of schedule.
- Implemented BIM Level 2 workflows, reducing design revisions by 15%.
- Liaised with clients, including the Environment Agency and Manchester City Council.
May 2016 – December 2019
WSP UK – Birmingham
Civil Engineer
- Delivered civil works for HS2 infrastructure, ensuring adherence to environmental and safety standards.
- Produced detailed designs for drainage and highway alignment using AutoCAD Civil 3D.
- Contributed to tender documents and feasibility studies for urban development projects.
- Provided expert consultation on civil engineering matters to clients.
SKILLS
- Project planning and coordination
- Structural and geotechnical analysis
- Site supervision and risk assessment
- AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit, MicroDrainage
- Budgeting and stakeholder management
- Health & safety compliance (NEBOSH Certified)
- Sustainable and green infrastructure design
EDUCATION
2014
University of Leeds, England
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES
- Chartered Engineer (CEng, MICE) – Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
- NEBOSH Health & Safety Certificate
- AutoCAD Civil 3D Professional Certification
Best format for a civil engineer CV
Choosing the right CV format is crucial for presenting your civil engineering experience, technical skills, and career progression clearly to employers. The format you use should make it easy for recruiters to see your project experience, engineering specialisms, and suitability for the role. The two most common and effective formats are the reverse-chronological and skills-based CV formats.
Reverse-chronological CV format
For most civil engineers, the reverse-chronological format is the strongest option. This structure lists your most recent position first, allowing employers to see your latest projects and achievements at a glance. It’s ideal if you’ve built steady experience in roles such as site engineer, structural engineer, or project manager.
Use this format if you want to:
- Demonstrate clear career progression across engineering projects
- Showcase your recent roles and technical accomplishments
- Highlight measurable results, such as reduced construction costs or improved design efficiency
Skills-based CV format
A skills-based CV is an alternative format that highlights your core engineering skills rather than focusing on your work history. It groups your skills into categories such as project management, design software, or site supervision, and places them near the top of your civil engineering CV.
This format works best for:
- Graduate or apprentice civil engineers with strong academic or placement experience
- Career changers moving into civil engineering from related fields such as architecture, surveying, or environmental science
- Professionals with career breaks who want to emphasise their technical strengths and transferable skills
Civil engineering CV formatting tips
Whichever format you choose, aim to keep your civil engineer CV template clean, professional, and results-oriented.
Follow these tips for the best results:
- Keep it concise: One to two pages is ideal
- Use clear headings: Include sections for contact details, professional profile, skills, work experience, projects, and education.
- Use metrics: For example, “Reduced material costs by 10% through design optimisation” or “Led a £5M bridge reconstruction project completed two months ahead of schedule.”
How to write a civil engineer CV step by step
Writing a strong CV is more than listing your previous experience. It should present your engineering impact clearly, with the right sections in the right order. For civil engineers, it also helps to include a dedicated area for certifications and professional membership to show you meet industry standards and keep your knowledge current. This step-by-step guide covers the essentials in a clear, professional tone that matches My Perfect CV’s style
Here are the key steps we will cover:
- How to write a CV summary
- How to structure your work experience
- Key skills to include
- How to list your education and relevant certificates
Step 1: How to write a civil engineer CV summary
Your personal statement appears just below your contact details. It’s a short paragraph that introduces you as a candidate and highlights why you’re a strong fit for the role.
Open with a concise paragraph that answers who you are, what you do best, and the value you bring.
Structure to follow:
Role + years’ experience + specialism + standout projects or sectors + key tools + result.
Example CV summary
Chartered Civil Engineer with 7 years’ experience delivering transport and water infrastructure. Skilled in reinforced concrete design, drainage, and BIM coordination using AutoCAD Civil 3D and Revit. Known for improving design efficiency and delivering projects to strict safety and quality standards.
Tips: keep to 3–4 lines, include sector keywords, and add one measurable outcome if possible.
Step 2: Showcase your relevant civil engineering experience
The work experience section is the most important part of your engineering CV. Recruiters want to see clear evidence that you’ve applied engineering principles to real projects, managed technical challenges, and achieved measurable results.
Listing job titles and duties isn’t enough — your CV should demonstrate how you used your expertise to deliver value, improve outcomes, and work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
Use a chronological format, starting with your most recent role and working backwards. For each position, include:
- Job title
- Company name and location
- Dates of employment (month and year)
- 4–6 bullet points highlighting responsibilities, achievements, and results
When writing bullet points, begin with strong action verbs (e.g. designed, delivered, led, implemented, optimised) and quantify your impact wherever possible.
Example of civil engineer work experience
Civil Engineer
Balfour Beatty, Birmingham
January 2019 – Present
- Designed and delivered structural and drainage solutions for a £30M mixed-use development, meeting all safety and regulatory standards.
- Coordinated on-site teams and subcontractors to ensure project milestones were achieved on time and within budget.
- Implemented BIM Level 2 processes in Revit, reducing design clashes and rework by 25%.
- Conducted geotechnical assessments and value-engineering reviews, improving cost efficiency by 12%.
- Led safety inspections and quality audits, maintaining a zero-incident record throughout the project.
Step 3: Add key skills to your CV
When applying for a civil engineering role, employers look for a balance of technical knowledge, project delivery skills, and soft skills that show you can manage complex construction projects from design to completion. Your civil engineer CV should highlight both your core engineering expertise and your ability to collaborate effectively with teams, clients, and contractors.
Aim to include 8–10 key skills that align closely with the role you’re targeting. These should reflect your experience with engineering software, project coordination, and site management, as well as your communication and leadership abilities.
Technical skills
- Designing and analysing structures for roads, bridges, drainage systems, and buildings
- Proficiency in AutoCAD, Civil 3D and Revit
- Conducting site surveys, soil testing, and geotechnical analysis
- Preparing detailed technical drawings, specifications, and cost estimates
- Applying sustainable design principles and environmental compliance standards
- Experience with BIM workflows, project scheduling (MS Project or Primavera), and QA/QC inspections
General & soft skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving approach to technical challenges
- Leadership and mentoring skills for managing teams and junior engineers
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities
- Attention to detail and commitment to health, safety, and quality
- Adaptability to changing project demands and site conditions
- Time management and the ability to deliver projects on schedule and within budget
Tip: Tailor your skills section to match the job description requirements.
Step 4: List your formal education and certifications
Employers often look for candidates with a strong academic foundation in civil, structural, or environmental engineering, as this demonstrates a solid understanding of design principles, materials, and construction processes. A relevant degree shows that you have the technical background required to take on complex engineering projects.
In your civil engineer CV, list qualifications in chronological order, starting with the most recent. If you’re an experienced civil engineer, keep this section concise by including your degrees and key professional certifications. If you’re a graduate or early in your career, consider adding details such as specialist modules, dissertations, or projects.
Here’s what to include:
- Degree title and level – e.g. MEng Civil and Structural Engineering
- Institution name – e.g. University of Leeds
- Location – City and country
- Dates attended or graduation year
Example of an education section
MEng Civil and Structural Engineering
University of Leeds, UK
Graduated: 2019
BEng Civil Engineering
University of Nottingham, UK
Graduated: 2017
Tip: You can also list relevant certifications — such as NEBOSH Construction Safety, AutoCAD Professional, or CSCS Card — in a separate Certifications section to show that you meet industry standards and safety requirements.
Dos and don’ts for a civil engineer CV
Civil engineering is teamwork at scale. Highlight how you’ve worked with architects, contractors, and clients — or how you’ve led site teams or mentored junior engineers. It demonstrates communication and leadership, which are just as valuable as technical skills.
Use clear headings, consistent formatting, and professional fonts like Calibri or Arial. Keep plenty of white space and use bullet points to make information easy to scan. A clean layout not only looks professional but also helps applicant tracking systems (ATS) accurately read and rank your CV.
Your skills may fit several roles. Consider applying for related positions such as Site Engineer, Structural Engineer, Project Engineer, or Infrastructure Engineer. Many responsibilities and technical skills overlap, so a well-written civil engineer CV can make you a strong candidate across multiple job types.
Typos and formatting errors can make even the best civil engineer CV look careless. Double-check spelling, alignment, and punctuation. Precision is a key part of engineering — your CV should reflect that standard.
Civil engineer CV questions answered
How long should a civil engineer’s CV be?
Aim for one to two pages. If you’re a graduate or apprentice civil engineer, one page is usually enough. More experienced professionals may need two pages to showcase major projects and leadership experience. Prioritise your most relevant achievements and use concise, measurable bullet points.
Should I include a cover letter with my civil engineer CV?
While not always required, a tailored cover letter can help you stand out. It’s an opportunity to explain why you’re interested in the role, highlight a significant project, and show how your skills fit the company’s focus. A good cover letter can be the difference between getting a chance at an interview and missing out.
How can I make my civil engineer CV stand out?
Use specific, measurable results to describe your impact — for example, “Delivered a £12M road widening project three weeks ahead of schedule”. Focus on leadership, problem-solving, collaboration, and technical ability. A clean layout with correct formatting also helps your CV look polished and easy to read.
What is the typical civil engineering salary in the UK?
Civil engineering salaries vary by experience, location, and specialism:
- Graduate Civil Engineer: £28,000–£35,000 per year
- Mid-Level Civil Engineer: £38,000–£50,000 per year
- Senior or Chartered Civil Engineer: £55,000–£70,000+ per year Engineers working in London or on major infrastructure projects may earn higher salaries, while those with Chartered status (CEng, MICE) can command a significant premium.
Related Engineering CV Examples
- Machine learning engineer
- AI specialist
- NLP specialist
- AI Engineer
- Automotive Engineer CV Example
- Software engineer CV, examples, and templates
- Construct your perfect CV with our engineer CV example
- Strong Mechanical Engineer CV Examples & Guide
- Project engineer CV examples
- Aircraft maintenance engineer CV examples
Create your civil engineer CV today
Showcase your engineering expertise, project achievements, and technical skills with a professional civil engineering CV. Use our expert tips and customisable templates to build a CV that captures your strengths and stands out to recruiters. Start today with our CV builder and download your CV in minutes.
*The names and logos of the companies referred to above are all trademarks of their respective holders. Unless specifically stated otherwise, such references are not intended to imply any affiliation or association with myperfectCV.

