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Graduate Electrical Engineer CV Example

A graduate electrical engineer CV presents your electrical engineering fundamentals, design experience, and practical laboratory skills for entry-level engineering positions.

Recommended template: StructuredPro

Key Skills to Include

Circuit DesignPower SystemsControl SystemsMATLAB/SimulinkPCB DesignEmbedded SystemsElectronics TestingTechnical Report Writing

Quick Tips

  • Highlight your IET-accredited degree and relevant design projects.
  • Include laboratory work and practical skills gained during your studies.
  • Mention IET student membership and interest in professional registration.
  • Detail any relevant internships or industrial placement experience.

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How to Write Your Graduate Electrical Engineer CV

A graduate electrical engineer CV should present your technical knowledge, practical laboratory and project experience, and enthusiasm for the profession. Employers want to see that you understand electrical engineering principles and can apply them through design, testing, and problem solving. Whether you are targeting roles in power engineering, electronics design, building services, or control systems, your CV should demonstrate both academic strength and hands-on capability.

CV Structure

Use a reverse-chronological format starting with your profile, then placement or project experience, education, and technical skills. Detail your final-year or group design project, including the problem, your approach, and the outcome. List your software proficiencies and laboratory skills in a dedicated section. Mention your IET membership and professional registration intentions. Keep the CV to two pages.

CV Format

Choose a professional, clean template that conveys precision. Electrical engineering employers value accuracy in communication, so ensure your CV is error-free and consistently formatted. Use correct engineering terminology and units. Save as a PDF for submission.

CV Profile Examples

Power Systems Graduate

MEng electrical engineering graduate from the University of Strathclyde with a 2:1 degree and a specialisation in power systems and renewable energy integration. Completed a final-year project on grid-scale battery storage modelling using MATLAB/Simulink. Seeking a graduate electrical engineer role in the energy sector with a pathway to IET chartership.

Electronics-Focused Graduate

BEng electronic engineering graduate from the University of Southampton with first-class honours and strong practical skills in circuit design, PCB layout, and embedded systems programming. Developed a wireless sensor network prototype as part of a group design project sponsored by an IoT company. Targeting a graduate role in electronics design or product development.

Industry Placement Graduate

Electrical engineering graduate from the University of Nottingham with a 2:1 and a year-long placement at a building services engineering consultancy. Experienced in electrical distribution design, lighting calculations, and cable sizing using Amtech and Dialux software. Motivated to develop a career in building services or infrastructure electrical design.

Open with your degree, university, classification, and specialisation. Mention your most relevant practical experience and the engineering sector you are targeting. Reference your IET membership status and career development aspirations.

Key Skills for Your Graduate Electrical Engineer CV

Circuit Design

Designing analogue and digital electronic circuits from schematic capture through to prototype testing and validation.

Power Systems

Understanding electrical power generation, transmission, distribution, and protection systems.

Control Systems

Modelling and designing feedback control systems using transfer functions, state-space methods, and simulation tools.

MATLAB/Simulink

Developing models and simulations for electrical systems analysis, control design, and signal processing.

PCB Design

Designing printed circuit board layouts using tools such as Altium Designer, KiCad, or Eagle.

Embedded Systems

Programming microcontrollers using C/C++ for real-time control and data acquisition applications.

Electronics Testing

Using oscilloscopes, multimeters, spectrum analysers, and logic analysers to test and debug electronic circuits.

Technical Report Writing

Producing well-structured engineering reports with clear methodology, test results, and evidence-based conclusions.

Electrical Standards

Applying BS 7671 wiring regulations and IEC standards to ensure electrical designs meet safety and performance requirements.

Work Experience Examples

Provide detailed descriptions of any placement or internship experience, specifying the projects you worked on, the software and tools you used, and the engineering standards you applied. For university projects, describe the engineering problem, your design approach, and the results achieved. Include quantified outcomes where possible.

Electrical Design Placement Student

Arup, Newcastle

Completed a 12-month placement in the building services electrical team, contributing to the design of electrical installations for commercial and public sector building projects.

Responsibilities

  • Produced electrical distribution schematics, small power layouts, and lighting designs using AutoCAD and Revit MEP.
  • Performed cable sizing calculations, voltage drop assessments, and short-circuit analysis using Amtech NV software.
  • Assisted with the preparation of electrical specifications and schedules for tender documentation.
  • Attended design team meetings and client workshops, recording actions and updating design drawings accordingly.
  • Reviewed contractor submittals and responded to technical queries during the construction phase of a hospital project.

Achievements

  • Independently designed the lighting layout for a 500-square-metre office floor, achieving compliance with CIBSE lighting standards and client approval at first issue.
  • Received a placement completion award from the team leader for professional conduct and consistent contribution to design output.

Electronics Laboratory Demonstrator

University of Southampton, School of Electronics and Computer Science

Demonstrated practical electronics skills to second-year undergraduates during weekly laboratory sessions covering analogue and digital circuit design.

Responsibilities

  • Guided students through circuit construction on breadboards and PCB prototyping, troubleshooting faults and explaining design principles.
  • Supervised safe use of oscilloscopes, signal generators, and multimeters in the electronics laboratory.
  • Marked laboratory reports and provided constructive feedback on circuit analysis, measurement accuracy, and technical writing.
  • Prepared component kits and test equipment for weekly laboratory sessions in coordination with the lab technician.

Achievements

  • Maintained consistently positive student feedback with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 across the academic year.
  • Created a quick-reference troubleshooting guide for common circuit faults that was adopted as a lab handout for subsequent cohorts.

Education & Qualifications

List your IET-accredited degree with classification and key modules. Include your final-year project title and a brief technical summary. Note relevant A-levels with grades, particularly Maths and Physics. Mention any design competition participation or academic awards.

MEng/BEng Electrical Engineering (IET Accredited)

An accredited degree providing the academic foundation for Incorporated or Chartered Engineer registration.

IET Student/Graduate Membership

Membership of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, supporting professional development and chartership.

BS 7671 Awareness (Optional)

Familiarity with the IET Wiring Regulations, valuable for roles in electrical installation and building services.

ECS Card (Optional)

Electrotechnical Certification Scheme card for roles requiring access to electrical installation sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

What areas of electrical engineering can I specialise in?
Electrical engineering offers specialisations in power systems, electronics design, control and automation, telecommunications, building services, and renewable energy. Your CV should be tailored to the specific area you are targeting. For power roles, emphasise generation and distribution knowledge. For electronics, highlight circuit design and PCB layout skills. For building services, focus on installation standards and design software proficiency.
How important is programming for graduate electrical engineers?
Programming is increasingly important across all areas of electrical engineering. MATLAB is essential for modelling and simulation. C/C++ is required for embedded systems work. Python is valued for data analysis and automation tasks. List your programming languages and describe the context in which you used them, such as control system simulations or sensor data processing.
Should I include university projects on my electrical engineering CV?
Yes, university design projects are among the most valuable content on a graduate electrical engineering CV. They demonstrate your ability to apply engineering principles to solve problems, work with design tools, and deliver results. Include your final-year project and any significant group design projects, describing the problem, your technical approach, and the outcome achieved.
What professional body should I join as a graduate electrical engineer?
The Institution of Engineering and Technology is the primary professional body for electrical and electronic engineers in the UK. Joining as a student or graduate member demonstrates professional commitment and provides access to networking, CPD resources, and the professional registration pathway. Mention your membership on your CV and state your intention to pursue IEng or CEng status.

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