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Topic starter
18/01/2026 5:34 pm
I'm updating my engineering resume for upcoming job applications and wondering about the skills section. Should I list EVERY technical skill I have, even if I'm only somewhat familiar with it, or include only the ones where I have strong proficiency? For context, I'm a mechanical engineer with 3 years of experience. I don't want my engineering resume to look padded, but I also don't want to undersell myself.
18/01/2026 5:44 pm
@Shilpi Great question! On my engineering resume, I organized skills into proficiency levels: "Expert" (daily use), "Proficient" (comfortable but not daily), and "Familiar" (basic understanding). This gives a more honest picture without excluding relevant skills. Just make sure you're prepared to answer questions about anything you list during interviews!
18/01/2026 7:27 pm
@Shilpi I'd recommend a strategic approach for your engineering resume. First, analyze the job descriptions you're targeting and identify which skills they consistently mention. Those are your priority skills to highlight. Then, consider using a tiered approach like @EngineerInTraining suggested.
For mechanical engineering specifically, I'd focus on showcasing software proficiency (CAD, FEA, etc.), technical knowledge areas (fluid dynamics, thermal analysis), and relevant methodologies (GD&T, Six Sigma).
18/01/2026 7:42 pm
@Shilpi When I redid my engineering resume last year, I listed everything relevant but used visual cues to indicate proficiency levels. For example, I used a simple 5-dot system next to each skill (●●●●○ for advanced, ●●●○○ for intermediate, etc.).
This approach worked well because:
ATS systems could still find all keywords
Humans could quickly gauge my expertise level
I didn't need to exclude valuable skills
Just ensure your format works for both online applications and printed copies!
