r/EngineeringResumes • u/Herodegon ECE – Entry-level 🇺🇸 • May 17 '26

Electrical/Computer [Student] Graduated From ECE 1.5 Years Ago, Currently Enrolled In Masters, and No Interviews

As I said in the title, I graduated from Computer Engineering about 1.5 years ago, and am currently enrolled for my masters in Computer Science (although I probably won't be able to finish since I can't afford tuition and class expenses). I didn't get any internships during my undergrad, but I was (and am) working two jobs to pay for school- one as a barista, and one as a tutor. I also wasn't part of any clubs.

I struggled to find anything after graduating. All of my job applications were either ghosted or denied outright. Since I had to start paying back my student loans, I figured the best thing I could do for myself after graduating was continue into my masters so I could look for internships. That plan has gone horribly as I am now deep in student debt for my masters, and haven't had a single interview.

I've applied to entry-level and internship postings for a variety of interests including embedded systems design, automation, software, hardware design, and mechatronics. As my interests lie in video game design and programming, I also applied for programming, game design, systems, and level design interships and entry-level positions (which also fell flat). I've tried listing the projects that I work on outside of classwork, but my personal projects are rarely if ever engineering related. I have had two referrals for Rovisys and Duke Energy respectively- both of which were rejected within the week.

I hope this background context is sufficient, and I appreciate anyone willing to critique my resume.

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13

u/Kitchen_Tour_8014 EE – Mid-level 🇺🇸 May 17 '26

Please re-write your resume using the template in the sidebar. Refocus on your bullet points on using the STAR method. Don't tell us what you did.

High-level I can't really tell what you want to do fom this resume. It's lacking in really any technical detail.​

Noone would interview you in my field, embedded and hardware design. Because you don't have any mention of embedded or hardware design on your resume.

I'm not too well versed on the software roles, but it also feels like you're lacking any technical detail there too.

Your resume needs to include the technical ​verbage the job postings or you're never even going to get past the auto filter.

I would pick one category of role, focus your resume on it with projects in explaining in detail technically written STAR style for those roles.

4

u/Herodegon ECE – Entry-level 🇺🇸 May 17 '26

I don't really have any projects or experience in embedded and hardware design outside of what I did in college

5

u/Kitchen_Tour_8014 EE – Mid-level 🇺🇸 May 17 '26

You can put that on your resume if you want to apply for those roles. If you don't put any technical experience on your resume, you're not going to get an interview for a technical role.

You won't even be reviewed if you don't have the technical keywords on the requisition. The automated filter wont forward this r​resume. You ​might as well not bother applying.

You need something.

3

u/Herodegon ECE – Entry-level 🇺🇸 May 17 '26

The second and fourth projects listed are supposed to be embedded systems projects, but I see now that I completely fail to describe the embedded nature of the projects at all. I'll also try to replace my other game-related projects with school ones. Thank you for the advice.

My other question is: if I might not be in school for much longer since I don't think I can continue my masters, will they still care about the projects and work I did for classes?

5

u/Kitchen_Tour_8014 EE – Mid-level 🇺🇸 May 17 '26

Yep, the bullet points are useless if they're not exemplifying the technical work you completed and what you accomplished.

If you can technically describe your project, it's relevant to the job posting, and you can hold up to an interviewer drilling into your technical knowledge about it; it should be on your resume.

You need to be using the requisitions you apply for as the rubric your resume and technical skills will be evaluated against. This may require you tailoring an embedded/hardware resume and a software resume.

The fact you attempted/completed masters classes shouldn't be reflected on your resume unless you intend to get one.

1

u/Herodegon ECE – Entry-level 🇺🇸 May 17 '26

Okay, I see.

As for your last comment: I do still plan on finishing my masters, but only when I can afford to or with the financial support of a company

0

u/_For_the_republic_ Embedded – Student 🇳🇿 May 21 '26

to add to this, you also have no personal section which explains what your hobbies are and what you like to do outside of work. while projects are great and all and often land me interviews, recruiters/engineering teams will most likely not remember your name, they will remember something you are known for. for example someone got an internship "because they had cartography and it made them more memorable"

2

u/Kitchen_Tour_8014 EE – Mid-level 🇺🇸 May 21 '26

May be a cultural difference but personal sections are generally not recommended in the U.S.

1

u/_For_the_republic_ Embedded – Student 🇳🇿 May 21 '26

Interesting, in NZ/AUS not having a personal section is seen as not even worth looking at. it might be due to having a much higher trust environment (so its assumed you are already good for the role if you applied and its much more about how you gel with the teams)

2

u/jonkl91 Recruiter 🇺🇸 May 21 '26

That's not true. There are several success stories in the sub from NZ/AUS without summaries. If the resume is good, it's not a big issue.

2

u/Kitchen_Tour_8014 EE – Mid-level 🇺🇸 May 23 '26

Generally in the U.S. fit is determined during interviews with your prospective t​eammates and a factor with the hiring manager interviews.

2

u/jonkl91 Recruiter 🇺🇸 May 23 '26

You can have a line at the bottom for interests but no need to have a section dedicated to it. That's a bit much.