Civil Engineer resume keywords
Most civil engineer applications are screened by software before a person reads them: the ATS ranks resumes by how many of the posting's words they contain. The lists below are the terms that show up most in civil engineer job ads. Use the ones that are true for you, with the same spelling the ad uses.
Hard skills and ATS keywords
- AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Stormwater design
- Site grading
- Cost estimating
- Construction administration
- HEC-RAS
- Permitting
- Contractor coordination
- AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Structural analysis
- Site development
- Stormwater management
- Construction administration
- Cost estimating
- Permitting
- Geotechnical
- EIT / PE license
- Project scheduling
Soft skills recruiters look for
- Problem solving
- Attention to detail
- Client communication
- Teamwork
- Accountability
Soft skills only count when a bullet proves them. "Team player" is ignored; "Designed and managed $38M of road, sewer and drainage projects, all delivered within 5% of budget." shows it.
Action verbs to start your bullets
- Designed
- Managed
- Delivered
- Reduced
- Inspected
- Coordinated
- Prepared
- Completed
How to use these keywords
- Mirror the job ad: if it says "AutoCAD Civil 3D", do not write a synonym.
- Put the top 6–8 in a skills section and repeat the key ones inside experience bullets with a number.
- Never list a skill you cannot talk about in an interview.
- Keep the file text-based (no skills inside images or tables), or the ATS cannot read it.
Which ones is your resume missing?
Every posting is different. Paste your resume and the job ad — free ATS Match Score Score your resume free (0-100)
No signup. It lists the keywords from the ad that your resume does not contain.
Need the resume itself? See the civil engineer resume example and generate one free from rough notes.