How to write a Contractor CV for Engineering Roles

If you’re a contractor, your CV isn’t like a traditional one. Unlike permanent roles that follow a neat career progression, contractors work on diverse projects across industries. So, how do you write a contractor CV for engineering roles that make your CV work for you?

With demand for skilled contractors staying strong, having an up-to-date and compelling CV is more important than ever. Here’s how to structure yours for maximum impact.

Choose the Best Format for Your Experience

You’ve got two solid options: Project-Based or Skills-Based. Which one suits you best depends on your work history and the type of roles you’re applying for.

Project-Based CV

If you’ve worked across different industries or taken on varied roles, structuring your CV by projects makes sense. This approach highlights the impact of your work rather than focusing on job titles.

How to do it:

• Group projects by industry or role type
• For each project, briefly outline:
  • What you were hired to do
  • The challenges you tackled
  • The results you delivered

Example:

Multidisciplinary Engineering Consultancy (Sept 2023 – May 2024)

• Hired as a Senior Structural Engineer to help manage an increased workload after the company secured three major contracts.
• Focused on Project X, getting it back on track while ensuring costs stayed within budget.
• Used REVIT, Rhino, and Grasshopper to streamline the design process.
• Outcome: Project was completed ahead of schedule, leading to further contracts with the client.

This format makes it easy for recruiters to see how you add value—fast.

Skills-Based CV

If your roles don’t fit neatly into one industry or title, a skills-focused CV might be a better bet. Instead of listing jobs chronologically, you highlight key skills and group projects under them.

How to do it:

• Identify 3–5 core skills relevant to the job you want
• List projects under each skill, keeping descriptions short and impactful
• Place the most relevant skill at the top

Example:

Project Management

• Project A (Feb 2022 – July 2022)
• Project B (Aug 2022 – March 2023)
• Project C (April 2023 – Dec 2023)

This format is especially useful if you’re switching industries or applying for roles with different job titles but overlapping skillsets.

Keep It Concise

If you’ve been contracting for years, your CV could be long. But recruiters don’t have time to scroll through 10 pages of projects.

Best practice:

• Stick to 2–3 pages max
• Focus on the most recent and relevant projects
• Customise your CV for each role by putting the most applicable projects first

Tailor It for Every Role

Recruiters are scanning for keywords, so make sure your CV reflects the job description.

Quick tips:

• Use industry-specific terms from the job posting
• Highlight the most relevant projects for that role
• Keep your tech stack or methodologies up-to-date (e.g. Agile, BIM, AI tools)

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Looking for Your Next Contract Role?

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Further Reading:

• Latest Salary Surveys
• Job Seeker Guidance
• The Benefits of Contracting vs. Permanent Roles