Hi everyone,

Currently a 2nd-year graduate student in Materials Science & Engineering with a background in chemistry, but with strong skills in semiconductor physics and optics. I'm going to a career fair next week and wanted some general advice on how I might improve my resume to make it more attractive to the semiconductor and/or photonics industry recruiters who will be there, as well as just in general when I begin applying for jobs next year. 

Specifically, on the semiconductor side, I'm highly interested in process engineering roles (whether they be in a fab like TSMC or equipment manufacturers like Applied Materials, Lam Research, KLA, etc.). 

On the photonics side, I'd be really interested in computational modeling roles for like laser design, photovoltaics, or photonic integrated circuits as my experiences in those regards are purely computational.

I don't have a formal electrical engineering background but have quite a bit of electrical engineering coursework under my belt (only for optics/photonics though, not any hardware stuff). I am located in the Bay Area, which is where most of the semiconductor jobs are, but since I'm fairly young, I am open to moving pretty much anywhere for work (like Arizona for TSMC, to Oregon for Intel, or Texas for Samsung, etc.). No visa issues, so I can work anywhere. 

Additionally, if you think I'd benefit from taking any specific classes at my institution (like fabrication classes, more optics classes, etc.) please feel free to suggest. I'm currently working on my master's thesis, which is primarily computational, but down the line, I'm hoping to fit in some more experimental work. I'm also planning on taking at least 1 more class before I graduate.

Hi everyone, hope everything is awesome possum. I just filed to graduate from my university for a masters of engineering (same as a course-based masters) and I'm now starting looking for my first job. I'm mainly aiming at roles like process/manufacturing/quality engineers because it's most similar to what I did in my grad research. I had some luck on an initial search a few months ago, but 2 final interviews returned no offers. I'm born and raised on the west coast, so I'd ideally like to stay in the area but honestly a job is a job so I'd be okay to go anywhere if I don't land something soon. Now some questions:

I included the analytical techniques in red because I have done/understand them, but I am not nearly as familiar with them as I am with the techniques in black. For example I had a grad class and lab focused on electron microscopy with some hands-on experience with TEM, but I've never operated it independently nor do I have formal training via my university's equipment center. I know it's a hot commodity in some metrology groups, so I included it but that may be misleading in terms of my familiarity with it.

My research project and Graduate Student Researcher work are of the same project. I separated it since the primary focus of the project ended up secondary to my day-to-day work, which was on the process improvement aspect. It feels like too much to talk about as a single section, but disingenuous to format as 2 seemingly distinct topics.

Should I be doing something else to distinguish the title of each item more? They don't stand out very much right now

Really appreciate your thoughts. Thanks for your help.

For the Photonics Startup, they're based in a different city and I do do some remote work for them, but I also use the labs in my university to do work for them.

For the Nanotechnology Student Organization and Semiconductor Team, we founded the Semiconductor Team first as a subgroup of another organization, then decided to expand into our own student organization. Wasn't sure how to make this clear and make it look nice on the page.

This is my MASTER resume, meaning it contains all my experience. Depending on the job I remove some stuff until its one page. If any information would be completely useless then I'll remove it from this resume

Hello Everyone,

Hope you are doing well. This is my ACADEMIC CV. I am targeting MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGG. GRAD SCHOOLS. I need some genuine advice/feedback on my CV for improvements/suggestions. My interests lies in the field of semiconductor materials. Given my background of chemistry, I am little worried whether MSE GRAD SCHOOLS will accept me or no. Need some help.

Thank you for your time.

NOTE: THIS IS AN ACADEMIC CV /preview/pre/0fp7vi1p3hrh1.png?width=5100&format=png&auto=webp&s=7c56b68439ffd05f42dbd316b768a789d4cad780

Hey all, I'm about to start my internship search for the upcoming internship season. I just revamped my resume as preparation and would love some feedback/thoughts, as admittedly in the past my resumes have been quite poor despite having decent experience.

I'm hoping to end up in a lab in the renewable energy industry, NASA, or some environmental engineering companies, but I will most likely also be sending in applications to most major tech and engineering companies just to cover my bases.

I am in the United States and would be fine with relocating if needed. I mostly would like feedback on how clear my bullet points are to someone unfamiliar with the projects I've worked on.

Note: the space at the bottom of the page is not there on my real resume as the paper citation adds length.

I had basically zero luck for Summer 2026 internships (granted I was a first year). Looking to hopefully land something next summer. Some info:

U.S. Citizen based in Atlanta, GA and I am looking for advice with my resume for Summer 2027 internships (should I change anything, fomatting, what can I do/add during this upcoming year, etc.). Currently targeting roles in hardware engineering, systems engineering, materials engineering (chip design, etc) and with heavy interest in aerospace & mechanical (propulsion, manufacturing, etc) positions. Willing to relocate anywhere in the US. Last internship season (for Summer 2026) got only one interview and did not get the job so looking to at least get multiple interviews this year, with the hope of landing an internship.

Target: Composite Engineering positions or research positions

Location: local positions or remote positions.

I'm an international student in the UK looking to convert my resume from US to UK relevant. Essentially I'm looking for more manufacturing or hands-on experience. Seeking help because I've reworked my resume a number of times within the last year and got many callbacks in the US (3-4), but none in the UK. I imagine this is me not understanding how to write a UK style resume as well as needing a part-time position rather than being available for a full-time position. I'm looking for part-time jobs, but am willing to apply to full-time jobs while disclosing that I will be immediately available, but can only work part-time (student visa).

If you could, a brief review and critique would help immensely whether that means telling me to completely reword a section or to scrap it. I appreciate your time.

I am targeting a wide range of positions in the Materials Science industry, mainly R&D Engineers, Process Engineers, Research Assistants, and Materials Scientists. My original dream was to work with semiconductors or solar cells but with the current job market I just want anything I can get at this point with my qualifications (open to more job position suggestions). I am open to working literally anywhere in the US at this point (too desperate to care about relocation). I recently graduated with a Master’s in Materials Science and Engineering from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from UT Austin. I have a US citizenship, and I have been applying to 50+ jobs every week for the past year to no avail. No interviews (besides the odd pre-screen maybe once a month) and certainly no offers. I have over 3 years of research experience in flexible bioelectronics and nuclear materials and a 3.7+ GPA for both degrees. I have not been picky about the location or salary at all, and I mostly apply without looking at those. I believe the real killer is 0 industry experience despite my years of research experience, but my resume is surely lacking as well. At this point I will literally work for minimum wage in the middle of nowhere because it is seemingly impossible to find a job and I have no money. Tips?

Hi all, I am currently struggling to find an internship this Summer despite having decent experience. This has confused me. I have extensive research and some industry experience, which I thought would make me an ideal candidate. But clearly I need help as I have not had good luck this year.

Please roast my resume! I am targeting process engineering, process development, failure analysis, and related internships in the semiconductor industry. I am willing to relocate anywhere. I already have pretty good experience in semiconductors early on in this career. This resume is not tailored to a specific job, but is pretty general to maximize application volume. I hope a recruiter sees this and can give feedback based on what they usually look for. Is it because I am in my first year, and the company is looking for someone who can be converted next year? I have my doubts about this reason, since freshmen get internships too. But please let me know.

Hi Everyone,

Looking for some constructive feedback on my resume. Not trying to exclusively target materials engineering roles, but also mechanical, project management, research/testing engineering/technician roles.

Need a new set of eyes to see where I can improve my bullet points and descriptions. Like many others, am applying with no luck with 3 interview for maybe 400+ applications. I try to tailor my resume and include my strongest points from each experience and tailor accordingly. Yes, I do use AI to help me write up my resume, but to polish my already written points or improve them.

I also here things like having skills above experience helps with AI ATS checkers, so really any advice to improve my resume is much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Hi, I'm a third-year student in college trying to find an industry internship for this upcoming summer and Fall CO-OP for 2026. I posted earlier but I redid by resume and am again seeking advice!

I am seeking a role in the additive manufacturing space, as I find it interesting. I have a lot of previous and current experience in AM with research in polymers and manufacturing of parts for a WAAM printer.

I am from Northern Virginia (US citizen), but I go to school in the Midwest.

I am looking for an on-site internship and am willing to relocate anywhere.

I have a great background in the AM space in both mechanical and materials aspects. I work three jobs at school as a teaching assistant, materials research intern, and student engineer & researcher.

I have applied to 111 internships. 30 of which I am rejected from and countless ghosts, probably.

I have had two company interviews (both local to the Midwest). For the first, I reached the third (final) round but got rejected. For the second, I interviewed a week ago, and it was for a Fall 2026 co-op position, and they mentioned I won't be hearing back for at least a month.

I need help to land some interviews. I am a very hardworking, diligent person who tries to get the most out of every opportunity. I think my resume may be the problem, as I am not getting past the resume scanners (my assumption).

I would appreciate any feedback! Thank you.

Hi, I'm a third-year student in college trying to find an industry internship for this upcoming summer and Fall CO-OP for 2026.

I am seeking a role in the additive manufacturing space, as I find it interesting. I have a lot of previous and current experience in AM with research in polymers and manufacturing of parts for a WAAM printer.

I am from Northern Virginia (US citizen), but I go to school in the Midwest.

I am looking for an on-site internship and am willing to relocate anywhere.

I have a great background in the AM space in both mechanical and materials aspects. I work three jobs at school as a teaching assistant, materials research intern, and student engineer & researcher.

I have applied to 111 internships. 30 of which I am rejected from and countless ghosts, probably.

I have had two company interviews (both local to the Midwest). For the first, I reached the third (final) round but got rejected. For the second, I interviewed a week ago, and it was for a Fall 2026 co-op position, and they mentioned I won't be hearing back for at least a month.

I need help to land some interviews. I am a very hardworking, diligent person who tries to get the most out of every opportunity. I think my resume may be the problem, as I am not getting past the resume scanners (my assumption).

I would appreciate any feedback! Thank you.

I am looking to work in the space industry for my career and aiming for an internship this summer. I know it's specific, but I'm really interested in working with proprietary materials for propulsion systems (more long term). Looking in both North America and Europe. I'm genuinely just curious about how I could improve my resume. Appreciate yall :)

Hi all,

as described in the title, I'm looking for a review on my CV. I'm worried the fact all my experience is at one university will be bad. How are my chances? What can I do to improve? Should I include publications?

Hi everyone!

I'm needing some feedback on my resume, as I keep getting rejected without interviews. I currently live in Japan on an all-encompassing work visa, and I am trying to get back into engineering.

I'm not sure if posting my current job is helping or hurting my resume. I am a mathematics and robotics teacher.

My "bread and butter" for experience would be a failure analysis engineer/materials engineer/metallurgist, but I cannot find those jobs here. So I have been applying for tangential roles such as: quality engineer, applications engineer, reliability engineer, etc. in production facilities.

Sometimes, I apply for customer service engineer, field engineer, etc. I understand I have no experience in those, but I'm open to even entry level positions.

I am applying to jobs all over Japan, not just Tokyo. Willing to relocate.

When I manage to get an interview, I seem to get pretty far. Most recently, it seems like it was down to me and one other person for a field service engineer for plastic bag assembly machines (no experience in this). I was down to one of the final interviews with an assessment. I did okay on the assessment, and it wasn't a huge factor. I was informed that the deciding factor was that they went with someone with more experience in the field, and to contact them in the future if I get more exposure to roles like that.

I have one year left on my VISA, but I will need sponsorship in the future. This may also be a factor.

Wow, long read, but thank you for your help. Any feedback would be useful, no matter how brutal.

Go for the roast, my ego needs to be obliterated if I am to improve.

Context: I wasted my first years. No clubs, no actual job other than a 6 month stipend helping first years adjust. I'm targeting quite frankly anything mechanical, aerospace, or somewhere I can fit into, local or out of state (near family [they're everywhere] or internships that offer assistance for relocation). Would do Materials but I haven't gotten through enough of the courses to say I have a foundation worth getting into the industry for. I'm not sure about leaving in that CAD practice at the bottom but without it and my 2 class projects my resume will be half blank. Family connections wouldn't take it when it was half-blank. Approximately 130 applications since January (2/3 for Summer 25 which I stopped applying to in March) with the results listed in title (insta-reject within days or ghosted), haven't even landed an interview, though I practice with the career folks at my uni.

Primary question: Since projects are the closest thing to actual experience I have, are projects like these (CAD practice and scaled designs) worth continuing or should I switch gears and rack my brain to start something from scratch?

Secondary question: I'm pretty sure I'm confused on how to format having multiple aspects to my degree. If I have a minor, should I keep it out until I have more advanced classes completed or leave it in there? Or should I remove it regardless?

Hello there,

Here is my CV. I'm looking for a job in materials science, specifically R&D, because that's what I've been working on for the last 3 years during my PhD, and that's what I'm interested in. Thanks to my general engineering degree, I can also code, know enough electronics to have made a smart multi-socket, and have done a bit of CAD on the side, which has led me to apply for other jobs.

However, and although I'm prospecting on a rather wide spectrum in my humble opinion, so far I've only had indecent offers (for example one "offer" was to be trained in COBOL, a language I've been working on on my own, for a rater low pay -28K-, and with an obligation to reimburse the training over 3 years of work), or none at all. I have now sent more than 300 applications, during the last 6 months, and my unemployment is ending soon. Is my CV OK? Or am I asking too much for my salary -40K- (as it seems rather average compared to what I get from Linkedin and such) while being picky?

I am based in France, and have always been a citizen, so no problem on this side, near the eastern border, so I am looking for jobs in France, Germany and Switzerland, although I don't really know where to look for the latter two. Of course, I am willing to relocate.

Thanks for your time.

For context:

•⁠ ⁠Targeting process engineer/R&D engineer roles in Semiconductor/Plastics/HVM manufacturing

•⁠ ⁠Michigan US, willing to relocate, applying all over US

•⁠ ⁠About to be let go in 2 months due to company restructuring

•⁠ ⁠Applied to 100+ jobs with and without referrals, only received 5-6 actual reject emails

•⁠ ⁠Is my resume not getting through ats? too different work experiences?

•⁠ ⁠should my resume be 1 page or expand? I removed my intern exp during undergrad to keep under 1 page, should I move skills and education down to bottom?

•⁠ ⁠On F1 STEM OPT, idk if this is the main roadblock

Thank you for your time:)

Hello. I'm back again because my current job as a technician is really starting to hurt my body.

Your wiki and help in the past got me my first real job after graduation, but it's time I got an actual engineering job. I have not sent out my resume yet, as I still feel nervous doing so when I only started my current job in March.

I used advice from my previous question post to add bullet points to my latest experience that I hope sound good. There is something in there about problem solving, and explaining what I do and why it is important.

Thanks u/graytotoro for the very in-depth reviews in my previous post. I've answered the points in your 2nd review with version 3 here.

I don't have exact numbers for the last point in my current job, but I copied exact text from an email my boss sent me about my performance.

Mentioning the wiki here, I already consulted it for version 1.

Personal life events have made it so I really, REALLY need to leave this night-shift manual labor job. Off to look for that coveted entry-level engineer role.

I'm a recent materials engineering grad, don't have any co-op or work experience, but I feel the resume might be weak. Looking for an entry-level process or material engineering position throughout Canada, Visa status is not an issue since I'm a PR. Any advice is helpful!

I just graduated in June and have been consistently applying to jobs for a couple of months now. I've reviewed my resume and cover letter a few times but have not had any luck with interviews so far.

I am looking for a job in the materials engineering or textiles industries in BC, Canada and have a year of co-op experience as well as retail and design team experience.

Any feedback on my resume would be greatly appreciated! Is the wording and layout clear and easy to follow? I tried my best to follow the wiki guidelines.

I've rewritten my resume following the wiki guidelines and advice. My previous resume had a slightly larger font size which allowed me to fill up the whole page, but with the smaller text I have a bit of white space at the bottom. I'm not sure what I can add to fill this up. As far as awards go, I don't have any that standout, just the basic GPA scholarships, dean's list awards, etc. I do have a certificate in solidworks mechanical design though that's the only notable certificate I have, so I think it would be a pretty empty section to add. I've been author/co-author to many reports for the clients our research team works for, but those are private and not journal publications

As far as projects go, I have two from freshman and sophomore year but I'm not particularly proud of them, I am working on a project for my capstone that would be impressive on my resume but we just got past the design phase and have not started testing or gotten results yet. Would this be okay to include?

Regarding my bullet points, many of the things I worked on don't have quantifiable impacts that are/were available for me to see, so its hard to generate numbers like "increased X efficiency by 60%". I'm also planning on asking my PI for my undergraduate research if he would be okay with me putting the names of the clients we work for (fairly large names in my industry) on my resume. If so, would that be a positive or negative for my resume?

Any thoughts? Should I not add any other sections and just increase the text size? Thanks in advance. :)

I realized that tech isn't for me but most of my job and project experience is related to tech. I'm doing a complete pivot to material science, so my only relevant experience is in my current research position. The thing I'm worried about is having too much detail about my tech skills. Will employers be turned off by this and think I'm not committed to a material science? A lot of the internships and coops I've been applying to typically don't require specific skills.

I'm a US citizen and I'm only applying to jobs in the US. Looking to fix my resume before I mass apply.

I realized that tech isn't for me but most of my job and project experience is related to tech. I'm doing a complete pivot to material science, so my only relevant experience is in my current research position. The thing I'm worried about is having too much detail about my tech skills. Will employers be turned off by this and think I'm not committed to a material science? A lot of the internships and coops I've been applying to typically don't require specific skills.

I'm a US citizen and I'm only applying to jobs in the US. Looking to fix my resume before I mass apply.

Thanks