Civil engineer cover letter: example and tips

A complete cover letter for civil engineer jobs in Switzerland, what recruiters in the field look for, and the openings available right now.

What the recruiter wants to read

Your degree (ETH/EPFL, university of applied sciences in civil engineering) and field: structures, roads, bridges, geotechnics.
Projects you led, with their scale and the SIA phases covered.
Software (structural analysis, CAD, BIM) and the SIA standards you know.

A complete example

Names and facts are made up: replace each one with your own. A copied letter shows, an adapted one gets read.

Example

Subject: Application for the structural engineer position

Dear Mr Joye,

Your firm is looking for a civil engineer for its structures department. I have designed reinforced concrete and timber buildings for five years, and your urban rooftop extension projects particularly interest me.

A civil engineering graduate, I work at Structures Plus SA, where I led the design and construction follow-up of a three-storey school in timber-concrete composite, as well as rooftop extensions to two apartment buildings. I use Axis VM, Cedrus and Revit and coordinate my models with architects in BIM.

Your expertise in timber construction and the range of your public commissions match the direction I want my career to take.

My notice period is three months, and I would be glad to meet you.

Kind regards,
Guillaume Collaud

Enclosures: CV, work references, diplomas