We’re Hiring an Automation Engineer
We review a lot of CVs for Automation Engineers. Some stand out immediately, others… don’t make it past the first read.
We’re writing this post to help potential engineering candidates to understand the difference. And it’s not just so you can “get through the application process” but so you can show your industry experience in a way that reflects what you’re actually capable of.
Because ultimately that’s what we’re really interested in.
So, What Makes a Candidate Stand Out Immediately
The strongest CVs we see all have one thing in common, they are specific. Not vague. Not generic. Not a list of buzzwords.
For example, there’s a big difference between this:
“Responsible for PLC programming and commissioning.”
…and this:
“Completed the PLC and HMI development for a fully automated packaging machine, from software design spec through FAT, SAT and on-site commissioning.”
One tells us very little. The other tells us exactly what you’ve done. We’re looking for:
- Clear descriptions of your actual involvement in projects
- Evidence of what you built, not just what you were “part of”
- Context, was it a new machine, a full line or a retrofit?
The same goes for technical skills. Listing platforms like Siemens, Allen Bradley, or Beckhoff isn’t enough. We want to understand:
- How you used them
- What you built with them
- What problems you solved
And most importantly for experienced roles we look for signs of ownership. Did you:
- Lead the automation scope?
- Make technical decisions?
- Specify hardware?
- Support the machine in the real world?
That’s what stands out.
What Stops An Application Progressing
There are some common patterns that we see that lead to immediate rejection. The biggest one is a CV that looks like it has been written to match the job description instead of showcasing real experience. We see:
- Long lists of skills with no evidence
- Generic descriptions like “worked on various automation projects”
- Experience that’s unclear or impossible to interpret
When we read your CV, we should not be left wondering…
Did you build the system from scratch? Did you modify existing code? Were you responsible for one part, or the whole machine?
If we can’t answer those questions, it becomes very difficult to progress your application further. Here’s a simple rule – if you claim a skill, show us where and how you used it.
What Gets Our Attention
When we interview someone we want to understand not just what you know but how you think.
A strong candidate typically stands out in these four areas:
What Success Looks Like in Your First 6–12 Months
When we think about our strongest hires, a few patterns show up again and again.
They are ORGANISED. They don’t just solve problems, they learn from them. They log issues, track solutions and use that knowledge again.
They are genuinely INTERESTED IN THE WORK. You can see the difference between someone who is just completing tasks and someone who is engaged with the technology and the outcome.
They THINK. They don’t just accept the first solution, they question it, refine it and improve it.
They can COLLABORATION. Our projects involve multiple stakeholders across different departments so building strong working relationships is critical.
And most importantly, they TAKE OWNERSHIP. If there’s a problem, they don’t wait. They take it on and work towards a solution, every project is different, so the ability to adapt and improve how things are done is key. In our industry, that mindset matters more than people often realise.
And Finally…
With all that said, we’re not looking for perfection. We’re looking for real engineers who can clearly demonstrate what they’ve done, how they think and how they approach problems. If you take one thing from this let it be, when applying for a role in DesignPro Automation don’t try to match the job description, just show us your actual experience, honestly and clearly.
That’s what gets our attention.
If you feel this reflects how you work then we’d love to hear from you. We are currently recruiting for an Automation Engineer.
