Paragraph by paragraph
The Senior Engineer (Structures) post at Transport Scotland would take me back to where I started, as an intern on the A9 dualling feasibility study in 2017. Since then I have been a graduate at Atkins, now AtkinsRéalis, and since 2021 a civil engineer at Arup in Edinburgh. I am a Chartered Engineer with the ICE.
A reason from her own history
She opens with her link to the employer, then her career and her chartered status. Writing "Atkins, now AtkinsRéalis" uses the name readers will recognise and the one in use today.
At Arup I led the structural design for a £45m urban bridge, and the project finished four weeks early and under budget. I also run weekly design reviews for six graduate engineers and assess their progress towards their ICE development objectives.
Her part in a large project
The bridge value sets the scale, and "led the structural design" draws the line around her contribution. Graduate supervision is the evidence for a senior post.
On an £80m road scheme I set up our BIM workflows to ISO 19650, and design clashes fell by 60%. I have also written flood risk assessments for eight housing developments, which helped 1,200 homes get planning permission.
Digital and environmental work
The clash figure is tied to the workflow she set up. The flood risk work shows breadth, and the number of homes explains why it mattered.
At Atkins I designed drainage and highway infrastructure for three residential developments, about 850 homes in all, using Civil 3D and Revit. During my internship I surveyed 12 bridges and wrote the condition reports used to set their maintenance priorities.
Earlier roles, briefly
Drainage and highways show range. The bridge condition reports from her internship connect to the asset management work of the post she is applying for.
I speak French as well as English and I am happy to travel to sites across Scotland. I can start after three months' notice.
Practical lines to close
Travel matters for a national roads body, and three months' notice is common for consultancy engineers, so saying it early helps planning.
ICE membership and professional titles
Civil engineers in the UK usually register through the Institution of Civil Engineers. Write both the registration and the membership, because the reader will check them.
| Registration | ICE membership | After your name |
|---|---|---|
| Chartered Engineer | Member | CEng MICE |
| Incorporated Engineer | Associate Member | IEng AMICE |
| Engineering Technician | Technician Member | EngTech TMICE |
If you are working towards a review, give the title you are aiming for and the expected date. If you supervise graduates, say so too: on the ICE's training schemes, graduates work through development objectives with a supervising civil engineer, and helping others through them is good evidence for a senior post.
For a public sector application form
Public bodies in Scotland usually recruit through an online form with a supporting statement. This version opens that statement and keeps the evidence that matches a structures post.
Standards and names that have changed
Many civil engineering CVs still use names that have since changed. Use the current ones in your letter, and the older ones only when you describe an older project.
| Older name | Current name |
|---|---|
| BIM Level 2, PAS 1192 | ISO 19650, which replaced the PAS 1192 and BS 1192 standards in the UK around the start of 2019. The "Level 2" label isn't used in it. |
| NEC3 | NEC4, launched on 22 June 2017. If your project used NEC3, say so; if you are describing contracts in general, NEC4 is the current suite. |
| Atkins, SNC-Lavalin | AtkinsRéalis since 13 September 2023. "Atkins, now AtkinsRéalis" covers both. |
Other civil engineering posts and how to begin
Graduate civil engineer
Give your degree, your dissertation or project and any placement, with the ICE scheme you will join.
I finish my MEng at the University of Edinburgh in June, and my dissertation modelled scour around bridge piers on the River Tweed.
Site or resident engineer
Describe the works you supervise, the contract and your role with the contractor.
I am the resident engineer on a £12m flood protection scheme, supervising the contractor under an NEC4 contract.
Highways and drainage
Name the design standards and the size of the schemes.
For four years I have designed junction improvements and drainage on trunk roads to the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges.
Water and flood risk
Show the schemes, the modelling tools and who approved your work.
I have written flood risk assessments for more than 20 developments, each accepted by the planning authority without major changes.
Moving from consultancy to a client body
Say why you want to look after assets over the long term.
After eight years designing schemes for clients, I want to work for an asset owner and see structures through their whole life.
Your part in a big project
A £45m bridge is designed and built by dozens of people. Readers will respect a letter that is precise about your part far more than one that borrows the whole project's value.
- Use exact verbs: led the structural design, checked, supervised the site works, wrote the flood risk assessment.
- Give the value as context, and your result as the evidence, such as clashes cut by 60%.
- Programme results: if the project finished early, say what you did to help, or present it as the team's result.
Five mistakes in civil engineering letters
Borrowing the project value
"Delivered a £45m bridge" suggests you did the whole thing.
Say which part you led and give your own result.
Old standard names
BIM Level 2 and PAS 1192 have been replaced by ISO 19650.
Use the current names and mention the old ones only for older projects.
Leaving out the institution
"Chartered" alone leaves the reader to check where you are registered.
Write Chartered Engineer with the ICE, or CEng MICE.
Tools without the work
Civil 3D, Revit and the rest matter less than what you designed with them.
Name a tool only alongside a piece of work.
Nothing about people
Senior posts involve supervising graduates and working with contractors.
Add who you supervise or support.
Length, names and the reader
- Length: one page. Isabelle's letter is about 205 words.
- The panel: often the team leader for the post, often alongside a supporting statement scored against the person specification.
- Company names: use the current name, with the old one if readers may know it better.
- Sign off: Yours sincerely after a name. Public bodies often give a named contact for informal enquiries, and that is usually the person to write to.
The main points from this page
- 1Give your registration with the institution, such as CEng MICE.
- 2Say which part of a big project was yours.
- 3Use current names such as ISO 19650 and AtkinsRéalis.
- 4Give a result of your own alongside the project value.
- 5Mention the people you supervise.
Frequently asked questions
What should a civil engineer cover letter include?
The post and employer, your registration and institution, your part in one or two projects with results, people you supervise, the standards and tools you work with, and practical details such as travel and notice.
Is BIM Level 2 still used?
The label has been replaced. ISO 19650 took over from the PAS 1192 standards in the UK around the start of 2019, and the "Level 2" label isn’t used in it.
Should I write NEC3 or NEC4?
Whichever the project used. NEC4 has been the current suite since 22 June 2017.
What does CEng MICE mean?
Chartered Engineer, registered through membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
How long should a civil engineer cover letter be?
A single page is enough. Put the detail in your supporting statement or CV.