How to Highlight the Workforce Skills You Gained in FIRST on Your Resume

In today’s competitive job market, having both technical and non-technical skills is crucial, especially in STEM fields. Whether you’re a FIRST alum or a current high school student, your participation in FIRST programs has equipped you with a unique set of skills that employers highly value. This guide will help you effectively showcase those skills on your resume and stand out to potential employers.

Why Leading Employers Value FIRST Alumni

Many top-tier companies recognize that FIRST participants enter the workforce with a distinct advantage. These FIRST sponsors are more than just financial contributors—they are partners who actively seek out FIRST alumni for their unique skills.

“Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. values the expertise and hands-on experience that students foster through FIRST. The skills, technical knowledge, and teamwork of the students make them standout problem-solvers, aligning with Qualcomm’s values of achieving excellence, making the impossible inevitable, and winning together.” –  said Kedar Kondap, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Compute & Gaming, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Identifying the Skills You Gained in FIRST

Being part of FIRST goes beyond building robots—it’s about developing real-world skills that are essential in professional settings. FIRST programs provide opportunities to acquire technical, leadership, and collaboration skills, all of which are highly sought after by employers.

Breaking Down the Skills Acquired in FIRST Programs

Technical Skills:

FIRST programs offer hands-on experience in a wide range of technical domains. Key skills you may have developed include:

• Programming: Languages like C++, Java, Python, or LabVIEW.
• CAD Design: Proficiency in tools like SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, or Onshape for creating 3D models.
• Engineering Principles: Understanding mechanics, electronics, pneumatics, and control systems.
• Robotics: Designing, building, and programming robots for competitions with real-world constraints like limited resources and time.

Non-Technical Skills:

Just as important as technical know-how are the soft skills you’ve gained:

• Leadership: Leading a subteam or the entire team, coordinating meetings, and managing resources.
• Project Management: Planning, budgeting, risk assessment, and timeline management for complex, long-term projects.
• Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with diverse team members, mentors, and sponsors to achieve shared goals.
• Communication: Delivering presentations, writing technical reports, and effectively communicating with sponsors, judges, and other stakeholders.
• Problem-Solving: Applying critical thinking to overcome challenges under pressure, whether it’s redesigning a failed mechanism or troubleshooting software issues.

Tip: Reflect on your unique experiences in FIRST. Write down specific examples where you demonstrated these skills, such as leading a team to solve a critical robot malfunction just before a match or developing a strategy that improved your team’s performance during competitions. These examples will make your resume more compelling.

Where and How to List FIRST on Your Resume

When applying for jobs or internships, it’s crucial to highlight your FIRST experience in a way that catches the attention of recruiters. Here’s where and how to incorporate FIRST into your resume to maximize its impact.

1. Experience Section

Your involvement in FIRST is substantial and should be treated as professional experience, especially if you had leadership roles or worked on complex projects. Here’s how to structure it:

Example:

Team Captain, FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
Team Name, Location | Year(s) of Involvement

• Led a team of 12 students to design, build, and program robots for regional and national competitions.
• Used programming languages (C++, Java) to develop autonomous and remote-controlled robot systems.
• Collaborated with mentors and industry professionals to solve engineering challenges.
• Managed project timelines, team meetings, and budgets, resulting in a 25% efficiency improvement and a regional award for robot design.

Key Skills: Project management, C++/Java programming, robotics engineering, leadership, teamwork.

This format gives your experience the professional weight it deserves by detailing both your role and accomplishments.

2. Skills Section

FIRST has equipped you with technical and soft skills that are highly valuable to employers. List these in the skills section to provide a snapshot of your abilities.

Example:

Skills:

• Programming: C++, Java, Python
• CAD Design: SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor
• Project Management: Agile methodology, Monday.com, Asana
• Leadership: Team coordination, conflict resolution
• Communication: Technical writing, presentations

3. Awards & Achievements Section

If you’ve earned any awards through FIRST (such as Dean’s List Award, Engineering Inspiration Award, or Impact Award), showcase these under a dedicated “Awards” or “Achievements” section. This is an excellent way to demonstrate that you not only participated but excelled in the program.

Example:

Awards & Achievements

• FIRST Dean’s List Award Finalist (Year) – Recognized for outstanding leadership and dedication to the team.
• Innovation in Control Award (Year) – Awarded for innovative control systems in robot design.
• FIRST Robotics Competition Regional Winner (Year) – Team qualified for the international competition at the Aerospace Valley Regional.

4. Extracurricular or Volunteering Section (Optional)

If you’ve also mentored younger teams, volunteered at FIRST events, or participated in outreach programs, you can include these in a separate section.

Example:

Volunteer, FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournament
Event Name, Location | Year(s) of Involvement

• Served as a robot design judge

Translating Technical Skills to Your Resume

Employers want to see more than just a list of skills—they want to know how you’ve applied them. Here’s how to translate your technical skills into resume content that demonstrates your expertise and impact.

Instead of using generic phrases like “Robotics experience,” aim to quantify your accomplishments. For example:

• Before: “Robotics experience”
• After: “Led a team of 8 students to design, build, and program a competitive robot using C++ and Java, which advanced to the FIRST World Championship, receiving the Quality Award for innovative engineering design.”

This demonstrates not just your technical ability, but also leadership, teamwork, and success in high-pressure environments.

Rather than simply listing technical abilities, add context to show depth:

• Before: “Programming”
• After: “Proficient in C++, Java, and Python; developed software for autonomous robot navigation, integrated sensors, and remote control systems for competitive robotics challenges.”

Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to include technical details, such as specific sensor systems or frameworks that will resonate with employers in your field.

Highlighting Non-Technical Skills

Non-technical or “soft” skills are crucial for many roles, especially leadership or project-based positions. Use concrete examples that show the results of your efforts.

• Before: “Team Leader”
• After: “Coordinated a team of 10 students to design and build a robot on a strict 6-week timeline; managed project deadlines and resources, leading the team to place in the top 5 at the regional competition.”

This demonstrates that you can manage both people and projects, a key skill in any job.

• Before: “Leadership”
• After: “Demonstrated leadership by mentoring younger team members, facilitating meetings, and resolving team conflicts, resulting in improved team performance and morale.”

By emphasizing outcomes, you show that your leadership isn’t just theoretical—it’s effective.

Tailoring Your Resume for Specific Opportunities

Customizing your resume for each job you apply to will greatly improve your chances of getting noticed. Here’s how you can tailor your FIRST experience for specific opportunities:

1. Read Job Descriptions Carefully: Identify the technical and non-technical skills emphasized in the job posting. Employers often look for keywords like “project management,” “collaboration,” or “C++ programming.”
2. Match Your FIRST Experience to the Job: Highlight the most relevant aspects of your FIRST experience for each role. For example, if a position requires strong project management skills, focus on how you led your team through the six-week robot build cycle, managed deadlines, and adapted to challenges.

Tip: Take advantage of FIRST-specific resume opportunities, such as submitting your resume to the FIRST California Resume Book or other FIRST Alumni Network opportunities.

Next Steps for Career Advancement

FIRST has equipped you with a unique and diverse skill set that’s highly relevant to the workforce. By effectively showcasing both technical and non-technical skills on your resume, you can stand out in a crowded job market. Remember to:

• Quantify your achievements where possible.
• Tailor your resume to the specific role you’re applying for.
• Use concrete examples to demonstrate your abilities.

Now that you’ve got the tools to create a standout resume, take the next step. Update your resume today and consider submitting it to the FIRST California Resume Book for a chance to be noticed by top employers like Qualcomm. Submission deadline is December 13, 2024.

Earlier this month we chatted with Qualcomm about their internship program and how you can start your tech career. During this session, we learned from Rami Mouro, Engineer (Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.) and FIRST alumnus, and Samantha Welch, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, about Qualcomm’s career paths and how to prepare for them.

Rami shared his journey to Qualcomm Technologies and provided insight on his day-to-day as an embedded software engineer and how skillsets from FIRST translates into his role. Rami stressed that problem-solving and communication skills he learned with FIRST are skills that benefit him until this day.

“Building and programming robots and figuring out why and how things work and what we can do to make them better helped me both in college and at work.” – Rami Mouro

What was Rami’s path?

• B.A. Computer Science from the University of Colorado Boulder (focus on embedded courses)
• Applied to a Qualcomm internship and participated in Qualcomm’s interview process
• Interned for two consecutive summers with Qualcomm then returned Full Time after graduating as an Embedded Software Engineer at Qualcomm Technologies
• Involved with FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition – FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA) and community resource in CO (and typically FTA at FIRST Championship); FIRST Robotics Competition – lead technical mentor for Team 2972

How can you best prepare for an internship at Qualcomm?

Connect

Stay connected to the FIRST Alumni network to engage in career talks, workshops and activities that will help launch your career into tech.

Experience Qualcomm

We support your success! You will be assigned mentor who will help you navigate your new team, provide you resources to solve complex problems, and welcome you to the Qualcomm community.

 Intern events include: Executive Speaker Series, Networking Events, Social Events, Homerooms, Intern Days of Service, and more!

What specific qualities or skills does Qualcomm look for in candidates?

•   Tech stack: C, C++, Python
•   Juniors and seniors pursuing bachelor’s, master’s or Ph.D.
•   Involvement! Join a student organization, partake in leadership roles, tutor or TA for a class
•   Highlight projects on your resume

Next Steps

• Apply now to Internships and Career Opportunities – Internship and Career Opportunities | Students and Early Career Professionals | Qualcomm
• If you qualify, submit your resume via the FIRST California Resume Book by Dec 13, 2024.
• Follow us!
  • Qualcomm: LinkedIn, X
  • FIRST California: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook

The 2024 FIRST Mentor Conference (FMC) in San Jose, California was a sold out event in August that brought together mentors from across the globe to share knowledge, build connections, and inspire one another. 

A Gathering of Minds

Hosted at Google, the FMC attracted 400 participants from over 170 teams, spanning 28 states and 5 countries and provided a unique opportunity for these individuals to come together and share their experiences, challenges, and successes.

 A Variety of Sessions

Throughout the weekend, attendees had the chance to participate in 60 sessions designed to provide valuable insights and practical skills. These sessions included:

• 41 Workshops: Hands-on activities and interactive learning experiences.
• 10 Panels: Expert discussions on various topics related to mentoring and robotics.
• 6 Roundtable Discussions: Collaborative conversations allowing for the exchange of ideas and strategies.
• 3 Keynote Speeches: Inspirational talks from FIRST leaders and veteran mentors.

Diverse Perspectives, Insights and Resources

One of the standout features of the 2024 FMC was the diversity among its presenters. With 64 presenters representing 28 different teams and 9 organizations, the conference showcased a wide range of perspectives and expertise. 

Presenters shared 33 resources throughout the conference, providing attendees with tools and materials to enhance their mentoring practices. These resources ranged from technical guides and best practices to templates for team management and fundraising. The collaborative environment fostered meaningful discussions and encouraged mentors to adopt new strategies and approaches.

“You really need to experience it to get it. I’ve been attending and presenting at smaller FRC conferences for my entire FRC career, and nothing had the energy or atmosphere of the FIRST mentor conference. The diversity and engagement of the attendees was incredible.”  – Adam Heard from Team 581 (California)

“It was an amazing event and truly impactful on me personally and I believe on many many others who were attendants. The impact goes beyond the presentations and conversations that were held there. I truly believe these kinds of events are going to be the backbone of us growing stronger mentors across FIRST.” – Norm Morgan, 2024 Woodie Flowers winner and mentor on Team 2468 (Texas)

• Building Stronger Teams: Throughout the conference, sessions focused on team development and management, offering practical advice for building cohesive and successful teams. From recruitment strategies to conflict resolution techniques, mentors picked up ideas to help them build positive and productive teams..
• Enhancing Technical Skills: Technical workshops provided hands-on learning experiences, allowing mentors to deepen their knowledge of robotics and engineering principles. These sessions covered a wide range of topics, from advanced programming techniques to mechanical design, making sure mentors are ready to support their teams..
• Encouraging Inclusion and Diversity: The FMC highlighted the importance of promoting inclusion and diversity within the FIRST community. Sessions focused on strategies for creating inclusive team environments and encouraging participation from underrepresented groups. By creating a respectful and inclusive environment, mentors can help make sure every student has a chance to succeed.
• Fostering Innovation: Innovation is at the heart of the FIRST mission, and the FMC provided numerous opportunities for mentors to explore new ideas and approaches. Workshops and discussions encouraged creative problem-solving and experimentation, helping mentors inspire their teams to think outside the box.
• Strengtheing Connections: The conference also served as a platform for building and strengthening connections between mentors. Attendees had the chance to connect with peers, share experiences, and form lasting relationships. These connections will be invaluable as mentors continue to support one another and work towards common goals.

Lab Crawls Delight

The Lab Crawls were a hit with local teams opening their build space and providing sweets, offering tours and sharing their experiences with the 2024 FMC attendees.

Stay tuned for FMC 2025

As we look forward to FMC 2025, mentors and members of the FIRST community are invited to join in for another inspiring and impactful event. 

FIRST Robotics Competition on an Aircraft Carrier

Imagine robots battling it out not in a typical arena but on the flight deck of a historic aircraft carrier. This year’s Sunset Showdown brought this vision to life, captivating the FIRST community near and far. Held from July 19-21, 2024, the event took place on the USS Hornet, a historic aircraft carrier renowned for its pivotal role in World War II and space exploration recovery missions. The event was presented by FIRST California and Team 5924 – Golden Gate Robotics.

A Spectacular Beginning

The event, set against the stunning backdrop of the USS Hornet and the city skyline, brought together 40 teams from California, Colorado, Michigan, Florida, and New Jersey to compete in an adapted version of the 2024 FRC game. We were also fortunate to have volunteers from across North America, including Indiana, Southern California, Canada, New York, South Carolina, Montana, Michigan, Florida, Colorado, and, of course, NorCal. The outdoor setting presented new challenges for the teams, adding a fresh and exciting dimension to the FIRST off-season calendar.

The USS Hornet Experience

Hosting a robotics competition on an aircraft carrier brought its own set of unique challenges and opportunities. Outdoor conditions required adaptations to the rules and strategies, but teams rose to the occasion.

Adaptations: Rule modifications accounted for wind and lighting conditions, ensuring a smooth competition. Organizers took proactive steps to mitigate normal wind levels, allowing teams to focus on their robots’ performance.

Some participants wondered if the aircraft carrier’s movement would affect gyro sensors, while others were concerned about camera functionality under varying lighting conditions.

Teams had to adapt their designs for the unique outdoor setting. This included reinforcing structures to withstand wind and optimizing sensors to cope with fluctuating lighting.

Some teams developed custom shielding for their sensors, while others used software algorithms to compensate for environmental variations.

Logistics:  There was a ramp, scissor lift, 30-ton aircraft elevator from the 1950s, and the crane that was used to pull the Apollo 11 & 12 capsules out of the ocean involved in getting the field just from the container to the deck.

The Sunset Showdown pushed teams to think outside the box, leading to new innovations in robotics design and strategy.

A Positive Reception

Overall participants seemed thrilled with the environment. 

Some fun feedback:

 “Playing with robots on an aircraft carrier was a dream come true!” 

“I gotta say, it hasn’t even been a full day and this event is shaping up to be the most positive and fun environment of any competition I have ever been to.”

“Neither the sunset nor the Showdown disappoint.”

“Had an absolute blast! Shoutout to all the people that were behind event planning and 5924. This had to have been the best vibe of any event I’ve ever attended including Champs.”

“It was an absolutely amazing venue, well run, and great interactions with other teams.”

“I’ve only been affiliated with FRC for three years, but this event, by far, was the most fun.”

Mentor Matches raise $10,000

The mentor matches raised $10,000 for Alameda County Community Food Bank!

Reflecting on a Successful Event

The Sunset Showdown on the USS Hornet was a groundbreaking success. It brought together the FIRST community from California and beyond to compete in a truly unique environment, pushing the boundaries of innovation and community engagement. 

In the News – https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/07/21/photos-apollo-exhibit-aboard-the-uss-hornet-museum/ 

By combining the thrill of competition with an awe-inspiring venue, the Sunset Showdown has proven that the sky isn’t the limit—it’s just the beginning.