The metal worker’s guide to writing the perfect resume

Metal Workers are responsible for many crucial components of construction and industrial projects. Along with having a wide range of technical abilities, employers seek out applicants who have a willingness to learn and work well in teams and crews.

In this guide, we will discuss how to write the optimal metal worker resume and how to tailor each section to show your best strengths. Keep reading to learn about:

• Choosing the correct resume format for your experience level as a metal worker
• Writing a resume summary that helps your resume stand out
• Including both hard and soft skills to showcase your diverse abilities
• Tailoring your work experience to highlight your accomplishments as a metal worker
• Properly listing your education and certifications

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Metal Worker Resume Example

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1. Choose the correct resume format for your experience level as a metal worker

In trade jobs such as metalwork, the typical career progression moves from Apprentice to Journeyman, though not all metalworkers or metalworking companies follow this apprenticeship method. However, the level of job you can apply for will depend on your level of experience – as will the format you choose.

There are 3 main types of resume formats to select between:

• Reverse-Chronological: A resume focused on work experience, listing your most recent position first and working backward from that point.
• Functional: A resume focused on education, skills, and unpaid experience.
• Hybrid: A combination resume that places equal emphasis on all sections of a resume.

Of these formats, we typically recommend reverse-chronological or hybrid resumes for metalworkers, as employers are most interested in your professional experience.

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2. Write a resume summary that helps your CV stand out

A resume summary is a brief introductory statement that comes at the start of a resume.

For metal workers, it can be difficult to set your resume apart from your competition. However, a well-crafted resume summary can work wonders in the way of engaging the employer and sparking their interest in your specific skills and value as a potential employee.

Why is this Incorrect?

The details provided in this resume summary are good information, but the language used to describe them is too passive and disengaged. When writing your resume summary, keep in mind that it should hook the employer’s attention and compel them to look further into the document.

Why is this Correct?

In this corrected example, the applicant provides much more specific details regarding their experience and certifications. Though they have a few different certifications, they list them in an order that highlights their desired position (sheet metal worker) and follows this assertion with their specializations (welding & HVAC).

3. Include both hard and soft skills to showcase your diverse abilities

When you write your skills section on your resume, it is important to distinguish your hard skills from your soft skills.

Hard skills are technical abilities that you learn through training and education. These skills can be both physically and mentally demanding, and serve as a benchmark for your competency within the field of metalwork.

Soft skills are your interpersonal abilities – the skills you use to communicate and work with others. Though not as complex as hard skills, soft skills matter just as much if not more in certain scenarios.

A balanced resume that attracts the attention of employers will have both hard and soft skills to showcase. With this in mind, here are 10 examples each of hard and soft metalworking skills:

4. Tailor your work experience to highlight your accomplishments as a metal worker

A metal worker’s resume should focus not only on primary responsibilities from previous positions but on key skills and accomplishments as well.

As you work in any given position, you should take notes on every project or assignment you work on, as well as how these projects performed according to company goals. This will help you to track notable accomplishments that you contributed to and can mention on a resume.

By listing these types of achievements, you will help your resume stand out to employers and demonstrate your value as a future employee. Think of it as similar to a sales pitch in which you are selling yourself as the most qualified and capable candidate.

5. Properly list your metalworking education and certifications

The minimum education requirement that qualifies you for most entry-level metalworking jobs is a high school diploma or GED. However, more competitive candidates will typically have completed a vocational or trade school program to earn additional certifications.

For applicants who have pursued a two- or four-year degree, you may be able to apply for higher-level positions within metalworking, such as management or administration.

Regardless of how much educational history or certifications you have, it is crucial to list this information succinctly and accurately.

Here is an example of a well-crafted education section on a metal worker resume