How to Write a Trades Resume (With Template and 3 Examples)

Resumes for trade roles are helpful tools for craft professionals searching for jobs. Since these types of roles focus more on work experience than education, it's essential to craft your resume in a way that highlights your professional background. Learning about the important components of resumes for trade professions through perusing several examples can help you create an excellent document that enables you to secure the job you want. In this article, we discuss what a trades resume is, share steps you can take to write one, provide a standard resume template, and share resume examples for multiple positions.

What is a trades resume?

A trades resume is a professional document that candidates use to showcase their skills, work experience, and achievements when applying for a trade job. Trade jobs require additional training rather than additional education. Typically, these resumes highlight an individual's professional experience and relevant skills related to the industry. Some typical trade jobs that use these resumes include:

• baker

• boilermaker

• bricklayer

• carpenter

• electrician

• ironworker

• mechanic

• house painter

• pipefitter

• roofer

• heavy equipment mechanic

• dental hygienist

• plumber

• welder

• wind turbine technician

Read more: 72 Types of Trades to Learn for a Successful Career

How to write a trade resume

You can follow these nine steps to craft a compelling resume that helps you get the trades job you want:

1. Review the job posting

When beginning to write your trade resume, rereading the job description for the position that interests you is helpful. This step can help you see which qualifications the employer is looking for in a candidate. It can also help you see if your experiences and skills align with the position's expectations.

Read more: Resume Tailoring: Definition, Benefits, and How-to

2. Select a resume template

Next, you can determine which resume template you want to use. There are many options online and in word processing programs. When choosing a template, you might aim to find one that matches your preferences, and best showcases your information.

Related: What Is the Standard Canadian Resume Format? (With 7 Tips)

3. Provide your contact information

Once you've selected your resume template, you can share your contact information. Typically, this information goes at the top of your resume, so hiring managers can access it quickly when they're interested in setting up an interview. It's common to share the following contact details:

• first and last name

• degree or certification, if applicable

• phone number

• e-mail address

• city and province or territory where you live

4. Write your professional summary

In a brief paragraph, you can summarize your experiences and achievements. You might mention what skills you possess that qualify you for the role. Also, you can consider including how this role aligns with your overall career goals.

Read more: 12 Types of Service Trades You Can Consider

5. Include your work experience

Next, you can create a list of related trade jobs you have had, beginning with your most recent position. You might include two or three recent roles. You can highlight the position title, organization name, location, and years of employment. In a bulleted section below, you may list your job responsibilities and key achievements. Consider beginning each bullet with an action verb, such as "led" or "created." You can use past tense verbs for all jobs except your current role.

Read more: How to Describe Your Work Experience on a Resume

6. List industry-related skills

After highlighting your work experience, you can brainstorm the industry-related skills you have. These may include a combination of soft, hard, and technical skills. You might include skills the hiring manager mentioned in the job description. For example, if an employer is looking for a candidate who's proficient with hand tools and you're an expert with hand tools, include this skill in your resume. It's helpful to add adjectives before your skills to describe your competency. For example, you might say you're an expert communicator.

Related: How to Use Resume Adjectives (With Examples and Tips)

7. Add certifications and licenses

Trade jobs often involve apprenticeship programs where students gain hands-on experience and earn a certification upon completion. If you have a relevant certificate or license, you can include a section for current certifications or licenses. It's helpful to provide the license number, granting organization, and the date you earned the license or certification.

8. Mention your educational background

The education requirement for most trade jobs is a high school diploma or GED. You might include a section that mentions your highest level of education. You can share the highest degree you earned, the name of the institution, and the city and province or territory of the school.

9. Proofread your resume

When you've finished writing your resume, you can review it. Consider proofreading for common grammatical mistakes, such as spelling errors or missing punctuation. You might read it aloud to ensure it's free of awkward phrases. Having a friend or family member review your resume before submitting it can help you find errors you might otherwise miss.

Trades resume template

Here's a template you can use to create your resume for a trades role:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification, if applicable]

[Phone number] | [E-mail address] | [Your city and province or territory]

Professional Summary

[Include one to two sentences discussing your experience, skills, and accomplishments.]

Experience

(For the most recent role, list five experience items. For previous roles, list three.)

[Job title] [Employment dates]
[Organization Name] | [City], [Province or territory]

• (strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome, or quantified results

• [job duty]

• [job duty]

• [job duty]

• [job duty]

[Job title] [Employment dates]
[Organization Name] | [City], [Province or territory]

• (strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome, or quantified results

• [job duty]

• [job duty]

Skills

[Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]

Certifications and Licenses

[Certification or license]

[Licensing organization], [month and year]

Education

[Degree and major] | [Name of school]
[City], [Province or territory]

Read more: How to Create a Perfect Resume (With Template and Example)

Trades resume examples

Here are three examples of resumes for various trade jobs:

Home inspector resume

Here's an example of a resume for a home inspector:

Mindy McLaughlin | GED
(555) 924-9921 | mindymclaughlin@email.com | Ottawa, Ontario

Professional Summary

Fully certified home inspector with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Strong attention to detail when reviewing homes to ensure they meet building codes and are safe to inhabit. Interested in a long-term position.

Experience

Home inspector | January 2002–Current
LBR Inspections| Ottawa, Ontario

• inspect homes listed on the market as requested by potential buyers and sellers

• review all systems and note areas needing repair

• write home inspection reports with recommended repairs and estimated costs

• measure the dimension of structures to verify they follow building codes

• monitor the construction process and make recommendations for upgrades

Skills

Detail-oriented | Strong communication skills | Data entry | Excellent customer service | Knowledge of electrical wiring and plumbing

Certifications and Licenses

Certified Home Inspector

International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, December 2001

Education

GED | Reedy Street High School

Ottawa, Ontario

Read more: How to Become a Home Inspector (Plus Important Qualities)

Electrician resume

Here's an example of a resume for an electrician:

Cornelius Bowen | GED
(555) 123-9321 | cbowen@email.com | Toronto, Ontario

Professional Summary

Knowledgeable electrician with over five years of experience repairing circuits. Committed to providing the best service possible to homes while making quick decisions. Looking to further my experience in residential electrician settings.

Experience

Electrician | October 2020–June 2022
Bilbo's Electrics| Toronto, Ontario

• connected wiring in networks and circuits, ensuring compatibility

• diagnosed electrical problems, using blueprints

• assisted in planning the installation of electrical wiring and equipment

• installed electrical equipment and other systems

• explained problems and potential solutions to customers with limited knowledge

Electrician | March 2015–September 2020
Local Power| Toronto, Ontario

• installed and repaired electrical systems and wiring

• found solutions for electrical problems using testing devices

• performed general electrical maintenance for residential buildings

Skills

Excellent decision-making | Strong customer service | Knowledgeable of safety procedures | Expert user of electrical equipment | Teamwork

Certifications and Licenses

Ontario Electrician License

Ontario Electrician's Licensing Board, January 2015

Education

GED | Shore Creek High School

Toronto, Ontario

Read more: How Long Does It Take to Become an Electrician? (And Skills)

Wind turbine technician resume

Here's an example of a resume for a wind turbine technician:

Maikel Brauer | GED (555) 624-9924 | maikelbrauer@email.com | Toronto, Ontario

Professional Summary

Experienced wind turbine technician with expansive technical knowledge of how to repair malfunctions. Dedicated to providing exceptional support and offering creative solutions.

Work experience

Wind turbine technician | April 2019–Current
Higgins Energy| Toronto, Ontario

• perform regular maintenance on wind turbines

• replace old and broken parts of the wind turbine

• use monitoring equipment to collect and record wind turbine data

• discuss repairs with turbine owners

• oversee work of apprentices

Wind turbine technician | July 2017–April 2019
Fresh Wind, Inc. | Toronto, Ontario

• inspected and repaired turbine blades

• climbed wind turbines to install, maintain, and repair equipment

• tested electrical components of the wind turbines

Skills

Equipment maintenance | Attention to detail | Strong stamina | Expert problem solver | Teamwork

Certifications and Licenses

Wind Turbine Service Technician

Electronics Technicians Association International, 2017

Education

GED | Uptown Billboard High School

Toronto, Ontario