Carpenter Resume Examples (+ Carpentry Resume Skills)

Carpenters need plenty of knowledge and problem-solving skills. How do you bring those skills to the forefront in a resume?

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Table of Contents

  1. Carpenter Resume Example
  2. Carpenter Resume Examples
  3. What Should I Highlight on a Carpenter Resume?
  4. The Structure of a Carpenter Resume
  5. Dos and Don’ts for a Carpenter Resume
  6. FAQ: Carpenter Resumes

Carpenter Resume Example

Carpenter Resume Example
Resume example using Providence template with blue heading
Resume example using Hollywood template.
Resume example using Flapjack template with colorful details

Carpenter Resume Examples

A carpenter needs to have both creative and technical skills, whether it comes to creating concepts for builds or they’re making other people’s plans come to life. Either way, it’s important that when you go to get a job, you’re able to show off your best skills and history. How can you make sure a hiring manager is more likely to pick you over your peers? Here’s how to create a construction carpenter resume for yourself.

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What Should I Highlight on a Carpenter Resume?

To be a great carpenter, it’s important that you have a strong skill set. Specific skills like jobsite coordination and knowledge of specific skills are always important to consider as a professional carpenter. You should also focus on experiences and activities that prove your competence with general carpentry work, as well as specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to stand out.


The Structure of a Carpenter Resume

Your structure will partially depend on what resume format you choose: chronological, which emphasizes work history, functional, which emphasizes skills, and combination, which emphasizes both. However, your headings will still usually be the same, just with different setups. Here’s what a carpenter resume sample might look like.
 
Header
 
First is your resume header. This will give your basic information, including your full name, phone number, and professional portfolio links, which could include your LinkedIn profile or your own professional website. Recruiters see this before anything else on your resume.
 
Resume summary or objective
 
The next section is your resume summary or resume objective. This two to three-sentence paragraph sums up your absolute best skills, completed projects, and key achievements. Essentially, if you only had one paragraph to sell your skills, this would be the one.
 
Skills
 

Next is your skills section. A carpenter job will draw on a huge variety of skills – gear yours towards the needs of the specific job you’re applying to. Here are a few skills to consider for your resume that many carpenter jobs often look for:

  • Ability to read blueprints and building plans
  • Skill with circular saws
  • Knowledge of both power tools and hand tools
  • Woodworking knowledge
  • Drywall
  • Frameworks
  • Knowledge of building codes, safety regulations and OSHA
  • Ability to do renovations
  • Talent for door frames, cabinetry, paneling and other building elements
  • Setting up job sites and a work environment
  • Residential construction and commercial construction
  • Dexterity
  • Problem-solving
  • Project management

Note that this list has both hard skills (technical skills and knowledge learned through training) and soft skills (interpersonal and intangible abilities that speak to how you approach work). The perfect resume will usually include both; after all, recruiters want job candidates who know how to handle a power saw and talk to a client.

 
Work history
 

Your work experience section should include all professional experience that you have within the world of carpentry. That may job titles such as:

  • Lead carpenter
  • Carpenter apprentice
  • Construction company worker
  • Carpentry journeyman
  • Master carpenter
  • Carpenter subcontractors

Generally, if your work environment was centered around any kind of construction, it counts as relevant work experience. List your years of experience in reverse chronological order, with the most recent job first.

 
Education
 
Carpentry is a trade, which means you may or may not have a college education before you start your apprenticeship program. If you don’t have a college education, feature your high school diploma. More importantly, include your carpentry certification in this section if you have one, as well as any related apprenticeships or training courses.

Dos and Don’ts for a Carpenter Resume

Do:

  • Include specific projects on your resume. These projects are actual things recruiters can look at to see whether you’re qualified for a job.
  • For each job description, provide bullet points that single out notable achievements rather than laundry-list standard duties. The ResumeHelp resume builder can help you create these job descriptions.
  • Have a trusted colleague or knowledgable professional in the same field or read through your resume before you submit it. It’s a good way to ensure you’ve written the most professional resume.

Don’t:

  • Try to apply for a job you’re not qualified to do. If you’ve just finished an apprenticeship, you probably don’t qualify to be a master carpenter.
  • Include huge lists of skills. There’s no need to include more than a dozen skills at most.

Write your resume without reading a carpenter resume example. Examples are a great way to learn more about what your field currently values, and how to best organize your own resume.


FAQ: Carpenter Resumes

Q: Do I need to include a cover letter for a carpenter application?

Yes. A cover letter allows you to sell your skills even more effectively and even ask for a job interview. Plus, it shows you care a lot about getting the job. You should include a cover letter with every job application, regardless of your industry.

Q: How can I write a carpenter's resume without a lot of experience?

If you don’t have a lot of experience, don’t worry. You actually do have experience, just in apprenticeship rather than in an actual job position. Listing your apprenticeship experience is a great way to increase the amount of work history you have on your resume.

Q: How do I change my carpenter resume to apply to different jobs?

One great option for personalizing your resume is to use resume keywords. With resume keywords, you can reflect exactly what a recruiter is looking for in an individual. To do this, read the job description and pick out phrases that spell out what the job needs (e.g., “drywall repair”). Then come up with skills and experiences in your own resume that addresses those needs (e.g., listing a previous job experience in which you performed drywall repairs).

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