Stunning Painter Resume Examples for 2025
Use these resume tips and templates to write the perfect resume for a role in professional painting. Get started now with the ResumeHelp resume builder.
Our customers have been hired by:*Foot Note
Resources for Your Next Career Move
Explore our complete resume examples selection for tips and resources tailored to every career path.
How To Write a Great Painter Resume
Writing a great resume is an important step in finding your next role as a professional painter. As with your painting, your resume needs to be well presented and eye-catching. Use our painter resume template and resume builder tool to create a resume that will impress hiring managers and secure you an interview.
This guide will show you:
- What to include in your painter’s resume
- How to structure your painter’s resume
- Essential resume writing tips
What to Highlight on a Painter Resume
The first thing the hiring manager will want to know about you is your field of expertise as a painter. There is a wide range of specialties within the profession—such as exterior painting, interior painting, and commercial painting—and your job is to explain which of these you are most comfortable with. To do this, make reference to specific painting techniques, painting tools, and painting projects you have previous experience with.
You may also want to reference industry-specific soft skills, such as project management, customer service and teamwork.
The Structure of a Painter Resume
The structure of your professional painter’s resume will vary depending on the resume format you choose. There are three options:
- Chronological, which emphasizes work experience
- Functional, which focuses on skills
- Combination, which balances skills and work experience
If you already have several years of experience as a painter, the chronological format will work best. Otherwise, consider the combination format, which is good if you can show off relevant skills and experiences, or the functional format.
Header
The header sits at the top of the page and features your contact details. Include your full name, phone number, email address and any professional portfolio links you might have in this section. Present the information clearly so the recruiter can easily contact you should they wish to move forward with your application.
Resume summary/objective
A resume summary is a brief overview of your key skills and experiences. A resume objective is similar but also states your career goals. Either is fine for a painter job application, though a resume summary will work best if you already have existing experience as a professional painter.
Skills
The skills section is your chance to tailor your resume to the specifications of the role. Read through the job description and include any required or desirable skills that you possess.
Here are some examples of hard skills you might include in this section:
- Prepping
- Exterior surfaces
- Drywall
- Priming
- Paint mixing
- Carpentry
- Sandblasting
- Spray painting
- Varnishes
- Experience with specific painting equipment, such as a spray gun
You could also add some of the following soft skills:
- Project management
- Organization
- Time management
- Communication
- Customer service
Work history
The work history section is where you run through previous jobs held over the past 10 years. List these in reverse chronological order. For each position, describe the responsibilities and experiences most relevant to the role of a painter in bullet points.
As with the skills section, tailor your work experience to the job description. For example, if you were applying to a commercial painter position, you would draw attention to specific commercial painting practices such as sandblasting, metalizing and special surface preparation.
Education
The education section is an important part of the resume, especially for candidates with limited professional experience. Include any relevant certifications and your bachelor’s degree. Only add your high school diploma if it is linked to the role you’re applying to.
Build my resumeDo's and Don’ts for a Painter Resume
- Use the ResumeHelp resume builder. Choose one of the many resume templates available with the ResumeHelp resume builder to get started and create a well-presented resume.
- Tailor your resume to the job description. Adapt your resume for each role you apply to during your job search.
- Include portfolio links. The best way to showcase your talents is by including a link to your previous painting projects on your resume.
- Use passive language. In your work history section, use action verbs like “managed,” “achieved,” and “created” to engage the reader and create interest.
- Cover every aspect of the job description. Instead, choose three of four points to focus on. You’ll have the opportunity to expand on the role later on in the process.
- Forget to proofread. Check your resume for grammatical mistakes and formatting errors before sending off your application.
Customer Reviews You Can Trust
FAQ: Painter Resumes
Have questions? We’re here to help.
Do I need to include a cover letter for a painter application?
Unless the employer explicitly asks not to, you should always send a cover letter to accompany your resume. The cover letter allows you to expand on your skills and further tailor your application to the job description. You can also use the cover letter to explain any gaps in your resume.
How can I write a painter's resume without a lot of experience?
You can still write a high-quality resume even without much professional painting experience. In this case, focus on skills, education and any volunteer or internship experiences you might have, as long as they apply to the job you want. Where possible, include links to previous painting projects that are relevant to the role.
What should a painter put on a resume?
As with any other resume, a painter’s resume should include a resume summary or objective, skills section, work history, education section and contact information. Use the work experience and skills sections to tailor your resume to the specifications laid out in the job description.
Couldn't find the answer you're looking for?
