Carpenter Resume

With a huge variety of projects and specialties, carpentry is a broad industry that includes many different types of careers. To get the job you want, you’ll need to build your carpenter resume from the foundation up with a specific skill set in mind to convince hiring managers that you’re a good candidate for the job.

Whether you’re an apprentice looking to get your foot in the door or an experienced journeyman, check out our four professional writing tips for help making a carpenter resume that’s sure to impress a hiring manager.

1. Use the job description to your advantage

When searching for carpenter jobs online, ensure you thoroughly review the job description before writing your resume. This is essential because employers typically leave keywords throughout the job description that they want to see in your application.

It’s impossible to know what all of the keywords will be (since they’re discreetly chosen by the hiring manager.) But, rest assured that most of them will be scattered throughout the carpenter job requirements listed online.

Here’s an example of a carpenter job description, with the keywords highlighted that you should include on your resume:

2. Highlight your skills as a carpenter

Carpentry is a skilled trade, so your resume needs to include the necessary skills that hiring managers will expect from you to get the job done in a proficient and professional manner.

When listing skills on your carpentry resume, ensure that you include both hard and soft skills to show that you’re a well-rounded candidate.

As far as soft skills are concerned, think about additional tasks you do on the job that are less obvious.

These could include solving problems, identifying strengths and weaknesses, or simply making hard decisions when the time arises.

Here’s an example of soft skills that help prove you’re a well-rounded carpenter:

On the other hand, hard skills will be more obvious and easier for you to list as a carpenter. For example, do you have experience with CAD software? At your last job, were you required to create spreadsheets in Excel? Maybe you’re proficient with Microsoft Office? As a carpenter, it’s all worth mentioning.

You should also be specific about the equipment you use and your safety record. Include your ability to maintain or repair certain tools, such as:

• Extension ladders
• Visible beam laser levels
• Worm-drive saws versus sidewinder circular saws

Finally, think about all the calculations you make on a daily basis. Math and geometry are sought-after abilities in carpentry and are skills worth adding to your resume. Consider the following:

• Calculating angles
• Measuring materials
• Reading technical plans

Here’s an example of a resume that properly highlights the candidate’s hard skills as a carpenter:

3. Highlight your certifications

You don’t need many formal qualifications to be a carpenter, with most people learning on the job or completing an apprenticeship. However, receiving a professional certification can really boost your career prospects as a carpenter, and make you a worthy candidate to a hiring manager.

Several governing organizations offer certifications in carpentry that would be an excellent addition to your resume’s education section.

Here are eight available carpentry certifications that will boost your employability to a hiring  manager:

• First Aid, CPR & AED
• OSHA Safety Certification
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
• Certified Lead Carpenter (CLC)
• Graduate Master Builder (GMB)
• Registered Construction Inspector
• Certified Construction Manager CCM 
• Certified Associate Constructor

However, some certifications require you to have some experience to obtain.

For example, the Lead Carpenter Certification (CLC) from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry requires at least five years of experience in the carpentry industry, and two years as a lead carpenter. It teaches the essentials of project management in the field.

Having a CLC certificate tells employers that you can complete projects on time and under budget, thereby increasing profitability.

While employers generally value experience over anything else, if you’re trying to progress in the carpentry field, or further solidify and prove your qualifications, listing certifications on your carpentry resume can give you a significant advantage over other similarly qualified candidates.

4. Quantify your carpenter experience

Finally, when writing a resume, you should find ways to add hard numbers when listing work experience.

Adding numbers to your work experience bullet points will quantify your on-the-job accomplishments, giving hiring managers a clear idea about how you contributed to your employer and a gauge for your previous performance.

Consider the difference between the following two sentences, one with hard numbers and one without:

• Used a variety of tools
• Used 30+ different types of hand and power tools to do remodeling and renovations

The first bullet point is noticeably vague, whereas the second is specific and gives a clear indicator of how many hand and power tools the carpenter has experience with using.

Here are three additional examples of how to quantify your carpenter experience: