• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Sidebar
  • Skip to Footer

Resume Genius

Resume Genius

The World's Smartest Resume Builder

  • Builders

    Resume Builder Software

    Making a resume is easy with the right tool. Our resume builder does the hard work for you.

    Cover Letter Generator

    Short on time or simply don't like writing? Try our cover letter generator and make a cover letter fast.

    CV Maker Tool

    CVs are often longer than resumes. With our CV maker, you can create a CV in the same amount of time.

    Monday to Friday, 8AM – 12AM (Midnight) and Saturdays and Sundays, 10AM – 6PM EDT (866) 215-9048

  • Resumes

    Free Resume Templates

    ProfessionalHR approved, organized, and stylish.
    ModernContemporary templates perfect for your new job.
    CreativeA little visual flair to highlight your creativity.
    SimpleBasic templates that focus on your work experience.

    Genius Resume Builder

    • Resume checker
    • Resume summary generator
    • How to write a resume
    • The best resume format in 2025
    • Best skills for your resume

    Resume Examples

    Monday to Friday, 8AM – 12AM (Midnight) and Saturdays and Sundays, 10AM – 6PM EDT (866) 215-9048

  • Cover Letters

    Cover Letter Templates

    ProfessionalHR approved, organized, and stylish.
    ModernContemporary templates perfect for your new job.
    CreativeA little visual flair to highlight your creativity.
    SimpleBasic templates that focus on your work experience.

    Genius Cover Letter Generator

    • How to write a cover letter
    • How to start a cover letter
    • Cover letter format guide
    • Short cover letter examples
    • The best cover letters of 2025

    Cover Letter Examples

    Monday to Friday, 8AM – 12AM (Midnight) and Saturdays and Sundays, 10AM – 6PM EDT (866) 215-9048

  • CVs

    CV Templates

    BusinessProfessional CV templates for senior-level positions.
    HarvardTemplates for academics and scholars.
    ResearchA format to showcase your research background.
    WriterPerfect templates for published writers.

    Genius CV Maker

    • How to format your CV
    • How to write a CV for a job
    • CV vs resume: what's the difference?
    • How to write an academic CV
    • CV examples for students

    CV Examples

    Monday to Friday, 8AM – 12AM (Midnight) and Saturdays and Sundays, 10AM – 6PM EDT (866) 215-9048

  • Resources

    FAQS

    • Technical Assistance
    • Resume FAQs
    • Cover Letter FAQs
    • CV FAQs

    Blog

    Resume Help

    Learn the ins and outs of writing a resume. From formatting to fonts, we cover every topic.

    Cover Letter Help

    Cover letter writing is a skill that will help you outshine other applicants. Our guides can teach you that skill.

    Interview Help

    You're one step away from getting the job. Win over hiring managers with our expert interview tips.

    Monday to Friday, 8AM – 12AM (Midnight) and Saturdays and Sundays, 10AM – 6PM EDT (866) 215-9048

Build My ResumeLogin

Monday to Friday, 8AM – 12AM (Midnight) and Saturdays and Sundays, 10AM – 6PM EDT (866) 215-9048

Resume Examples Construction Worker Resume Forklift Operator Resume

Forklift Operator Resume Sample

Written By Nathan Soto
Headshot of Conrad BenzReviewed By Conrad Benz

Use our forklift operator resume sample and writing tips to show employers that you possess the skills and certifications necessary to move goods safely and efficiently.

June 12, 2025
Build My Resume Now
4.9
AVERAGE RATING
35 people’ve already rated it
View Text Format
Mid Level
A professionally written forklift operator resume sample with a gray header Download
Download Word FileView Text Format

Not convinced this template is right for you? Download a different free, HR-approved resume template.

Related Resume Samples

View All Resume Samples
Example of a warehouse resume.
View Example
Warehouse Worker Resume
An example of an effective warehouse manager resume on a simple, professional template
View Example
Warehouse Manager Resume
A production assistant resume examplev on a template with icons beside each of the section headers
View Example
Production Assistant Resume
A taxi driver resume in a green color scheme for a taxi driver who has worked in The Bronx for several years.
View Example
Driver Resume
Table of Contents
Rating
Table of Contents
Table of Contents

Forklift Operator Resume Template

How to write a forklift operator resume

Average forklift operator salaries in the US

Forklift Operator Resume Template

Follow the template below to format your resume professionally and make a strong first impression on hiring managers.

[Your Name]

[Your Address] [City, State]
[Your Email Address] | [Your Phone Number]
[LinkedIn Profile] (optional)

Professional Summary

OSHA Certified Forklift Operator with 7+ years of warehouse experience. Possess 20/20 vision and able to lift and hold 50+ lbs. Specialize in working in accordance with safety guidelines on and off site. Looking to contribute my skills in the Lead Forklift Operator role at Mano Industries.

Skills
  • 5+ years of experience using powered pallet jacks, cargo trucks, stretch wrap machines, and tank trailers
  • Possess a valid driver’s license with excellent driving record
  • Efficient material loading and unloading, storing products, and keeping detailed inventory logs
Professional Experience
Lead Forklift Operator
Bathor & Sons, Chicago, IL
May 20XX – Present
  • Exceeded expectations for shipping deliveries with counterbalance and rough terrain forklifts, resulting in promotion to Lead Forklift Operator position in August 2018
  • Perform 30+ daily quality checks per shift in accordance with company safety procedures and participate in product changeovers
  • Use RF scanning equipment to ensure accuracy of inventory and immediately report inventory discrepancies to the inventory control team
  • Revised walkie stacker equipment manual in 2019 and trained 8 warehouse employees on proper documentation techniques, improving overall work efficiency by 30%
Forklift Operator and Warehouse Assistant
Este Express Lanes, Chicago, IL
August 20XX – April 20XX
  • Prepared 250–450 loading and offloading deliveries per week in a safe and efficient manner using correct company procedures
  • Correctly positioned forklifts over/under/around loaded pallets, skids, boxes, products, and other materials for transport to designated areas
  • Maintained clean, organized aisles and reported issues to the supervisor, contributing to a 10% decrease in damaged and lost goods
  • Consistently followed excellent manufacturing practices (GMP/GHP) to ensure food safety and regulatory compliance
Certifications

OSHA 30-hour Forklift Certification Course
May 20XX

Certified Material Handling Specialist (CMHS)
December 20XX

How to write a forklift operator resume

A good forklift operator resume shows off your experience, relevant skills and greatest achievements. Show employers you’re a competent forklift operator with these writing tips:

1. Draw attention to your forklift operator skills

Forklift operators need a specific skill-set, because they work with specialized heavy machinery on a daily basis.

To get invited for an interview, you need to prove to employers that you’ve got the soft skills and hard skills required to join their company as a forklift driver.

Below is a list of forklift operator skills for your resume:

  • MHE operation
  • Physical strength
  • Safety training
  • Attention to detail
  • Math skills
  • RF scanning equipment
  • Shrink wrapping
  • Data entry
  • Problem solving
  • Damage inspection
  • Teamwork
  • Lean warehousing
  • Communication
  • Computer literacy
  • WMS systems

Here’s an example of how to write a bullet point that effectively highlights your most relevant skills:

a good example of how to highlight forklift skills on a forklift operator resume

This example works because the candidate specifies which type of forklifts they’re comfortable operating, and how their skills led to them receiving a promotion.

2. Highlight your work history with a clear resume summary

Your resume summary is your first chance to make a good impression on hiring managers. Impress them by opening with a strong forklift operator resume summary that highlights your certifications and skills.

A resume summary is a 2–4 sentence introduction placed at the top of your resume that gives employers an instant look at your qualifications and professional background. Here’s a quick guide for how to write a resume summary as a forklift operator:

  1. Start by listing your work experience in years. Use hard numbers as they are more impactful.
  2. Mention any essential qualities or certifications that your role requires. For example, forklift operators must follow OSHA safety guidelines by being certified and attentive.
  3. Briefly list 1–2 of your main job duties by describing the work environments you regularly work in, the types of equipment you use, or how much you can lift.
  4. Personalize the last sentence by including the company’s name and briefly describing how your skills and experience will help them.

Here’s a resume summary from our forklift operator resume example:

a good example of a forklift operator resume summary

3. Add skills and requirements that match the forklift operator job description

To help you land more jobs as a forklift operator, make a targeted resume. A targeted resume lists the specific skills and experience that hiring managers are looking for and presents you as a top applicant.

Review each job description carefully and match the exact resume keywords used throughout your forklift driver resume. This means that you’ll have to adjust each resume you send out to every role you apply for in order to show employers that you meet their expectations.

Here’s an example of keywords to look out for in a forklift operator job description and add to your resume:

keywords to look for in a forklift operator job description for a resume

Besides demonstrating that you’re a qualified candidate, incorporating keywords from the job description prevents your resume from getting automatically rejected by applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Large companies like Amazon use applicant tracking systems to eliminate irrelevant or poorly written resumes, so it’s important to make sure your resume makes it past this software.

To help you get started, here are the most common words and phrases from real forklift operator job descriptions:

Real Job DataMost in-demand forklift operator skills and requirements

We analyzed over 1200 real forklift operator job ads to find the top words and phrases to add to your resume.

Data

KeywordsCountWeight
Attention To Detail161.0
1 Year Experience130.8
Shipping & Receiving130.8
Lift 50 Lbs110.7
Inventory Management110.7
Evening Shift100.6
Read and Write100.6
High School Diploma100.6
Communication Skills90.6
Basic Math90.6

4. Mention your certifications

A forklift operator needs to receive training before they can drive a forklift. List any certifications related to operating a forklift clearly in the education section of your resume and in your resume summary.

To be able to operate a forklift, you’ll need to get a OSHA Forklift Certification for the specific type of forklift you’ll be driving. OSHA offers both 10-hour and 30-hour online courses, but each state has different requirements so review the company’s job posting and website before applying for specific jobs.

Depending on the position, your employer might also require you to get a Commercial Driver’s license (CDL).

Here’s an example of how to list certifications in the education section of your resume:

an example of forklift certifications on a resume

Remember to include:

  1. The name of the certification
  2. The name of the awarding institution
  3. When it was awarded

5. Quantify your forklift experience

To convince employers that they should hire you, demonstrate how you can benefit the company by quantifying your experience section.

Instead of writing down a long list of responsibilities you’ve held in the past, write 4-5 bullet points that focus on your greatest achievements at your previous jobs.

Below is a good example of how to focus on achievements in your work experience section:

an example of how to showcase forklift experience on a forklift operator resume

There are many different types of accomplishments that can be quantified on your forklift operator resume, including:

  • Increase in efficiency
  • Decrease in workplace accidents
  • New employees trained
  • Decrease in damaged or lost goods

Need for more inspiration? Take a look at our other warehouse resume examples.

Build your resume in minutes

Use an AI-powered resume builder and have your resume done in 10 minutes. Just select your template and our software will guide you through the process.

Build your own

Average forklift operator salaries in the US

After you’ve written your resume, make sure you use it to apply for jobs within a fair salary range.

The following table includes information from the most recent US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report (May 2024). Here are the ten states with the highest salaries for forklift operators, as well as the national average for your reference when applying for work.

Top 10 states by average forklift operator salary

StateSalary / Year
District of Columbia$71,900
Hawaii$65,260
Delaware$56,290
Wyoming$56,220
New Mexico$53,620
Alaska$53,090
New York$53,080
Minnesota$52,670
New Hampshire$52,410
Washington$51,460
National Average$47,830
Make a resume in minutes

Make a resume in minutes

Pick your template, fill in a few details, and our builder will do the rest.

Build My Resume

Forklift Operator Resume Sample

  • facebookfacebook

    Facebook

  • twittertwitter

    Twitter

  • linkedinlinkedin

    Linkedin

  • pinterestpinterest

    Pinterest

  • redditreddit

    Reddit

Copy link

https://resumegenius.com/resume-samples/forklift-operator-resume
Rate our article

Click to rate this article

4.9 Average rating

35 people rated this article
Written by

Nathan Soto

Nathan Soto is dedicated to providing practical guidance to job seekers, especially people with nonlinear career paths. Nathan’s articles and career advice have been featured on multiple platforms, including Forbes, MSN, NBC New York, Memphis Business Journal, Newsweek, and Fast Company, offering insights into resume writing, interview preparation, and personal branding. Nathan graduated from the University of Nevada with a double B.A. in French and Music. In addition to writing, he also excels as a Mandarin–English translator.

Related Articles

Resume Help

Resume Examples for Jobs in 2025
Headshot of Geoffrey Scott, CPRW

Geoffrey Scott

June 8, 2025

Resume Help

40+ Professional Resume Summary Examples
Headshot of Conrad Benz

Conrad Benz

July 25, 2024

Resume Help

115+ Resume Objective Examples & Writing Guide

Leora Joy Jones

September 3, 2024

Resume Help

How to Make or Improve Your Resume Using ChatGPT

Nathan Soto

March 28, 2025

Resume Help

How to Make a Resume for a Job in 2025
Headshot of Corissa Peterson

Corissa Peterson

April 2, 2025

Resume Help

The Best Resume Format for Any Job in 2025
Lauren Mastroni, a staff writer at Resume Genius

Lauren Mastroni

May 13, 2025

Resume Help

5+ Best Resume Paper Types
Headshot of Ida Petterson

Ida Pettersson

November 27, 2023

Resume Help

30 Free Google Docs Resume Templates to Edit
Headshot of Corissa Peterson

Corissa Peterson

May 30, 2025
Resume Genius
LinkedIn Instagram Youtube Facebook Twitter Tiktok Pinterest Giphy
Resumes
  • Resume Builder
  • Resume Templates
  • Resume Examples
  • How to Make a Resume
  • Resume Format
  • Resume Summary Generator
  • Resume Checker
  • Resume Parser
  • Resume Bullet Point Generator
  • Resume Skills Generator
Cover Letters
  • Cover Letter Generator
  • Cover Letter Templates
  • Cover Letter Examples
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • Cover Letter Format
CVs
  • CV Maker
  • CV Templates
  • How to Write a CV
  • CV Examples
  • CV vs Resume
Policies
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • CCPA/GDPR
  • Accessibility
  • Editorial Guidelines
Additional Resources
  • About Us
  • Affiliate Opportunities
  • Career Experts Program
  • Join Our Team
  • Press & Media Mentions
  • Product Reviews
  • The Genius Blog
Support
  • Help & Support
  • Contact Us
  • Forgot Password
Member of
Certified professional resume writer official seal

© 2025, Sonaga Tech Limited. All rights reserved

ResumeGenius.com is owned and operated by Sonaga Tech Limited, Hamilton, Zweigniederlassung Luzern with offices in Luzern Switzerland.

100% FREE TEMPLATES

Use our templates to win the job.

Each template on our website was designed by HR and hiring professionals to help jobseekers easily apply for work.

Sign up for more free templates & career resources!

This field is required
This field is required

In addition to this template, you'll also receive:

  • Early access to our newest premium templates
  • Job-specific resume tips & free examples
  • Access to our exclusive newsletter for jobseekers
  • Notifications of product improvements
No thanks, I only want to download this template

*By sharing your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from our team. You can easily opt out of future emails on the dashboard of your account or by unsubscribing directly from the link at the bottom of an email you receive from us.

Your review would mean a lot to us.

We hope our free downloadable resources will help you on your path to career success. If you have time, a quick review would really make our day (it'll only take 15 seconds). Best of luck on the job hunt!

Leave A Review