How to write a great Carpenter Resume / CV if you are applying for a job and want to be noticed
The main objective of writing a good carpenter resume is to get noticed enough to be asked in for an interview.
I'm not proud of it but I did something pretty sneaky when I was looking for a job not long after I finished my apprenticeship all those years ago.
I posted a job advert on Gumtree for an all-rounder carpenter and asked applicants to send me their CV's/carpentry resumes to an e-mail address I set up. I got over 10 resumes and used the ideas I learned from them to make a really good carpentry resume of my own before applying for any jobs.
I didn't copy what skills or experience they said they had, I used my own. I just checked out the competition and made a carpentry CV I thought was pretty good (I definitely found out what not to include in a CV). Of course, I'm not suggesting you do that ;-)
What information should you include in your carpentry resume?
If you think about it, a carpentry resume is basically your own personal advert detailing everything you've achieved, are capable of and is your chance to impress a potential employer enough to get an interview. It needs to be detailed enough to tell the reader enough for them to consider hiring you, whilst being well organised and easy to read. Too long or boring and it may just end up in the bin.
It's important that you don't just write a detailed history of your past, but outline the skills you've developed that are relevant to the role you are applying for and your ambitions for the future too.
It will boost your chances massively if you look at the job advertisement, do some research about the company you are applying to work for and tailor your carpentery resume to suit the requirements of the job you are applying for.
That way, you can highlight and emphasize the skills you possess that they are looking for. It is not a case of lying, just highlight the most relevant areas in your skill-set to the job they advertised. Do not waste your own or the readers time by boasting in the carpenter resume about just how good you are at roofing if you're applying for a job installing kitchens for example..
How to structure and layout your carpentry resume
The CV should be typed up on a computer and spell checked, it should also have a front covering page tailored to the company you are applying to as well as a table of contents.
- Page 1: Work experience
- Page 2: Qualifications
- Page 3: Interests/general information (that is relevant)
A table of contents or index at the beginning lets the reader quickly find the information they are looking for. That is probably you're previous experience and qualifications. So it makes sense to put those two at the front, and if the reader likes what they see they'll read deeper into it to find out more about you and whether or not you are suitable for the role you've applied for.
On page three, write a summary about yourself and the way you work. Employers like to hear things like; "Can work within a team or be trusted to work alone", "hard-working", "neat/attention to detail", "punctual", "reliable", "ambitious", "fast learning", "responsible" etc.
The job you are applying for might involve fairly new skills or work in an area you have little experience in. In this instance give examples of past experiences to highlight the skills you do have that crossover to the new role. This will help reassure the employer that you can quickly adapt to the work they are offering.
You should include some references - here's why
If you are short-listed for the job, it is likely your new potential employer will want to check with someone else that you are as competent as you say you are.
It is therefore a good idea to include references in your CV or Resume that a potential employer can contact for first-hand information about your character, skills and experience.
Don't give a mate's name and number. Use someone of authority who is articulate, clear speaking and who will be able to convey clearly what a credit you would be to any company that took you on.
Think about creating a portfolio of your carpentry work to show some of the different jobs you have worked on in the past
It is worth building up a carpentry portfolio with as many photos, references and any other documents that can be used to boost your chances of gaining employment.
Click here for help with what you could include in your portfolio
Or click here for more help finding and applying for carpentry jobs
Have a question or comment about how to write a good Carpentry resume or included something I mentioned here? Use the comments section below;
