Carpenter Resume Guide - With Templates, Examples, and Skills

If you love to work with your hands, you probably fall in this category and have considered various careers, such as carpentry which allow you to be creative and do a lot of hands-on work.

Creating a professional carpenter resume will put you ahead of your competitors in an industry that can be very competitive. More people are discovering that carpentry has multiple benefits and are getting into it. Some of these benefits include having multiple specializations to choose from, increased opportunities, especially in the construction industry, good pay, and career advancement opportunities.

Whether you're looking to advance in your career or get started, you need a carpentry resume that allows you to stand out. Let's help you create a resume that helps you get your next job. In this article, we'll cover a couple of topics, including:

• How to add your previous carpenter jobs to your resume.
• The skills that every carpenter should have on their resume.
• The best format and layout for your carpentry resume.
• A carpenter resume example that helps you figure out the structure of your resume.

Salary and Job Market Information for Carpenters

According to the U.S Bureau of Statistics, the employment of carpenters is projected to grow 2 percent from 2020 to 2030.

The industries with the highest levels of employment in Carpenters include:

• Residential Building Construction
• Building Finishing Construction
• Non-residential Building Construction
• Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
• Employment Services

The average salary for a carpenter is $60,000. The typical range is between $51,000 and $69,000, depending on the level of education, professional experience, and skills.

How to Make a Carpenter Resume

Carpenters get to work on various projects, and the specifications will be different in every job. Therefore, you must tailor your resume and add the right carpenter skills and experience. You'll miss out on many great opportunities if you use a generic resume for multiple job applications.

The job description will help you determine what you should have on your resume, including the right keywords and action verbs to optimize your resume. Check out our resume examples which will give you tips to help you craft the perfect resume.

You must also choose the right format, layout, and structure of your resume. Let's look at these in depth.

Best format for your resume

Here are three formats you can choose from depending on your experience and skills.

• The reverse-chronological format - This is suitable for you if you have carpentry experience. It focuses on the work you've done previously in carpentry and is a favorite of recruitment managers because it's easy to scan on ATS systems.
• The functional resume format - If you don't have experience, but you have the required skills, this is the best format for you. It focuses on your skills, whether they're transferable skills from another field or carpentry.
• Combination/hybrid resume - This format combines the best features of the two other formats and is suitable for candidates with the perfect blend of skills and experience.

The layout should make it easy to read and understand your resume. Hiring managers only have a few seconds to read through each resume and will not spend more time than they should on your resume. Use simple fonts like Times New Roman, Arial, Georgia, Helvetica, Calibri, and Cambria. The font size should be 10-12pt.

The structure of your professional carpenter resume should have the following sections:

• The header section
• Professional summary/objective
• Work experience section
• Education section
• Skills section
• An additional section (Computer skills and certifications, languages, awards/honors, and interests)

The Header Section

Start your resume with the header section, which contains the following details:

• Your full name
• Job title
• Phone number
• Professional email address
• Location
• A link to your LinkedIn profile.

All these details must be accurate; otherwise, the recruiter will not be able to reach you. Always proofread the resume to check if the details you've added here are correct.

Correct example

CORRECT

Charles Amidon

Carpenter

282-009-163

charledamidon@gmail.com

Detroit, MI

linkedin.com/in/charlesamidon

Incorrect example

INCORRECT

Charles Amidon

Carpenter

282-009-163

charledamidon@gmail.com

1543 Daylene Drive

House number 15

Detroit, MI

Date of birth 02/09/2000

linkedin.com/in/charlesamidon

Describe Your Experience As a Carpenter

Carpenters do a lot of hands-on work and may need to show what they've previously done before getting a job. Use this section of your resume to detail your professional experiences and focus on the most relevant ones.

If you've worked on multiple projects, add three relevant projects to show your potential employer you have the experience they're looking for. If you're an entry-level candidate, you can add apprenticeships and volunteer experiences that have helped you learn on the job and include the transferable skills you gained.

When you're listing your previous jobs, start with the name of the workplace, your job title, and the employment dates. Once you've added these details, list three to five job duties that explain what you can do. As you're adding the duties/responsibilities, use figures and facts to show the results you achieved and give the recruiter an idea of what you could achieve for the company.

Example of an Entry-Level Carpenter

Example for Experienced Carpenters

Detail Your Educational Background

Most jobs in carpentry require a high school diploma. However, if you have a college degree, you should add it first in this section. If you don't have a lot of experience, this section is crucial for you. Add the applicable coursework that has prepared you for the job as you add each educational qualification.

Some of the details you need in this section of your resume include:

• The name of the degree/diploma
• The name of the school
• The year of graduation

Correct example

The Right Carpentry Skills for Your Resume

The skills section of your resume is vital because there are specific skills you need for every job you apply for. You must check the job description before adding the skills to your resume. These unique abilities differentiate you from the other candidates and show the recruiter what makes you stand out.

They are divided into two categories. Hard and soft skills

Hard skills are the technical skills that you learn on the job or at school that help you tackle your various responsibilities. Soft skills are character traits that help you interact well with colleagues and customers.

The best way to present your skills is by using bullet points. This makes them more visible to the recruiter. Use our resume templates or resume builder to help you add your skills correctly.

Here is a list of skills you should have on your carpentry resume.

Hard skills

• Mathematical skills
• Project management
• Schematics reading
• Budget management
• Power and Pneumatic Tools
• Lacquer Painting
• Preventive maintenance
• Safety guidelines

Soft skills

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Detail-oriented
• Solid communication skills
• Time management
• Teamwork
• Creative thinking
• Customer service
• Problem-solving

A Carpenter Resume Summary

The second section of your resume summarizes your top accomplishments and highlights your experience and skills. It also introduces your resume to the recruiter. It's a short paragraph with three to four sentences but must be catchy to get the recruiter's attention. If you have an achievement that will help you stand out, don't leave it out of this section. Using figures and facts is a great way to get the hiring manager's attention and interest them to continue reading your resume.

Correct example

CORRECT

Goal-driven Master Carpenter with ten years of experience in the construction industry. Highly skilled at working on complex projects and have delivered top-rated carpentry services to more than 20 respected clients. Successful at working effectively with construction supervisors, designers, inspectors, architects, and subcontractors during the construction process to provide top-quality project management and field supervision.

Incorrect example

INCORRECT

Accomplished Carpenter with experience working with power and hand tools. Ability to deliver items according to customer specifications.

Professional Objective(And How To Use It)

A professional objective works the same way as a professional summary but is suitable for candidates who don't have experience. It introduces the resume and highlights the candidate's professional goals, stating how they align with the company goals. This is also an excellent opportunity to express your interest in the position.

Correct example

CORRECT

Hardworking Entry-level Carpenter with a specialty in remodeling and residential fencing properties. Expert knowledge of wood quality and composition and an ability to repair wooden objects to the client's satisfaction. Looking for an opportunity at Excel Custom to advance my carpentry career and share my skills as I give your customers the best services.

Additional Sections for Your Resume

The competition in the job market is stiff, so you want your resume to stand out. An additional section allows you to do that as you highlight the other qualifications that make you the best candidate.

Adding your skills and qualifications to this section also makes it easier for the recruiter to see them quickly as they glance at your resume.

Here are a few sections you can add to your resume.

Computer Skills and Certifications

Carpenters need computer skills to manage the project management software, making it easy to track various tasks. This skill also helps with basic accounting, especially if you own a business. Therefore, it's an essential skill on your resume that helps set you apart from the other candidates.

Carpentry certifications are crucial as they show your recruiter you have additional education/training in the industry. If you have any certification, add it under this section to make it more visible, not the education section. Here are some certifications that will help your carpenter resume stand out.

• OSHA training
• National Association of Home Builders(NAHB) Graduate Master Builder(GMB)
• Construction Management Association of America(CMAA) Certified Construction Manager(CCM)

Interests

The interests section allows you to give insight to the hiring manager on who you are outside of work. Not all jobs will require this section, so research the company/potential employer to determine the best interests that align with the company culture.

Languages

Language skills are always an important part of your resume. Most recruiters prefer bilingual candidates, so ensure that they don't miss this qualification in your resume by adding it under this section. Use the official language reference when you're listing your languages as follows:

• IELTS - English (a minimum score of 6.5 is required)
• Germany's Goethe-Zertifikat (70%) or higher is required.
• SIELE for Spanish

Tips to Boost Your Resume

• Always check the job description and incorporate the right keywords and action verbs.
• Create a new resume for each job application and avoid using one generic resume.
• Choose the right format and layout for your resume.
• Summarize all your qualifications on one page.
• Use the job description to find out what the recruiter is looking for.
• Proofread your resume to ensure that there are no mistakes.

Key Takeaways: Writing a Resume for Carpenters

• The header contains your personal details that must be accurate.
• A resume summary/objective should be catchy/engaging.
• Use fonts that are easy to read on your resume to make it simple for the recruiter to read through it.
• Choose the correct resume format that best represents your qualifications.
• Summarize your professional experiences and use figures and facts to quantify your achievements.
• List your skills in bullet-point form and separate them into hard and soft skills.

Accompany Your Resume with a Cover Letter

A cover letter allows you to give more information about your achievements and qualifications. This is your chance to showcase your writing skills and personality to the hiring manager. Some hiring managers don't require a cover letter but unless this is the case, always accompany your resume with one. Here are some of our cover letter examples that will give you an idea of how to write yours.

Frequently Asked Questions