Materials Handler Resume: A Comprehensive Guide

In order to become a material handler, you will need a professional and organized resume that can convince hiring managers that you are the right fit for the job. In order to achieve that, all you need to do is follow our comprehensive guide, and go through our resume examples, suggestions and tips to craft your own material handler resume in no time. 

Roles and Responsibilities of a Material Handler

Material handlers are the backbone of the warehousing industry. They play a significant role in ensuring that the goods and materials are transported safely from point A to point B and maintain logistical efficiency within a warehouse. These key professionals have a wide range of duties and responsibilities that are crucial to an efficient manufacturing operation. 

• Receive incoming shipments and record the receipt of the same in the company system.
• Managing inventory by cataloging, labeling and recording the location of the stocks and supplies.
• Responsible for updating stock levels in real-time and promptly and sound alert if there is a shortage or abundance of a particular product
• Safe handling and maintenance of equipment like forklifts, pallet jacks or conveyor systems to transport the stock to its designated location.
• Fulfilling customer orders by selecting the correct products from the storage room, assembling them and getting them ready for shipping.
• In certain cases, a material handler is also responsible for handling hazardous materials with strict compliance to safety regulations.
  ‍

Material Handler Resume Examples

To help you understand the finer nuances of writing a resume, we will show you a correct and incorrect version of material handler resume samples to emphasize the things you need to include and avoid while making your own resume. Let’s dive in.

An Incorrect Material Handler Resume Sample

Incorrect

Steve Ramone
(000)-111-2323

Objective
Seeking a material handler position where I can leverage my skill set and grow in a new role.

Work Experience
ABC warehouse

• Experience in operating forklifts and pallet jacks
• Adept at lifting heavy goods efficiently
• Knowledge of safety procedures and processes

BQC Warehouse

• Maintained a clean and organized work environment
• Maintained inventory records
• Helped with receiving and sorting products

Skills

• Material handling
• Warehouse operations
• Teamwork

Education
High School Diploma
Certifications
Certified Forklift Operator

A Correct Material Handler Resume Sample

Correct

Steve Ramone
Material Handler
(000)-111-2323
steve.ramone@example.com

Objective
Dedicated material handler with 6 years of experience in efficiently managing inventory, transporting materials in a warehouse environment. Skilled at operating heavy machinery like forklifts and pallet jacks. Committed to optimizing the logistical operations while maintaining strict safety protocols.

Work Experience

Material Handler
ABC Warehouse, Tampa, Florida
April 2020 - Present

• Efficiently handle the loading and unloading and inspection of shipments at the loading docks.
• Assisting with the implementation of a barcode scanning system which has increased order fulfillment accuracy by 30% in the first month. 
• Expertly operate the forklift to safely transport the stock and materials within the warehouse.
• Conduct regular inspections of material handling equipment and make necessary repairs when required.

Material Handler
BQC Warehouse, Boston, Massachusetts
May 2017 - March 2020

• Conducted quality control procedures for inbound merchandise and products resulting in 30% reduction in customer complaints.
• Operated heavy equipment in a safe and efficient manner.
• Collaborated with other team members to implement procedures to improve the tracking and management of the inventory.
• Trained and supervised new employees in material handling procedures reducing material handling time by 25%.

Skills

• Forklift operator
• Inventory control
• Material handling
• Quality control
• Safe handling of hazardous materials
• Warehouse operations
• Safety protocols
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Attention to detail

Education
High School Diploma
AXY School, Tampa, Florida
Graduation Date: January, 2017

Certifications
Certified Forklift Operator (2017)

Deconstructing the Material Handler Resume Examples

The above resume examples are of the same candidate but they couldn't be more different. Let’s understand the key differences between the two resume samples.

Evaluating the Incorrect Material Handler Resume Sample

• Important details  like the email address and job title are missing from the header.
• The objective statement is vague and fails to convey important professional information like the number of years of experience, key skills and career goals.
• The work experience is missing pertinent information like the employment time period, location of the company and inadequately describes the primary job responsibilities of the candidate.
• The skills section fails to highlight the candidate’s qualifications.
• The education section is incomplete as it does not mention the name of the school or the graduation date.
• In this resume there is very little thought given to formatting and the language used is not appropriate for a professional resume.
• With this resume, a hiring manager will not be able to accurately gauge the candidate’s skills and qualifications and most likely move on to the next resume.
  ‍

Evaluating the Correct Material Handler Resume Sample

• The resume’s header serves its purpose containing all the information that a potential employer will need to make contact with the candidate.
• The objective statement is clear and to the point and accentuates the candidate’s suitable for the material handler position. 
• The work experience section is structured and provides all the necessary information regarding the candidate's job title, employment period and key responsibilities effectively.
• The skills section is well-organized and includes the candidate’s technical skills as well as the necessary soft skills that a recruiter will be looking for.
• The education section is complete with all the details of the course, school and graduation year mentioned.
• This resume accurately describes the candidates professional background, skills and qualifications and conveys a credible image to hiring managers. 
  ‍

The Main Steps to Write a Professional Resume

Writing your own resume from scratch can feel overwhelming, but with a little direction and a few suggestions you will be on your way to crafting the most amazing material handler resume. With the help of this guide, we aim to provide you with all the necessary information that will help you along the way. Let’s take a look at the format and the essential sections that need to be captured in your material handler resume. 

Choose the Right Resume Format

The first big decision you need to make before you start writing your resume, is choosing a suitable format for your material handler resume. There are multiple formats to choose from however the three most effective resume formats are as follows.

• Reverse Chronological Resume format
• Functional Resume Format
• Hybrid Resume Format

The reverse chronological resume is considered to be the most impactful format during the recruitment process. In this format your work experience is listed in a reverse chronological order that captures your career progression till date. This is best suited for applicants who have ample work experience. This format is highly favored by hiring managers and job seekers alike. 

The functional resume will focus on highlighting your skills and accomplishments rather than highlighting your work history. This is a good format for candidates who have gaps in their employment history or for those who are in the process of changing their careers. 

The hybrid format is a product of both the chronological and functional style blending key elements of both the formats. This resume format gives equal importance to your skills as well as your professional history. It is perfectly suited for candidates who have just entered the workforce and have a little experience as well as possess the required knowledge and skills related to the position.

For an experienced based job like material handling, we highly recommend sticking with the chronological style as it is a tried and tested format that works very well in grabbing the attention of prospective employers.

Fill in the Main Sections of Your Resume

Regardless of the type of format, every resume should contain 5 of these main sections namely the header, resume summary, experience, skills and education. These sections help provide a comprehensive career overview along with your qualifications to a recruiter. Let’s dissect these sections in detail and show you how to best present them on your material handler resume.

Header

This is possibly the easiest section to start off with. All you need to do is add all your contact details correctly and ensure there are no mistakes made. The following information needs to be visible on top of your material handler resume. 

• Full name
• Job title
• Phone number
• Email address

Correct

Jay Peterman
Material Handler
(000)-99-9999
jaypeterman@example.com

Incorrect

Jay Peterman
jay_rocks@example.com

Resume Summary

A resume summary should provide a recruiter with a keen understanding of your experience as well as your commitment to the warehousing and manufacturing industry. Imagine this as your quick pitch for a potential employer to advocate that you are the right fit for their company. In order to do that, here are some pointers to help you write an impressive resume summary that leaves a good first impression on a potential employer.

• Add a strong adjective behind your designation and follow it up with the number of years of experience you have as a material handler. 
• Brush upon your experience and mention the measured accomplishments you have had
• Make a strong case for why a company should pick you for the material handling position. 
• Ensure that your resume is not more than 3-5 sentences long. 

Correct

Dedicated material handler with 5 years of experience in inventory management and efficient transportation of materials while strictly maintaining all safety procedures. Skilled at operating heavy machinery like forklift and pallet jacks. Adept at collaborating to streamline operations for accurate and timely delivery of the goods.

Incorrect

Seeking a challenging role as a material handler. Adept at managing inventory and transportation of materials.

Work Experience

The work experience section of your resume is of the utmost importance as a potential employer will be scanning this section to determine whether you are qualified for the material handler position. You will need to coherently describe the primary responsibilities you had for all your previous jobs and make sure it is relevant to the job that you are applying to. We have compiled a detailed checklist to help you capture the most important moments of your career and showcase your skills and achievements along the way. 

• List your entire work history in a reverse chronological order beginning with the most recent job you had.
• Start each subsection with your job title, company name and location and the dates of employment.
• Use bullet points while describing your duties and responsibilities for each job.
• Begin every point with a strong action verb like conducted, managed, organized, spearheaded etc.
• Mention the high points of your career with tangible instances to emphasize your competency as a material handler.

Correct

Material Handler
VXZ Warehouse, Tampa, Florida
June 2019 - August 2023

• Implemented a systematic inventory organization reducing the stock retrieval time by 30%.
• Managed the loading and unloading as well as inspection of international shipments.
• Improved the material handling time by 40% by effectively communicating with other departments to streamline operations.
• Operated forklifts to safely transport the materials to their assigned locations in the warehouse.

Incorrect

VXZ Warehouse
2019-2023

• Successfully operated heavy machinery to transport goods.
• Contributed to quality control
• Conducted inventory checks
• Made a note of all shipments
• Helped team members maintain a clean and safe work environment

Skills

The skills section of a material handler resume needs to contain all the relevant technical and soft skills. Even Though in this position, there will be more weightage given to your technical skills but it is important to mention the soft skills that will highlight the key personality traits that will help you enhance your performance as a material handler. Here is a list of hard and soft skills that are apt for a material handler resume. 

Technical Skills

• Inventory management
• Material handling equipment
• Safety protocols
• Quality control
• Handling Hazardous Materials
• Record keeping

Soft Skills

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Adaptability
• Attention to detail
  ‍

Education

There is no formal education required for a material handling position as all the learnings happen on the job in a manufacturing environment. However, the minimum educational requirement for this role will at least be a highschool diploma or a GED its equivalent. In this section, mention that you have a high school diploma then write the name of your school, its location along with the date you graduated. 

Correct

High School Diploma
ABC School, Denver, Colorado
Graduation Date: April, 2022

Incorrect

GED
ABC School

Proofread and Edit

The final steps of fine tuning your material handler resume involve proofreading and editing. The process of proofreading eliminates the scope of grammatical, spelling and formatting errors from your resume. It is always a good idea to edit your resume and remove any irrelevant information that is not required. Ask a friend or a colleague to give you feedback as that can offer you a fresh perspective and incorporate the valuable inputs you have received. 

Tailor Your Resume for Each Job Application

The main purpose of tailoring your material handler resume before every job application is to ensure that it is perfectly aligned with the specific job requirements that an employer is looking for. This is the only way you will be able to effectively highlight your suitability for the position. Remember that you cannot expect to have one generic resume that will work for all your job applications. Every employer and organization has their own unique requirements and filters during the hiring process and the closer you can position yourself to their job description, the closer you get to attaining the job that you are seeking. 

Read the Job Description Carefully

The first step to effectively tailor your resume will require you to thoroughly go through the job description of the position that you are applying for. Look for the main requirements that the employer is looking for in a material handler. Make a note of the keywords or repetitive phrases that are prevalent in the job posting. 

Tailor the Key Resume Sections

Now that you have an understanding of what the employer is looking for, it is time to go section by section and tailor it to align perfectly with the job description and requirements. Begin with the resume summary, and fine tune it to resonate with the company values while ensuring that your skills, experience and qualifications match the employer’s requirements. 

Now we move on to the work experience section. Emphasize only those jobs that are directly tied in with your job application and match the requirements that have been mentioned by the hiring company. Give detailed examples of your key duties and achievements in your previous material handler jobs. If mentioning your career highlights, try to do so with the support of specific metrics so that it looks credible and vetted. 

Lastly, you will need to tailor your skills section to include all the qualities that have been mentioned by the employer in the job description. This section at a glance informs a recruiter of your eligibility for the material handler position and tailoring it will solidify your chances of being viewed as a top candidate for the particular role. 

Incorporate the Essential Keywords

Many companies have adopted the use of applicant tracking systems to streamline their recruitment process. This has led to the initial round of hiring process being vetted by a software rather than an actual human. One of the most effective ways to beat this system is by naturally incorporating relevant keywords into your material handler resume. During this process make sure you don't fall prey to keyword stuffing as that can take away the authenticity of your resume. Here are some of the general keywords you will find present in a material handler job description. 

• Forklift operation
• Material handling
• Inventory management
• Shipping and receiving
• Materials management
• Warehouse management
• Manufacturing
• Physical fitness
• Provide customer service
• Pallet jacks
  ‍

Formatting and Design Tips for a Material Handler Resume 

• Always choose a font that is legible and professional like Arial,Calibri, Helvetica, Georgia or Times New Roman.
• Maintain a font size of 10-12 points for the main body and 13-15 for the section headings and ensure that you use the same font throughout your material handler resume.
• Use standard section headings namely contact information, resume summary, experience, skills, education and certifications.
• Use bullet points while describing your responsibilities for your previous jobs. 
• Begin every sentence with a powerful action verb like managed, operated, organized etc
• Maintain consistent formatting and styling throughout your material handler resume.
• Make sure you leave adequate white space between sections to prevent a cluttered look.
• Ensure that you have left at least a one inch margin on all the sides of your resume.
• Strive for a one page resume and that is brief and to the point. 
• Consider using a resume builder for good aesthetics and ATS optimization. 
• Try to avoid excessive formatting like tables, images, graphics and keep a minimalist design.
• Save your material handler resume in the PDF format to ensure that your formatting remains the same across all devices. 

If you would like extra assistance to brighten your resume, then don't forget to browse through our impressive collection of resume samples, templates and examples.

Key Takeaways

Here are some of the important points that you should keep in mind while writing your material handler resume.

• Understand the roles and responsibilities of a material handler before diving into the job application process.
• Opt for a chronological format to appropriately highlight your strong working history and relevant qualifications
• Add in all your relevant contact information in the topmost part of your resume.
• Write a strong professional summary and make sure that it highlights your suitability for the material handler role.
• Pay close attention to your work experience and always use bullet points to describe your previous roles.
• Make sure you use an action verb at the start of every sentence in your experience section.
• Highlight all your relevant skills and qualifications for the material handler position. 
• Detail your educational background in a concise and effective manner.
• Do not forget to proofread and edit your resume to fine tune and make it absolutely ready for the application process.
• Customize your resume before every job application and align it closely with the job description provided by the employer. 
• Avoid overstuffing your material handler resume with keywords and incorporate them as naturally as possible
• Maintain consistent formatting and a clean design for your material handler resume.