How to Write a Superb Resume for a Machine Operator
A machine operator must show the hiring manager they can work well with their hands and operate equipment. Your resume should highlight your professional experience and skills in a way that allows you to stand out.
Use the machine operator job description to determine what you should add to your resume. The right keywords and action verbs are essential to ensure that your resume gets past the ATS systems. Hiring managers don't like long resumes, so ensure that yours is one page long.
Jobs in this field will vary, so tailor each resume to match the recruiter's requirements. Use our resume templates and resume builder to structure the qualifications on your resume.
Let's look at the resume format, layout, and structure of the resume.
Choose between these three formats:
- Reverse-chronological resume - This is the format that most hiring managers prefer. It prioritizes your experience and is perfect for candidates who have worked for some time as machine operators.
- Functional resume format: This format focuses on your skills and is suitable for candidates starting this career.
- Hybrid/combination resume: This format blends some of the features of the two other formats. You can use this format if you have the required skills and experience.
The layout of the resume should be simple to read and understand. Use fonts that are not hard to read, like Times New Roman, Arial, Verdana, Georgia, Calibri, and Cambria. The font size should be 10-12pt.
The structure of your machine operator resume should have the following sections:
- The header section
- Resume summary/resume objective
- Work experience
- Education section
- Skills section
- An additional section (languages, awards/honors, and interests)
Start Your Resume with A Header
The header should have your contact and personal details. This information should not have any errors, so check your resume before sending it to the recruiter to ensure that all the details are accurate. This information includes:- Your full name
- Job title
- Phone number
- Professional email address
- Location
- A link to your LinkedIn profile(optional)
Correct example
CORRECTMachine Operator
873-002-334
josephwilson@gmail.comFresno, CA
linkedin.com/in/josephwilson
Incorrect example
INCORRECTMachine Operator
873-002-334
josephwilson@gmail.com1935 Chicago Avenue
House number 22
Fresno, CA
Date of birth 02/01/1988
linkedin.com/in/josephwilson
Detail Your Work Experience In Machine Operation
Working as a machine operator will require experience, especially if you'll be required to operate machinery or other hand tools. The hiring manager will want to see what you've done before giving you the job.
You'll detail your work history in this section if you've worked as a machine operator before. Start with your most recent job. Once you've added your previous positions, list three to five job responsibilities under each workplace and quantify them with figures and facts. This is a great strategy to show the hiring manager the value you bring to the organization.
The structure of your work history should include the name of the workplace name, your job title, and the period you worked at each place. Use the job description to tailor this section and include the right information that will land you an interview.
Example for an entry-level machine operator
Machine Operator
January 2016-March 2018
- Assisted in minor repairs of packaging equipment and ensured that machines maintained compliance to prevent delays in the production process.
- Made suggestions to management regarding operational improvements in the manufacturing process to improve the quality of products, production times, and reduce costs.
- Supported production workers to achieve the company's quality standards.
Example for experienced machine operators
Senior Machine Operator
July 2018-May 2020
- Supervised a team of six licensed TIG welders who used CNC machines and assisted in continuous process improvement to fabricate components to specified tolerance levels.
- Assessed operations to identify issues in the production line and the CNC machine and communicated findings to technical and administrative staff to discuss resolutions.
- Determined the correct machine feed and operating speed to adjust for malfunction.
Highlight Your Educational Background
Machine operators don't require formal education, but you shouldn't leave this section of your resume blank. List your high school diploma and any other educational qualifications you may have.
Start with the name of the diploma, the name of the school, and the year of graduation. If you have a higher educational qualification, like a college degree, you'll add it before the diploma.
Correct example
CORRECTWalton High School
2015
Boost Your Resume with Your Machine Operator Skills
The right skills on your resume play a significant role in ensuring that you land an interview. Hiring managers list some of these skills in the job description, and adding them to your resume ensures that it gets past the ATS systems.
Your resume should have hard and soft skills. Hard skills are technical skills that help you perform the machine operator job, while soft skills are interpersonal traits that help you interact well with people in the workplace.
If you're starting your career, use this section to list your transferable skills from apprenticeships and volunteer gigs. Always list the skills using bullet points to make them more visible.
Here is a list of skills for your machine operator resume.
Hard skills
- Quality testing
- CNC operation
- Quality control
- Routine maintenance
- Production scheduling
- Hand and power tools
- Fabrication professional
- Machine alignment
Soft skills
- Creative problem solving
- Multitasking skills
- Critical thinking
- Attention to detail
- Decision making
- Communication skills
- Customer satisfaction
- Organizational skills
Machine Operator Resume Summary
The second section of your resume after the header is the resume summary. This part of your resume summarizes your top achievements and introduces your resume. It also highlights your top skills and experience. It's a short paragraph, but it should be engaging to get the recruiter's attention and interest them in reading the rest of your resume.
Correct example
CORRECTIncorrect example
INCORRECTMachine Operator Resume Objective
If you have little experience, introduce your resume using a resume objective. It allows you to discuss your career goals and express your interest in the machine operator position. Keep it short but make it interesting.
Correct example
CORRECTInclude Additional Sections on Your Resume
What's a resume without an additional section?
Recruiters get multiple resumes, and this section gives you a chance to stand out. Highlight your extra qualifications and skills in the additional section to make it easy for the recruiter to see them.
Here are a few sections to consider for your resume.
Computer Skills and Certifications
Some of the equipment may require basic computer skills to operate. If you have these skills, add them to this section to make it easy for the recruiter to spot them.
Certifications are essential for machine operators. Most jobs may not require formal education, but if you have certifications, they will put you ahead of your competitors. Here are some that you should consider for your resume.
- OSHA Safety Certificate
- Operator Certification
- EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification
Languages
Bilingual candidates always have the edge over the other candidates. Add your language skills in this section instead of the general section to ensure that the hiring manager doesn't miss them. Use the official language reference as follows:- Germany's Goethe-Zertifikat (70%) or higher is required.
- DELF for French (with a score of 60% and above)
- IELTS for English
Interests
Some hiring managers will want to know more about you outside of work. Add your interests to give them more details about this, but also research the company and figure out their company culture.
Tips To Improve Your Resume
- Add the relevant skills the recruiter is looking for to increase your chances of beating the competition.
- Use keywords and action words that optimize your resume and ensure it gets past the applicant tracking system.
- Summarize your resume with a strong resume summary/objective.
- Tailor each machine operator resume you send to a recruiter.
- Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!
