Pick a clean, single-column template that shows your shop experience first. Use reverse-chronological order so your most recent foundry roles appear at the top. That layout reads fast and parses well for applicant tracking systems.
Keep length to one page if you have under 10 years in foundry work. Go to two pages only if you have long, relevant trade history, certifications, and supervisory roles to show.
Use simple, ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia. Set body text to 10–12pt and headers to 14–16pt. Leave roomy margins and consistent line spacing so the page breathes.
Label sections with standard headings like Contact, Summary, Skills, Experience, Certifications, and Education. Use short bullet lists for tasks and clear dates for each job.
Avoid heavy graphics, multi-column layouts, and nonstandard fonts. Those elements often break parsing and hide key info. Use bold and bullets to draw attention instead of color blocks.
Watch these common mistakes: crowded text with tiny margins, long paragraphs instead of bullets, and unclear job titles. Also skip vague claims without numbers. Quantify downtime saved, defects reduced, or crew size supervised when you can.
Order details by relevance. Put foundry-specific skills like mold making, pattern reading, core assembly, and furnace familiarity near the top. Keep each bullet focused, active, and short.