Pick a simple layout that highlights hands-on experience and safety credentials. Use reverse-chronological order so your latest jobs appear first and read easily.
Keep length to one page if you have under 10 years of experience. Use two pages only if you have long, relevant trade certifications or extensive supervisory history.
Use ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri or Arial. Set body text to 10-12pt and headers to 14-16pt for clear hierarchy.
Keep margins at about 0.5–1 inch and add line spacing around sections. White space makes lists of repairs, tools, and certificates easy to scan.
Use clear headings: Contact, Summary, Skills, Experience, Certifications, Education, and References. Use bullet lists for duties and quick results like downtime reduced or cost saved.
Avoid fancy columns, embedded images, or complex tables. Those elements often break parsing and hide your qualifications from hiring systems.
Common mistakes include long paragraphs of duties, vague verbs, and no metrics. Quantify where you can, for example, "cut repair time by 20%" or "maintained 50 units."
Put certifications and safety training near the top if the posting asks for them. That helps hiring managers and systems find the key items fast.