Pick a clean, single-column template with clear headings for a Press Operator. Use reverse-chronological layout so your latest machine experience appears first.
Keep the resume length to one page if you have under 10 years of press experience. Use two pages only when you have long, directly relevant machine operation history or certifications.
Choose an ATS-friendly font like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Set body text to 10-12pt and headers to 14-16pt.
Keep margins wide enough to allow white space. Use 1.0 to 1.15 line spacing and consistent spacing between sections.
Focus the top section on a short profile and key skills like press setup, job changeover, maintenance, and safety. List certifications such as OSHA or press-specific training in a separate section.
Use bullet lists for duties and achievements. Quantify results with numbers, for example: run rate, scrap reduction, uptime, or units per hour.
Avoid overuse of colors, photos, or complex graphics. Those elements can break parsing and distract hiring managers.
Stick to standard headings like Contact, Summary, Experience, Skills, Certifications, and Education. Keep each job entry to 3–6 bullets emphasizing measurable outcomes and tools used.
Common mistakes to avoid: multi-column layouts that confuse ATS, mixed fonts or sizes, tiny margins, and vague phrases like "responsible for." Proofread for alignment and consistent date formats.