Writing an effective resume for manufacturing jobs is imperative to get hired for a position faster and select the job you want. A hot job market can bring more job seekers in search of a new opportunity, adding to the competition in each industry. Weak resumes can eliminate even the most qualified candidates. This is why learning how to write your resume well can make a positive change during your job search.
Writing a resume for a manufacturing job is somewhat different than writing for other jobs. In this blog, we’ll share important tips and step-by-step instructions to help you write an effective resume that will make you stand out from other candidates and get the job you want in the manufacturing industry.
Resume Writing Tips
Understand ATS Resume Filtering
Some organizations use an ATS, or automated tracking system, to sort and filter resumes. All applications must be compliant to be accepted. Compliance with ATS standards is simple: use only standard fonts (like Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri or Helvetica) and conventional section names (like “Professional Experience” or “Past Experience” instead of “Latest Jobs”).
Keep it Short & Relevant
Highlighting pertinent manufacturing experience is crucial. Add the most relevant experience prominently on your resume. Include information about the types of manufacturing equipment you have worked with, your responsibilities, and any accomplishments you have achieved while working in the industry. This section won’t necessarily include education, certifications or safety records.
Tip: For a lengthy resume, eliminate work experience that is too old or unnecessary for the manufacturing job you’re looking for. A shorter, more tailored resume will get more views and interviews.
Write a Matching Cover Letter
A cover letter is a way for you to stand out and connect with the hiring manager. Plus, it makes your resume even more personal. Just like with your resume, keep your cover letter to a single page. Expand on your resume, but don’t repeat the information. You can find more cover letter writing tips on ResumeGenius.
Steps to Writing an Effective Manufacturing Resume
Writing a resume is something many people dread, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Follow these tips from ResumeGenius to create compelling resumes:
Step 1: Choose the Best Format for Your Manufacturing Resume
When you begin writing your resume, you’ll want to decide what format to use. There are three resume formats to choose from: Reverse-Chronological, Functional or Combination. No one format is “the best” to choose – it depends on your preferences, experience and what kind of jobs you’re applying for. With that being said, using a classic reverse chronological format is most traditional and checks off all the boxes for your manufacturing resume, so it may be your preferred option.
Reverse-Chronological
This is the most common format for resumes. The Reverse-Chronological resume begins with a short resume objective and then lists your positions from most recent to oldest.
Reverse-Chronological resumes are ideal for:
- Showing a vertical career progression
- Applying to jobs in a similar field
- Promoting upward career mobility
This format isn’t as great if you:
- Have major gaps in employment history
- Are changing your career path
- Change jobs every few months
You can find Chronological Resume examples on the ResumeGenius website.
Functional
A Functional resume is best suited for a skills-based resume. Instead of focusing on positions like the Reverse-Chronological resume, the Functional resume places the emphasis on your skills and experience.
Functional resumes are ideal for:
- Applicants with gaps in employment history
- Individuals wanting to change their career industry
- Highlighting specific skill sets
This format isn’t as great if you:
- Need to highlight upward career mobility
- Are an entry-level candidate that lacks experience
- Lack transferable skills
You can find Functional Resume examples on the ResumeGenius website.
Combination
The Combination resume merges the two other formats together. It focuses on skills like the Functional format but it also lists previous positions like the Chronological format. This is typically a good format for manufacturing positions since you can showcase your relevant skills/certifications while also listing experience.
Combination resumes are ideal for:
- Highlighting a developed skill set within a specific career
- Wanting to change your career path
- Showing that you’re a master of the subject you’re applying to
This format isn’t as great if you:
- Want to highlight past education
- Lack experience in the industry
- Are an entry-level candidate
You can find Combination Resume examples on the ResumeGenius website.
Step 2: Add Your Contact Information
When writing your resume, you want to include all your contact information so it’s easy for employers to reach out to you. You should include:
- Your name (in the largest font on the page)
- Your mailing address
- Your phone number
- Your email address (make sure it’s professional; first and last name is always a good choice)
- Your LinkedIn profile
Step 3: Write a Winning Manufacturing Resume Introduction
The objective summary is typically found at the top of the resume and acts as a resume brief of professional history and goals. Do not skip the objective summary. This section is like a first impression in a concise 2-3 sentence statement and is extremely important to the job hunt and interview process.
When writing a resume introduction, your goal is to capture attention. You want your introduction to be relevant to the position you’re applying to. ResumeGenius recommends 4 key types of resume introductions or summaries:
- Resume objective – a two to three sentence statement that provides an overview of your skills and experience.
- Summary of qualifications – a bullet point list of your most outstanding career achievements.
- Resume profile – a combination of the career objective and qualifications summaries (can be either a short paragraph or a bullet-point list).
- Resume summary – four to five bulleted sentences that highlight your past achievements using quantifiable data.
Step 4: Highlight Your Relevant Manufacturing Work Experience
Your work experience is the core of your resume. Before you start writing your resume, read the job description and requirements for the manufacturing job you are applying for. Make sure that your resume highlights the skills and qualifications that are most relevant to the job. Leave out anything that doesn’t apply to the specific job you want to save space and highlight the most important pieces of information.
Include your most recent manufacturing experience at the top just below your objective statement or summary. Use a clear, simple format and make sure to use headings, bullet points and white space to make it easy to skim.
For each work experience you list, you’ll want to have around 3-5 bullet points of your main duties and achievements in that position. Start with an action verb, followed by a specific and relevant job duty and a quantifiable point. Here’s an example for a manufacturing job:
- Coordinated development of technician training manuals, increasing productivity by 10%
Tip: If possible, keep your resume to a single page. Most hiring managers don’t have time to read numerous pages for each potential candidate, and resumes that are too long are often passed over.
Step 5: Create an Education & Certification Section for Your Resume
You’ll also want to be sure to include any education, certifications or training you’ve received in your resume. Many manufacturing jobs require specific certifications or training, so make sure that all certifications or accreditations are written clearly and in chronological order. If you have more professional experience, you can also list previous positions in this section if you have received on-the-job training.
Tip: Safety is a top priority in the manufacturing industry, so make sure to highlight your safety record on your resume. Include any safety certifications or training you have completed, as well as any safety-related accomplishments you have achieved.
Step 6: Add a Skills Section in Your Manufacturing Resume
Talking up your skills is important, but it’s also important to strike a balance. A lot of hiring managers want to see rounded employees. That’s why you want to use both hard and soft skills on your resume.
- Hard skills are quantifiable – such as language fluency, competency using certain computer programs or being able to operate heavy machinery. For manufacturing positions, these will likely be your certifications or training.
- Soft skills are more personality-driven – it’s things like being a team player, being driven to succeed or having a great attitude. Soft skills show that you are motivated and get along well with others.
Step 7: Style Your Resume
Once you have the information for your resume gathered, it’s time to actually create it. There are an infinite number of ways to style a resume. For an easy way to get started, use these templates from ResumeGenius. Generally speaking, follow these style guidelines:
- Limit yourself to one page but use another if you have extensive, relevant work history
- Choose easy-to-read fonts and use the same font throughout
- Change font sizes in descending order for your name, headers and bullet points
- Add lines to break up content for improved readability
- Stick to one-inch margins if you can
Step 8: Proofread Your Manufacturing Resume & Finish Strong
Before you start applying for jobs and submitting your resume, take the time to review it carefully to catch any errors or typos, information accuracy and grammar. A simple mistake reflects badly on your skills and can impact your prospects. Review your resume for any spelling or grammar issues. It’s also a good idea to have a friend or family member take a look at your resume too. If you’re applying to manufacturing jobs, having a job recruiter look over your resume is also a good strategy.
Take the Hard Work Out of Job Searching
By following these tips and steps outlined above, you can create a truly compelling manufacturing resume that effectively highlights your qualifications and experience in manufacturing and makes you stand out to potential employers. Strom Minnesota is here to help if you are looking for a new manufacturing position or need help with your resume.
Want more job searching tips? Working with an experienced engineering recruiter like Strom Minnesota can help you prepare for any job interview and take the hard work out of finding positions. Don’t waste your time scouring the internet for job postings or waste time applying with multiple individual employers. Strom Minnesota takes all the hard work out of the job search, so you can find a new position faster.
Strom Minnesota is an engineering and technical recruitment agency that specializes in high-skilled job candidates for highly technical positions. We facilitate contract employment, project staffing, temp-to-perm and direct hire opportunities. Industries served include IT, engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing. We are affiliated with Strom Engineering, a national staffing and recruitment agency.
