Field notes / For candidates
Show the work you know.
You don’t need polished corporate language to explain your experience. A hiring manager needs to see the work you can do and where you learned it.
Make the useful details visible.
- Welding: processes you use, materials, positions, typical work and current certifications.
- Machining: machines and controls, setup versus operation, programming experience and inspection tools.
- Warehouse: receiving, inventory systems, order picking, shipping and equipment you’ve been trained to use.
- Leadership: crew size, scheduling, training, quality checks and the responsibilities you personally owned.
Describe what you actually did.
Use a simple structure: action, equipment or process, and scope. “Set up and ran a three-axis mill using Fanuc controls; checked finished parts with micrometers” says more than “hardworking team player.” Only include details you can explain and support.
Give each job a clear place.
Include employer, job title and month/year dates. Put the most relevant recent work first. Contract assignments, training and other useful experience can have their own sections.
Before you send it
- Check your phone number, email and city.
- Check dates and certification status.
- Open the file on your phone to make sure it reads cleanly.
- Use a name like Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf.
- Leave out Social Security numbers, financial information and identity documents.
For broader guidance, explore CareerOneStop’s resume and job-search resources.
No resume ready yet? You can still introduce yourself to Seat Fill. Start with your experience and what you want next.