Blue Collar Resume Example
If you want to stand out with your blue collar worker applications, you'll need to create a professional resume that makes a strong impression on employers. In this article, we'll showcase resume tips and examples that can help you create a professional blue collar resume that catches the eye of employers and hiring managers.
The aim of this article is to equip you with all the knowledge required to create a resume that positions you to succeed in your blue collar worker applications. The article will take you through the key steps of creating a resume that presents your key skills, qualities and career history in a format that employers favor. It will also help you tailor your resume according to your unique skills and experience level. Read on to learn how to write a perfect blue collar resume, from the advice of careers experts at Jobseeker.
Core sections to include in a blue collar worker resume
A successful blue collar resume will typically include each of the sections listed below, with some optional sections. If you're lacking relevant work experience, you might choose to add sections that showcase your skill set earlier than in a traditional resume layout. These sections might include projects, education, hobbies and interests, skills and other optional sections.
How you choose to present your resume is up to you. There are plenty of options for a professional resume layout and format, but every application should include the following:
Resume Header with Contact Details
Your blue collar resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Make your resume header clear, concise and as brief and compact as possible. Consider different layouts that spread the information horizontally across the page rather than using a different line for each piece of information.
Make sure the email address you list in your header is professional-looking and doesn't contain any inappropriate content such as nicknames or unsuitable language. Opt for an email address based on your name or profession, or a combination of both. Finally, check your contact details before sending your resume, to ensure everything's up-to-date.
Frank Castillo
frank.castillo@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 49
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC
linkedin․com/in/frank–castillo123
Resume Objective
Your resume personal profile is a short, concise paragraph to highlight two or three key skills and achievements in blue collar worker roles. You may also see this section named as 'resume summary' or 'resume objective'. Resume summaries tend to focus on your career experience, while resume objectives cover your ambitions and plans for the future. Always make sure your summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for blue collar worker roles.
Alternatively, focus on introducing your career ambitions, and why this role is a good fit, both for you and the organization.
A great resume summary should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for blue collar worker roles by showing key skills and qualities that reflect the job description and provide evidence to support them. It should also introduce your personality and unique qualities to the reader, to help them start to form an opinion about you as a candidate. Take a look at some strong examples of how to approach a blue collar resume summary in the graphic below.
Experienced Skilled Trades Technician with over 5 years in maintenance, repair, and installation across various industries. Proficient in troubleshooting, diagnostics, and the use of specialized tools and equipment. Strong background in electrical systems, HVAC, plumbing, and mechanical operations. Demonstrated ability to read blueprints, adhere to safety protocols, and complete projects efficiently. Reliable team player with excellent problem-solving skills and a commitment to quality workmanship
Worked in various roles involving fixing and setting up things in different places for over 5 years. Can figure out problems and use tools to fix them. Have done work with electrical stuff, heating and cooling, water systems, and machines. Can look at plans and follow rules to get things done. Good at working with others and solving problems, always trying to do a good job
Conversely, a bad resume summary might be too generic, lacking focus on the specifics of the job description. It will also fail to provide any useful insights on what makes you a unique candidate. See above for some examples of things to avoid when writing your blue collar resume summary.
Work Experience
Your resume work experience section is the chance to show your relevant previous jobs and career achievements as a blue collar worker. List each relevant role in reverse-chronological order starting with your current or most recent role. Add your job title, the organization name, its location and the dates you worked there.
Under each job entry, add several bullet points highlighting your responsibilities and achievements. Consult the job description for a list of the key requirements for the role and make sure your work experience section showcases how you meet these requirements.
A good resume work experience section includes your most relevant previous jobs and highlights your key achievements in each role. To make the best possible impression on hiring managers, make sure each entry in your work experience section references skills and experience listed in the job description, and shows how you added value to each role with quantifiable evidence and outcomes. Take a look at the examples below for some guidance on what works best for your work experience section.
Certifications and Training
Under this section, list any relevant certifications or licenses that are relevant to blue collar worker jobs. These could be official licenses required for the job or certifications that improve your employability. Therefore, add any necessary licenses and certifications in this section, along with valid dates so employers can see you're still qualified for the job.
Below, you can see some relevant example certifications for a blue collar worker resume:
- OSHA Safety Certification, 2022
- CDL License, 2022
- HVAC Certification, 2022
Hard and Soft Skills
Listing your key skills can help to prove your suitability for blue collar worker jobs. These could be HVAC system maintenance, OSHA knowledge or various other relevant skills. Again, include any skills that match those listed in the job description. Focus particularly on technical skills required for blue collar worker jobs and transferable skills that show your qualities as a blue collar worker.
How to list hard skills on your blue collar resume
In your hard skills list, include any specific abilities related to the role you're applying for. These could be technical skills or industry knowledge that showcases your expertise in your chosen profession. Furthermore, your list of hard skills provides a strong indication to the reader of your expertise in blue collar worker roles, and how well you'll fit into the position. If possible, add four or five hard skills that reflect the requirements of the job description. These will boost your chances of success in your applications.
For an effective resume hard skills section, focus on the technical skills that are most essential in the job description, and that match your specific expertise. Some examples of the best hard skills for a blue collar resume are listed below.
- Machine operation proficiency
- Welding and fabrication
- CNC machine programming
Adding soft skills to your blue collar resume
In your list of soft skills, add any personal strengths, qualities or transferable skills that make you a good fit for the job. Soft skills are often less specific to different industries, but that doesn't make them any less important. In fact, as technology develops, soft skills are growing in importance for recruiters and employers, so be sure to add several of these to your resume. Think of your best soft skills and add up to five that match the requirements of the job description.
Your soft skills section should make the most of your unique personal qualities and strengths, while also reflecting the requirements laid out in the job description. See below for some examples of useful soft skills for a blue collar worker resume.
- Problem solving
- Time management
- Teamwork
Education
Under education, add details of any degrees or professional qualifications relevant to blue collar worker roles.
It's not usually necessary to have a degree for jobs as a blue collar worker. Nevertheless, it's still crucial to list your highest or most relevant educational achievements. These might include CDL License, and other certifications or courses that highlight your CNC machine programming or HVAC system maintenance.
List your relevant qualifications in reverse-chronological order. Add the name and level of the award, the institution, its location (if this isn't obvious from the name) and your dates of study. You could also add one or two bullet points to draw attention to your grades if they were particularly good, as well as any specialist subjects you studied. This will help the hiring manager understand your knowledge and special skills better.
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Industrial Technology, 2017 - 2020
University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD
If you took part in any volunteering or you were a leader or member of any societies, you could also mention these in your education section.
Skilled Trades Technician, January 2022 - Present
Ironclad Industries, Oklahoma City
- Successfully completed over 150 HVAC installations, ensuring optimal performance and customer satisfaction
- Reduced maintenance costs by 30% through proactive equipment servicing and efficient troubleshooting
- Trained and mentored 20 apprentices, enhancing team skills and productivity
Skilled Trades Technician, January 2022 - Present
Ironclad Industries, Oklahoma City
- Worked on various installations, ensuring quality and customer satisfaction
- Improved maintenance processes, leading to cost savings
- Guided team members, boosting overall performance and efficiency
In the graphic above, you'll see some examples of less effective resume work experience sections. A poor resume work experience section would typically use vague descriptions of activities in previous jobs, while focusing too much on responsibilities rather than achievements. Failing to focus on the skills and experience that match the job description is likely to harm your chances of success.
Resume tip:
Tailor your resume to the job by including keywords from the job description and focusing on skills that align directly with the role’s requirements. (1) Use a professional layout with consistent headings and formatting to ensure your resume stands out visually. (2)
Optional Sections
If you need to provide further evidence of your suitability for the job, optional sections can be useful for a blue collar worker resume. Take a look at the sections below and add any that help you show how and why you're right for the job.
Hobbies and Interests
Including your hobbies and interests can be a valuable way of showing your key skills and qualities. Your hobbies and interests are useful for a blue collar worker resume if you want to show a different side to your personality, or to stand out among other candidates. They can also be valuable if you're a junior candidate without much relevant work experience. If you're thinking about adding hobbies and interests, just make sure they add something unique to your application, and showcase your personality and interests in unique and interesting ways.
Voluntary Work
Voluntary work can help you develop useful skills, so it's a valuable addition to your blue collar resume. List your volunteer job title, the organization you volunteered for, its location and the dates of your involvement, alongside a brief explanation of your responsibilities in the role.
References
Although it's rare to include references on a blue collar resume, some employers may ask for it. Don't add references unless they're specifically mentioned by the employer in the job advert. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
Please contact me for a list of references.
Best words to use in a blue collar resume
Start each bullet point in your work experience section with a strong verb to show actions you took. Choose verbs from the suggestions below that highlight your key skills or those mentioned in the job description.
- Operated
- Constructed
- Installed
- Repaired
- Maintained
- Assembled
- Inspected
- Loaded
- Unloaded
- Transported
Jobseeker's resume templates were created by careers experts to help you produce a professional resume in minutes. You can also find cover letter templates to complete an eye-catching job application that gets you noticed.
Example of a blue collar resume
Now we've covered the main sections to include in your blue collar resume, let's take a look at how it all comes together in the example below:
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC
•
frank.castillo@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 49
•
linkedin․com/in/frank–castillo123
Skilled Trades Technician with over 10 years of experience in industrial maintenance, repair, and installation. Proficient in troubleshooting electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic systems, with a strong focus on safety and efficiency. Excellent problem-solving skills and a proven ability to work independently or as part of a team to meet project deadlines and maintain high standards of workmanship. Certified in various industry-relevant courses and consistently recognized for reliability and technical expertise.
Skilled Trades Technician
2020
-2022
MasterCraft Solutions (Indianapolis)
- Successfully supervised and trained a team of 10 apprentices, leading to a 25% increase in team productivity
- Implemented preventative maintenance programs, reducing equipment downtime by 30% and saving the company $50,000 annually
- Completed over 500 complex repair and installation projects, maintaining a 98% customer satisfaction rate
Machine operation proficiency
Welding and fabrication
CNC machine programming
Problem solving
Time management
Teamwork
OSHA Safety Certification
CDL License
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Tips for blue collar worker resumes
- Tailor your resume to make it as relevant as possible to the role you're applying for. Consult the job description and adapt your resume to reflect the required skills and experience.
- Use a clear resume format with professional elements, including suitable headings, line spacing, fonts and margins, to make your resume as readable as possible for hiring managers.
- Use action words that show how you've made an impact in different blue collar worker jobs (e.g. constructed, assembled, unloaded).
- Create a positive impression with a well-written resume summary or objective that highlights your key strengths for blue collar worker roles.
- Aim for a brief, concise blue collar resume. One page is ideal for junior roles, while two pages are more suitable for senior positions.
- Don't fill your resume with unnecessary details. Focus everything on showing you're right for the job.
- Don't list unrelated work experience unless you can show you used skills that are valuable to the job you're applying for.
- Don't add personal information such as your age, gender, a photo or marital status, as these can lead to bias in the hiring process.
- Don't use an email address that creates an unprofessional impression. Instead, create an email address for job applications based on your name.
- Don't use out-of-date contact information. Always make sure your email address and phone number are correct before sending your resume.
How to make an ATS-friendly resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to manage their hiring process. They can handle some of the more time-consuming and resource-intensive jobs, such as initial screening of resumes. Employers often receive hundreds of applications per vacancy, and ATS software can quickly and accurately scan and rank resumes based on their likely suitability for any role. When you're writing your blue collar resume, there are several things you can do to make sure your resume stands the best chance of passing the ATS stage.
Here are a few quick tips for creating an ATS-friendly resume:
- Choose a resume structure that matches the traditional, reverse-chronological layout or alternatively, the functional resume structure. This should make your resume more readable for ATS applications.
- Use of job description keywords throughout your resume will help it rank higher in the ATS scanning stage, as it will more closely match the requirements laid out in the job description.
- Add each section with clear headings that match the established resume conventions, so ATS software can easily identify each part of your resume.
- Adopt a clean, unfussy design that gives your content enough white space to breathe. Use professional, readable fonts and subtle use of color and other design elements.
- Keep your resume as concise as possible, to make it easier to read, and for ATS software to scan.
For tips and ideas to help you draft a professional resume to get noticed by employers, read our expert career articles and check out our detailed resume examples.
Frequently Asked Questions for a blue collar resume
Now that you know how to write a professional blue collar resume, you might also want to learn how to write an accompanying cover letter that makes a similar impact.
Before you write your cover letter, think about whether you need a formal, professional letter or if a brief, less formal email might be more suitable.
For a full, traditional cover letter, follow formal letter-writing conventions with your header, address line and greetings. The main text of the letter tends to be split into three short paragraphs. Firstly, introduce yourself, confirm the role you're applying for and explain why you're applying for the blue collar worker role. In the second paragraph, highlight your skills and experience that are most relevant to the job description. The third paragraph gives you the opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the role and your gratitude to the employer, while leaving a call to action which encourages them to make contact with you.
If you want to impress employers with a professional cover letter, use Jobseeker's simple and beautiful cover letter templates.
If you're an experienced blue collar worker, your resume should focus on your extensive work experience and the achievements in your career to date.
As a blue collar worker with a wealth of experience, you'll want to showcase this in your work history section. Consider going back beyond the standard 10 to 15 years of employment history to show employers your experience levels. Also, adding any optional sections that show employers the impact you've made in your career to date is a good idea. These can include awards, successful projects or a dedicated achievements section.
You can use a resume headline to introduce your document and set the tone for your blue collar worker applications. Resume headlines can also help you pass the ATS stage of the selection process, by highlighting the job title and one or two key details. Write a few words to set the tone for your resume, including the job title, your experience or track record and one or two key skills that make you stand out.
See below for an example of a well-constructed resume headline:
- Aspiring Skilled Trades Professional
- Skilled Trades Professional Seeking Opportunities
- Experienced Skilled Trades Professional
The top resume format for your applications will vary according to a couple of factors. First, how much professional experience you have. Second, what type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. For entry-level roles, or situations where you're changing to a new career, a functional resume is often the best option. This places your skills and education above your work experience. On the other hand, if you're experienced in your industry or applying for senior positions, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format is usually best. This places most emphasis on your work experience.
Key takeaways for your blue collar resume
The key to a strong resume is to showcase your relevant skills and achievements through your work experience and other activities. Choose a resume structure that makes the most of your relevant experience, whether through work or other activities, and be sure to tailor your resume to match the job description.
Use Jobseeker's resume templates, other tools and resources to create an application that impresses employers. Sign up today to access a wealth of valuable resume and cover letter resources. Whether you're a junior or senior candidate, a professional cover letter can help to grab the attention of the employer. Jobseeker's cover letter examples were created by careers experts to provide useful tips and ideas for your cover letter.
Sources:
(1) Writing a Resume, California Department of Human Resources: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/resume-tips.aspx
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
