Welder Resume Example
Pursuing a career as a welder provides opportunities for career progression and responsibilities involving inspecting weld quality and joining metal components. If you want to stand out with your welder 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 welder resume that catches the eye of hiring managers.
After reading this article, you'll feel confident creating a welder resume that effectively showcases your relevant skills and experience. You'll find valuable tips on writing a resume that best showcases your unique skills and achievements. There is also extensive guidance on how to structure your resume to match the job description, and to reflect your experience levels to impress HR specialists and employers. Continue reading to find expert tips and advice from Jobseeker that will help you with your welder resume.
Key sections for a welder resume
Although the content of a welder resume may differ according to your experience and seniority, the main sections will remain the same. If you're an entry-level candidate without much work experience, that section may be less prominent in your resume. You may focus instead on sections that showcase your skill set, such as education, projects, hobbies and hard and soft skills lists.
Your resume layout and structure may differ depending on your experience levels, but make sure your resume includes the following:
Resume Header with Contact Details
In your welder resume header, list your name, email address, phone number and address or location. You can also add your LinkedIn, if you have one, to help employers better understand your work history and skills. While in some countries, you might include additional personal information or a photo, these aren't necessary. Create a clear, well-structured header that acts as the headline of your resume. Use color accents and blocks to help this section stand out and catch the eye of the reader.
Only include professional, name-based email addresses in your resume header. If you have an old email address that uses nicknames, puns, references to your personal interests or anything else that could appear unprofessional, set up a new email just for your job applications. Finally, always double-check your contact details are correct and up-to-date before sending your resume.
Stephen Wright
stephen.wright@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
13 Elm Street, Springwood, OH
linkedin․com/in/stephen–wright123
Resume Summary
Your resume personal profile is a short, concise paragraph to highlight two or three key skills and achievements in welder 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 welder roles.
Alternatively, you could use this section to reference your objectives and ambitions, and how this role would fit into your career journey.
A great resume summary should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for welder 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 welder resume summary in the graphic below.
Certified Welder with over X years of experience in performing high-quality welding for various industrial applications. Proficient in MIG, TIG, stick welding, and plasma cutting. Demonstrated expertise in reading blueprints, executing precise welds, and ensuring compliance with safety standards. Skilled in fabricating and repairing metal structures, collaborating with engineering teams, and maintaining welding equipment. Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing durable, reliable welds
Welder with some experience in doing welding tasks for different projects. Familiar with various welding techniques and cutting methods. Have worked with plans and made sure to follow safety rules. Can work on metal projects, help out with teams, and take care of welding tools. Pay attention to details and aim to make strong, lasting welds
Alternatively, a poor resume summary would include bland, generic information that does little to prove your suitability for the role, while failing to provide any useful insights on you as a person or as a candidate. In the graphic above you can find some negative examples of how to write a resume summary.
Hard and Soft Skills
In your skills section, list any skills you've acquired or developed that are relevant to welder positions. Consider adding arc welding, attention to detail or any other necessary skills for the job. Again, include any skills that match those listed in the job description. Focus particularly on technical skills required for welder jobs and transferable skills that show your qualities as a welder.
How to include hard skills on your welder resume
Hard skills are the key technical skills required for welder positions. They include specific industry knowledge and abilities that you could learn on the job, or through a specialist qualification. Furthermore, it's important to show these skills in a welder resume as they provide a strong indication of your experience in the sector. Add up to five key hard skills that show you're an ideal candidate for the role. It can also be beneficial to add context to each skill, showing how you've used it to positive effect in your career to date.
The best resume hard skills sections focus on specific technical skills necessary for the job, showcasing skills that you have particular expertise in. There are some examples of valuable hard skills for a welder resume below.
- Mig/tig welding
- Blueprint reading
- Arc welding
Soft skills on your welder resume
Your soft skills are the core qualities and personal characteristics that make you a good employee. They tend to apply to multiple professions and jobs, though the soft skills you'll require may change as you move from junior to senior positions. Indeed, transferable skills are growing in importance in the modern world of work, so make sure you include several of these in your resume. Think of your best soft skills and add up to five that match the requirements of the job description.
An effective welder resume soft skills section should be targeted to include skills that reflect your personality and unique characteristics, while also matching the job description. The graphic below includes some examples of good resume soft skills.
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving skills
- Teamwork and collaboration
Education and Qualifications
In your education section, include details of your most relevant welder qualifications and educational achievements.
It's not usually necessary to have a degree for jobs as a welder. Nevertheless, it's still crucial to list your highest or most relevant educational achievements. These might include ASME Section IX, and other certifications or courses that highlight your arc welding or metal fabrication.
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 can also add some bullet points outlining any high grades, awards you won or specialist subjects you studied. Adding this information will show the employer your dedication to learning and your areas of specialist knowledge.
If you were a member of any clubs or societies, or volunteered for any causes while studying, you could also mention these in your education section.
Associate of Applied Science in Welding Technology, 2017 - 2020
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh
Certifications
In this section, include any welder certifications, training or licenses you hold that are relevant to the job. These might be licenses that show you're qualified to operate certain equipment, or certifications that give you the edge over candidates with otherwise similar career history. Therefore, make sure you list the dates of your certifications and licenses so employers can see they're up-to-date and valid.
Read on to see some relevant example certifications for a welder resume:
- AWS Certified Welder, 2022
- ASME Section IX, 2022
- CWB Level II, 2022
Employment History
Under your work experience section, add any jobs you've had in the past that are relevant to the position of a welder. 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.
In addition, include a few bullet points under each job, highlighting your key achievements so the hiring manager can see how they led to successful outcomes. Back up each point with evidence to show how you meet the job description.
The best resume work experience sections focus only on the most relevant previous jobs, and link each bullet point back to a skill or experience listed in the job description. It's also critical to provide evidence that shows the value you added to each role in a quantifiable way, such as project outcomes, key performance indicators or feedback from customers, colleagues or managers. Review some strong examples of resume work experience sections in the graphic below.
Certified Welder, January 2022 - Present
Ironclad Fabrications, Jacksonville
- Successfully completed over 500 complex welding projects, maintaining a 99% defect-free rate and exceeding quality standards
- Led a team of 10 welders in the fabrication of structural steel components for a major infrastructure project, ahead of schedule
- Achieved AWS Certified Welder status, specializing in SMAW, MIG, and TIG welding processes, with a focus on high-strength materials
Certified Welder, January 2022 - Present
Ironclad Fabrications, Jacksonville
- Worked on various welding tasks, ensuring high quality and meeting project requirements
- Managed a team to complete welding projects efficiently
- Gained expertise in different welding techniques and materials
In the graphic above you can see a great example of what to avoid when writing your resume work experience section. Less effective resume work experience sections might take a more vague, descriptive approach to previous jobs. They focus on responsibilities and everyday duties rather than referencing career achievements and the value you've added for previous employers.
Jobseeker Tip:
Emphasize hands-on experience and relevant skills, such as customer service, teamwork, or problem-solving, to showcase your readiness for the role. (1) Use bullet points to organize your resume and keep it easy to read, especially for hiring managers scanning for key qualifications. (2)
Optional Information
To provide further information on your suitability for the role, you could add some optional sections to a welder resume. Add any of the sections below that help you showcase your key skills and experience.
Personal Interests
Adding your hobbies and interests is a legitimate way of showing off your skills and personal qualities. Your hobbies and interests are useful for a welder 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. Only include hobbies and interests that showcase your personality and personal qualities, and add something different to your application.
Voluntary Work
Voluntary work can help you develop useful skills, so it's a valuable addition to your welder resume. Add any voluntary roles, including your position, the name of the organization, the dates of your voluntary work and a brief explanation of your responsibilities and achievements.
References
It's relatively unusual to include references in a standard welder resume, but they are required occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Include a maximum of three professional references, being sure to check with your referees before including them in your resume.
Please contact me for a list of references.
Best words to use in a welder resume
Using strong action words to make your resume resonate with the employer. The suggested action verbs below will help the reader to understand your key qualities and the impact you made on the organization.
- Weld
- Fabricate
- Assemble
- Repair
- Inspect
- Cut
- Grind
- Measure
- Align
- Fuse
If you need help creating a resume that impresses HR managers, take a look at Jobseeker's professional resume templates. You can also access beautiful cover letter templates that help your application stand out.
Example of a welder resume
The welder resume example below incorporates all the information from above into a full-designed resume template, so you can see how a final resume will look:
13 Elm Street, Springwood, OH
•
stephen.wright@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/stephen–wright123
Certified Welder with extensive experience in performing high-quality welds using various techniques and materials. Proficient in reading blueprints, interpreting technical drawings, and adhering to safety standards. Demonstrated ability to complete projects efficiently and accurately, with a strong focus on maintaining equipment and ensuring compliance with industry regulations. Skilled in MIG, TIG, and stick welding, with a proven track record of delivering exceptional results in both industrial and commercial settings.
Certified Welder
2020
-2022
Precision WeldWorks, Inc (Wichita)
- Successfully completed over 500 diverse welding projects, maintaining a defect rate below 0.5%
- Earned AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code Certification, demonstrating expert proficiency in steel welding techniques
- Led a team of 10 welders in a major infrastructure project, reducing project completion time by 15%
Mig/tig welding
Blueprint reading
Arc welding
Attention to detail
Problem-solving skills
Teamwork and collaboration
AWS Certified Welder
ASME Section IX
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Quick tips for a welder resume
- 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.
- Keep your welder resume as brief as possible. A single page is ideal for junior applicants, while two sides is acceptable for senior jobs.
- Use reverse-chronological order for your work and education, starting with your most recent employment and education.
- Quantify your successes by providing figures and other evidence that shows how your skills have made a difference to your employer.
- Read your resume carefully before sending it, to avoid errors that could prove costly to your chances.
- Don't forget to keep your header up-to-date with every application, to make sure you don't include old contact information.
- Don't use complex and elaborate formatting that can make your welder resume less readable and more difficult for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan.
- Don't use passive language because it can switch off the reader. Adapt phrases like 'the work was completed' to 'I completed the work'.
- Don't add any hobbies or interests unless they directly showcase a skill or experience that's relevant to the job.
- Don't crowd your welder resume with too many unnecessary details. Focus on only the most critical skills and achievements.
Making an ATS-friendly resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to streamline their hiring process. They can store and process data, including applications and applicant data, quickly and efficiently. One of the jobs ATS applications are increasingly responsible for is initial candidate screening. The systems can quickly scan and rank resumes based on how closely they match the job description. There are several things you can do when writing your welder resume, to give yourself the strongest chance of ranking highly in the ATS stage and progressing through the recruitment process.
Create an ATS-optimized resume by following these quick tips:
- Adopt a traditional structure for your resume, such as a reverse-chronological format or a functional format. These are likely to be the easiest layouts for ATS software to scan.
- Add keywords that match the job description throughout your resume, as ATS applications scan for these and well-placed, considered use can help your resume rank more highly.
- Include clear headings in each section that match the traditional resume structure and format. This will make it easier for the ATS software to scan your resume.
- Use a resume design that includes clean, professional design elements to give your content space to breathe. This might include clear, readable fonts, subtle color accents and simple design elements.
- Make sure your resume is as concise as possible, so ATS applications can easily scan and identify the required details.
If you're looking for inspiration for your resume, discover our comprehensive resume examples and in-depth, expert career blog.
Frequently Asked Questions about a welder resume
Accompanying your resume for welder applications, you'll want to produce a cover letter that similarly leaves a positive impression on hiring managers.
Check the job description to see whether a full, formal cover letter is necessary. In some situations, it might be more suitable to simply send a brief email to introduce yourself and accompany your resume.
If you choose to write a full cover letter, follow traditional letter-writing conventions surrounding greetings, sign-offs and use of professional language. The body of the cover letter tends to be three paragraphs. The first introduces yourself and the role you're applying for, giving reasons for your application. The second briefly covers your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to welder roles. Finally, the third paragraph re-emphasizes your interest in the role and leaves a call to action, encouraging the employer to reach out to you.
For help creating an eye-catching cover letter that impresses recruiters and hiring managers, use Jobseeker's professional cover letter templates.
For an experienced welder application, the objective of your resume is to showcase the many achievements in your career to date. As an experienced welder candidate, you'll want your resume to highlight your relevant work history. As such, consider going further back than the standard 10 to 15 years with your employment history. In your welder resume, think about any optional sections you could add to help prove your standing and reputation in your industry. Sections such as awards, achievements and projects can build a picture of your career successes to date.
A strong resume headline can give the reader an immediate idea of your suitability for welder jobs. Resume headlines are also a powerful way of increasing your resume's chances of passing the ATS stage. They reference the job title and some of the keywords that match the job description. Write a short, snappy heading for your resume including the job title and a reference to your experience, your track record or one or two of your key skills.
Below you can see a resume headline example:
- Aspiring Welder Seeking Growth Opportunities
- Precision Welder with Advanced Skills
- Expert Senior Welder and Fabricator
The best resume format for you depends on two things. Firstly, it depends on your experience level. Secondly, it depends on the type and level of position you're applying for. 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. If, however, you have relevant work experience in the industry, it's typically best to use a reverse chronological resume format. This highlights your achievements in work, which is probably the most important factor for hiring managers to consider.
Takeaways for your welder resume
If you want to catch the eye of employers and recruiters, you need a professional resume that showcases your best skills and career achievements. 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.
Remember, Jobseeker resume templates and other tools make it easy to create a resume and cover letter that leaves a positive impression on hiring managers. Sign up now to start building your perfect resume. Jobseeker's expert-designed cover letter generator can help your applications make a strong first impression on hiring managers. Find detailed cover letter examples to complement your resume and get your application noticed.
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/
