Carpenter Resume: Examples, Templates & Essential Skills

carpenter resume example
Created by CakeResume

Carpenters are a very versatile role in the construction industry. Some of carpenters’ job duties and responsibilities include following blueprints and building plans; install structures and fixtures; measure, cut, and shape materials needed for construction. 

The elegant furniture pieces and charming wood houses are born by the handiwork of carpenters. This multiskilled team consist of carpenters of different expertise such as carpenter foreman, journeyman carpenter, joinery carpenter, shuttering carpenter, framing carpenter, and carpenter helper or carpenter assistant.

No matter where in the woodworking journey you are, you need a polished, strong carpenter resume that highlights your carpentry skills, accomplishments, and relevant work experience to showcase your skills to potential employers.

How to make a resume for a carpenter?

Whether you are an experienced carpenter or a fresher looking for a carpenter apprentice, a well-written resume will be your ticket to land your next carpentry job. Below are the steps to building a strong carpenter resume. Worry not, for this guide covers steps to crafting both entry-level carpenter resumes and experienced carpenter resume.

Step 1: Understand the differences between a carpenter CV and a carpenter resume.

 A CV is a detailed record of someone’s professional experiences and education accomplishments. It is usually used during academic application, especially in the science related fields. The length of a carpenter CV might be over two pages and extends as it grows overtime.

Not including every detail of one’s professional life, a resume only highlights relevant information for a specific job position. Therefore, a resume is more commonly required during the job application process. The content of a professional carpenter resume should fit within two pages length, and the content should be frequently updated.

✍🏻 Quick tip: It is important to notice specific details that are required for the carpenter CV/resume before applying for the job.

Step 2: Choose the right resume format.

Among 4 types of carpenter resume formats (reverse chronological, functional, hybrid, and targeted), the reverse chronological format is the most commonly used one. It does a great job in showing one’s carpentry experience from the latest to the earliest, which makes a strong experienced carpenter resume. 

📝 Reminder: If you are looking to write an entry-level carpenter resume or even a self-employed carpenter resume with relatively less experience in carpentry, be confident to highlight your carpentry skills and career objectives by following the functional resume format, which is also known as a skill-based resume format.

Step 3: Look up carpenter resume templates & examples online as references.

Build your carpenter resume based on a well-structured carpenter resume template to kick start your job application game. 

When looking through a pile of carpenter resume templates, pick the consistent sections from the references you collect. Analyze the “strong parts” as well as the “weak parts” from those examples to customize your own carpenter resume.

Step 4: Tailor your carpenter resume for the job position.

After picking the right template to build your carpenter resume on, come back to the job description to get some keywords regarding the required qualifications and tie them into your carpenter resume template. This way you can surely stand out among other candidates.

Step 5: Craft a carpenter cover letter.

A well written carpenter cover letter sent along with your carpenter resume shows your high attitude and interest towards the job. Address sincerely your intention for applying to the job and highlight the qualification and key skills that you have to fulfill the job duties. 

New to writing a cover letter? Check out CakeResume’s Blog for a step by step guide to write a carpenter cover letter.

Step 6: Proofread.

No one wants to leave an unpleasant impression to potential employers or clients with word errors on their profile, so beware of spelling, grammar, alignment, and spacing in your work. The goal is to deliver an error-free and easy to read carpenter resume.

CakeResume provides the right carpenter resume templates & formats for carpenters to showcase their skills and experiences. Sign up to create the best carpenter resume Now!

What to put on a carpenter resume?

1. Resume Profile (Personal Information)

This is the most basic section in any carpenter resume that should provide recruiters essential key information about the candidate. If done right, the recruiter will be intrigued to explore the rest of your carpenter resume, which hopefully will land you a chance to interview.

 🔖 The Essential Information list:

  • Full Name: First step to get hiring managers to know you.
  • Professional title: A quick insight about where in a professional level and how experienced you are.
  • Email address: The most crucial contact method during job search.
  • Phone number: Active personal phone number provides direct call for interviewers.

 ❌  The Don’t-Bother-to-Include-it list:

  • Current salary: Avoid looking unprofessional on the early stage, this is only necessary to be discussed during negotiation time at the interview.
  • National Insurance Number/Social Security Number: Before you are hired, don’t risk exposing yourself to frauds by providing too much personal information.
  • Sexual orientation: Recruiters do not need to know too much detail about one’s private life.

2. Carpenter Resume Title/Headline

A professional title below your name in your carpenter resume can let managers know instantly your carpentry expertise and professionalism.

Carpenter resume title examples:

  • 6 Years Experienced CUTI Certified Journeyman Carpenter 
  • Framing & joinery specialist master carpenter

3. Resume Summary

A carpenter resume summary statement recaps one’s carpenter skills and experience while including relevant accomplishments that boost up your qualification as a top candidate. A good carpenter resume summary should give a quick insight to your entire woodworking journey within 6 seconds.

Examples for carpenter resume summary that gets recruiters’ attention:

  • Conscientious and detail-oriented CUTI certified carpenter skilled with all areas of residential, commercial, and industrial woodworking. Mastered project construction, repair, and maintenance of various scales within 6 years of experience. A creative problem solver who is obsessed with high quality craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail.
  • Journeyman Carpenter with 4 years of experience. Possess a broad knowledge of construction practices, techniques, procedures, tools, and equipment. Detail oriented and strong in project management abilities and team coordination. 

4. Resume Objective

If you rather have few woodworking experience, write a carpenter resume objective instead. You should be able to present to the recruiters the goal or purpose of your career, and thus convince recruiters how you will fit for the job. 

Example of a nicely stated carpenter resume objective: 

Highly motivated and results-oriented carpenter apprentice who is organized and able to work under extreme pressure, heavy workloads and deadlines. A proactive team player with strong communication skills who is also able to read and follow blueprints accurately. 

📝 Note: A well-written carpenter resume objective can be 2-3 sentences or as a short paragraph. 

5. Carpenter Skills for Resume

Since carpentry is a skilled trade, the carpenter resume skills section could be the highlight of the whole resume. Be specific and remember to pick some action verbs when describing your experience. Also, soft skills are as crucial as hard skills as a carpenter.

Here is how to fill the carpenter resume skills section:

✔️ Hard skills:

  • Furniture building, drilling & framing.
  • Fluent with CAD.

✔️  Soft skills:

  • Strong time management.
  • Broad knowledge in materials, tools, and assembly methods.

6. Work Experience

Only include relevant experience and accomplishments when filling your work history section to strengthen your qualification. 

Example of work experiences on construction carpenter resume:

Journeyman Carpenter  |  Shaffold Construction, January 2019 - Present     

  • Used roughly 25 different types of power tools to supply client needs.
  • Selected and ordered timber and other materials on a weekly-basis.
  • Built custom furnitures and cabinets for businesses in various industries including bars, stages, and sound booths.

7. Education

For construction carpenters, apprenticeship and on-the-job training might be more common than formal college degrees.

Therefore, if you don’t have any college coursework, it is fine to include a high school diploma:
"High School Diploma, Columbus High School, Swanson, Columbus 2014"

8. Additional Information

Include any type of relevant carpentry certification or training in this section:

  • CUTI Professional Carpenter Training
  • OSHA 30-Hour Safety Training Certificate

Tips for writing the best carpenter resume

💡 Tip 1: Customize the carpenter resume for the job.

Comprehend the job requirements and match them to your skills and qualifications. Follow by making a list of your most-relevant accomplishments, and exclude irrelevant parts.


💡 Tip 2: Use Keywords (from Job Description) in your carpenter resume.

Remember the keywords you gained from the earlier job research process? Utilize it as much and as smart as possible to enhance the visibility of your carpenter resume to the employers. 


💡 Tip 3: Quantify results on resumes.

Explain your points clearer by adopting numbers and statistics in your carpenter resume summary and work experience section. 


💡 Tip 4: Choose an ATS-friendly carpenter resume format.

An ATS friendly format gets your carpenter resume through the scanning process and increases the chance to be seen by hiring managers.


💡 Tip 5: Adopt resume action words in telling your woodworking experience.

Pick the right action verbs for each description (here’s a list).


💡 Tip 6: Include other valuable related carpentry skills to your resume.

Work in the carpentry field might include diverse people. In some areas, it will be valuable if you are fluent with a common dialect. List your language ability below the “additional information” section.

How to write a cover letter for a carpenter?

Worry not for coming to the job search race without any experience. Writing a cover letter for a carpenter with no experience is definitely possible with the right structure.

Here’s the outline for a strong carpenter cover letter:

1. Contact details 

This the first basic information to be put in any cover letter. Put your full name, email, and phone number.


2. Introduction

Start with a polite and personal greeting. Use the hiring manager’s name to address the letter.


3. Motivation

Briefly state the reasons why you are interested in joining the company. You can mention some company knowledge to support your intention.


4. Qualification

Upon altering your intention to apply for the job, you need to prove that you have the right qualification to do the job. You can pick 2-3 most important experiences or skills that prove relevance with the job requirements. 


5. Closing

The last paragraph of your carpenter cover letter should sum up your qualification for the job. Most importantly, express your gratitude towards the recruiter for reviewing through your application, and tell them you look forward to a chance to discuss more about the job details.

Carpenter Resume Sample

Marshall Wood 

6 Years Experienced CUTI Certified Journeyman Carpenter

(+1)000-1718
[email protected]
linkedin.com/marshallwood
cakeresume.com/marshallwood

Professional Summary

Conscientious and detail-oriented CUTI certified carpenter skilled with all areas of residential, commercial, and industrial woodworking. Mastered project construction, repair, and maintenance of various scales within 6 years of experience. A creative problem solver who is obsessed with high quality craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail. 

Work Experience

Shaffold Construction 
Journeyman Carpenter
January 2019–Present

  • Use roughly 25 different types of power tools to supply client needs.
  • Select and order timber and other materials on a weekly-basis.
  • Build custom furnitures and cabinets for businesses in various industries including bars, stages, and sound booths.
  • Install doors, windows, ceiling, floor tiles, and other fixtures on over 400 unique structures on both residential and commercial building projects.

Cornerstone Construction
Accounts Receivable ClerkCarpenter Apprentice 
December 2014 - December 2018 

  • Mastered knowledge of basic construction materials and various assembly methods for timber, steel, plastic, fiberglass, concrete.
  • Installed plumbing, light electrical, and related fixtures for both residential and commercial projects under lead carpenter’s supervision. 
  • Tilted up and casted in place concrete structures including panels, pre-stressed beams, and post.
  • Repaired roof damage including trusses, eaves, and tile roofing materials.

Education

2014, High School Diploma
Columbus High School, Swanson, Columbus

Skills

  • Furniture building, drilling & framing
  • Fluent with CAD
  • Expert in custom cabinetry
  • Project estimation cost and bidding
  • General repairs & maintenance
  • Strong time management
  • Broad knowledge in materials, tools, and assembly methods
  • Detail-oriented
  • Problem identifying & solving
  • Proactive team player

Certifications

  • CUTI Professional Carpenter Training
  • OSHA 30-Hour Safety Training Certificate

Languages 

  • English: Native 
  • Spanish: Limited Working Proficiency

--- Originally written by Elonike Verina ---

Resume Builder

Build your resume only in minutes!

More Articles you might be interested in

Latest relevant articles
Resume & CV
Mar 6th 2024

What to Write in an Email When Sending a Resume [+ Examples & Tips]

Looking for guidance on writing an effective email to send resume? Discover expert tips and email examples to maximize your chances of landing that dream job!