How to craft the perfect automotive resume

The automotive industry attracts fantastic candidates for all sorts of roles, so it's essential your automotive resume stands out. Find out how to catch the eye of recruiters with our tips.

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The automotive industry is massive, and there are plenty of jobs to go around. However, those numbers are dwindling each year in some sectors, as manufacturing and other processes turn increasingly to robotics and automation.

For job hunters, that means more competition. Even in growth industries, such as electric vehicles, hiring managers experience no shortage of applicants whenever a prime role comes up for grabs.

It's vital to remember that there is no such thing as the perfect automotive resume. After all, there are so many other roles within this category that it would be impossible to create a winning resume for all of them on a single sheet. However, if you're in the industry or looking to become a part of it, a few tips and tricks remain relevant no matter the role you seek.

When the time comes to seek out more specific advice, such as becoming a car dealer, production worker, or technician, you'll find even more great resources right here on the site.

For now, however, let's focus on three general tips for automotive workers that will make catching the eye of recruiters an absolute breeze!

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1. Craft an eye-catching summary for your automotive resume

Adding a resume summary to your automotive resume is highly valuable as it provides a concise and impactful introduction that immediately grabs the attention of potential employers.

In the competitive automotive industry, where technical expertise and problem-solving skills are highly sought after, a well-crafted resume summary can make you stand out from the crowd.

It serves as a snapshot of your qualifications, highlighting your key strengths, relevant experience, and career objectives.

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2. The best automotive skills to put on your resume

Thousands of hard and soft skills apply to jobs in any industry. So your automotive resume should distil them down to the ones that make the most sense.

After all, you only have a single sheet to work with and plenty to include, so you wouldn't want to take up valuable space talking about how great a cup of coffee you make – although that might be relevant to some roles!

The best way to decide which skills to include on your automotive resume is to go by the job description. Even if it's not specific about the skills required – and most are – you can take an educated guess on what it would be helpful to excel at.

Be honest with yourself and determine if you have the skills. All the better if you can back it up with specific numbers and projects. Before you know it, your winning automotive resume is coming together, no matter the particular role you have in your sights.

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3. Make your work experience count on your automotive resume

There are so many different roles in the automotive sector that you don't necessarily need to treat it as a career. Many positions invite applicants from all sorts of different backgrounds, and it's vital not only to show them what you can do but demonstrate transferable skills.

Let's say your goal is to get into sales. The best salespeople often pride themselves on the fact that they can sell just about anything. If you managed to beat your targets by 200% while selling beds or books, the chances are that with a bit of training and patience, you can do the same with cars.

Even if the bulk of your professional experience already resides in the automotive industry, you can parlay that knowledge into a completely different career path.

After all, you don't need to have been a racing driver to manage an F1 team, and you don't necessarily need to know how to change the oil on a car to sell it.

If you've been through different roles in your career thus far, both inside and outside the automotive industry, pick out skills and achievements that are easy to visualize as making an impact in your target job.

The sales example above continues to ring true. You might be great with customers or have overseen new software deployment. Big numbers and huge successes are always significant indicators for a recruiter, even if they're not directly relevant. Nevertheless, it's always a fantastic idea to make them as relevant as possible for the role you've got in mind.

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4. List your education effectively on an automotive resume

Listing your education on an automotive resume is essential as it serves as a crucial indicator of your qualifications, knowledge, and foundation in the field.

Education provides the necessary theoretical background and technical expertise that employers seek in automotive professionals. When including your education on your resume, ensure you present it effectively:

• Start with the highest level of education attained, such as a degree or diploma in automotive engineering, automotive technology, or a related field.
• Specify the name of the educational institution, location, and the year of graduation or anticipated graduation.
• Highlight any relevant coursework, honors, or academic achievements that demonstrate your specialization or focus within the automotive field.
• If applicable, mention any industry certifications or additional training programs you have completed, such as Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications or specific manufacturer training.

If you don't have formal education in the automotive field, there are still ways to effectively present your qualifications on an automotive resume. Consider the following approaches:

• Relevant Coursework or Training: Highlight any coursework, training programs, or workshops you have completed that are related to automotive technology, mechanics, or relevant technical skills. 
• Transferable Skills: Identify transferable skills from your previous education or work experiences that are applicable to the automotive field. For example, if you have a background in mechanical engineering, emphasize your understanding of mechanical principles, problem-solving abilities, and attention to detail, which are valuable in automotive roles.
• Hands-on Experience: Showcase any practical experience you have gained through internships, apprenticeships, or personal projects related to automotive work.

5. Let your interests shine through

It's not difficult to fall in love with cars, and most people who enter the automotive industry do so because they have a passion or an interest in how they work.

Therefore, much of your competition when going for any automotive role will be made up of people that grew up wanting to work with cars.

If you have that same interest, let it shine through on your automotive resume, even if only to level the playing field!

Hobbies and interests are typical in resumes, although they're not always a primary focus. They demonstrate that there's more to life than work for applicants and may also inspire conversations around transferrable skills.

If you're looking to work with cars and vehicles in general, the hobbies and interests section can become one of the most enticing parts of an automotive resume.

Recruiters love to unearth applicants with a genuine passion for their work, and if your life revolves around cars, it won't go unnoticed.

This is a relatively rare opportunity, as not all that many hobbies lend themselves so well to specific job roles. However, even if your passion only extends as far as sitting on the sofa and watching Nascar, it's one more way to prove that you just might be the perfect fit for the role at hand.