How to write a job-winning manufacturing resume

The manufacturing industry is ripe with a plethora of unique positions that range from entry to management level. With this vast selection of employment opportunities, manufacturing workers need to create compelling resumes that clearly outline their specializations and strengths. 

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In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about writing a job-winning manufacturing resume.

Keep reading to how to: 

• Choose a resume format that fits your experience level in manufacturing 
• Write an eye-catching manufacturing resume summary 
• Include technical and interpersonal skills on a manufacturing resume
• Focus on your specialized skills in your work experience section
• Use certifications to enhance your education section

1. Choose a resume format that fits your experience level in manufacturing 

Resumes can come in many different shapes and sizes. When it comes to a manufacturing resume, the best format to use is highly dependent on the applicant’s experience level. 

Different resume formats serve different purposes – namely in serving applicants with varying levels of work experience.

Below we have provided a brief explanation of each main type of resume, as well as how and when to use them:

• Reverse-chronological: This is the most common and standard resume format. It focuses on your work experience the most, listing your most recent position first and then working backward in reverse-chronological order. While this format is what most employers will expect to see, it does not always work well for applicants with limited to no relevant work experience. 
• Functional: The functional resume is an alternative format that is commonly used by recent high school or college grads. Rather than focusing on work experience, it places most of its emphasis on education, skills, and unpaid experience. This works well for recent graduates who have many academic and extracurricular experiences, but little to no formal work experience.
• Hybrid: The hybrid resume is exactly as it sounds – a hybrid between the reverse-chronological and functional formats. Rather than placing heavy emphasis on any single section, the hybrid spreads the focus out more evenly amongst all sections. This format works well for applicants with some relevant work experience who have either switched career paths or have large gaps in their work histories. 

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2. Write an eye-catching manufacturing resume summary

A resume summary is a brief statement that serves as the introduction to your resume. In this summary, you should focus on what makes you stand apart as a job applicant, such as your years of experience or significant accomplishments.

Take a look at the following incorrect example of a weak resume summary, followed by a breakdown of how to correct it

What's wrong with this example? When writing your resume summary, you want to provide as many specific details and contextual information as possible. In this example, the applicant is a bit vague regarding their engineering experience. Additionally, they should talk more about the machinery system they helped to design and develop.

Why is this better? In this corrected example, the applicant provides a lot higher quality information in regards to their experience level and accomplishments. They identify their specialization in engineering and then immediately provide a provable example by describing the machine they helped create. 

3. Include technical and interpersonal skills on a manufacturing resume

Including both hard and soft skills on your manufacturing resume is crucial for presenting a comprehensive and well-rounded profile to potential employers.

Hard skills are specific technical abilities and knowledge related to the manufacturing industry, such as proficiency in operating machinery, understanding quality control processes, or expertise in Lean Six Sigma methodologies.

These skills demonstrate your technical competencies and make you a valuable asset in executing manufacturing tasks efficiently and effectively.

In addition to hard skills, soft skills are equally important in the manufacturing industry. Soft skills encompass your interpersonal abilities, communication skills, problem-solving aptitude, and teamwork capabilities.

These skills showcase your ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, adapt to changes in the production environment, and contribute to a positive work culture.

For instance, strong communication skills allow you to effectively convey instructions, provide feedback, and coordinate with cross-functional teams. Meanwhile, problem-solving skills enable you to identify and resolve production issues, minimize downtime, and enhance operational efficiency.

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4. Focus on your specialized skills in your work experience section

There are many different positions within the field of manufacturing, each with their own key responsibilities and required skills.

When applying for a job in manufacturing, it is important to be clear about what type of experience you have within the industry and any key accomplishments and goals you helped achieve. You should always strive to provide at least one quantifiable example, such as a percentage of sales you helped to increase. 

Additionally, you should work in both technical and interpersonal skills into your job descriptions. This will help you in demonstrating how you apply your abilities within the field. 

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5. Use certifications to enhance your education section

Depending on the manufacturing role you seek, there will be different levels of training and educational credentials expected of you.

In general, the minimum educational requirements for manufacturing workers are either a high school diploma or a GED.

However, having a two- to four-year degree, or having completed additional training and certification programs, can help you maintain a competitive edge on your resume.