Welder Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

How to Format a Welder Resume

As a welder, you understand the importance of stepping back to assess the job before starting to weld. 

Similarly, you should take a step back and choose a format before writing your resume.

This is not a step to skip!

In fact, a well-formatted resume highlights your best qualities and is easier for the recruiter to read.

The most commonly used resume format is “reverse-chronological”, and we can see why. As such, it is the one we recommend starting with

Here are two more formats you may want to try:

• Functional Resume - This format is a lot more about your welding skills, rather than your professional experience as a welder. This option is a good choice if you are a highly-skilled welder, but lack the professional experience.
• Combination Resume - As you can guess, a combination resume mixes the “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological” formats. As such, this format focuses on both skills AND work experience.

Once you’ve settled on your format, it’s time to focus on the resume layout.

Here’s what we recommend:

• Margins - One-inch margins on all sides
• Font - Pick a font that stands out, but is still professional
• Font Size - 11-12pt for normal text and 14-16pt for headers
• Line Spacing - Use 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing
• Resume Length - Keep everything to one page. If you’re having trouble, check out these one-page resume templates.

Use a Welder Resume Template

Microsoft Word is one of the most commonly used programs to create documents.

However, the program is not known for its formatting performance. 

We’ve all been there: you create the perfect resume, make one small change, and then the whole thing falls apart.

To skip the headache, use proven and tested resume templates.

What to Include in a Welder Resume

The main sections in a welder resume are:

• Contact Information
• Work Experience
• Certificates
• Education
• Skills

To really impress the hiring manager, add these optional sections:

• Awards & Certification
• Projects
• Languages
• Volunteer Experience

For more in-depth information of which sections to use, check out our What to Put on a Resume guide.

How to Get Your Contact Information Right

Get your contact information wrong, and you can say goodbye to that welding job! Even the best resume can’t escape the pitfalls of an incorrect phone number. 

The contact section should include:

• Full Name
• Title - In this case, “Welder”. Keep this professional and specific to the job you’re applying for.
• Phone Number - Double-check, then triple-check this. One tiny mistake can really mess up your chances.
• Email Address - Use a professional email address (firstname.lastname@gmail.com).
• (Optional) Relevant Social Media - LinkedIn, Quora, etc.
• (Optional) Location - Applying for a job abroad? Mention your location.

How to Write a Welder Resume Summary or Objective

Here’s a fact for you – studies show that recruiters spend less than 6 seconds on each resume. 

On reflection, this isn’t much of a shock, especially when you consider that recruiters typically review resumes by the hundred.

So, always keep this fact in mind when creating your resume. 

With that said, what can you specifically do to win the recruiter’s attention?

The answer is simple: use a resume summary or objective.

Essentially, these are short paragraphs that go on top of a resume.

Although similar, the two have their differences.

A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your welding skills and experiences. You can also talk about your best welding achievements. 

A resume objective, on the other hand, is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of your welding goals and aspirations.

So, which one will land you the job?

As a rule of thumb, welders with work experience should go for with a summary, whereas welders who are new to the trade should go for an objective.

How to Make Your Welding Work Experience Stand Out

Qualifications are important, but nothing speaks to the hiring manager like relevant work experience. Your work experience section should follow this structure.

Sure, your design skills are super important, but so is your professional experience. Here’s how to structure your work experience section:

• Position name
• Dates
• Company Name
• Responsibilities & Achievements

Now, you may notice the above examples are benefit-driven. Many welders make the mistake of just listing their daily duties, instead of their best achievements. 

Instead of saying:

“Welding with time restraints”

Go for:

“Completed a large welding project (worth $400k) 3 weeks ahead of schedule”

So, what’s the difference between the two?

The second one has that “wow factor”. It tells the recruiter that not only can the welder handle large projects, but the welder is great at time management.

What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?

Maybe you’ve recently finished college but haven’t done any paid welding work?

Whatever the reason, don’t worry!

As long as you can show that you’re skilled, you’ll be okay.  

But how can you show your skills, when you’ve got no work experience?

Well, create a portfolio. 

Here are several ways you can make your own portfolio (and get paid for it):

• Pick up some local gigs
• Ask your friends & acquaintances if they know anyone that needs welding work
• Work on your own side projects that show your talent

 Use Action Words to Make Your Welder Resume POP!

Most resumes have the same dull, impact-less words.

And since you don’t want to be like all of the others, we’d recommend avoiding these words as much as possible.

Instead, throw in some power words to stand out from the crowd:

• Conceptualized
• Devised
• Determined
• Drafted
• Originated
• Initiated
• Launched
• Designed
• Formulated
• Spearheaded
• Introduced

How to Add a Portfolio to Your Resume

Portfolio sections are added in the same way that you’d add your work experience…

Under a header named “Portfolio” or Personal Projects, link to your website (or Behance / Dribble), and list the welding projects you’ve worked on.

If you don’t have room for a dedicated portfolio section, you can just link to your online portfolio in your contact information section.

How to List Education Right

The next section in any welder resume is your education.

Now, all you need to do here is list your most relevant or recent education, which is typically a welding course.

• Course Type
• College Name
• Years Studied
• GPA, Honours, Courses, and anything else you might want to add

Here are a few frequently asked questions on education (and their answers!):

Still have some questions? Check out our guide on how to list education on a resume.

Top 12 Skills for a Welder Resume

It goes without saying, but the hiring manager will want to see that you’re a skilled welder.

With that said, the hiring manager won’t know what you can do, if you don’t mention it. 

Imagine this: the hiring manager needs someone who is skilled in flux-core welding, but you forget to mention that you are a professional at that specific skill. In this case, you’ll miss out on getting the job.

Here are some skills a hiring manager would like to see from a welder:

Hard Skills for a Welder

• FCAW
• SMAW
• GMAW
• Oxy-Fuel welding
• Pipe welding
• ISO9001 trained
• 0.35 to 3/32 wiring

Soft Skills for a Welder

• Handling pressure
• Communication
• Time management
• Collaboration
• Problem solving

View our mega-list of 100+ must-have skills in 2023.

Other Resume Sections You Can Include

You’ve talked about your experience, education, and skills.

But is this enough to stand out from the competition?

Well, not quite. 

There are a few other sections you can add to take your resume to the next level.

In fact, the following sections can be the difference between getting the job or not...

Awards & Certifications

Did you win a welding award while in education?

Has your welding work been recognised for any awards?

Any award is sure to impress the hiring manager. So if you have won any, be sure to mention them in your resume! 

Projects

Are you passionate about welding?

That’s exactly what the hiring manager wants to hear!

Someone who welds on the weekend is more attractive to an employer than someone who only welds when they’re getting paid.

Here are some of the potential examples…

• Blog website about welding
• Side projects, such as building a car

Languages

Although very unlikely to be needed in your day-to-day life as a welder, you never know when a language will seen as a benefit. It certainly can’t hurt, can it?!

Make sure to order the languages by skill level, like this:

• Native
• Fluent
• Proficient
• Intermediate
• Basic

Interests & Hobbies

Now, you’re likely thinking, “why does the hiring manager need to know about my passion for fishing?”

Well, they don’t, but it does show that you’re not just a robot who only works.

Recruiters want to see that you’re someone who they will enjoy working with.

Not sure if your hobbies & interests are suitable? Check our guide.

Match Your Cover Letter with Your Resume

So, by now you should have a first-class resume.

But is this enough to beat the rival welders?

One of the easiest ways to fast-track your application to the top of the pile is to include a cover letter with your resume. 

A cover letter instantly creates a personal relationship. You see, you’re not just sending the same resume to ten different companies. Instead, you’re showing that you want to work with this company, not just any which will accept you.

Creating a cover letter is also another chance for you to show your achievements and experiences. 

If you’re not sure how to create a convincing cover letter, simply follow the steps below

That’s the winning structure, and this is what goes under each section:

Contact Details

Your personal contact information, including full name, profession, email, phone number, location, website (or Behance / Dribble).

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Full name, position, location, email

Opening Paragraph

A strong introduction will catch the recruiter’s attention, which will lead to them reading the whole resume. So, mention:

• The position you’re applying for
• Your experience summary and best achievement

The Body

Once you’ve got the hiring manager hooked, you can go through the rest of your background. Some of the points you can mention here are:

• Why you’re applying for this specific company
• What you know about the company’s culture
• How your best skills are relevant for the job
• If you’ve worked in similar industries or positions

Closing Paragraph

This is where you:

• Conclude the main points
• Thank the reader for their time
• Finish with a call to action. Something like, “I’d love to discuss further how my experience as an X can help the company with Y”

Formal Salutations

Use a formal closing, such as “Best regards” or “Sincerely.”

Key Takeaways

Congrats!

Follow the steps in this guide for the best chance at landing your next welding job. 

Now, let’s quickly sum up what we have learned:

• Use a reverse-chronological format and the correct layout for your welder resume
• Start your resume with a summary or objective to make your resume more readable
• Talk about your best achievements in your work experience section
• Create a portfolio of your best work. This should include high-quality images
• Write a cover letter to go with your resume

Suggested Reading:

• Best Resume File Type - PDF vs Word [+Templates]
• 9+ Essential Resume Ideas [to Get Your Next job]
• 3 Job-Winning Resume Outline Examples [Download]