Three Things to Bolster Your Manufacturing Resume

It can be difficult to quantify hands-on manufacturing skills in writing, much less boil them down to a single sheet of paper. When your resume has to act as the quintessential foot in the door, you need to know how to draw attention to your best attributes as a manufacturing industry job applicant. Understanding industry jargon, making the most of certifications, and highlighting achievements are great ways to bolster your resume.

Manufacturing skills tend to be specific and niche-based. Communicate an understanding of those skills to potential employers by using the right language on your resume. A welder might include information about the types of processes he's experienced with, including things like arc welding or TIG welding. Don't throw words into your resume for the heck of it, and don't write over the level of your experience or application. You want to ensure the employer that you've developed an innate familiarity with the work over months or years and not give the impression that you Googled words related to the industry. Keep manufacturing skills on your resume technical but approachable. A human resources representative needs to be able to understand what you're talking about; recruiting staff may also use industry-related keywords to search electronic resumes, so include the most common variation of skills.

Many jobs within the manufacturing industry require certifications. Avoid being overlooked by hiring managers by keeping your certifications front and center. List applicable licenses, certifications, and degrees in bulleted form in a separate area from manufacturing skills and experience. If reviewers must search for certification information, there's a chance they'll miss the fact that you do indeed have the right qualifications to fill their positions. Even if certifications aren't required for the job in question, if you've got them, show them. If it comes down to a decision between you and a candidate of equal experience, your certifications might be the deciding factor.

Don't make your resume 100 percent about what you know and how much training you have. Hiring managers want to know you can perform in real-life situations. Include results-based statistics that tie in with your manufacturing skills. When possible, use specific information and numbers. You might state that you achieved a certain production level at 99 percent accuracy or that you developed a process that saved your previous employer $5,000 per month. Your accomplishments should give potential employers an idea of what you can do for them.

With careful wording, easy-to-read formatting, and the inclusion of previous accomplishments, you can create a resume that ensures potential employers have a good understand of your manufacturing skills. Be prepared to back up your resume during the interview process, and you'll be well on your way to landing a new job.

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