Resumes for mechanics and skilled trades
Shop managers and hiring supervisors look at three things first: what you're certified for, what you can work on, and whether you're reliable. A good trades resume makes those easy to find in under 30 seconds.
1. Put certifications and licenses near the top
Give them their own section right under your name and summary. List each one by its exact name, with the year earned or the expiry date if it has one.
- Automotive: ASE certifications (for example A1 Engine Repair, A5 Brakes, A6 Electrical/Electronic Systems, A8 Engine Performance), ASE Master status if you have it, and EPA Section 609 (vehicle A/C refrigerant).
- HVAC and refrigeration: EPA Section 608 (Type I, II, III or Universal), plus any state or local license.
- General: CDL class and endorsements, OSHA 10 or OSHA 30, forklift certification, welding certifications, journeyman or master licenses.
- Manufacturer or dealer training, such as factory courses on specific makes.
You don't need to print license numbers on your resume. The employer can ask for them later.
2. Show what you work on, organized by system
A "Technical Skills" section grouped into headings is much easier to scan than one long list:
Diagnostics: scan tools and software you actually use, multimeter, smoke testing
Engine & drivetrain: timing jobs, head gaskets, transmission service
Brakes & suspension: ABS diagnosis, alignments, struts
Electrical: wiring repair, CAN bus faults, starting/charging
Makes & equipment: domestic and import, light/medium duty, diesel
Only list what you can do without supervision. If you're still learning something, say so ("assisted with...").
3. Put numbers on your work
Trades work is measurable, so use that:
- "Averaged about 45 billed hours a week in a 6-bay shop."
- "Low comeback rate; trusted with the shop's hardest electrical diagnostics."
- "Five years with no lost-time injuries."
- "Trained 3 apprentices and lube techs."
Use honest, rough numbers. If you don't know a figure, leave it out rather than guess.
4. Include apprenticeships, trade school and military training
List your program, school or unit, what you trained on, and the hours if it was a registered apprenticeship. Military vehicle or equipment maintenance counts, so describe it in civilian terms ("maintained a fleet of 30 tactical trucks").
5. Mention your tools, if that's normal in your trade
Many shops expect techs to bring their own tools. A line such as "Own a full professional tool set" answers that question before they ask it.
6. Keep it to one page if you can
Most trades resumes fit on one page: name and contact, summary, certifications, technical skills, work history and training. Two pages is fine if you have a long, varied career.
7. Keep private details off it
Don't include your driver's license number, date of birth or Social Security number. If the job requires a clean driving record and you have one, "Valid driver's license, clean record" is enough.
What we do for trades resumes
Send us what you've got: an old resume, a list of shops and dates, or a photo of your certificates. We'll organize it the way service managers like to read it and send you a draft. We only list certifications you actually hold, and we'll ask you to confirm each one.
Prices
Flat prices with no add-ons or upsells. You always get a Word file you can edit and a PDF, at no extra charge.
| What you get | Price | Ready in |
|---|---|---|
| Resume refresh We rewrite and reformat your resume for the kind of job you want. Up to 2 rounds of changes. | $59 | 2 business days |
| Resume + cover letter The resume refresh, plus one cover letter for a specific job. | $79 | 2 business days |
| Cover letter only One letter for one job posting. Send us the posting and your resume. | $25 | 1 business day |
We'll email you a draft; pay only after you approve it. If it isn't right, tell us what to change. You owe nothing until you approve it.
An honest note: we use AI to help
We use AI writing tools to help draft and format your resume. A real person reads, checks and edits every page before it reaches you.
- We never make anything up: no invented jobs, dates, degrees, licenses or skills. If something is unclear, we ask you.
- We take out your phone number, email and street address before using any AI tool and put them back at the end.
- You can ask us to delete your files at any time. We delete them anyway 60 days after the work is finished.
What we won't do
- We will never ask for passwords, PINs, bank or card numbers, or your Social Security number. Please don't send them. Anyone who asks you for these is not us.
- We don't log into job websites or accounts for you.
- We don't give legal, medical, or financial advice, and we don't make those decisions for you.
- We can't promise you'll get a job or an interview. Nobody honestly can.
Want us to do it for you?
Email orders@scantoolmatch.com with your old resume (or a phone photo of it) and the kind of job you want. Rough notes are fine. We'll email you a draft within 2 business days; pay only after you approve it.