Carpenter Resume—Examples, Skills, Job Description & Guide

Most carpenter resumes are full of flaws—

The kind that no amount of sawdust mixed with wood glue can smooth over.

Make your fit and finish better than theirs, and your carpenter resume is guaranteed to get read.

Choose the right materials and follow the right blueprints—

And you’re on your way to landing that interview.

In this guide:

• A carpenter resume examples better than most.
• How to create the perfect carpenter job description for resumes.
• How to write a resume for carpenter jobs that stands out.
• Expert tips and examples to boost your chances of landing a carpenter job.

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Looking into other jobs as well? Check out these guides:

• Construction Resume Example
• Electrician Resume Example
• Mechanic Resume Example
• Janitor Resume Example
• HVAC Technician Resume Example
• Construction Project Manager Resume Example
• Interior Design Resume Example
• Architecture Resume Example
• Engineering Resume Example
• Warehouse Resume Example
• Military to Civilian Resume Example
• Resume Examples for Every Job

Carpenter Resume Example

Now here’s how to write a carpenter resume they’ll love:

1. Go With the Right Carpenter Resume Format

Just like that apprentice—

The one who manages to scratch your burnishing rod every time he tries (and fails) to prepare a cabinet scraper—

Your carpenter resume is not likely to get far if it doesn’t get the simple things right.

So make sure your resume format says all the right things about you. Here’s how to format your resume properly:

Carpenter Resume Format

• Use the chronological resume format to show your most recent successes first.
• Choose a good resume font like a Arial or Calibri in 11–12 pt.
• Set your resume margins to an inch all round and don’t crowd the page.
• Measure out your resume length. How many pages should a resume be for carpenter jobs? One will suffice—go to a second page only if you’ve been at it for 20 or more years. 
• Include at least these sections: Resume header, Summary, Experience, Education, and Skills. Additional sections, like Certifications and Languages, are optional. 

When it comes to sending your carpenter resume—

Saving your resume in PDF will keep the formatting straight and true, but—

Some companies scan incoming resumes with ATSs (Applicant Tracking Systems) that can’t handle PDF.

So—

To make sure you submit an ATS-friendly resume, always check the job ad for a preferred file format.

If they haven’t specified anything, go with PDF.

2. Start With an Attention-Grabbing Carpenter Resume Objective or Summary

The best way to start a resume for carpenter jobs?

With a strong summary of why you’re exactly who they’re looking for.

And the best way to do that?

With a resume profile.

The profile is a short paragraph that goes right below the header of your resume. It serves a series of important purposes: to catch the reader’s attention, to show your value to the employer straight away, and to get the recruiter to read on. 

Now then— 

Got a year or more of carpentry experience?

Make your profile a resume summary. It’ll let you make full use of that experience.

Use:

1. One adjective (dedicated, reliable, highly disciplined)
2. Job title (Carpenter)
3. Years of experience (4+, 6+)
4. How you’ll help (maintain high standards of work while keeping costs down)
5. Two or three of your most relevant achievements (examined buildings and project specifications to determine measurements and dimensions with 98% accuracy, selected lumber based on the characteristics of each job, reducing waste by 10–15%)

These carpenter resume summary statement examples show how:

Carpenter Resume Summary—Examples

Who would you choose?

The first of these carpenter resume examples does two things particularly well:

It’s all about what the candidate can do for their potential employer, not the other way around, and—

It puts numbers to duties, effectively turning them into resume achievements.

What if you have little or no experience working as a fully fledged carpenter?

Use a resume objective as your resume profile. Focus on relevant experience and transferable skills from other sources, like apprenticeships, volunteer work, projects, school accomplishments, or non-carpentry jobs. 

See these resume objective statement examples: 

Carpenter Resume Objective—Examples

And again:

The first carpenter resume example quantifies everything it can while keeping the spotlight on the value the candidate can bring to the company.

Feeling stuck?

Write your resume profile after you’ve done the next two sections—

You’ll find it much easier, and you’ll do a better job, too.

3. Write the Perfect Carpenter Job Description and Skills Sections

When it comes to convincing them you’ve got what it takes, the next best thing to mailing in past passion projects is describing what you’ve handled in the past.

So, time to make your resume work history section a trophy room of past achievements.

How to write a job description for carpenters:

1. Re-read the job ad.
2. Mark the carpenter skills and duties in it.
3. Think of times those skills helped you wow employers.
4. Write resume bullet points that describe and quantify those times. Action words and numbers are your best friends here. 

These carpenter resume examples show how to put the above into practice:

Carpenter Job Description for a Resume

Quite the contrast.

Being specific and putting numbers to benefits and claims makes a huge difference, every time.

One more thing:

It’s time to select the skills to put on a resume.

But—

This isn’t like gluing up end grain: more is not better.

Be selective in the skills you include: cover everything suggested by the job ad, add one or two skills for good measure, and stop there.

The following lists will get you started and help you see the difference between hard and soft skills: 

Carpenter Skills for a Resume

Hard skills

• Power tools
• Hand tools
• Dry wall
• Wall hanging
• Building codes
• Building plans
• Cabinet making
• Blueprint reading
• Trim carpentry
• Doors and windows

Soft skills

• Time management
• Communication skills
• Organization
• Prioritization
• Teamwork
• Punctuality
• Attention to detail
• Scheduling
• Critical thinking
• Leadership
• Creativity

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4. Turn Blah Education Into a Reason to Hire You

It takes a lot to become a carpenter—

But a college degree isn’t usually on the list.

That doesn’t mean you can phone in your education section—

It can make all the difference.

First:

List your highest level of schooling, the name of the school or college, and graduation year.

Then:

Add bullet points that show carpentry skills in the making.

This carpenter resume example shows how:

Carpenter Resume Template—Education Section

Short on carpentry experience? 

Lengthen your resume education section to include relevant projects, classes, and accomplishments.

5. Fill Your Carpenter Resume With Added Sections

Sometimes it’s good to overshoot the mark:

Most resumes for carpenter jobs stop with experience, education, and skills sections—

Stand out by taking it further.

Add one or two extra sections:

• Additional Activities
• Foreign Languages
• Classes Taken
• Awards
• Hobbies and Interests
• Volunteering
• Certifications
• Professional References

These two carpenter resume examples show yes vs no:

Carpenter Resume Examples—Extra Sections

MDF, meet hickory.

Hobbies and interests can make for a great addition to your carpenter resume—

But—

They have to be relevant to the job ad at hand.

Everything you include has to be relevant to the job ad.

Nearly there, one last question:

Is there something in the job ad about not writing a cover letter?

If there isn’t, then you’ll need to include one. Your carpenter resume will be incomplete without it.

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Key Points

For a carpenter resume that gets interviews:

• Use the template for a carpenter resume up top. It fits with hiring managers’ expectations like a mortise and tenon.
• Add carpenter achievements to your summary, work experience, and education sections to show you know how to use every tool in your tool belt.
• Go with the right carpenter skills for your resume. Which ones are the right ones? The job ad will tell you all you need to know.
• Write a carpenter cover letter. It’s how you get to show your passion for the work as you roll out a highlights reel of your achievements.

Our carpenter resume sample not detailed enough, as far as blueprints go? Got any questions to ask or advice to share? Drop us a line down below—we can’t wait.