
Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Resume Formats
Want to choose the best resume format? First, you must understand the differences between the three main types. See examples of various resume formats and make an informed choice.
You can strip and rebuild anything, and you’ve got the scar tissue on your hands to prove it. Now prove it to auto shop managers with your tuned-up mechanic resume.
There are 770,100 automotive tech jobs out there. That’ll shrink by 1% in 10 years, while other careers are growing.
So your auto mechanic resume has to purr like a Ferrari to get a job you’ll actually like.
But don’t fret. It’s not as hard as working on an Audi Allroad. You just need the right parts.
In this guide:
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Not that kind of mechanic? See these guides:
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Memphis Curren
Auto Mechanic
Personal Info
Phone: 757-303-0136
Email: memphiscurren@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/memphiscurren
twitter.com/memphiscurren
Summary
Energetic auto mechanic and ASE Master Tech with 3+ years of experience troubleshooting and repairing 3,100+ vehicles. Seeking to provide excellent service at Marsh Motors. Maintained 99% quality control compliance at New River Auto Repair.
Certifications
2019—ASE Master Tech
2020—Snap-on Tools Certification
Experience
Automotive Mechanic
New River Auto Repair
2016–2019
Key Achievement
Freelance Automotive Mechanic
Blacksburg, VA
2014–2016
Education
Automotive Repair, New River Community College, VA
2012–2014
Blacksburg High School, Blacksburg, VA
Additional Activities
Hard Skills: OBD2 scanner, computer diagnostics, manual diagnostics, Work Orders software
Soft Skills: strong work ethic, problem solving, customer service, time management
An Auto Mechanic diagnoses, and fixes vehicles for customers. They are responsible for installing different mechanical components, repairing faulty ones, as well as performing regular maintenance checks. Mechanics can perform their duties on various vehicles, depending on their specialization.
Here’s how to write a workable auto mechanic resume:
Bad news:
Most shop managers will torch a sloppy auto or diesel mechanic resume.
Don’t let ‘em do it to you.
Give your resume format a fighting chance with these tips:
Expert Hint: The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says auto mechanic jobs will drop by 1% in the next decade. To get a job in today’s dog-eat-dog job market, your auto resume for mechanic positions needs a pleasing format and a targeted resume objective.
Congratulations!
The shop manager just bookmarked your resume for mechanic jobs. Why? Because you grabbed him with your perfect auto mechanic resume objective.
See, a resume objective or resume summary shows your best components in brief.
Include:
But—save it until the rest of your resume is finished.
See these auto mechanic resume examples:
Whoops!
The second of those mechanic resume examples needs body work. It says you can repair cars. It says your quality control score is high. But—
The first shows 3,100+ vehicles repaired and a 99% QC score.
And what if your knuckles are still scar-free? If you’re a brand new automotive tech, see this entry-level resume for mechanic jobs:
Diagnostics?
The second of those entry-level mechanic resume examples ain’t bad. But “ain’t bad” won’t get you a paycheck. You need metrics like the first example.
What mechanic skills belong in your resume?
See this list:
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
Technical Skills | Efficiency |
OBD2 Scanner | |
Diagnostics | Verbal Communication |
Troubleshooting | Customer Service |
Brakes, Shocks | Problem Solving |
Electrical, HVAC | Organization |
Collision Repair | Dependability |
Large Vehicles | Detail Oriented |
Work Orders Software | Work Ethic |
Own Tools | Patience |
But think about it:
If you list all the mechanic skills, they’ll think you’re blowing smoke. Write a customized resume tuned to the job description.
Need the perfect skills to put on your resume? They’re in the online ad. They’re also called resume keywords because they’re the key to getting hired. Find them, highlight them, and put them on your mechanic resume for maximum impact.
Work them in like the first of these auto mechanic resume samples:
This example job wants skills in troubleshooting, foreign, OBD2, and electrical systems.
Experience
Automotive Mechanic
New River Auto Repair
2016–2019
Oh-oh.
One of those mechanic resume examples has transmission issues. The first works like an OEM part.
To make the second one, we ruined it by stripping out the numbers and matching skills.
Next—
What if you’re a new mechanic?
Resumes with no experience can use freelance work and transferable skills.
See these auto mechanic resume examples with no experience:
Say the job wants collision repair, and customer service.
Freelance Automotive Mechanic
Blacksburg, VA
2014–2016
Team Member
Smokey’s Steakhouse
2015–2019
Let’s look under the hood.
The first of those mechanic resume samples has never had a mechanic job. But—
Even working on cars for friends and family can help you get an entry-level job.
Expert Hint: If you believe Reddit, auto mechanics hate their jobs, because of flat rate pay and owning their own tools. But a study by PayScale found auto mechanics were actually in the top 10 for job satisfaction. Still, a targeted resume for mechanic jobs can skip you past a lot of horrendous automotive technician jobs.
The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.
Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now.
You don’t need to be an ASE Master Tech to get a job. In that case, do you even need an education section in your resume?
Yes, but—
Install the right parts to land the interview. Do it like this diesel mechanic resume sample:
Education
Automotive Repair, New River Community College, VA
2012–2014
Blacksburg High School, Blacksburg, VA
Let’s break that down.
If you know they want a certain mechanic skill, and you can show you rocked it in your education section, go for it.
It’s just one more reason for the shop manager to hire you.
We’re almost ready to roll out. Let’s make the shop owner notice you.
How?
By proving you’re not just an interchangeable lug.
Here are a few extras you can add:
See these diesel mechanic resume examples:
Certifications
2019—ASE Master Tech
2020—Snap-on Tools Certification
Additional Activities
Additional Activities
Hmm...
Is there anything wrong with hunting or fishing?
Not at all. But it’s better to say you’re in a hunting club or fishing derbies and add even more achievements.
Meanwhile, the first of those auto mechanic resume samples leaves no doubt.
Expert Hint: Learn how to write a cover letter for your resume for mechanic jobs and send it with your resume. When writing it, talk about your understanding of the shop’s needs, then show you’ve done a few things like that before.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Here’s how to write a mechanic resume:
Got questions on how to write good resumes for mechanic jobs? Not sure how to put mechanic on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!
Want to choose the best resume format? First, you must understand the differences between the three main types. See examples of various resume formats and make an informed choice.
Long story short: if your cover letter looks bad, it will generate zero interest. And there’s more to making it look great than setting the right margins and picking good fonts.
False starts, knuckle-cracking, hair-pulling, and groaning are no way to spend an afternoon. Learn how to start a resume so you feel good, finish fast, and land the interview.