Painter Resume Examples, Job Description & Skills

With a fair number of job openings for painters, your future looks bright. 

However, plenty of other candidates will be vying for each opportunity, many with more experience. So, improve your coverage by submitting a job application that paints a complete picture of your skills—

Let’s see how to write a perfect painter resume from basecoat to finish. 

In this guide:

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

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Considering different jobs? Take a look at our other resume examples: 

• Carpenter Resume Example
• Construction Resume Example
• Electrician Resume Example
• Forklift Operator Resume Example
• HVAC Technician Resume Example
• Maintenance Resume Example
• Maintenance Technician Resume Example
• Truck Driver Resume Example
• Warehouse Resume Example
• Welder Resume Example
• Resume Examples for Every Industry

Painter Resume Example

Painters mix or select paints and apply them to internal and external building surfaces. They also prepare the surfaces for painting and add finishes or texturing. A successful painter resume should show appropriate experience and excellent attention to detail. 

Here’s how to write a painter resume that covers all the bases (in a single coat): 

1. Prime Your Painter Resume With the Right Format

Let’s get your surface prepped—

Whether you’re a construction, house, or industrial painter, the first step is always the same.

Before you start writing, format your resume with these tips in mind: 

• Apply the reverse-chronological layout to your resume. List your most recent work experience first, followed by your previous jobs and education. 
• Pick an elegant, easy-to-read resume font like Gill Sans, Arial, or Georgia. 
• Set the margins of your resume document to one inch all around the page. 
• Remember that you have a small area to work with—the best resume length is one page. 
• Make an eye-catching, professional resume header with your contact details. 
• Plan enough space for the recommended resume sections: profile paragraph, work experience, education, critical skills, additional information (languages, interests, etc.)

PDF files are more reliable at preserving your resume layout than Word Docs. Submit your resume as a PDF to ensure your document looks the same on the recruiter’s computer as yours. 

2. Start With an Eye-Catching Painter Resume Objective or Summary

By setting up your resume with the correct format, you dressed it up in a clean set of painter’s whites and ensured that it made a positive first impression. Now, to ensure it catches the reader’s attention—

Start your resume with a profile section highlighting your best skills and accomplishments. Resume profile statements come in two types: summary and objective. Summaries are for experienced painters who’ve worked in the trade for a few years. Here’s how to write a resume summary: 

1. Start by describing your work ethic with one adjective (efficient, reliable, detail-oriented)
2. Follow with your job title and experience level (painter with 4+ years of experience)
3. Offer to help the employer in a specific way, mentioning their name (seeking to apply my skills towards providing an efficient and professional service to XYZ Company’s clients)
4. Outline your best professional achievements in a sentence or two (completed 150+ projects for individual and corporate clients, achieving 100% positive feedback)

If you don’t yet have painting experience, you can write a resume objective statement instead. Lean on achievements from your school years (if you’re a recent grad), volunteering, or any other projects that prove your painting skills. 

No matter your experience level, summing up your offer to the employer in just a few short sentences can be challenging. If you hit a brick wall, write your profile at the end—it’ll be easier with the rest of your resume ready to go. 

3. Layer Achievements and Skills Into Your Painter Job Descriptions

Time to get out your 1/2" brush because working on this next section is going to require a lot of fine detail—

Paint your experience in broad, predictable strokes, and your resume will blend in. Tailor it to the employer’s expectations with care and precision, and it’ll stand out like a work of art.

Here’s how to write a tailored painter job description for resumes: 

1. Open the job ad and reread it. Look for resume keywords—skills and experience the employer wants. 
2. Remember when you used those skills or completed similar tasks in previous jobs. 
3. Write bullet points based on those ideas (up to 6 per job), presenting your painter duties as accomplishments on your resume. This means starting each bullet with a resume action word, including numbers where possible, and following the P-A-R formula. 

With your resume work experience section written this way, you’re already miles (or gallons, or square feet if you prefer) ahead of the competition. Targeting your resume to the opening is the key to success, so do it in your skills list, too. 

In your resume skills section, include up to 10 of the most relevant skills you identified when reviewing the job ad. The idea is to show you have every ability the employer is after. Here are some ideas to get you going: 

Top Painter Resume Skills

• Interior & exterior painting
• Hand-eye coordination
• Paint types and applications
• Attention to detail
• Stripping old finishes
• Surface repairs
• Spray gun use & maintenance
• Choosing primers and finishes
• Mixing paint
• Operating equipment
• Teamwork
• Stamina and dexterity
• Furniture renovation
• Technical skills
• Time management skills
• Multitasking
• Creative thinking skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Communication skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Customer service skills

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4. Highlight Your Education

There are no formal educational requirements for most painter roles. However, this doesn’t mean your education is unimportant—

Include it in a separate resume section detailing your most recently completed schooling. Make sure to list the name of the school and your graduation year. 

If you’re writing a resume without experience, you can expand your resume education section with additional details. Relevant coursework, a high GPA, extracurricular activities, and projects that show your skills are all fair game. 

5. Give Your Painter Resume a Satin Finish With a Few Extra Sections

Alright, time to apply your top coat—

Finish off your resume with additional sections that add flair and uniqueness to your application. Consider listing some of the following: 

• Your licenses and certifications—including your driving license, if the employer mentions it in the job ad
• Foreign languages you speak, along with your level of proficiency (fluent, advanced, beginner, etc.)
• Volunteering experience
• Projects or additional achievements you haven’t mentioned elsewhere

You can also include a hobbies section on your resume if your interests relate to your job and show relevant skills. For example, if you’re into fitness or playing sports, this could show you’re physically fit and have good hand-eye coordination. 

Now give the finish on your resume time to dry—

In the meantime, write a cover letter detailing your experience, suitability for the job, and motivation to join this particular employer. 

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Key Points

Let’s give it another once-over—

Here’s how to write a painter resume that lands interviews: 

• Mask your surface by formatting your document cleanly. Make each section easy to find and include plenty of white space. 
• Fill in the blanks with your achievements and relevant skills, taking inspiration from the job ad. 
• Include additional sections for anything else you want to share with the employer. 
• Write a painter cover letter outlining why you’re the ideal candidate for this job.

Thanks for reading! Do you have any questions about which painter resume skills to choose? Perhaps you’re unsure how to write a painter job description for resumes that will stand out. Start a discussion in the comments section below. I’m here to help!

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