Top CNC Machinist sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers & results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Writing a strong CNC Machinist experience section
CNC Machinist Resume Experience Section: Dos and Don'ts
- List 4-6 bullet points per position;
- Include only relevant job experience;
- Make sure to highlight your strongest skills by focusing on the challenges you’ve faced and the results you’ve achieved;
- Don’t use buzzwords that carry no meaning;
- Don’t share confidential information about your previous employers.
Check out the examples below when building your experience section. They will help you stand out!
- Successfully machined complex aerospace parts, including ducts, brackets, and housings, achieving tolerances of +/- 0.001 inches
- Reduced cycle time by 20% by optimizing tool paths and increasing cutting speeds while maintaining quality standards
- Led the training of two junior machinists, resulting in a more efficient workflow and improved quality
- Implemented a tooling management system, reducing tool breakage by 30% and increasing machine uptime
- Collaborated with engineering teams to optimize part designs for manufacturability, reducing material waste and improving production efficiency
- Increased production output by 25% by developing and implementing new CNC programs for milling and turning operations
- Reduced scrap rate by 50% by identifying and correcting program errors and implementing tool wear compensation strategies
- Collaborated with engineering teams to develop and refine part designs for manufacturability, reducing material waste and improving production efficiency
- Led the transition from manual to automated programming processes, resulting in a 30% reduction in programming time and errors
- Developed and maintained a library of standard machining processes and best practices, improving consistency and quality across the organization
- Maintained an average machine uptime of 95% by performing regular maintenance and repairs
- Improved production efficiency by 20% by optimizing machine programs and tooling
- Reduced scrap rates by 30% by implementing quality control measures and performing inspections
- Trained 5 new machinists on proper machine operation and safety procedures
- Contributed to a team-oriented environment by collaborating with engineers and other technicians
- Produced 1000+ high-precision aerospace components with zero defects or rework
- Increased production output by 50% by optimizing machine programs and reducing setup times
- Implemented a new tooling management system that reduced tooling costs by 20%
- Collaborated with engineers to develop and implement new manufacturing processes
- Maintained a clean and organized work area to promote safety and efficiency
- Conducted in-process inspections to ensure machining operations met specified tolerances resulting in a 15% reduction in rework time.
- Maintained accurate and timely records of production output, resulting in a 10% increase in efficiency.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot and resolve issues in a timely manner, reducing machine downtime by 20%.
- Developed CNC programs for complex parts resulting in a 30% reduction in cycle time.
- Implemented a new inspection process resulting in a 20% reduction in scrap and rework.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to identify and implement process improvements, resulting in a 15% increase in efficiency.
- Produced precision parts for aerospace and medical industries, ensuring compliance with strict quality standards.
- Maintained and calibrated machinery to ensure consistent and accurate production.
- Collaborated with production teams to troubleshoot and resolve issues, resulting in a 10% reduction in machine downtime.
PRO TIP
Make sure to relate your experience to your job description, but never lie. That’s not tolerated and will show up in the face-to-face interview later on.
Action Verbs for your CNC Machinist Resume
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CNC Machinist Resume: The Skills Section!
CNC Machinist Resume Skills Section Checklist:
- Match your hard skills to the job description;
- Add keywords to pass applicant tracking systems;
- Don’t list soft skills such as ’teamwork’ – rather, mention how they’ve helped you gain success in some other sections of your CNC Machinist resume;
- List only skills you actually have, keep lying out of the picture.
Top skills for your cnc machinist resume
CNC programming
Blueprint reading
Precision measurement tools
Machine setup and calibration
CAD/CAM software
Cutting tool selection
Machining center operation
Grinding and polishing
Material handling and storage
Quality control and inspection
Attention to detail
Problem-solving
Time management
Adaptability
Teamwork and collaboration
Communication skills
Work ethic and reliability
Stress management
Critical thinking
Continuous learning
PRO TIP
When describing your experience, don’t go too far from its terminology. Recruiters use ATS systems to filter resumes based on them having certain keywords, so make sure you use at least a few keywords mentioned in the job description.
Recommended reads:
CNC Machinist resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist: Writing a resume summary that makes you stand out
- Keep it short and use well-structured sentences;
- Mention your total years of experience in the field and your #1 achievement;
- Highlight your strengths and relevant skills;
- Add keywords from the company’s website or the job description.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Include a link to your portfolio in your resume header. Most companies will require that you include one in your resume, and even if they don’t, it’s an excellent opportunity to directly show them your proudest projects.
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Formatting Your CNC Machinist Resume
What’s worse than a .docx resume? A resume with a poorly chosen format.
In general, there are three basic resume formats we advise you to stick with:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Choosing between them is easy when you’re aware of your applicant profile – it depends on your years of experience, the position you’re applying for, and whether you’re looking for an industry change or not.
The reverse-chronological resume format is just that – all your relevant jobs in reverse-chronological order. It’s great for applicants with lots of experience, no career gaps, and little desire for creativity.
When working with less experienced applicants, we suggest the functional skills-based resume format. It’s great for recent graduates or people with large career gaps. Functional skills-based resumes focus on your personality, the skills you have, your interests, and your education. Ultimately, the idea is to show you’re the perfect fit without putting too much emphasis on your work experience (or lack thereof).
If you’re in the middle or are generally looking to make your resume feel more modern and personal, go for the combination or hybrid resume format. It offers the best of both worlds by combining sections focused on experience and work-related skills and at the same time keeping space for projects, awards, certifications, or even creative sections like ‘my typical day’ and ‘my words to live by’.
Our top style and layout resume format tips:
- Go for a standard 12p resume font;
- Choose 1-inch resume margins for a professional and easy-to-read feel;
- ry your best to fit your resume in a one-page template. If you’re a professional with over 10 years of relevant experience, having a two-page resume is also fine;
- Make sure to save your resume as PDF – this will help you avoid unwanted editing and formatting issues.
Read this: How to make your resume stand out
