INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Machinist positions are at a 7% growth rate, which is as fast as average. With that said, there are currently 425,300 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 29,700 to 455,000 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Machinist jobs was $47,040 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $29,240, and the highest 10% more than $69,050.
Our conclusion? The Machinist job market is wide open for candidates.
Top machinist sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to write a machinist resume experience section
Machinist resume experience: checklist
- Use either chronological or reverse-chronological format when listing your previous jobs;
- Mention only relevant positions that add value to your resume;
- Briefly state the challenges you’ve faced and how you’ve overcome them;
- Highlight the results from your efforts (for bonus points, add numbers, percentage rates, etc.);
- Forget about buzzwords! Use power verbs instead.
Use the examples below to build your own experience section!
- Set up and ran original equipment manufacturer product (OEM) in the lathe department.
- Drove quality, current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs), continuous cell improvement and 5s practices.
- Maintained production efficiency average of 107.75% running multiple jobs on 2-3 machines and 155.25% set-up efficiency average in concurrence with production.
- Used my mechanical knowledge and training to safety teardown turbo assemblies for requalification
- Ran multiple, programmable machines to produce quality parts for the assembly line
- Experience with assisted breathing devices to be used in unsafe environments
- Contributed to improving the speed and quality of work by helping to develop a more fluent process in multiple areas
- Using and improving my sewing skills to quickly sew and finish certain jobs
- Increasing my comfort level on an industrial sewing machine
- Sewing and repairing riser recliner armchairs and settees.
- Repairing broken and damaged seat cushions and covers.
- Working closely with the upholsterers to ensure an outstanding fit.
- Helping the pattern cutters to lay and cut pieces for seat cushions ready to sew.
- Using and improving my sewing skills to quickly sew and finish certain jobs
- Increasing my comfort level on an industrial sewing machine
- Sewing and repairing riser recliner armchairs and settees.
- Repairing broken and damaged seat cushions and covers.
- Working closely with the upholsterers to ensure an outstanding fit.
- Helping the pattern cutters to lay and cut pieces for seat cushions ready to sew.
- Receiving; skid manufaturing
- Punch Press; small railroad press
- Quality Control; repaired holes that were damaged on skids
- Small Hole Die Driller; drilled various sized holes as specified
- Experience in fitting including machining
- Trade tested and obtained a jouneyman class 1 in fitting including machining
- certificate of apprenticeship
- certificate in machinshop engineering
- fixed pumps at the blast furnace pumphouse
- successfully completed shutdown maintanance activities onthe blower and the blast furnace
- acquired the skills in hydraullic fitting
- refurbished gerboxes (mostly reduction gearboxes)
- In charge of creating and manufacturing Proof of Concept, Proof of Design and Proof of Manufacturing prototypes, which included programming help for production, and assisting outside vendors with processes and samples, as well as gauges and fixures
- Performed tasks directly related to production and prototype parts made of various steels, alloys, plastics and magnetic materials
- Completed jobs following detailed blueprints, customer specifications, internal work instructions and verbal engineering instructions
- Operated powered machine tools such as manual tool room lathes and mills, surface grinders, ID / OD grinders, CNC mills and CNC lathes and related equipment required to meet customer demand
- Utilized various hand tools, precision measuring equipment and associated gauges and tooling
- Designed and made multiple tool holders for turret on CNC lathe, which greatly reduced set-up time and improved productivity
- Greatly assisted in the R&D shop being able to complete Proof of Design and Proof of Manufacturability in the Model Shop
- Contributed in designing & manufacturing pieces for the dental Cut Station used in R&D
- Assisted vendors in manufacturing new products through supplying CNC programs, tooling, samples and custom cutting tools
- Set-up and operate Manual Mills, Cylindrical Grinder, Surface Grinders, and BFW VMC machine with Fanuc MOi Control.
- Manufacturing of Machine Parts according to Engineering drawing
- Inspection the manufactured part by using different type of measuring instruments.
- Hands-on training working with Siemens 840D CNC machines
- Generating NC-Codes using Siemens SinuTrain and manual coding
- Machined an Aluminium bar precisely to the given dimension for the final evaluation
- Perform setup with minimal supervision
- Familiar with HAAS, Fanuc, Hiedenhein, and Siemens controllers
- G and M code programming knowledge
- Proficient with a variety of precision measurement instruments
- Ability to interpret and apply GD&T print measurements to parts
- Proven Team Player
- Able to accurately assess in-process order status and shift-load expectations
- Displays strong critical thinking with regard to machine setups and processes improve overall safety, quality, and efficiency
- Planned stock inventory by checking stock to determine amount available; anticipating needed stock; placing and expediting orders for stock; verifying receipt of stock.
- Loads feed mechanism by lifting stock into position.
- Maintains safe operations by adhering to safety procedures and regulations.
- Documents actions by completing production and quality logs.
- Hands-on training working with Siemens 840D CNC machines
- Generating NC-Codes using Solidworks / Siemens SinuTrain
- Machined an Aluminium bar precisely to the given dimension for the final evaluation
- Planned stock inventory by checking stock to determine amount available; anticipating needed stock; placing and expediting orders for stock; verifying receipt of stock.
- Loads feed mechanism by lifting stock into position.
- Maintains safe operations by adhering to safety procedures and regulations.
- Documents actions by completing production and quality logs.
- Setup machine operation of various CNC. (Mazak, Okuma, Muratec, and Fuji turning cells).
- Program interaction with computer logic controls and commands.
- Verification of product parts to technical requirements with precision measurement tools.
PRO TIP
In writing your Machinist resume, you will no doubt want to list your previous duties - as you should. But steer clear of just listing your duties, instead of your achievements. Make your resume stand out by communicating what you have done, and not merely what the job needed you to do.
Action verbs for your machinist resume
Recommended reads:
Machinist resume: The skills section!
How to write a strong machinist resume skills section?
- Make sure to include all types of skills - soft, hard, technical;
- Focus on skills that show your expertise in the field;
- Check the job description for keywords and make sure to add them to your resume – this will help you pass ATS;
- Leave room for discussion – elaborate on some of your strongest skills in other sections of your resume
Top skills for your machinist resume
Manufacturing
Procurement
Assembly
Servicing
Commissioning
Communication
Attention to details
Caution
Organisation
Punctuality
PRO TIP
Don’t feel obliged to spend a separate section for your soft skills - you can weave them throughout your job experience or career summary. But, don’t just write empty words - back them with examples.
Recommended reads:
Machinist resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your machinist resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Machinist resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
A career summary for your machinist resume
Things to include in your machinist resume summary:
- Your total years of experience in the industry;
- 2-3 of your most remarkable achievements so far;
- How your experience relates to the position you’re applying for;
- A very brief description of your strengths.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Highlight specific past projects that you’re most proud of in your summary. It sets an excellent tone for the rest of your resume. You can talk about all of your former jobs in your work experience section later on.
Recommended reads:
Machinist resume: the education section
Things to include in your resume's education section:
- Your highest education degree – including course, year of graduation, institution;
- Awards received as part of your education;
- Extracurricular activities that have helped you gain relevant skills;
- Certifications that have helped you master new skills and increase your expertise;
- Entry-level applicants only: relevant courses and projects.
Top certifications for your machinist resume
Fusion 360 tutorial for CNC machinists
CAD CAM training for CNC machinists using fusion 360
FITTER Crash Course for Competitive Exam
Best course for ITI Fitter, Welder, Machinist students to crack competitive exam
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
Choosing the right format for your machinist resume
In general, there are three basic formats for your resume:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Some things to consider when choosing the right format for your Machinist resume include the stage of your career, whether you have all the right skills required for the job or are looking for an industry change, and what field you’re looking to grow in.
The reverse-chronological resume format is the most common one. It lets you describe your most recent job and then move backward. This makes it great for people who have around or less than 10 years of experience and are looking to highlight only their work-related skills and qualities.
If you’re just starting your career journey and reverse-chronological resumes sound too demanding, go for the functional resume format. It’s ideal for showcasing your strengths, personal qualities, skills, education, and the courses you’ve taken, without putting too much pressure on experience and expertise.
Don’t worry if neither of these sounds suitable for you – the hybrid or combination resume format will surely match your needs. It’s similar to the reverse-chronological, but with a catchy twist. Combination or hybrid resumes are great for showcasing both your experience and work-related skills and your personal qualities. Add a “What my day looks like” section for enhancing the jaw-dropping experience!
Here are some more things worth remembering when it comes to formatting your Machinist resume:
- Choose standard 1-inch resume margins;
- Go for traditional resume fonts sized 10-12p;
- Match the length of your Machinist resume with your experience – choose a one-page template if you have less than 10 years of experience, and be careful with two-page templates – use them only when applying for executive positions;
- Save your resume in PDF to avoid formatting issues and potential unauthorized editing.
Tired of getting rejected? Check out this article on how to craft a resume that stands out!
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Test your draft Machinist resume by sending it out to peers and mentors in your circles. Ask them to review it as if they are hiring you for a project and implement the feedback afterwards.
Other sections suitable for your machinist resume
Depending on the position and the industry, you can spice your resume up by adding some more sections. They will help the recruiter get a glimpse of who you are as a person, besides all your job-related skills and qualities.
Here are some examples:
How to add creativity to your machinist resume
Gone are the days when creative resumes were frowned upon by recruiters!
What’s more, the right amount of creativity will make recruiters remember you and want to learn more about who you are – both as an individual and as a professional.
There are two ways to build a creative resume - add creative sections or go for a more creative design approach in general. Go for whatever suits you, the position, and the industry most!
What makes a great machinist resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
