One of the specific CV challenges you may face as a welder is succinctly showcasing the diversity of your welding techniques to potential employers. Our guide offers targeted advice on structuring your experience and using industry-relevant terminology that will highlight your skill set effectively.
- Applying best practices from real-world examples to ensure your profile always meets recruiters' expectations;
- What to include in your work experience section, apart from your past roles and responsibilities?
- Why are both hard and soft skills important for your application?
- How do you need to format your CV to pass the Applicant Tracker Software (ATS) assessment?
If you're writing your CV for a niche welder role, make sure to get some inspiration from professionals:
Structuring and formatting your welder CV for an excellent first impression
The experts' best advice regarding your CV format is to keep it simple and concise. Recruiters assessing your CV are foremost looking out for candidates who match their ideal job profile. Your white space, borders, and margins. You may still be wondering which format you need to export your CV in. We recommend using the PDF one, as, upon being uploaded, it never alters your information or CV design. Before we move on to the actual content of your welder CV, we'd like to remind you about the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS). The ATS is a software that is sometimes used to initially assess your profile. Here's what you need to keep in mind about the ATS:- All serif and sans-serif fonts (e.g. Rubik, Volkhov, Exo 2 etc.) are ATS-friendly;
- Many candidates invest in Arial and Times New Roman, so avoid these fonts if you want your application to stand out;
- Both single and double column CVs can be read by the ATS, so it's entirely up to you to select your CV design.
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Use font size and style strategically to create a visual hierarchy, drawing the reader's eye to the most important information first (like your name and most recent job title).
The top sections on a welder CV
- Professional Summary to quickly highlight welding expertise
- Welding Certifications to showcase relevant qualifications
- Work Experience to detail job history and welding projects
- Technical Skills to list specific welding methods and tools used
- Health and Safety Knowledge to emphasize commitment to safe practices
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight specific welding certifications and qualifications you hold, such as AWS, CWB, or City and Guilds, as these are crucial for showing your competency and adherence to industry standards.
- Emphasise your experience with different welding methods like MIG, TIG, Stick, and Flux-Cored, including the types of metals you have worked with, to demonstrate your versatility.
- Detail your abilities in reading and interpreting blueprints and welding symbols, as this skill is fundamental for a welder to ensure accuracy in their work.
- Showcase any experience you have with automated welding equipment or robotic welding systems, as this displays your comfort with technology and readiness for modern manufacturing environments.
- Include any physical attributes or personal skills such as attention to detail, manual dexterity, and your commitment to safety protocols, which are particularly important in a profession that demands precision and adherence to safety regulations.
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Our checklist for the must-have information in your welder CV header
Right at the very top of your welder CV is where you'd find the header section or the space for your contact details, headline, and professional photo. Wondering how to present your the name of the city you live in and the country abbreviation as your address;
- are tailored to the role you're applying for by integrating key job skills and requirements;
- showcase what your unique value is, most often in the form of your most noteworthy accomplishment;
- select your relevant qualifications, skills, or current role to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Still not sure how to write your CV headline? Our examples below showcase best practices on creating effective headlines:
Examples of good CV headlines for welder:
- Certified Senior Welder | 10+ Years' Experience | MIG/TIG Proficiency | Pipeline Specialisation
- Junior Welding Technician | Level 2 NVQ | Passion for Metal Fabrication | Safety Compliance
- Lead Structural Welder | 15 Years Mastery | High-rise Construction | AWS Certified
- Skilled Pipe Welder | Oil & Gas Industry Expertise | ASME Code Knowledge | Team Leadership
- Advanced Welding Craftsman | Aerospace Applications | 5-Year Project Lead | TWI Certification
- Professional Welder | Underwater Welding Specialist | 8+ Years Subsea Experience | HSE Commercial Diver
What's the difference between a welder CV summary and objective
Why should it matter to you?
- Your welder CV summary is a showcasing your career ambitions and your unique value. Use the objective to answer why your potential employers should hire you based on goals and ambitions. The objective is the ideal choice for candidates who happen to have less professional experience, but still meet some of the job requirements.
Before you select which one will be more relevant to your experience, have a look at some industry-leading CV summaries and objectives.
CV summaries for a welder job:
- With over a decade of dedicated experience in high-pressure pipeline welding, my proficiency spans a range of welding techniques including TIG, MIG, and Stick welding. I have a proven track record in leading teams to complete large-scale projects under tight deadlines, highlighted by my leadership during the construction of the award-winning Harbour Energy Complex.
- Accomplished structural welder with 7 years' experience in the construction industry, I have contributed to the integrity of multimillion-pound infrastructure projects. My expertise in SMAW and FCAW, combined with a methodical approach to metal preparation and finishing, has been pivotal in maintaining project timelines and standards.
- As a former automotive technician with 5 years' experience, I am transitioning to the welding industry where my mechanical background and acute attention to detail will complement my newly acquired AWS certification. My motivation is fuelled by a recent project where I fabricated a custom exhaust system that significantly improved vehicle performance.
- Experienced in creative design and metal artistry, I am now seeking to transfer my meticulous craftsmanship to the welding profession. My artistic skills, combined with recent training in GMAW and GTAW techniques, position me to bring a unique perspective to technical welding applications.
- Keen to embark on a career in welding, I'm armed with a solid understanding of the fundamentals gained through a rigorous vocational course. My objective is to apply my hands-on skills in an environment that fosters growth, valuing my commitment to quality and passion for learning complex welding processes.
- With no prior professional welding experience but a recent graduate of a comprehensive welding training programme, I am intent on leveraging my knowledge of various welding methods and safety protocols to excel in a challenging and rewarding apprenticeship that promises to nurture my enthusiasm for the craft.
How to meet job requirements with your welder CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Expertly executed various welding processes including TIG, MIG, and stick welding, ensuring strong and durable joins in metals of varying thicknesses.
- Conducted thorough inspections of welds to identify defects and ensure compliance with safety standards and project specifications.
- Accurately read and interpreted complex engineering drawings and blueprints, translating them into precise structural welds on custom projects.
- Maintained welding equipment in optimal condition through regular cleaning and minor repairs, maximising operational efficiency and safety.
- Assisted in the fabrication of a wide range of metal structures, applying knowledge of metallurgy to select appropriate welding techniques for each material type.
- Consistently followed strict health and safety protocols while operating welding machinery, contributing to a zero-incident work environment.
- Efficiently managed on-site welding operations, coordinating with other tradespeople to ensure smooth project progression and adherence to tight deadlines.
- Utilised precision measuring tools to prepare materials for welding, ensuring accuracy and consistency in component alignment and fit-up.
- Regularly updated welding certifications and participated in ongoing professional development to stay abreast of the latest industry techniques and safety regulations.
- Efficiently completed critical welds on pressure vessels and piping, maintaining a 99% pass rate on x-ray and ultrasonic tests, contributing to the company's reputation for quality products.
- Led a team of 4 welders in fabricating large-scale structural components for commercial construction, successfully handling projects upwards of $500K and delivering ahead of schedule.
- Customized welding techniques to work with a variety of metals including aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium, significantly reducing material warping and scrap rates by 15%.
- Pioneered the implementation of a new welding automation system that boosted productivity by 20% and reduced labor costs.
- Advised on the purchase of advanced welding equipment, leading to improved durability of welds and a 30% faster project turnaround time.
- Conducted weekly safety and technique workshops for new welders, significantly lowering workplace injuries by 40%.
- Oversee the execution of critical infrastructure welding projects, ensuring adherence to the stringent AWS and ASME standards, resulting in zero compliance issues.
- Collaborated on the development of a proprietary welding process that reduced consumable waste by 25%, leading to cost savings for the company.
- Spearheaded a cross-training initiative that increased team flexibility and reduced downtime due to staff shortages by 35%.
- Resolved challenging welding defects in pipeline systems, ensuring 100% functionality during high-stress operations.
- Key player in a major revamping project for an oil refinery, which entailed overhauling old welding joints and improving overall plant efficiency by 10%.
- Implemented a lean welding strategy, which minimized overproduction and increased the team's output by 15%.
- Specialized in TIG welding for aerospace applications, meeting precise tolerances required for safety-critical components.
- Developed and executed a rigorous quality control protocol that slashed rework rates by 25%, increasing overall productivity.
- Played a key role in a milestone project to manufacture lightweight components for a new line of commercial jets.
- Ensured welding tasks were completed to meet the demands of military defense contracts, often under tight deadlines and in compliance with MIL-STDs.
- Integrated the use of advanced MIG and TIG welding processes to reduce fabrication times by up to 20% without compromising on quality.
- Key contributor to the design and production of a new armored vehicle's hull, enhancing crew safety and vehicle durability.
- Expertly conducted underwater welding for maritime repairs, critical to maintaining the structural integrity of naval and commercial vessels.
- Developed a new electrode formulation that provided better performance in saltwater environments, extending the life of repairs by 20%.
- Engaged in over 30 high-pressure hull repair missions, each time enabling ships to return to active service 30% quicker than industry standards.
- Crafted custom metalwork pieces for high-end residential and commercial properties, which increased the company's market share by 10% in the luxury segment.
- Introduced CNC plasma cutting into the workshop, improving cutting precision and reducing production time for complex components by 40%.
- Facilitated collaborative projects with architects and designers to ensure welding specifications met aesthetic and structural requirements.
- Managed and maintained all welding equipment, leading to a 15% reduction in machine downtime and boosting workflow continuity.
- Served as a key resource in transitioning to a new welding technology that increased the bond strength of materials by 25%.
- Dramatically improved the workshop's efficiency by introducing a Kanban system to manage supply inventory and reduce waste.
- Spearheaded an initiative to adopt environmentally friendly welding practices, reducing toxic emissions by 30% without affecting output.
- Trained and mentored over 20 welders in advanced welding techniques, directly contributing to the profitability of key industrial projects.
- Instrumental in the development of a proprietary welding jig that cut setup time by 50%, rapidly boosting production rates.
Swapping your professional experience (when you have none) with skills and more
Never underestimate the importance of relevancе when it comes to your welder CV. Even if you don't happen to have much or any standard (full-time contract) professional experience, this doesn't mean you shouldn't apply for the role. Instead of a bespoke CV experience section:
- Showcase more prominently any internships, part-time roles, and volunteer experience that are applicable to the role and have taught you job-crucial skills;
- Feature a strengths or achievements section with your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your work or life experience;
- Write an objective statement that clearly outlines your values as a candidate and defines your career ambitions;
- List your education or certificates that match the job profile closer to the top of your CV.
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If you have experience in diverse fields, highlight how this has broadened your perspective and skill set, making you a more versatile candidate.
Key welder CV skills: what are hard skills and soft skills
Let's kick off with the basics. You know that you have to include key job requirements or skills across your CV. For starters, take individual skills from the job description and copy-paste them into your CV, when relevant. Doing so, you'll ensure you have the correct skill spelling and also pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. There are two types of skills you'll need to include on your CV:
- Hard skills - technical abilities that are best defined by your certificates, education, and experience. You could also use the dedicated skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies you're apt at using that match the job requirements.
- Soft skills - your personal traits and interpersonal communication skills that are a bit harder to quantify. Use various CV sections, e.g. summary, strengths, experience, to shine a spotlight on your workspace achievements, thanks to using particular soft skills.
Remember that your job-winning CV should balance both your hard and soft skills to prove your technical background, while spotlighting your personality.
Top skills for your welder CV:
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW/MIG)
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG)
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
Welding Symbol Interpretation
Blueprint Reading
Metal Fabrication
Thermal Cutting Processes
Welding Equipment Maintenance
Safety and Compliance
Attention to Detail
Manual Dexterity
Physical Strength
Communication
Problem Solving
Time Management
Adaptability
Teamwork
Quality Control
Work Ethic
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Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
CV education and certificates: your academic background as proof of your skill set
A common misconception about your welder CV education is that you only need it, if you have less professional experience. That is completely false. The CV education section serves to back up your technical (and sometimes personal) capabilities, fill in gaps in your work history, and show you have the initial industry background and know-how. When creating your education section:
- List your degrees in the reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent (and relevant) ones first;
- Include your degree and university names, start and graduation dates. It's optional to also denote you received a "First-Class Honours" for diplomas that are more relevant to the role;
- Curate your relevant university coursework, projects, or thesis work if you happen to have less professional expertise and need to integrate more job keywords and skills.
Your professional qualifications don't need to stop at your academic background. It's advisable to also select up to three of your most noteworthy (and relevant) industry certificates and feature them in a dedicated section. Once more, include the certificate name, the institution that issued it out, and the date you obtained it on. You could feature both hard skills and soft skills certificates, as in the examples below:
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If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
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Key takeaways
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your welder CV for success:
- Sort your experience based on the reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent career items, to showcase how you've grown your career;
- Include within your CV header your relevant contact details, a headline that could spotlight your unique value, and a photo - if you're applying for roles outside the UK or US;
- Decide to use the CV summary, if you happen to have more professional experience, and an objective, if you want to showcase your career goals;
- Within the experience section, write your bullets using action verbs, skills, and success, instead of just merely listing your on-the-job responsibilities;
- Prove your technical skills, using your education and certificates, and your soft skills, with your achievements and strengths sections.
