WelderのCV例

Choose the right format for a Welder resume

Use a reverse-chronological format. Welding employers — fabrication shops, pipelines, shipyards, structural steel contractors — want to see your most recent work first and scan quickly for certifications and process experience. A functional or hybrid format raises red flags because it obscures employment gaps and makes ATS parsing harder.

Keep the resume to one page if you have fewer than ten years of experience; two pages are acceptable for journeymen or welding inspectors with multiple certifications and project types. Use clean section headers, consistent font sizing (10–12 pt body, 14–16 pt name), and no graphics or tables that break applicant tracking systems.

• Margins: 0.75–1 inch on all sides
• Font: Arial, Calibri, or Georgia — nothing decorative
• File format: PDF unless the job posting specifically requests .docx
• Section order: Contact info → Summary → Skills → Work Experience → Certifications → Education

Write a professional summary that leads with process and certification

Your summary is three to four sentences. Open with your welding processes, years of experience, and the industries you've worked in. Follow with your top certification and one concrete achievement. Skip objectives like 'seeking a challenging position' — they waste space and tell the employer nothing.

Example: "AWS D1.1-certified Structural Welder with 9 years of experience in SMAW, GMAW, and FCAW across heavy construction and offshore fabrication. Consistently pass first-time X-ray and ultrasonic weld inspections with a defect rate under 1.2%. Comfortable reading complex blueprints and weld symbols to AWS and ASME standards. Available for travel and shift work on large-scale pipeline and structural projects."

Write work-experience bullets that show output, not just duties

Every bullet should answer: what process did you use, on what material or structure, and what was the measurable result? Avoid vague phrases like 'responsible for welding' or 'assisted with fabrication.' Hiring managers and welding foremen want to see joint types, material thickness, production rates, inspection pass rates, and safety records.

Quantify wherever you can — footage of pipe welded per shift, number of weld inspections passed, percentage reduction in rework, or tonnage of structural steel fabricated.

• Performed GTAW root passes and SMAW fill/cap on 6G-position carbon steel pipe (2"–12" diameter, Schedule 80/160), completing 40+ joints per week with a 98.7% first-pass radiographic inspection rate.
• Reduced weld rework costs by 22% over 18 months by standardizing pre-heat procedures and introducing fit-up checklists for a 15-person fabrication crew building ASME Section VIII pressure vessels.

Skills and certifications recruiters and ATS systems look for

List your welding processes explicitly — SMAW, GMAW/MIG, FCAW, GTAW/TIG, SAW, PAW, OFW. Include base metals (carbon steel, stainless, aluminum, Inconel, duplex). Add position qualifications (1G through 6GR) and the applicable codes you've worked to. ATS systems keyword-match against job postings, so spell out both the acronym and full name at least once (e.g., 'GTAW / Gas Tungsten Arc Welding').

Hard certifications carry the most weight. List each with the issuing body and expiration or renewal date if current.

• AWS CWI (Certified Welding Inspector) — American Welding Society
• AWS D1.1 Structural Steel qualification
• ASME Section IX procedure and performance qualifications
• API 1104 pipeline welding certification
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 Construction
• Ability to read weld symbols per AWS A2.4

Education, licenses, and extras that strengthen your resume

A high school diploma or GED is the baseline. If you completed a welding technology program at a community college or vocational school, list the school name, credential, and year — even without a degree, a 12- or 18-month certificate from Lincoln Electric, Hobart Institute, or a local trade school signals formal training. List any apprenticeship completions (UA, IBEW, Boilermakers) with the local number and completion year.

Add a separate 'Additional Qualifications' line for things like a TWIC card (required for refinery and port work), CDL if you drive a service truck, forklift certification, or confined-space entry training. These are often job requirements that disqualify uncertified candidates at the screening stage.

• Welding Technology A.A.S. or Certificate — list school and year
• Apprenticeship: UA Local [number], Journeyman Pipefitter/Welder — completion year
• TWIC Card — expiration date
• Forklift Operator Certification
• Confined Space Entry / Rescue Training

Mistakes to avoid

• ×Listing welding processes only in the summary and not in a dedicated skills section causes ATS systems to miss keyword matches when parsing structured fields.
• ×Omitting certification expiration or renewal dates makes employers assume your qualifications are lapsed, which can remove you from consideration before a phone screen.
• ×Using generic duty-based bullets like 'welded metal parts together' instead of specifying process, position, material, and code gives a hiring manager no basis to evaluate your skill level.
• ×Leaving off position qualifications (1G, 2G, 5G, 6G, 6GR) forces recruiters to call and ask, and many won't bother if another resume already has that information upfront.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a separate resume for each welding process I know?

No — one resume covers all your processes, but you should tailor the summary and skills section to emphasize the processes the specific job posting prioritizes. If a pipeline job lists GTAW and API 1104, move those to the top of your skills list and reference them in your summary before listing SMAW or FCAW.

Should I include my weld test results or inspection pass rates on my resume?

Yes, whenever you have the data. A first-pass radiographic or ultrasonic inspection pass rate, a defect rate below industry average, or zero rejected welds over a project are concrete proof of quality that sets you apart from candidates who only list processes. Even an approximate figure — 'consistently passed 6G weld tests at three separate contractors' — is more persuasive than nothing.

How do I handle gaps in my welding employment history?

Be straightforward — note contract or seasonal work patterns if that explains the gap, since project-based employment is normal in pipeline, shipbuilding, and structural steel. If you used downtime to renew certifications, take additional weld tests, or complete safety training, list those activities in the relevant section. Unexplained multi-month gaps with no context will prompt questions, so address them briefly in the resume rather than leaving it to the interview.