Installer Resume Examples

Whether you’re a telecommunications equipment installer, a carpet installer, a wind turbine installer or one of the myriad other workers in the installer job category, when it comes to writing your resume, you can get valuable insights about the kind of information to include and the formatting options by reviewing installer resume samples.

By taking the time to research current best practices of resume writing, like the advice you’ll receive as you continue to read, you’ll end up with a resume that matches your skills and qualifications to the employer’s job requirements.

In this guide, the basic framework of a resume will be explained, examples will be provided for complex concepts, and you’ll learn about common mistakes and how to avoid them.

With the many installer occupations that require varying levels of education and certifications, it should be clear from the start that no two installer resumes will be the same. That being said, there are certain structural characteristics that are common no matter who you are or what your background is.

More specifically, most employers expect to see the following sections when they read through a resume:

• • Contact info (name/phone/email)
  • Resume summary statement
  • Accomplishments*
  • Work experience
  • Skills
  • Education

*The accomplishments section is added if you prefer the functional style

Furthermore, as you review installer resume samples, you’ll notice there are three basic resume styles that are used by today’s job seekers.

The most often used styles are the chronological and functional styles.

The chronological format focuses on your work history, so if you have no employment gaps and are following a traditional career path for your occupation, this format can work well for you. It’s also the most commonly used and most familiar to hiring managers.

The functional format allows you to list your career accomplishments in the added accomplishments section without linking them to previous employers. By reviewing the employer’s job description, you can create this section to mirror their requirements. This style works well for job seekers who have difficult-to-explain employment gaps or those who may be considering a career change and prefer to focus on their transferable skills.

In your review of installer resume samples, you may have noticed a third format option known as a combination style. If you prefer to use elements from both styles and can combine them in a logical, organized fashion, feel free to do so.

There’s no right or wrong way to write a resume, but the basic elements should be included no matter which style you decide upon.

No matter which resume style you’re using, the resume summary statement occupies the critical position as the first element of your resume. It represents your introduction to the hiring manager.

Your summary statement should be a short paragraph comprised of only 2-3 statements, but every word counts. Make sure you understand what the employer is looking for based on the job description and create that image.

There are a few basic guidelines to follow for a well-crafted resume summary statement:

• • Don’t use first-person pronouns in your summary or anywhere in your resume
  • Each statement should reflect an accomplishment that will be of value to a potential employer
  • Incomplete sentences are preferred over complete sentences

Before you start to write, it will be helpful to read as many resume summaries as you can from the installer resume samples to get a feel for tone and content. In addition, two examples of installer resume summaries from different industry sectors are provided below:

• HVAC installer with over 15 years of experience installing and repairing HVACR systems. Repaired or replaced worn or defective parts and determined system energy use. Made recommendations to improve efficiency. Worked on major building projects and understood and followed guidelines set by unions representing sheet metal workers, electricians, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters ensuring smooth progress without work disputes that contributed to on-time job completion.
• Fence installer foreman with hands-on experience installing wooden fences, security fences and crash barriers on motorways. Strong customer service skills in obtaining agreements on time and cost estimates, and as project foreman, ensured those metrics were met. Made recommendations to customers regarding the type of fence best suited to their needs, often saving the customer money and resulting in referrals. Ensured quality work from removing old fencing to measuring to leveling the ground to project completion. Customer satisfaction survey results on a 1-10 scale averaged 9.7.

As you approach writing the next section of your resume, you need to decide whether you’re going to use the chronological or functional format. For a refresher on these styles, take another look at the installer resume samples already identified.

If you’re going with the chronological style, you can move directly to the work experience section, where you’ll list each of your previous jobs beginning with the most recent first. Each job will be its own sub-heading, which will include job title, employer and location, and employment dates. Write 3-4 bullet points indicating responsibilities associated with and accomplishments performed for that employer.

As you prepare your bullet points, whenever possible, construct the statement by stating a problem, identifying your solution, and stating the positive result of your actions.

A job listing in this resume format would like similar to this:

Neon Sign Installer
Glitter Sign Company – Sandusky, OH
June 2011 to February 2016

• • Installed and maintained neon signs for Cedar Point Amusement Park and commercial clients located in areas adjacent to the park
  • Organized, planned and prioritized work to ensure smooth work flow and customer satisfaction
  • Trained new employees in the skills required to handle the delicate and often unwieldy neon signs to avoid costly accidents and comply with safety standards

If you prefer the functional style, you’ll insert the accomplishments section before your work experience. This new section will be comprised of a list of 8-10 bullet pointed accomplishments written in the same style as the examples above. The advantage to this format is the flexibility to match your accomplishments, responsibilities and transferable skills directly to the employer’s job requirements without linking them to previous employers.

When you move on to the work experience section, you’ll simply need to create a list of previous jobs without having to mention dates or further detail. This allows you to avoid drawing attention to employment gaps and to emphasize your skills rather than your work experience.

Since any installer job you can think of requires hands-on participation, it should be fairly easy to describe your work using action verbs. Following is a list of industry-related actions verbs to consider:

• • Install
  • Set up
  • Rearrange
  • Replace
  • Inspect
  • Service
  • Repair
  • Test
  • Adjust
  • Calibrate
  • Record
  • Demonstrate
  • Maintain
  • Climb
  • Troubleshoot
  • Monitor
  • Activate
  • Measure

Use the installer resume samples to source other active verbs that would make your resume more dynamic.

Most installers, from satellite dish installers to carpet installers and everything in between, need skills in three broad categories. Examples of these categories and corresponding skills are provided below, but don’t feel constrained by them if you prefer to define your skills in a different way.

Technical skills:

• • Understanding of equipment’s internal parts
  • Strong mechanical aptitude
  • Able to read blueprints and instruction manuals
  • Strong math and physics background

Physical ability:

• • Dexterity, steady hand, and good eye-hand coordination
  • Able to work at heights up to 300 feet wearing appropriate safety harness
  • Able to work in confined spaces

Interpersonal/personal skills:

• • Training and teaching of others
  • Excellent customer service
  • Accurate estimates and time lines for completion of job
  • Quick response to customer concerns
  • Clearly demonstrates and explains use of equipment to customers

For other ideas on how to format or structure this section, refer to the installer resume samples.

The education section is your opportunity to separate yourself from the pack by listing your highest level of education first, no matter what the educational requirements are.

If you have a degree, whether it’s an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, provide the name of the school attended, school location, and degree obtained. If you’re currently working toward a degree, list that information in the same fashion with the qualifier that it’s ââ?¬Å?in progress.ââ?¬

Post-secondary instruction from trade schools or community colleges should be listed next, since many of these programs lead to an associate’s degree.

Other technical schools lead to certification, which you may want to make as a sub-heading in the education section. Examples of the many certifications for qualified installers include:

• • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification in Type I – small appliances; Type II – high pressure refrigerants; and Type III – low-pressure refrigerants.
  • Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association offers entry-level Certified Assistant Refrigeration Operator and Certified Industrial Refrigeration Operator
  • Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers certifies telecom technicians
  • The Electronics Technicians Association, International offers certification for wind tower installers
  • Product manufacturers often provide certification for their product
  • Satellite Broadcasting and Communications (SBCA) offers satellite TV installer certification

For formatting ideas for this section, quickly scan the installer resume samples you’ve been referring to.

As a rule, the statement that your references are available upon request is sufficient. Adding them to your resume makes it longer than it should be and takes up valuable resume space better used to highlight your qualifications.

You can’t say they’re available upon request if you don’t have them ready, so in tandem with writing your resume, you should compile your reference list. Three or four references are enough, and they should be previous supervisors or managers who gave you high evaluation scores. Depending on the extent of your work history, you might use a co-worker, or someone whom you trained.

When the employer calls for your references, you’ll know for sure they’re interested in you. Call your references to let them know to be expecting a call, and ask them to let you know when contact’s been made and how it went.

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth for all occupations to be an average of 7 percent for the period 2014 to 2024. Below are specific installer jobs and the BLS projections for the same time period.

• It’s worth noting that the two occupations listed below with the highest projected growth are in the alternate energy sector.

• Employment of

wind turbine service technicians and installers

• is projected to be grow by 108 percent for the same time period. Wind power generation is becoming more competitive with other forms of power generation.

Solar photovoltaic installers are projected to be employed at an increased rate of 24 percent between 2014 to 2024. As the cost of PV panels and shingles continues to fall, there will be a greater demand for the workers who install them.

• Employment of

heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

• is projected to grow 14 percent, which is higher than the average. The emphasis on energy efficiency and pollution will contribute to the increased demand.

Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers are projected to see a decline in growth of 4 percent, largely because of the increase in wireless and mobile services.