Quality Control Resume Examples

No manufacturing firm can function without a qualified team of quality control and quality assurance experts, and similarly, no job application is complete without a well-written resume.

So, if you plan to pursue a position in this area, you’ll have two choices: you can create your resume using pre-existing templates and tools, or you can build your own document from the ground up. If you decide to create your own resume from start to finish, LiveCareer can help.

Take a close look at this collection of quality control resume samples before you begin drafting and editing your own application. Examples like the ones presented here can give you an idea of what great resumes look like, what information your resume should include, and what kinds of formatting styles will make the strongest impression on your target employers. They can also help you avoid common mistakes in this field.

As you study these quality control resume samples, review the subheadings below for additional information.

Quality control positions vary widely from one branch of the manufacturing industry to another; for example, higher level managers in the garment industry and entry-level QC experts in the food and beverage space will take on very different sets of responsibilities. So of course, the specific details of your resume will differ depending on your target job, your level of experience and certifications, and your long-term career goals. What that also means is that there’s no single correct way to format, draft, and edit a winning resume in this industry.

But there are some similarities that remain consistent from each applicant to the next, and as these quality control resume samples indicate, you’ll need to follow a few universal rules and guidelines in order to get the attention you deserve. For example, almost every resume in this industry contains the following subheadings:

• Resume Summary
• Education Section
• Work Experience Section
• Skills Section

Take a close look at the quality control resume samples in this set and you’ll notice that each one dedicates a subsection to each of these separate elements of information. And while the details may vary, the basic formatting and presentation of each section remains more or less the same.

The overall layout, on the other hand, can be organized one of two ways. You can choose the chronological format or the functional format – a third option is a hybrid of these two forms.

If you choose the chronological format, you’ll center your resume on previously held positions. Each past position will be listed in reverse chronological order, starting with your current or most recent job.

If you choose the functional format, your document will emphasize your abilities and skills rather the nuts-and-bolts details of your previous jobs.

The chronological format usually represents a better choice for candidates with a clear, unbroken progression of previous jobs and a steadily increasing level of responsibilities. But if you’ve experienced a few departures from the workforce or potentially confusing career shifts, the functional format may be a better fit for your message.

Again, study the quality control resume samples presented here and try to read them from a hiring manager’s point of view. Which of the two formats will add more strength to your position and help you spotlight your valuable experience?

The position of each subsection within your document may vary according to your personal preference, but like all rules, this rule comes with an exception. Almost every successful resume begins with a concise, detailed summary section. Insert your summary at the top of the page, just under your name and contact information, and bear in mind that some employers stop reading after the summary and base their interview decisions on this section alone. So this section can be considered the most important subheading in your entire application.

Like these quality control resume samples, your summary should include about three or four lines of text that address your background and a few of your most important credentials. In addition to those in the quality control resume samples in this set, take a look at the example summaries below:

Process-oriented quality control expert with experience across a wide range of manufactured goods. Skilled in the use of calipers, gauges, and sophisticated measuring devices to ensure product compliance with legal specifications. Excellent leadership and team communication skills ensure timeliness and accuracy of production process.

ASQC/CQE certified quality control manager with proven track record of success in a variety of manufacturing environments. Strong analytical ability and five years of experience with X-ray calibration and chemical and physical product testing. Successful record of procuring alternate raw materials and controlling and reducing production and shipping costs.

After your resume summary section, the remaining sections of your resume can be presented in any order you choose, as long as the most impressive and attention-grabbing details of your profile occur higher on the page. As you can see while reviewing these quality control resume samples, most candidates follow the summary section with a quick review of their academic credentials in a section dedicated to education and certifications.

Your education section should emphasize basic verifiable facts rather than subjective details, and should list each credential in chronological order beginning with the most recent. In each entry, state your degree or diploma, the institution that granted it, your course of study, and your completion dates if you choose to include them.

Make sure your information is presented in a way that’s easy to read and easy to skim, and don’t leave out any details that can help you grab the spotlight. Include all of your certifications, licenses, special training programs, and non-academic course work. If you’re enrolled in a course that you haven’t yet finished, you can feel free to include this too (just make sure you include your expected completion dates).

For the sake of clarity and readability, you may decide to place your degrees and your special certifications in two separate lists.

Your employers will need to see evidence that you’ve done this kind of quality control work before, and that you know how to step up and take the reins of your target job with minimal oversight. Your work experience section can help you make this message clear. And as indicated above, you’ll have a few different formatting options to choose from as you begin writing and editing the details of this section.

If you have an unbroken track record of steady employment with regular promotions and increases in responsibility, present your information using the chronological format. Start by listing each of your previous position titles in reverse chronological order, then under each title, add the name of your employer, your begin and end dates, and short descriptions of your key responsibilities and most impressive accomplishments on the job. This last bit should be in bullet point form, should begin with action verbs, and should be quantifiable if possible.

For example, rather than just saying that you improved customer value using lean manufacturing principles, include how this improvement affected the bottom line.

If you choose the functional format instead, take a look the quality control resume samples in this set and use them as your guide. Start by slotting in a new Accomplishments section that includes a list of your most valuable abilities, talents, and areas of specialization. Then follow this subsection with a shorter, tighter work experience section that lists your most relevant previous job titles. Don’t worry about listing your responsibilities and accomplishments (you will have done this is the new Accomplishments section), forget about including dates of employment and keep your resume focused on what you’re able to do for your future employer, not on what you’ve done in the past.

In order to keep your work experience section concrete and memorable, you’ll need to rely on strong action verbs that directly relate to this aspect of the manufacturing industry. Here are a few examples:

• Oversaw
• Managed
• Reviewed
• Tested
• Examined
• Inspected
• Identified
• Monitored
• Ensured
• Secured
• Developed
• Analyzed

You’ll need to present your potential employers with a list of your most important skill sets, and most candidates provide this list at a lower point on the page following the education and work experience sections. Study these quality control resumes and make note of the details that help this section stand out.

This section should be concise and brief, but it should still contain a list of the skills that haven’t been mentioned in the sections above. These may include specific software skills, communication and teamwork skills, process management and analytical skills, and product testing skills. You can also include personal details in this section like hobbies, artistic and athletic skills, but try to limit your list to the kinds of skills that directly reflect your ability to handle the job in question.

Ultimately, you should also take cues from the job description, including the skills you possess that align with those outlined by the employer.

At some point during the selection and hiring process, your potential employers are likely to ask you for a list of references, or the names and contact information of at least three people who can provide an independent assessment of your skills and experience.

There’s usually no need to include this list in the text of your resume; instead, list these names and contact details in a separate documents and be ready to attach this list to your cover letter or send it over in a separate message. Most of the time, your potential employers will provide clear instructions on how and when to submit this information.

As you create your quality control resume, keep a close eye on these common mistakes:

Neglecting Keywords: Keywords are very important for ensuring your resume successfully passes through applicant tracking systems (ATSs), so make sure your resume contains the same words used in the job description.

Length Problems: Excellent quality control experts know how to summarize and identify the key points in any complex communication. Make sure your resume is concise, specific, and above all, short. Try not to extend beyond two pages.

Avoidable Mistakes: Typos, poor grammar, missing information and other small oversights indicate a sloppy tendency that most quality control managers would rather avoid. This job requires meticulous attention to detail.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, quality control inspectors and quality assurance experts can expect a level of opportunity that reflects the general health of the manufacturing industry. Manufacturing growth has stalled in recent decades, but now appears to be making a slow comeback, so job prospects in this field are likely to hold steady between 2014 and 2024. The number of available positions will remain more or less unchanged during the next decade, with about 496,000 jobs available each year.