Field guide
Resumes for trades work in Australia
Trades resumes are read by people who know the work. Vague wording stands out immediately. Describe the jobs you have done in the language a supervisor would use.
What this work looks like
Qualification, licence number and stage of apprenticeship are the first things checked.
The type of work matters as much as the trade: domestic, commercial, industrial, civil, maintenance.
Many employers are small businesses where the owner reads every application.
Labour hire and subcontracting are normal and should be labelled rather than hidden.
Roles people commonly apply for
- Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, fitters and boilermakers
- Apprentices and pre-apprentices
- Trades assistants and labourers
- Maintenance technicians
- Plant mechanics and diesel fitters
What to put in your resume
- State your qualification, the year you completed it and your licence status in the first few lines.
- For each employer, name the type of work and typical jobs: "commercial fit-outs, 20-40 site days each".
- List the equipment and systems you have worked on by name.
- Apprentice applicants: include school results if recent, any pre-apprenticeship, work experience and hands-on hobbies.
Confirm these for yourself
We never add a ticket, clearance or qualification to your resume unless you have entered it yourself. These are the ones worth checking before you apply.
- Whether your trade licence is current in your state
- Whether your White Card and high-risk work licences are current
- Whether your qualification needs recognition in another state
- Whether your first aid is within date
Skills that carry across
- Reading plans and specifications
- Fault diagnosis
- Working to code and standards
- Quoting and measuring
- Supervising apprentices
Other guides
FIFO and roster work
Fly-in fly-out and drive-in drive-out applications: tickets, medicals and roster fit.
Mining and resources
Operations, trades, support and administration on and around resource sites.
Construction
Site-based work from labouring to supervision.
Hospitality and tourism
Cafés, restaurants, pubs, hotels, events and tourism work.