Factory, warehouse, driving and skilled trade jobs are hired for what you can do with your hands, your tools and your time. A resume for these jobs does not need fancy words. It needs to answer five questions quickly: what can you do, what equipment do you know, what licences or training do you have, where have you worked, and when can you start?
This guide shows a simple structure that works for machine operators, packers, forklift drivers, electricians, welders, fitters, plumbers, helpers, security staff and similar roles, in India, the UK, Canada and African countries.
Start with a short work summary
Two or three lines at the top. Say your trade, how many years you have worked in it, and the type of workplace. Keep the words simple and true.
List your skills and equipment clearly
A skills list is the most useful part of this resume, because the person reading it is checking for specific matches. Group the items so they are easy to scan.
- Machines and tools: for example CNC machine, lathe, MIG welding set, hand tools, pallet jack.
- Vehicles: forklift, reach truck, delivery van, heavy vehicle, depending on what you are licensed to drive.
- Work skills: reading drawings, measuring, stock counting, quality checks, loading and unloading, wiring and fault finding.
- Software, if any: basic phone or tablet apps for scanning stock, or simple spreadsheets.
Use the same words as the job post when they are true for you. If the post says "MIG welding" and you do MIG welding, write that, not just "welding".
Licences, certificates and safety training
Put these in their own section so they are easy to find. Write the exact name, the body that issued it where you know it, and the year. Examples include a driving licence class, a forklift operator certificate, an electrician or wireman licence, a trade school or ITI certificate, first aid, fire safety, or manual handling training.
Describe your work history in short bullets
For each job, write the employer, the place, the dates and two to four short lines. Say what you did and, if you can, how much or how often. Do not make up numbers. If you do not know an exact figure, describe the job in plain terms.
- Operated a packing line of four people, checking labels and quantities before dispatch.
- Loaded and unloaded delivery vehicles and kept the stock sheet up to date.
- Wired and tested lighting and socket circuits in homes and small shops, following the site supervisor's plan.
- Worked day and night shifts, including weekends when the order was urgent.
Show that you are dependable
Employers hiring for physical work care a lot about reliability. You can show it without using empty words like "hardworking". Mention how long you stayed in each job, the shifts you can work, whether you have your own transport, and when you can start. If a former supervisor is willing to speak for you, add "References available on request" or list their name and number with their permission.
Keep the layout simple
- One page, one column, large enough text to read on a phone.
- Headings: Summary, Skills, Licences and Training, Work History, Education.
- No photo unless the employer or agency asks for it.
- Save as a PDF, and keep a copy on your phone so you can send it by WhatsApp or email on the day.
If you have no written records
Many skilled and daily-wage workers have years of experience but no letters or payslips. That is normal. Write the places and periods as accurately as you can, name the kind of work and the tools, and add a contact who can confirm it if they agree. Honesty works better than guessing dates you cannot back up.
Where to look for work and list yourself
On Prime Resume AI, workers can mark themselves available and approved employers can contact them. Your phone number and email stay private until you accept a request. See workers and hiring to learn how it works, or browse open jobs.
To build the resume itself, pick a plain resume template, fill in the sections above, and download a PDF. The resume summary guide can help you with the first lines.