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Your resume is often the first impression a potential employer has of you. This simple document gives a snapshot of your education, skills, job history and more, all of which employers use to determine if you would be a good fit for their company.
Whether you’re creating your resume for the first time or are fine-tuning your existing resume to apply for a new position, this guide is for you. Follow along as we share how to create your auto mechanic resume:
Writing Your Auto Mechanic Resume
Crafting your resume is one of the most important steps to take during your job search. Before an employer has a chance to meet you, this is the first thing they will see.
Your resume isn’t a document you just create once—it will change throughout the course of your career as you gain new experiences and reach new achievements. For this reason, it’s important to update it and make improvements regularly. Additionally, your resume should be catered to the job you’re applying for by highlighting the skills you have that align with the position.
When employers sort through a stack of resumes, you want yours to catch their eye. So how do you accomplish this? Two main factors in creating a successful resume include having the right content and a professional visual layout.
Elements to Include
When creating your resume, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are some basic written elements to be sure to include.
Career Objective
Your career objective often appears at the top of your resume, and its purpose is to state who you are and the type of opportunity you’re seeking. Here are a few auto mechanic resume objective examples:
- “Universal Technical Institute graduate seeking full-time employment with BMW. Possesses specialized training on BMW technology in addition to experience working in a dealership environment. Skills include performing measurements with a DVOM, servicing various engine components to BMW standards, complete engine disassembly and reassembly and more.”
- “Skilled mechanic looking to obtain the position of Automotive Technician with Volvo. Possesses 3+ years of hands-on experience working with gas, diesel and hybrid vehicles, electronic equipment and fuel systems. Demonstrates exceptional customer service skills and attention to detail.”
- “ASE Master Technician with 10+ years of experience in the automotive industry. As a former lead mechanic, helped boost customer ratings by 15% and trained 10 new mechanics. Seeking the role of Master Technician at Ford to utilize my years of experience and expertise.”
Including a career objective on your resume isn’t always required. However, a well-written statement can help you catch the attention of an employer. When writing your objective, remember to make it short and concise while including information that would be of interest to the employer. Think of this statement as a hook that will intrigue the employer to keep reading!
Professional Experience
The experience section of your resume is your chance to provide detail around where you’ve worked in the past and how it can be beneficial in your new role. For each position you’ve held, be sure to include the following information:
- The company name
- Your title
- The dates you worked there (ex: January 2016 - May 2018)
- A bulleted list of your job duties and accomplishments
When listing your experiences, order them starting with your most recent position. If you are currently employed, list the timeframe as the year you started to present (ex: 2016 - present). Similar to your objective, try to keep this section concise while including enough information to give the employer an idea of what your work experience entails.
If you’re a new graduate who hasn’t acquired much working experience yet, don’t panic! According to Kelly Johnson, Career Advisor at UTI Long Beach, students can list personal projects they may have worked on. If you have passion projects you’ve completed, list the year, make and model of the vehicles to show the diversity of what you’ve done. In addition to giving employers an idea of the skills you possess, it will also show the passion you have for the industry.
Education
The education section of your resume is where you can list the school(s) you’ve attended, the year you graduated, the programs you’ve completed and your GPA, if you would like to include it.
Your education section is also where you may include any certifications you possess. In the automotive and diesel industries, certifications are greatly valued by employers, so be sure to highlight them. For example, if you possess ASE certifications and/or your EPA 609, list them in this section.
Additionally, if you don’t have much experience to include on your resume, you can include more information about your education. For example, if you’re a UTI Automotive grad, you may decide to include the names of the individual courses you took. Below is an example of how this can be formatted:
Universal Technical Institute (UTI) - Long Beach, CA
Automotive Technology
- Automotive Engines Service & Repair
- Professional Automotive Service Writing
- Automotive Powertrains & Transmissions
- Vehicle Steering and Suspension Service and Repair
- Vehicle Brake Systems
- Vehicle Electronic Systems and Technology
- Automotive Climate Control Systems and Repair
- Roush Yates Emission Legal Performance Tuning
Skills
The skills section of your resume is one of the areas you can really customize to fit the role you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a lead mechanic role and you have experience leading a team of technicians, you’ll want to include ‘leadership’ in your list of skills. Similarly, if you’re applying for a role where you’ll be working alongside other techs, you may want to include ‘teamwork’ in your list of skills.
When it comes to completing this section, take a close look at the job description of the position you’re applying for. If the skills listed on the job posting match the skills you possess, include them on your resume. When flipping through resumes, employers will be looking for these skills, so doing this will show the employer that you’re a good match for the role.
Awards & Accomplishments
If you’ve received awards that are relevant to your target position, these can also be included on your resume. When listing your awards and accomplishments, be sure to include the title of the award and date of recognition. Examples of awards worth noting are having perfect attendance or being voted employee of the month.
Contact Information
Including your contact information is simple, but this is a step that should not be overlooked. If an employer decides to reach out to you, this is the information they will use, so it’s important to ensure it is correct! Your resume should always include the following contact information:
- First and last name
- Address
- Phone number
- Email address (make sure it’s an email you check regularly!)
- LinkedIn (optional)
Tips for Designing Your Resume
In addition to having the right content, the visual appearance of your resume is also important. There are plenty of free templates you can download that set up the formatting for you—all you have to do is upload your content. Microsoft Word offers free resume templates, but there are also a lot of great options on the web:
When choosing a template, remember that simple is best. Stick to neutral colors and make sure to choose a resume with a legible font. Keep in mind that your resume should also be kept to one page in length, if possible. The more concise, the better!
Writing Your Cover Letter
Having a cover letter (CV) is also critical when applying for most jobs. While your resume gives a general overview of your experience and accomplishments, a cover letter gives you an opportunity to expand on these things and draw the connection to the position you’re applying for.
According to Kelly Johnson, “Writing a cover letter gives a potential candidate the opportunity to highlight their level of professionalism and etiquette within the job search environment. Being able to explain your interest, relatable experience, and skill set and how it would be a benefit to that team is a great introduction of yourself.”
Cover letters should be tailored to the specific job you’re interested in. You don’t necessarily have to start from scratch each time—however, you should take the time to customize your letter to highlight what makes you a good fit for the position.
So what should an auto mechanic’s cover letter include? Here is an auto mechanic CV sample:
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am applying for the position of entry-level service technician with your company. My training at Universal Technical Institute in Houston, Texas will be completed soon, and I plan to return to New York after graduation. My resume is enclosed for your review.
With my previous work experience on electrical systems, I have the skills necessary to contribute effectively to your company. I have my own tools, a valid driver's license, am a fast learner and I’m motivated to start my new career.
I look forward to meeting you in person to discuss my qualifications. You can reach me at (555) 434-1212. I will plan to call you on March 9th to discuss any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Don’t Forget a Thank-You Letter
Sending a thank-you letter (or email) within 24 hours of your interview can go a long way. Many times, doing so will make you stand out from the other applicants. In addition to showing professionalism, sending a thank-you letter gives you a chance to remind the employer of why your skills are a good fit for the role.
When writing your letter, keep your message concise. The employer is most likely very busy, so you want to write something that they can read over quickly while still getting your message. Additionally, be sure to take the time to proofread and edit your letter to avoid any grammatical errors. If possible, have a friend or family member look over it for a second pair of eyes.
Here’s an example of a thank-you letter you can send after your interview:
Dear [employer name],
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today regarding the technician position with your company.
As we discussed in the interview, my skills and qualifications are a good match for the position, and I’m excited about this opportunity. I really like the team approach you described and feel that I could make a significant contribution to the success of your business.
If there is any way I can be of further assistance as you are making your decision, please feel free to give me a call. I look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Auto Mechanic Resume Examples
When it comes to crafting your resume, it can be helpful to look at examples. Here is a simple auto mechanic resume sample you can refer to for both content and visual inspiration as you create yours:
Click here to download a resume template that you can use today.
At the end of the day, remember that your resume can be an amazing tool when making your next big career move. Take the time to perfect this document so it accurately depicts who you are and what you’ve accomplished. Your hard work will pay off when meeting with potential employers!
Complete Your Automotive Training at UTI
Do you have a passion for the automotive industry? UTI’s 51-week Automotive Technology program can equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to prepare for a career in the field.1 To learn more, visit our program page and request information today.
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