Handyman Resume: Templates, Examples and Guide

handyman resume example
Created by Cake

Handymen, also known as fixers or handyworkers, are either contract workers or members of the maintenance department. They perform a wide range of repairs and maintenance duties for homeowners and businesses, for example:

  • Fixing plumbing, electrical, and safety systems
  • Providing clients with advice and guidance on maintaining their appliances 
  • Handling the lightning installation and carpeting 
  • Repairing equipment and various machines and appliances

In general, people tend to call for a handyman when they are in need of household repairs, whereas a contractor is involved in large projects such as building and construction. 

With thousands of job hunters each month, a great handyman resume can help you attract the employer or clients and get hired. To get you started, this article will show you how to build one and provide you a polished handyman resume sample.

How to write a professional handyman resume?

Step 1: Write an eye-catching headline for a handyman resume.

The resume headline should summarize the candidate's expertise and include keywords relevant to the position. When well-branded, it effectively grabs the reader's attention.

Examples of a headline for your handyman resume:

  • Office Handyman with vast experience in cafe engineering operations.
  • Handyman & housing assistant with knowledge of preventive maintenance procedures. 
  • Texas-licensed Handyman with extensive experience in handling a variety of household repairs and installations.

Step 2: Craft a professional resume summary statement.

The resume summary is where the employer can get a quick idea of your skills and achievements. Thus, a well-written handyman resume summary statement can motivate them to read the rest of your handyman resume.

Great examples of a handyman resume summary:
  1. Dedicated and helpful handyworker with 5+ years of experience in mechanical repairs, equipment refurbs, and warehouse racking mods. Willing to do shift work, weekends, or off-hours if needed.
  2. Office handyman with 7 years of hands-on experience in performing standard maintenance on equipment associated with grounds, buildings, lighting, and machinery. Committed to exceptional workmanship and following safety regulations. 
  3. Handyman assistant with a proven ability to assist in general repair and maintenance tasks for restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. A team player with 3+ years of experience in providing assistance. Strongly self-motivated, hard-working, and eager to learn.

📝 Learn how to write a resume summary with no experience here: Summary for Resume|Examples, Templates, Writing Guide

Step 3: Include key skills in your handyworker resume.

It's important to list key skills relevant to the job opening as this can present you as the right fit to the employer.

What you may not know is they are also expecting to see both hard and soft skills on your handyman resume. Hard skills are the technical skills required to accomplish the tasks and duties of a specific job, whereas soft skills pertain to one's personality traits.

Below is a list of skills for a handyman resume:

Hard skills

  • HVAC systems
  • SMED
  • Setup reduction
  • Kanban
  • Painting technology
  • Lighting fixture maintenance 
  • CAD software 
  • OSHA-trained

Soft skills

  • Positive attitude
  • Communication skills
  • Problem solving
  • Attention to detail
  • Organizational skills
  • Multi-tasking
  • Time management
  • Collaboration

Step 4: Tailor the handyman resume to the specific job.  

If you want your job hunting to be efficient, don't see preparing your resume as a one-time experience. Instead of proving that you can be qualified in general with a generic resume, put extra effort into tailoring your handyman resume. That way you can strongly state that you're the right fit for the job opening. 

For instance, a self-employed handyman resume and a resume for those hired by a company will not be the same.

📝 Note: Focus on the handyman resume summary and work experience sections to make them well-matched with the job.

Step 5: Proofread your handyman resume.

You've made an effort to make a convincing handyman resume. Don't forget to do a final check for the file name, typos, grammatical errors, etc.

What is the best resume format for a handyman?

Three basic types of resume formats commonly used by job seekers are chronological, functional, combination, or targeted. Review the job description and yourself as a candidate to decide the most suitable type for your handyman resume format as each of them is used in different contexts.

1. Chronological resume format

  • What is it?
    This is the most popular type of format, starting with the most recent job. 
  • Who should use it?
    Job seekers with a solid history of employment 

2. Functional resume format

  • What is it?
    This type puts a focus on the applicant's skills rather than their work experience. 
  • Who should use it?
    Those who want to change their jobs or have been through a career gap

3. Combinational resume format 

  • What is it?
    This is the hybrid version of a chronological resume and a functional resume. The applicant can feature their skills while demonstrating their work experience. 
  • Who should use it?
    Those who have experience in the field or a diverse skill sets 

How to make a handyman resume template?

Unlike resumes for creative jobs, you can easily create a handyman resume template on your own.

1️⃣  Microsoft Word

How: Choose the template that you like and simply insert the text into the Word file.

💡 Tips:

  • Cover essential sections (Personal Contact, Summary, Work Experience, Education, and Skills)
  • Optimize the handyman resume format for ATS
  • Use easy-to-read fonts (e.g., Times New Roman, Cambria, Calibri, and Arial)

2️⃣  Online Resume Builder

How: 

  • Create an account on Cake
  • Select the template that you prefer among already-made templates
  • Simply add, remove, and edit the layout to make your professional handyman resume template unique 

💡 Tip: Take a look at Cake articles to get yourself useful writing tips and find great resume examples

Cake provides the best handyman resume templates & formats for handyworkers to showcase their skills and experience. Sign up to create the best handyman resume. Now!

Top 10 Handyman Resume Dos and Don'ts

✅  Dos:

  • Tailor your handyman resume and include relevant information that helps create a picture of you as a suitable candidate for the vacancy. If you're not sure what information should or should not be mentioned, read through the handyman job description carefully.  
  • Adding quantifiable and measurable achievements is one way to pique the recruiter's interest. Difficult as it may seem, this is the most effective and convincing way to demonstrate your competence. So, let the numbers tell the story.
  • Optimize your handyman resume for ATS because numerous companies use it to deal with high volumes of job applications. An ATS-friendly handyman resume should cover all must-have sections, stick to text, especially keywords from the job description, and avoid graphs.
  • Choose the right handyman resume format for ATS optimization and a good presentation of your strengths. The design should be simple, neat, and easy-to-read for the reader. 
  • Use action verbs in the handyman resume such as conducted, offered, repaired, inspected, performed, serviced, collaborated, etc. Also, make sure to match the verbs with the handyman job description. 

❌  Don'ts:

  • Mix up a resume with a CV because they differ in length, purpose, content, and layout.
    Since CVs are commonly used in academia, medicine, or science fields, you may consider preparing a handyman resume instead. Read about the differences between a CV and a resume: What Is the Difference Between CV and Resume?
  • Write an old-style resume objective statement through which the reader can't clearly see your career goals and desire for the job. For example, try to draft an objective statement for handyman resumes like “General Handyman looking for a position at ABC Inc. to apply my broad experience in furniture assembly & repair, light fittings, and grounding work.”
  • Disclose confidential information about previous employers or clients in your handyman resume.
    That can bring you trouble regarding legal issues and indicate that you’re tactless and unprofessional.
  • Include unnecessary personal details that might lead to discrimination such as height/weight, social security number, marital status, race, religion, etc. 
  • Send the resume as a Word doc. Due to formatting issues that often occur while opening a Word file, you should consider submitting a handyman resume PDF instead. 

Handyman Resume Sample

Zach Pullman

Handyman Supervisor with Excellent Fabric Maintenance Skills

Chicago, IL
(+238)-345-3920
[email protected]

Summary

Professional handyman with 6 years of experience in furniture repair & installation, light fittings, grounding work, and geyser repair. In-depth knowledge of painting technology and preventive maintenance process. Strong attention to detail and exceptional interpersonal & communication skills.

Work Experience

Facilities Maintanance Supervisor, Interis Inc., Chicago, IL

12/2016 - 12/2020

  • Trained new hires and led a team of 5 handyworkers.
  • Supervised the tasks within the team, including plumbing, finishing carpentry, tile, and brickwork.
  • Enhanced work safety by making sure the whole team was following all safety procedures and modeling the behaviors related to such. 0 accident occurred at the worksite.

General Handyman, Interis Inc., Chicago, IL

7/2014 - 10/2016

  • Maintained clean, organized, and safe work sites on a daily basis.
  • Performed routine carpentry work in the repair and maintenance of 7 five-star hotels in Chicago.
  • Supported 20+ plant improvement projects through moving machines, installing pipes & fixtures, and preparing crypts for entombments. 


Skills

Hard Skills

  • Familiarity with apartment unit layouts and infrastructures
  • CNC operation
  • SMED
  • Setup reduction
  • Kanban

Soft Skills

  • Good communication skills
  • Problem solving
  • Detail-oriented
  • Flexibility
  • Organizational skills

Certification

ACHP Certification

Education

Calhoun High School, Port Lavaca, TX

2009 - 2013

--- Originally written by May Luong --- 

3 Benefits of Subscribing to Cake's Newsletter

  • Bi-weekly newsletter updates
  • Industry trends and skills recommendation
  • Latest job openings and job search information
Newsletter

Resume Builder

Build your resume only in minutes!

More Articles you might be interested in

Latest relevant articles
Resume & CV
Apr 25th 2023

What Is a Great Biodata for Students? How to Create One?

A biodata is a simple document that contains all of your personal information. A student biodata is biographical information that states all of your information as a student, including your personal information, degree, certificate, and professorship. It can be substituted with a resume/CV in some countries like India when applying for job positions or academic institutions.