Carpenter resume example. Plus the keywords recruiters search for.
A carpenter resume that shows your apprenticeship, the kind of carpentry you do and the size of the projects you build — with the framing, finish and safety keywords contractors search for.
Reviewed by Nazir Elmurodov · Updated
/ The example
Carpenter resume example.
Jake Sorensen
Journeyman Carpenter
Boise, ID · jake.sorensen@email.com · (208) 555-0172
Summary
Journeyman carpenter with 9 years in rough carpentry and finish work on commercial, multifamily and residential projects. I lay out and frame to building codes and the drawings, and I lead small crews that stay on schedule.
Experience
Journeyman Carpenter, Treasure Valley Builders · Mar 2020 – Present
- • Frame wood and light-gauge steel walls, floors and roofs for commercial and multifamily buildings up to 4 stories
- • Lead a crew of 4 on layout and framing; framed 6 apartment buildings since 2020, all on schedule, using a laser level and the superintendent's control lines
- • Build concrete formwork for footings, walls and stairs, and hang doors, hardware and finish trim at closeout
- • Use fall protection and scaffolding every day, with no recordable incidents in 9 years
Carpenter Apprentice, Snake River Construction · Jun 2016 – Feb 2020
- • Completed a 4-year registered carpentry apprenticeship combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction
- • Framed and sheathed 50+ custom and production homes, including stairs, decks and roof trusses
- • Learned blueprint reading and wall layout from plans, and installed cabinets and interior trim on remodels with no callbacks
Education & certifications
Registered Carpentry Apprenticeship, 2016–2020 · OSHA 30-Hour Construction (OSHA 30)
Skills
Framing · Metal stud framing · Concrete formwork · Finish carpentry · Trim carpentry · Cabinet installation · Blueprint reading · Layout · Laser level · Power tools · Hand tools · Crew leadership
Jake Sorensen
Journeyman Carpenter
jake.sorensen@email.com · Boise, ID
(208) 555-0172
Summary
Journeyman carpenter with 9 years in rough carpentry and finish work on commercial, multifamily and residential projects. I lay out and frame to building codes and the drawings, and I lead small crews that stay on schedule.
Experience
Journeyman Carpenter — Treasure Valley Builders
Mar 2020 – Present
• Frame wood and light-gauge steel walls, floors and roofs for commercial and multifamily buildings up to 4 stories
• Lead a crew of 4 on layout and framing; framed 6 apartment buildings since 2020, all on schedule, using a laser level and the superintendent's control lines
• Build concrete formwork for footings, walls and stairs, and hang doors, hardware and finish trim at closeout
• Use fall protection and scaffolding every day, with no recordable incidents in 9 years
Carpenter Apprentice — Snake River Construction
Jun 2016 – Feb 2020
• Completed a 4-year registered carpentry apprenticeship combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction
• Framed and sheathed 50+ custom and production homes, including stairs, decks and roof trusses
• Learned blueprint reading and wall layout from plans, and installed cabinets and interior trim on remodels with no callbacks
Education
2016–2020
Registered Carpentry Apprenticeship
Certifications
OSHA 30-Hour Construction (OSHA 30)
Skills
Framing, Metal stud framing, Concrete formwork, Finish carpentry, Trim carpentry, Cabinet installation, Blueprint reading, Layout, Laser level, Power tools, Hand tools, Crew leadership
Why it works
It shows range — framing, steel studs, formwork and finish — and sizes the work in stories, buildings and homes. The apprenticeship is listed like a job and under education, the OSHA card is named correctly, and the safety record covers the whole career.
Use this as your starting point
Opens in the editor with every section filled in. Swap in your own details and download a PDF or Word file free.
Start from this exampleSample resume. Names, companies and figures are illustrative.
/ Summary examples
Three summary examples. Pick the one closest to you.
Two or three lines: your level, your field and one result.
- Apprentice
Second-year carpentry apprentice on residential framing crews. Comfortable with layout, wall framing, sheathing and power tools, and holding an OSHA 10 card.
- Journeyman
Journeyman carpenter with 9 years in framing, formwork and finish work. I lead a crew of 4 and have framed 6 apartment buildings since 2020, all on schedule.
- Foreman
Carpentry foreman who runs crews of 15 on commercial projects, plans manpower and materials with the superintendent and handles layout from the drawings.
More for other jobs and situations (no experience, career change, senior): resume summary examples.
/ Bullet points
Bullet point examples. From duty to result.
Turn duties into results: what you did, how, and what changed.
Framing
Instead of: Did framing
Write: Frame wood and light-gauge steel walls, floors and roofs for buildings up to 4 stories
Leadership
Instead of: Led a crew
Write: Lead a crew of 4 that framed 6 apartment buildings since 2020, all on schedule
Formwork
Instead of: Built forms
Write: Build concrete formwork for footings, walls and stairs
Finish work
Instead of: Did trim
Write: Installed cabinets and interior trim on remodels with no callbacks
Volume
Instead of: Built houses
Write: Framed and sheathed 50+ custom and production homes, including stairs, decks and roof trusses
Safety
Instead of: Worked safely
Write: Use fall protection and scaffolding daily, with no recordable incidents in 9 years
/ Keywords
Keywords and skills for carpenters.
These come up often in carpenter job posts. Include only the ones you can back up in an interview, and use the exact wording from the post you're applying to.
- Rough carpentry
- Framing
- Metal stud framing
- Concrete formwork
- Finish carpentry
- Trim carpentry
- Cabinet installation
- Blueprint reading
- Layout
- Building codes
- Laser level
- Power tools
- Hand tools
- Scaffolding
- Fall protection
- OSHA 30
- Crew leadership
/ ATS tips
ATS tips for carpenters.
Say what kind of carpenter you are
Framing, formwork, finish, cabinets or commercial interiors are different jobs. Lead with the work the posting asks for.
Size the projects
Stories, square footage, number of homes or buildings and crew size tell a contractor what you can take on.
List your apprenticeship
Treat a registered apprenticeship like a job with dates, and add it under education too. It shows structured training.
Name your tools
Laser levels, total stations, nail guns and specialty saws are worth a mention if the posting lists them.
Show your safety record
Fall protection, scaffolding and a clean incident record matter on every job site. Name OSHA cards by their course name.
How does your carpenter resume compare?
Free ATS score, missing keywords and fixes in about 10 seconds.
/ Questions
Carpenter resume FAQ.
Writing the cover letter too? See Jake's cover letter, annotated
Do carpenters need a license?
Usually not as individual workers. Contractor licensing varies by state and city, so if you run your own jobs, check what your area requires and list any license you hold.
How do I list a carpentry apprenticeship?
Give the program, dates and the work you did. Registered apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction, so mention both. Use journeyman only once you've completed the program.
Is the OSHA 30 a certification?
No. OSHA describes the 10- and 30-hour cards as course completion cards, not certifications. List it as "OSHA 30-Hour Construction".
Should I include residential and commercial work?
Yes, if you've done both. Many contractors value range, but lead with the type that matches the job.
How do I move up to foreman?
Show crew leadership, layout from drawings and on-schedule results. A bullet about planning materials or training apprentices helps too.