Let’s be direct. For an experienced apprentice, a resume is just a formal way to prove you have the hours. For a new apprentice, it’s a formality. I’m far more interested in your winning personality and your ability to answer skill-based questions than anything you can write on paper. The interview is where you prove your worth.
“If a resume could do my taxes or wash my car, I’d be impressed by it. Otherwise, it’s up to you to prove your skills and knowledge.”
Proof of Hard Work
Talk about tangible, physically demanding projects you’ve completed. Mentioning the time you “helped a neighbor set 1,000 feet of fence posts” is infinitely more valuable than listing “team player.”
Proof of Mechanical Aptitude
Highlight any hands-on projects. Did you help your uncle wire his garage? Do you do your own car maintenance? Mentioning that you “replaced the alternator on your truck and still own the tools” says more than any list of soft skills.
In the modern era, employers will often look you up online. This is your unofficial portfolio and character reference. Use it to your advantage.
Clean Up Your Social Media
As an employer, I’m looking for someone I can trust to send into a customer’s home. Your online presence should reflect professionalism. It helps me know you aren’t a “weird person” or someone who will embarrass the company on a job site. This isn’t about being fake; it’s about showing you are a mature, responsible adult ready for a professional career.
Instead of agonizing over the perfect font for your resume, focus your energy on what will actually get you hired: your knowledge, your attitude, and your preparation.
Know Your Stuff
Be ready to answer basic, skill-based questions verbatim. If asked what a “wiggy” is, you should be able to say “voltage meter” and explain what it does.
Nail the Interview
Show up on time, make eye contact, listen intently, and demonstrate a positive, can-do attitude. This is far more impressive than a perfectly formatted resume.
Be Prepared to Work
Have your own transportation and your basic Tier 1 hand tools. Showing up ready to contribute from day one is the most powerful statement you can make.
With your resume sorted and your focus in the right place, it’s time to talk about the single most important topic in our trade. In Part 9, we will cover the fundamental safety rules that you must live by, every single day.
