Write a great painter CV with these examples

Writing a great CV is an important step in finding your next role as a professional painter. As with your painting, your CV needs to be well presented and eye-catching. Use our painter CV template and CV builder tool to create a CV that will impress hiring managers and secure you an interview.

 

This guide will show you:

• What to include in your painter’s CV
• How to structure your painter’s CV
• Essential CV writing tips

The first thing the hiring manager will want to know about you is your field of expertise as a painter. There is a wide range of specialties within the profession—such as exterior painting, interior painting, and commercial painting—and your job is to explain which of these you are most comfortable with. To do this, make reference to specific painting techniques, painting tools, and painting projects you have previous experience with.

 

You may also want to reference industry-specific soft skills, such as project management, customer service and teamwork.

The structure of your professional painter’s CV will vary depending on the CV format you choose. There are three options:

1. Chronological, which emphasizes work experience
2. Functional, which focuses on skills
3. Combination, which balances skills and work experience

If you already have several years of experience as a painter, the chronological format will work best. Otherwise, consider the combination format, which is good if you can show off relevant skills and experiences, or the functional format.

 

 

The header sits at the top of the page and features your contact details. Include your full name, phone number, email address and any professional portfolio links you might have in this section. Present the information clearly so the recruiter can easily contact you should they wish to move forward with your application.

 

 

A professional summary is a brief overview of your key skills and experiences. A career objective is similar but also states your career goals. Either is fine for a painter job application, though a professional summary will work best if you already have existing experience as a professional painter.

 

 

The skills section is your chance to tailor your CV to the specifications of the role. Read through the job description and include any required or desirable skills that you possess.

 

Here are some examples of hard skills you might include in this section:

• Prepping
• Exterior surfaces
• Drywall
• Priming
• Paint mixing
• Carpentry
• Sandblasting
• Spray painting
• Varnishes
• Experience with specific painting equipment, such as a spray gun

You could also add some of the following soft skills:

• Project management
• Organisation
• Time management
• Communication
• Customer service

Work history

 

The work history section is where you run through previous jobs held over the past 10 years. List these in reverse chronological order. For each position, describe the responsibilities and experiences most relevant to the role of a painter in bullet points.

 

As with the skills section, tailor your work experience to the job description. For example, if you were applying to a commercial painter position, you would draw attention to specific commercial painting practices such as sandblasting, metalising and special surface preparation.

 

 

The education section is an important part of the CV, especially for candidates with limited professional experience. Include any relevant certifications and your bachelor’s degree. Only add your high school diploma if it is linked to the role you’re applying to.

Use the tips below to create the best CV possible.

 

Do:

• Use the CVHelp CV builder. Choose one of the many CV templates available with the CVHelp CV builder to get started and create a well-presented CV.
• Tailor your CV to the job description. Adapt your CV for each role you apply to during your job search. 
• Include portfolio links. The best way to showcase your talents is by including a link to your previous painting projects on your CV.

Don’t:

• Use passive language. In your work history section, use action verbs like “managed,” “achieved,” and “created” to engage the reader and create interest.
• Cover every aspect of the job description. Instead, choose three of four points to focus on. You’ll have the opportunity to expand on the role later on in the process.
• Forget to proofread. Check your CV for grammatical mistakes and formatting errors before sending off your application.