Welder Skills for a Resume

Fabricators and contractors hire welders who make sound, clean welds that pass inspection. Show the processes and positions you weld, the metals and codes you work to and your test results.

Updated

13 skills at a glance

Hard skills

What the work takes, how a hiring manager judges each skill, and a bullet point that shows it.

  1. MIG, TIG, stick and flux-cored welding

    Name the processes and the positions you are qualified in.

    Example bullet pointWelded in all positions with stick and flux-cored on structural steel, and TIG on stainless.

  2. Pipe and plate welding

    Give the pipe sizes, plate thicknesses and positions you weld.

    Example bullet pointWelded carbon steel pipe from 2 to 12 inches in the 6G position.

  3. Blueprint and weld symbol reading

    Show that you work from drawings without supervision.

    Example bullet pointBuilt frames from shop drawings and weld symbols with little supervision.

  4. Fit-up and fabrication

    Show what you build and how accurate it is.

    Example bullet pointFit up and welded trailer frames to within 1/16 inch of the drawing.

  5. Cutting (plasma, oxy-fuel)

    Name the cutting methods and the work you cut.

    Example bullet pointCut and beveled plate and pipe with plasma and oxy-fuel torches.

  6. Weld inspection

    Show your pass rates on visual and nondestructive inspections.

    Example bullet pointPassed X-ray inspection on 98% of pipe welds over a year.

  7. Metals (carbon steel, stainless, aluminum)

    Name the metals you weld and what each one needs.

    Example bullet pointWelded thin-wall aluminum boat parts with TIG, controlling heat to avoid warping.

  8. Welding codes (AWS, ASME, API)

    Name the codes you are certified to.

    Example bullet pointCertified to AWS D1.1 for structural steel and ASME Section IX for pressure piping.

Soft skills

Shown through what you did, never claimed as adjectives.

  1. Steady hands

    Show clean, consistent welds that pass inspection.

    Example bullet pointProduced welds clean enough for exposed architectural steelwork.

  2. Attention to detail

    Show accuracy in fit-up and in following procedures.

    Example bullet pointChecked every fit-up against the drawing before welding, avoiding costly rework.

  3. Safety focus

    Show your safety record and the precautions you take.

    Example bullet pointFollowed hot work permits and fire watch rules on every plant job, with no incidents.

  4. Patience

    Show careful work on difficult joints or metals.

    Example bullet pointTook time to prepare and preheat thick sections, preventing cracks on critical welds.

  5. Reliability

    Show the trust your work earned, such as the jobs you are chosen for.

    Example bullet pointWas chosen for the shop's urgent repair jobs because of consistent quality.

Licenses and certifications

Give them a section of their own, with who issued each one and the year or expiry date.

  • AWS Certified Welder
  • AWS D1.1 structural certification
  • ASME Section IX or API 1104 pipe certification
  • Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)
  • OSHA 10-Hour

Keywords from welder job postings

Use the ones that are true for you, in your bullet points as well as your skills list.

  • TIG
  • MIG
  • stick
  • X-ray
  • structural steel
  • pipe
  • stainless
  • fit-up
  • all positions

Each posting has its own words. Our guide to tailoring your resume to a job description shows how to find them and where to put them.

Where to put your skills

  • In a skills section: a short list of the hard skills the posting names, in its words.
  • In your bullet points: every skill that matters should show up in something you did, with a result. That is where a hiring manager believes it.
  • In your summary: two or three of the skills the job asks for most.

More on choosing them in how to choose and prove the skills on your resume.

Questions

What skills should a welder put on a resume?

Your processes and positions, pipe and plate work, blueprint reading, fit-up and fabrication, cutting, inspection results, metals and the codes you are certified to, plus steady hands and attention to detail.

Where should I list my welding certifications?

Near the top, with the code, the process and the position, such as AWS D1.1 3G and 4G.

Which numbers can a welder use?

Inspection pass rates, pipe sizes and positions, and the size or volume of what you fabricate.

Put them to work

Start from a welder resume that already uses these skills, for an invented person, and make it yours in the builder.

Use this exampleRead the welder resume example