Car Mechanic Resume & Writing Guide

Scouting for a Car Mechanic role? Your job search has just hit 5^th gear!

In our write-up below, we have provided top-notch Car Mechanic resume examples that you may use to ensure your application is miles ahead of the rest.

Added to the resume examples, you will find detailed discussions regarding the main points that you need to highlight in your resume and which sections to focus on that would showcase an informative yet exciting resume to recruiters and hiring managers.

19 Car Mechanic Resume Examples

How to Make a Resume as a Car Mechanic:

Resume Sections

1. Contact Information:

• Name Address
• Phone Number
• Email Address
• Driver's license
• Nationality (optional)

2. Profile Summary:
Why not use a career summary as opposed to career objectives? A profile synopsis is an excellent tool to provide hiring managers with your most important ‘’specs’’ regarding experience, technical knowledge, and certifications.

1 – 3 sentences giving a broad overview of your background, years of experience as a Car Mechanic, the industries you have worked in, and the types of vehicles you have worked on.

3. Qualifications Summary:
As a minimum, the average Car Mechanic position requires a completed high school diploma to gain entry into the automotive world.

However, Industrial Revolution 4.0 has brought with it much innovation and sophistication of automotive technologies which means post-school qualifications have become must-haves instead of nice-to-haves.

Take your resume from “not too hot,” by including courses and diplomas completed (for example, auto repairs, electronic diagnostics, or mechanical automation), in your education section to boost credibility and suitability. (see example summaries and objectives below!)

4. Relevant Mechanic Experience: 
Car Mechanics usually have to complete apprenticeship programs before they become fully fledge technicians and if you are applying for your first job, it is crucial to add your apprenticeship experience in your resume.

Should your career history span longer than a decade, then focus on the last ten years of employment and provide details regarding employers, dates of employment, and your primary job duties.

A reverse chronological format remains the best option (listing career history from most recent backward).

Use bullet points and concise sentences to describe your daily tasks.

5. Education/ Certifications/ Coursework/ Training:
It is not necessary to have an academic degree to be a Car Mechanic, but for most employers, an ASE certification or a diploma from a technical school is preferred. Generally, a valid driver’s license is a must.

6. Other Employment Experience: 
Employment experience outside of the formal automotive sector should also be listed, especially of your permanent work history in this field is a bit sparse. You may add volunteering work as a Car Mechanic or even your experience in fixing cares for friends and family members.

Whether your casual automotive experience was conducted for fun or funds, employers would be interested in your knowledge gained and technical expertise developed during vocational gigs too.

7. Skills Summary/Key Skills:
Have a look at the essential skills and competencies listed in the job advertisement and then customize your skills section to match those words (if you have that kind of experience, of course). A skills matrix is an excellent method to customize your automotive Car Mechanic resume.

8. Licenses/Certifications/Relevant Coursework/Training: 
Continuing education is vital to keep your skills (and your paycheck) up to scratch with industry norms. List all the relevant courses, certifications, and licenses that you have attained during the last five years.

CPD (continuous professional development) programs completed, will show potential employers than you are committed to keeping up with the ever-changing trends in technology, new model cars being produced, and also that you are open to up-skilling and even re-skilling in your chosen trade.

What to Highlight in a Car Mechanic Resume

In a nutshell Car Mechanics are responsible for inspections, services, and repairs. However, there are certain aspects of your career history and technical knowledge, as well as industry experience, that need special mentioning to ensure that your resume is viewed favorably by recruiters and hiring managers.

The first aspect to highlight relates to the discipline you are qualified for. In other words, what type of Car Mechanic are you? Bear in mind that you could be a great all rounder too, with experience in all facets of automotive technician work. The main types of Car Mechanics include:

• Automotive Air-Conditioning Repairers:
  These technicians are responsible for installing and repairing air conditioning systems found in vehicles and trucks. Your experience gained in servicing parts such as compressors and condensers or programming cooling system controls would be of interest to managers and supervisors of vehicle servicing workshops and auto body shops.

• Brake Repairers:
  These mechanics are responsible for adjusting brakes, replacing brake pads and linings, and repairing braking systems. Explain to recruiters whether you specialize in back brakes, front end brakes, or both.

• Front-End Mechanics:
  Hiring managers would expect to see skills like wheel alignment and wheel balancing on your resume. Feel free to add your exposure to steering mechanisms and suspension systems to and also indicate the wheel balancing machines and aligning equipment that you are familiar with.

• Transmission Technicians and Rebuilders:
  These are specialist Car Mechanics that work on transmission systems and parts, for example, gear trains and hydraulic pumps. It is vital to indicate your adeptness in diagnosing hydraulic and electrical issues to catch the attention of hiring managers and recruiters.

• Tune-Up Technicians:
  Care Mechanics that specialize in adjusting and tweaking ignition timing systems are responsible for ensuring efficient engine performance. They replace valves and spark plugs and are Wizz kids on electronic testing equipment to identify and diagnose malfunctions in emissions, fuel, and ignition control systems.

• Vehicle Inspectors:
  More experienced Car Mechanics often gravitate towards safety and compliance jobs in the automotive field. They become inspectors that measure vehicle emissions, automotive parts, and braking systems to ensure that the vehicle is up to standard in terms of industry regulations.

• Tire Mechanics:
  Technicians in this role are tasked with reforming, repairing, replacement, and maintenance on various tire brands. Make sure to provide examples of the tire brands you had worked with before, as well as the process followed to test tires for abnormalities and conducting tire safety checks. Recruiters would also look for keywords such as wheel torquing and tire installations in this section of your resume.

• Auto Glass Mechanics:
  Do you repair and install windscreens on vehicles as the primary function of your job? Then you are probably an Auto Glass Mechanic. Remember to mention your certificate in Autoglass Installation and Autoglass Collision Repair in the education section of your resume, as these are the minimum requirements for landing a role in windshield and windscreen repairs and installations.

• Body Paint and Repair Mechanics:
  You are the proverbial ‘’first responder’’ for vehicles that have been in accidents, fender benders, or scratching and bumping events. Indicate whether you work in a dealership or specialized auto body shop and also remember to mention the spray painting machines and panel beating equipment you are familiar with.

• Automotive Exhaust Mechanics:
  These technicians are responsible for the repair, modification, installation and removal of exhaust systems and can work on a wide variety of exhaust models (be sure to mention them by name in your job description). Keywords that will attract a hiring manager’s attention include headers, sensors, mufflers, and catalytic converters specialize in the repair, removal, installation, and modification of exhaust systems. This includes mufflers, catalytic converters. Exhaust Car Mechanics are highly specialized, and you would need certifications in tools such as shields and blowtorches as well as exhaust overhauling and rebuilding per manufacturer specifications.

• Race Car Mechanics:
  Every Car Mechanic’s dream. Think NASCAR and Formula 1 in this role. Unfortunately, these jobs are scarce, and you have to be an expert in servicing and repairing high-performance vehicles. Be sure to indicate your previous on the job training mentioning the number of years as an in-service trainee as well as the manufacturing brand that you can work on.

Now that you have discussed your technical competencies, the next topic should focus on the administrative side of your job, for instance, reviewing and maintaining technical orders, inspecting equipment and tools, complete requisitions for materials and parts, filling out job orders and completing checklists on completion of jobs.

Then comes the discussion regarding tools and tech. Categorize your experience regarding tools and equipment into mechanical and electronic subparts. For mechanical tenure, you can explain your knowledge and expertise with components such as engines, conveyor belts, hoses, gearboxes and alternators.

Electrical skills that employers would look for is familiarity and competencies in braking, transmission, and steering systems as well as digital diagnostic application software.

Finally, provide insight regarding your working environment. Car Mechanics work in dealerships, vehicle rental agencies, garages and auto-workshops. It would be wise to indicate logistics such as working hours, shifts, or whether you work on weekends and public holidays.

It would help if you were physically fit as this job demands quite a bit of endurance standing, bending, lifting and moving heavy objects all day, therefore, adding a medical certificate with a clean bill of health is sure to improve your candidacy.

Resume Summary

Hiring managers in the automotive field are typically the Dealership Owner or Workshop Manager. They have a hectic schedule, whether it is to facilitate administrative work such as coordinating dealership facilities, or overseeing workshop operations. Therefore, their time to read your resume would be limited.

Make their lives easier by placing an informative and eye-grabbing career summary at the top of your resume document. The best way is to use a paragraph format for your synopsis containing 3-5 sentences where you summarize essential skills, certifications, and industry experience.

Don’t go overboard with details; the aim is to showcase a paragraph that highlights your capabilities in accordance with the job advertisement. This may entail having to rewrite a different career summary for each role you apply to, but the time would be well worth spending in the end.

Example Career Summaries:

Example Career Summary 1

“A dynamic and meticulous Car Mechanic holding a faultless track record in diagnostics and repairs for high-performance vehicles in the Formula One Circuit. Over a decade of experience in fixing and repairing Ferrari and McLaren model vehicles in highly pressurized settings. Holds a Diploma in Automotive Engineering and is certified as a Master Mechanic for brands such as Toyota, BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen.  Strong work ethic with a verifiable record of providing exceptional customer service.“

Example Career Summary 1

“A multi-talented Car Mechanic with expertise and a proven record of troubleshooting electrical issues in braking and steering mechanisms for SUV’s and RV’s. Highly adept in using high-tech diagnostic equipment and holds an excellent track record for building up complex exhaust systems. Completed various  Specialized Automotive Training Programs via the Universal Technical Institute in Ohio coupled with superuser ratings on car diagnostic tools such as ProScan, PCMScan, and Auto Enginuity“

Example Career Summary 1

“Highly specialized Car Mechanic with an eight-year track record in repairing, overhauling, reconditioning and replacing gearboxes on diesel vehicles and trucks. Excellent multitasker using smart technology to manage daily projects and deliverables with a zero-call back record. High capacity for investigating malfunctions manually and with the aid of digital diagnostic applications. Is ASE certified and completed an Associated Degree in Car Mechanics.“

Example Career Summary 1

“Dependable Car Mechanic with 5 years experience in servicing and repairing diesel engines, transmissions, and fuel systems. Strong communication skills for superior customer service and a flexible schedule with availability for overtime. ASE Certified in A1 – A7.”

Car Mechanic Job Descriptions and Responsibilities

A Workshop Manager and Dealership Owner would be scanning for specific duties in a Car Mechanic’s job description. These would depend on the type of job,  automotive specialization, and the working environment you find yourself in. In the section below, we have provided a lengthy job description encompassing all the custom activities that a Car Mechanic could potentially be responsible for. You are welcome to use these points as guidelines to draft your own unique job duty section.

Examples

Car Mechanic Job Duties List:

• Perform frequent maintenance and status checks on vehicles and trucks
• Check and monitor and refill automotive fluids for example coolant, brake fluid, and oil
• Inspect air filters and fuel filters for debris and replace them if required
• Clean and lubricate engine components with each car service job order
• Inspect and diagnose electrical and mechanical malfunctions with manual and digital diagnostic tools
• Check and inspect electrical systems, batteries and vehicle timing logs

• Replace faulty parts and components
• Inspect and recalibrate brakes and replace when required
• Remove old spark plugs and new ones
• Check for correct air pressure in tires, wheel alignment, and wheel balancing
• Tighten or replace screws nuts and bolts and dismantle engine components to look for malfunctioning parts
• Extract and remove faulty parts using pliers, screwdrivers, hydraulic lifts and wrenches

• Follow service specifications and instructions for each model and make of vehicle being serviced
• Reassemble repairable parts and install and fix new parts
• Test that new parts are working before installation
• Keep a record of all activities per job order
• Document all repairs, parts replaced and labor hours
• Clean and sanitize workshop equipment and tools

• Create quotations for clients after vehicle diagnostics have been completed
• Follow safety rules and protocols following company policies
• Use required safety gear such as goggles, gloves and boots when handling dangerous machinery for example power tools, electric welding machinery, and hydraulic lifts
• Keep a record of purchases of stock and equipment pieces and get approval from the workshop manager before orders are placed.

• Greeting customers and detailing the history of their vehicle for accurate evaluation.
• Diagnosing vehicles based on analytical observation and mechanical testing.
• Providing customers with estimates for repairs and replacements.
• Servicing and repairing vehicles based on the diagnosis.
• Testing vehicles to ensure all repairs were successful.
• Communicating with customers and answering all their questions.
• Documenting reports, orders, and vehicle records.
• Maintaining records and inventories of supplies and materials.

Highlight Your Accomplishments

Accomplishments should not be hiding away in your experience section. Allocate a separate section of your resume for accomplishment statements to showcase your achievements to hiring managers and recruiters. By doing this, you are proving to the reader that you are a cut above the rest of the applications.

How do you write accomplishment statements for a Car Mechanic Resume?

Do some introspection first and answer the following questions:

• What makes you different from the other applicants?
• What did you achieve during the course of your career that set you apart from your colleagues?
• Which job duties are you most proud of?

Now quantify these answers with metrics, numbers, frequencies, percentages, scores, and ratios. Adding numerical values to your accomplishment statements serves as your proof of work and evidence of competence in the Car Mechanic trade.

Let us review a few examples:

1. Served as lead Car Mechanic in a Uber large workshop for Honda vehicles, training and mentoring five junior mechanics in diagnostic automation which improved service delivery times by 25%
2. Responsible for 15 job orders per day and holds a zero-call back ratio on all jobs completed in the last quarter
3. Can overhaul an engine within 7 hours which is 50% faster than the industry average
4. Received Mechanic of the Year award out of 50 franchises nationally
5. Completed apprenticeship program two months faster than the standard training period for new mechanics

Education Section

Just as every Car Mechanic advertisement is unique, the education requirements may vary for every role that you apply to. The education section carries significant weight in your resume and should include formal education such as diplomas and associate degrees as well as licenses, courses, certifications, and workshops completed.

List all credentials in reverse chronological order from most recent backward indicating, date of completion, credential title, name of institution, and location.

Examples:

2019 – Cylinder Heads and Engine Machinist, Automotive Engine Rebuilder’s Association (AERA), Orange Country, CA

2018 – 2018 Master Automotive Technician, National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence, Cleveland, OH

• Received scores of over 85% on all ASE Master Tech tests.

2012 – In-Service Apprenticeship Training, National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence, Cleveland, OH
Courses Completed:

• A1 Engine Repair
• A2 Automatic Transmission/Transaxle
• A3 Manual Drive Train and Axles
• A4 Suspension and Steering
• A5 Brakes
• A6 Electrical/Electronic Systems
• A7 Heating and Air Conditioning
• A8 Engine Performance

2010-2011 Associates Degree in Automotive Engineering Technology, Alfred State College, Alfred, NY

• Curriculum Topics: Heating and Air-conditioning, Engine Restoration, Braking Systems, Steering Mechanics, Electrical Structures

2009 – 2010 Welding Training Programme – Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Tampa, Florida

Car Mechanic Resume Skills

A Car Mechanic resume is incomplete without explaining competencies in software applications, system tools, and electronic technologies. Managers would look for proven knowledge regarding mechanical expertise in various tools, equipment, and procedures used in auto repair shops for troubleshooting and repairing vehicles.

In the automotive field, a significant emphasis is placed on specific technical skills, and rightly so, but employers also look for other traits, called soft skills. These are features or personality attributes that indicate to your fit as a potential employee at the company. Include softs skills and hard skills into your resume utilizing Skills Matrix tables such as the examples below:

Hard Skills

Soft Skills

For Car Mechanics, soft skills are just as important as technical skills. You must be friendly and understanding when dealing with customers, while also being able to function well in a team. To show employers that you have the soft skills they are looking for, try to incorporate these into your profile, key skills, and cover letter sections:

Qualifications/Certifications associated with Car Mechanics

Quantifying Your Resume

Employers love numbers because it gives your experience more of an impact. If you can answer the questions, “How much?” or “How many?”, you should include that number in your resume. For instance:

• How many vehicles did you work on in a day?
• How many people did you train or supervise?
• What percentage of customers became repeat clientele?

Action Verbs to include

Employers are looking for a Car Mechanic who is proactive and organized. Help potential employers envision you as the perfect addition to their team by using these specific action verbs on your resume:

Professional Information on Car Mechanics

Sectors: Automotive, Engineering, Automatic Transmission/Transaxle, Brakes, Electrical/Electronic Systems, Engine Performance, Engine Repair, Heating and Air-conditioning, Manual Drive Train and Axles, Suspension and Steering
Career Type: Repair, Maintenance, Engineering, Installation, Servicing, Inspection, Diagnostics, Quality Control,
Person type:  Technician, Operator, Worker, Analyzer, Controller, Interpreter, Assembler, Inspector, Repairer, Maintainer, Installer, Tester
Education levels: From High School Diploma to Bachelor’s Degree
Labor Outlook: Subject to a 1% decline for 2018 – 2028 (*BLS)
Salary: Average Salary $ 40 170 (*Study.com)
Organizations: Automotive Plants, Car Factories, Vehicle Production Facilities, Workshops, Panel beaters, Garages, Auto Shops, Fleet Companies, Government, Car Rental Agencies, Motorsport Agencies