Farm Worker Resume Example & Writing Guide

Farm Worker Resume Example

Working on a farm can be physically demanding, but rewarding work. Depending on the type of farm, your work responsibilities will be very different from one job to the next. You also experience seasonal changes and weather conditions that may alter your schedule. That variety can make your work more interesting, but it also means that you need many different skills.

You’re ready to sow the seeds for a new challenge and Resume.io is here to help!

We offer an online resume builder, expertly-designed resume templates and this guide, which will cover the following topics:

• How to write a farm worker resume
• The best format for a farm worker resume
• Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
• Professional resume layout and design hints.

In just about 15 minutes, you will have all the tools you need to create a winning farm worker resume! 

Read on for a discussion of all the useful tips and rules.

How to write a farm worker resume

Before you begin writing your farm worker resume, you need to know the sections it contains, Your CV should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Choosing the best resume format for a farm worker

If you began your career as a farm worker and have continued to work in the field, your best choice is the reverse chronological resume format. In this format, your employment history section is organized from your most recent experience on back (about 10 years maximum).

We highly recommend sticking with this format because HR personnel like it best (it makes it easy for them to find the information they seek). It also helps if you apply for a job online, in which Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan and upload your resume into a software application. The ATS is typically set up in reverse chronological order.

If you had a previous career or have been at the job for a long time, you may consider a hybrid or alternative format.

Resume summary example

So where is the objective? Should I have a summary?

The answer to the first is, it is gone. Employers know that your objective is to be hired for their job or you wouldn’t be applying! There are some rare exceptions, but by and large, you’re going to be writing up a short profile section.

The answer to the second question is: sort of. Your Profile section is part professional summary, but it is also your chance to tout your career achievements and inject some personality into your resume. 

Choose one or two highlights of your work experience, farm improvements that you made and their results, or an efficiency you added to a milking process. Then, describe your philosophy of animal care, plant tending/harvesting and your style of relating to other farm laborers and your supervisor. If you love working with farm animals and have experience there, this is where that experience goes. If, however, your talents lie with your safe operation of heavy equipment, focus on that and so on based on this logic.

Because farming skills range everywhere from forklift operation to animal husbandry, you should highlight expertise you have in specific areas as well as general farm skills. 

The resume summary or profile section should be no more than four-five sentences (100 - 200 words), unless you are just starting out and your work history is minimal. If you have more to say, your cover letter is a great place to do so. You can read more about how cover letters can help job seekers in our guide.

Employment History Example 

Your employment history section should be naming all your job titles and former employers, but your descriptions should be more than a listing of responsibilities. Like your profile, you should frame each bullet item as a job success.

If you worked on a dairy farm and helped increase milk production, tell the story of how you did it and offer data. If you are adept at repairing farm buildings or equipment, give an example of what you accomplished.

There are two keys to creating a successful employment history section:

1. Build on each farm position to show you learned and grew. There’s no need to repeat that you harvested crops for every job you list. Once you demonstrate that skill, move on to listing other achievements.
2. Focus on the exact job for which you are applying. Custom-tailoring your resume for each job is perhaps THE most important factor in your job search. That means thoroughly examining the job listing you are targeting and using each bullet point to show that you have already done that work. This will allow recruiters to see that you have the skills needed to do the job. It will help you get past the ATS, which ranks your resume partly based on keywords and phrases that appear in the job listing.

List only your professional experience unless you grew up working on a farm. If you worked jobs with transferable skills such as maintaining mechanical equipment, include those as well. Use strong action words that show you are a go-getter. 

Farm worker CV skills example 

This scannable section gives you the opportunity to showcase your knowledge of farm processes, harvesting procedures, and knowledge of farm equipment and machinery. Those are the hard skills you have learned by working on a farm. But you should also call attention to your ability to listen and acquire new skills, as taking directions from the farm manager is an important part of your job. You should also highlight your ability to work as a team member and independently. It is important to call attention to your physical fitness, endurance levels, and strong work ethic.

Tailor this section to each job by swapping out one of your skills for another that the hiring manager has listed in the job post.

Resume education example

A college degree is not a requirement for many farm worker jobs, however, employers looking for specific skills may want someone with a degree in agriculture, animal husbandry, botany or another related field. List all degrees and certifications here. Any honors or distinctions should be noted here as well. You can add courses or certifications here, or create a separate section for them. 

Resume layout and design

Now you understand how to put together the story of your career in words. The finishing touch, but first impression, is the way your resume looks. Recruiters are busy and want to be able to find your personal data and your last job, title and employer quickly. That means keeping it easy to read with legible fonts, plenty of white space, and section headings that stand out.

We offer professionally-designed resume templates in four different categories. Check them out and then use a dedicated online resume maker such as ours to help you avoid any potential formatting errors. 

You can personalize your design, but keep these pointers in mind:

• A bit of color is enough, it’s there only to grab attention at first glance
• Don’t make margins smaller; too much type is difficult to read
• Use legible fonts and don’t decrease their size from the template; readability is king
• Headers and footers may not be scannable by ATS, so don’t put vital information (such as contact info or professional details) in them. The only exception to that rule are specifically designed templates (such as resume.io’s) that avoid technical pitfalls.

One last thing: proofread and/or use an online resume builder with a spell-checker feature (we’ve got you covered here). You don’t want a typo to eliminate your job prospect.

Key takeaways for a farm worker resume

1. The reverse chronological resume format is almost always your best choice.
2. Highlight your specific expertise in your summary.
3. Because farm work is so varied, you need to tailor your resume for each new application.
4. Use the resume builder to take the pain out of formatting and leave you more time for crafting the content.

You have all the tools you need to reap the rewards of your hard work and get that new job!