Making customers happy to see you — and perhaps hopeful you won’t need to return too soon — is how HVAC technicians are equipped for an otherwise warm or cold service call reception, depending on the air scenario needing attention. Job seekers in this rewarding field need an HVAC technician resume that’s fully equipped to win their next employer’s attention.
Whether you’re creating one from scratch, or just after some fine-tuning tips, Resume.io offers the right advice at your fingertips. Our online tools include more than 350 occupation-specific writing guides, matched with resume examples.
If you’re ready to get started, here’s what this HVAC technician writing guide will cover, alongside resume samples you can adapt to your own situation.
- What does an HVAC technician do?
- The foolproof foundation for your HVAC technician resume, including the best format and overall rules
- Ensuring each resume section is fully powered: header, summary, employment history, education and skills
- Document design hints for looking like a pro.
What does an HVAC technician do?
If modern conveniences make it all too easy to take the air we breathe for granted, the vital services provided by HVAC technicians may not always be fully appreciated. Their expertise at both temperature extremes is aimed at ensuring mid-range comfort zones and environmentally safe indoor spaces to live and work.
The commonly used acronym HVAC encompasses heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, while the alternate term HVACR distinguishes refrigeration as a separate cooling component. Installation, maintenance, cleaning and repair of such systems are occupational mainstays for HVAC technicians. As climate-control technology has become increasingly sophisticated to comply with modern energy-efficient and pollution reduction standards, they play an instrumental role in retrofitting, upgrading or replacing outdated equipment in residential and commercial buildings.
Other than the specialized technical skills they require for these hands-on tasks, HVAC technicians require analytical abilities for troubleshooting and for determining the most suitable systems to meet building requirements. There may also be customer service and sales aspects to their work.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers is projected to be 5% from 2020 to 2030, slower than the average for all occupations.
How to write an HVAC technician resume
With HVAC system efficiency being a hallmark of your trade, it might help to think of a high-performing resume the same way. Each of these essential sections serves a vital purpose:
- Header
- Summary
- Employment history section
- Education section
- Skills section
Economy of words will help ensure your HVAC technician resume fits on a single page. Besides striving for concise and precise language in that regard, be sure to include enough of the right keywords. This will improve the likelihood of passing through the digital filter that many hiring organizations use to screen online document submissions — commonly known as applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Your best way to determine what keywords the employer is looking for is to scrutinize the job requirements posted with the application details. This is also a crucial step for customizing each version of your resume to the specific HVAC position and hiring situation.
Choosing the best resume format for an HVAC technician
In all likelihood, your HVAC technician resume will lend itself to the most commonly used chronological format, which recruiters prefer. That means your work experience is listed under employer headings, in order from most recent to earliest positions.
But if your job background is more varied, or you have relatively little experience as an HVAC technician, you may consider organizing your resume a slightly different way. The functional format allows you to put more emphasis on skills, types of experience or even projects, rather than employee positions. It’s also suitable for HVAC technicians working as independent contractors. A hybrid resume format is even more adaptable, combining chronological and functional elements.
For more ideas and information, check out these other resume examples and writing guides in our maintenance & repair category including our maintenance worker resume sample, maintenance technician resume example and our handyman resume sample.
Resume header
Off the top, you want your HVAC technician resume to get noticed for the right reasons. A distinctive header displaying your name, occupation and contact information can achieve that right away, while making it easier for recruiters to follow up when they’re ready for the next step.
The extra effort it takes to create visually attractive application documents — ideally a matching cover letter and resume pair — reflects well on your professionalism and attention to detail. A striking header design need not be distracting. Clean and streamlined is the reader-friendly way to set yourself apart.
Resume summary example
Again taking cues from the posted job requirements, what are your most impressive qualifications for this job as an HVAC technician? Put yourself in the hiring manager’s chair to determine what belongs in this resume section.
The summary — sometimes called the profile or personal statement — is designed to put your most persuasively relevant background information up front. It’s a tersely telling synopsis of how much experience you have, in specific key areas matching the employer’s needs and wants. Cite one or two accomplishments that will immediately captivate readers.
Below is an HVAC resume example summary you can customize.
Reliable and highly skilled HVAC technician experienced in installing, diagnosing, repairing and maintaining various types of heating and air conditioning systems. Committed to following all standard operating procedures within a highly regulated environment to ensure the best possible outcome. Dedicated and customer service-oriented.
Employment history sample
To the extent possible, this resume section should emphasize accomplishments and outcomes, rather than merely listing job description duties. Focus on the specific needs of potential employers or clients, and how they can benefit from your HVAC expertise — including in a problem-solving capacity.
Try to quantify the tangible results of advice or services you’ve provided. Use facts and figures to highlight cost and energy savings, efficiency gains, air quality improvements, noise reduction or government regulation compliance, for instance.
If your HVAC experience includes system installations with innovative or customized features that employers would find particularly interesting, consider creating an online project portfolio, linked to your resume.
Below is an HVAC technician employment history resume sample you can modify.
HVAC Technician, Tradesman Regional, Salt Lake City
Apr 2017 - Present
- Handled the inspection, repair, installation, modification and maintenance of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
- Read blueprints and schematics to located hard-to-find elements.
- Maintained preventative maintenance schedules and procedures for all HVAC equipment.
- Received and completed work orders in a timely and efficient manner.
- Performed general maintenance tasks necessary to keep vehicles, equipment and tools in good condition.
- Responded to emergency calls as needed and troubleshooted to find quick and appropriate solutions.
HVAC Apprentice, Elmore Mechanical Services, New York
Feb 2013 - Mar 2017
- Properly identified repair or replacement needs for HVAC systems.
- Inspected completed work for conformance with requirements of local building and safety codes.
- Accurately estimated time and material costs on HVAC projects.
- Verified and implemented preventive maintenance standards on all HVAC distribution equipment.
- Maintained a strong knowledge of all OSHA and local requirements related to assigned work.
- Maintained a professional and pleasant relationship with customers and co-workers, resulting in high levels of customer satisfaction.
HVAC technician resume education example
Although degrees are normally not required or pursued to qualify for jobs in this field, most HVAC technicians have some combination of post-secondary graduation — perhaps from a trade school program — and on-the-job training. Apprenticeships and specialized certifications are also common.
In any case, the education section of your resume should list your relevant education and training, in reverse chronological order, from highest to lowest levels. If you do hold any college degrees, there’s no need to include information about high school graduation.
Below is the education section from an HVAC technician resume you can modify.
Apex Technical School, HVAC Refrigeration Program, Provo
Sep 2013 - May 2014
Provo High School, High School Diploma, Provo
Sep 2009 - May 2013
CV skills example
Be very selective and specific in listing skills on your HVAC technician resume that are directly relevant and important for the job you are seeking. This is another place where the use of keywords matching the vacancy posting can be critically important, not only for the sake of ATS filtering but to ensure the skills you emphasize align with the employer’s priorities.
At the same time, try to put a unique twist on generic skills that most applicants will have in common. Add context by describing your adeptness in applying those skills. In addition to highlighting vital technical abilities, be sure to mention a few soft skills to give a sense of your performance and interpersonal strengths.
Interplay Learning has identified four essential skills that maintenance technicians of any kind should have. Notice that only #2 is a hard skill.
- Problem-solving
- Physical ability
- Attention to detail
- Versatility
Check out an HVAC technician CV sample for the skills section below.
- Knowledge of HVAC Systems
- Electrical Fundamentals
- Understanding of Blueprints
- Troubleshooting
- Ability to Work in a Team
- Excellent Communication Skills
- Customer Service
Resume layout and design
Earlier, we touched on the merits of an eye-pleasing resume header that makes a strong and solid first impression. The document’s overall look should reinforce that your job application is in a class of its own on every professional count.
A resume layout that appears neat, orderly and uncomplicated will reflect well on your work ethic and habits. At arm’s length, the page should be inviting to read, and closer inspection should bear that out. Enhanced legibility should guide all your formatting choices, from fonts, margin widths and line spacing to overall white space. Graphic design elements, including touches of color, are fine if the impact is understated.
A resume can be visually appealing and speak to your technical proficiency at the same time. The easiest way to achieve that is to use a professionally-designed resume template from Resume.io’s design collection. The builder tool saves you time and uncertainty when focusing on the content; all the design details take care of themselves.
Key takeaways for an HVAC technician resume
- With employment growth for HVAC technicians projected to be somewhat slower than the occupational average, a stand-out resume is essential to compete for the best jobs.
- Increasingly sophisticated HVAC technology, consistent with today’s more stringent requirements for energy efficiency and indoor air quality control, has diversified opportunities for those with up-to-date knowledge and skills. Emphasizing the most sought-after qualifications in your HVAC technician resume can make a job-winning difference.
- Added impact comes from quantifying your accomplishments with facts and figures that illustrate benefits to prospective employers or clients.
- Your resume should always highlight a few soft skills, along with key technical abilities, that set you apart as an ideal contender for the job being pursued.
- Check out our adaptable HVAC technician resume sample for more ideas on creating a great layout and design.
