A material handler resume that gets you in front of a hiring manager shows off more than just your ability to move packages. The fact is that while you can learn how to properly lift without injuring your back, your less concrete skills, or your soft skills may make all the difference in your hiring.
Let Resume.io lead you to that amazing material handler resume. With this guide, our resume examples for more than 300 professions, and our resume builder, you can create a resume that will:
- Show off the abilities hiring managers seek (even if you’re looking for your first job)
- Highlight your greatest achievements
- Focus on the material handler skills employers seek
- Help you develop a look of your own, without formatting and designing it yourself.
Read on for details of how to achieve this within your material handler resume.
What does a material handler do?
Material handlers work in facilities such as warehouses where they are responsible for handling and moving materials. Often, they must prepare materials for shipment or load and unload trucks. Material handlers are responsible for maintaining accurate inventory lists by identifying, labeling, and organizing materials in stock.
Also called warehouse associates, they help to manage delivery work centers where materials and supplies are located. Material handlers are also required to maintain material-handling equipment by assessing their condition and making arrangements for repairs when necessary.
Material handler job outlook and income
The need for material handlers is projected to grow about 7 percent in the next decade; most openings are expected to come from those leaving these jobs for other work. Material handling can be a way to get started in the working world since the entry requirements are simply the ability to do the work. Any training necessary occurs on the job.
The median annual salary for material handlers in 2021 was $30,010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.
How to write a material handler resume
Most resumes contain the same standard sections. Knowing what those sections are is the first step toward creating a winning material handler resume. Your application document should contain:
- 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 material handler
As a material handler, you have a few options when it comes to choosing the best resume format. For applicants with previous experience in production or logistics, the reverse chronological resume format is a great choice. This resume format focuses on the employment history section where you can place your previous jobs starting with the most recent and working backwards through the previous ten years of experience. This format is preferred by both hiring managers and the automated resume scanners in use at most large companies today.
If you're just starting out in the workforce or making a career change, you may want to look into some of the alternative resume formats we suggest such as the functional or hybrid models.
Resume summary example: put a bow on it
The summary, or profile, of your material handler resume offers a glimpse of who you are as a worker and what you want prospective employers to understand about you. In 3-4 lines of text, you have the freedom to introduce yourself and your career as well as explain why you are the right person for the job (the main goal of your resume).
This is a great place to emphasize your capacity for hard work and scheduling flexibility as warehouse and other material handler work does not always happen during typical work hours. See how this is done in our resume sample below.
Professional and trustworthy material handler with several years of experience handling various materials in warehouse and business settings. Adept at following safety guidelines to ensure the proper handling of materials and the protected safety of myself and other employees. Experience in handling heavy, hazardous, confidential, and fragile items. I bring forth attention to safety, accuracy, and superior communication skills. I possess excellent collaboration skills and a strong commitment to great service.
Struggling to write your profile summary? Have a peek at similar production resume samples for guidance: production worker resume sample, manufacturing technician resume example, machine operator resume sample, assembler resume sample, or factory worker resume sample.
Employment history sample: the heavy lifting
Unless you are new to the workforce, the employment history section of your material handler resume will be the bulkiest. It is here that you list all your job experience with a focus on those that are relevant to the material handling process, or positions that have transferable duties and/or required skills necessary for a material handler position.
The key to an excellent work experience section is the use of strong action words that kick off each bullet point. Follow those with a brief explanation of what you did and the success you had. See our resume example below.
What if this is your first job?
Everyone starts somewhere and material handler is a great choice. If you have not held a formal position before, take inventory of what you have already achieved. Consider any volunteering you have done or any leadership roles you have or had during your schooling. Were you a team captain? Did you mow lawns, babysit, or walk dogs? All of these roles show that you are reliable, trustworthy, and have work ethic.
- Handled all food and products in compliance with company safety and sanitary protocols.
- Maintained a clean and safe work environment.
- Worked well with other handlers and other department personnel.
- Put forth an excellent work ethic, taking only a lunch break each day.
- Honored my commitment to physical fitness, resulting in my ability to lift heavy items.
- Worked with 50 to 60 customers daily, receiving and loading material.
- Reported any hazardous or concerning items and or incidents.
CV skills example: you have what it takes
In the introduction, we mentioned soft skills. These are an important component of your material handler CV skills section. Soft skills are the abilities that make you a valued employee such as organization, communication, and reliability.
You can learn many of the hard skills you need, however, an outstanding material handler resume will highlight your knowledge of safety, and any other job-related skills you already possess. Below you'll find the skills section from our resume sample.
The ATS hurdle
If you apply for jobs online, you will most likely be inputting your information into an Applicant Tracking System. The ATS uses algorithms to rank resumes based on what your prospective employer seeks. That means the keywords and phrases that appear in the job ad are very important to overcoming this first obstacle. Try to include the exact words and phrases in the job listing to your own content.
We mention this here because the skills section is an easy place to accomplish this, but you should personalize each section of your material handler resume to target your desired position.
- Scheduling
- Safety Management
- Process Management
- Inventory Control
- Excellent Communication Skills
- Physical Stamina
Material handler resume education example
The education section of your material handler resume is the simplest to compile. Simply list your educational achievements including your high school diploma or GED. If you earned any awards or honors, but sure to include those because they speak to your dedication and excellence.
Especially if this is your first job, think about the courses you have taken that demonstrate your ability to follow directions, handle materials and machinery, and use soft skills such as communication and leadership. Add any that are appropriate. Below you'll find our resume sample education section.
1989-1993 Austin High School, High School Diploma Austin, TX
Resume layout and design: first impressions
Neatness counts in your work as a material handler. That makes it doubly important that you take the layout and design of your resume into account. For a professional look, keep your layout neat with ample white space and avoid flashy colors or gimmicks. The goal of your design is to make the impression that you are organized and detail-oriented.
To make this task as simple as possible, take advantage of one of our customizable and professionally-designed resume templates.
Key takeaways for a material handler resume
- A material handler position is a great way to get started in the workforce.
- You have more experience than you realize, so take inventory of your successes and turn them into transferable skills.
- Target each prospective employer by adjusting your resume to fit the job.
- The online resume builder smooths the document-making process and gets your application into the hands of hiring managers faster!
