Painter Resume Examples and Tips
Painters create visual designs for artistic purposes, or by request for clients or publications, working on surfaces such as paper and canvas. Painter skills include prepping and painting, finishing work, staining, restoring, baking and polishing, using knowledge of textures, contrasts and tonal values, 3D apps, and knowledge of painting tools, along with soft skills like attention to detail, collaboration, aesthetic sensitivity and excellent communication skills.
Use these resume tips and our resume examples to create a resume that not only has visual appeal, but contains the right content.
Featured Resume Example: Painter
Name: JENNY SPELLMAN
Address: City, State, Zip Code
Phone: 000-000-0000
E-Mail: email@email.com
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
- Motivated Painter passionate about artistic expression using paint, color, sketch and other media.
- Dedicated contributor to hardworking painting team emphasizing safety, professionalism and customer satisfaction.
WORK HISTORY
PAINTER 08/ 2017 to Current
Company Name ,City,State
- Prepared surfaces and surrounding areas for painting using sandpaper, tape and other materials.
- Moved painted items to drying racks and finished coated surfaces by baking painted items in oven.
- Applied primer, paints, varnishes and lacquers to surfaces using traditional and sprayer methods.
PAINTER 06/ 2013 to 06/ 2016
Company Name ,City,State
- Applied paint with cloth, brush, sponge and fingers to create special effects.
- Selected proper amount and type of thinners and accelerant to be used for each specific job.
- Protected all surfaces from damage and spills by using drop cloths prior to and during painting.
PAINTER’S ASSISTANT 07/ 2008 to 09/ 2011
Company Name ,City,State
- Worked with water and oil-based paints and trained on removal of unwanted or splattered paints.
- Cleaned job site after project completion, removing tape and tarps and inspecting for drips or inconsistencies in paint application.
- Utilized proper personnel protective equipment during painting and preparation, avoiding inhalation of hazardous debris and toxic particulates.
SKILLS
- Texture painting
- Paint mixing
- Realistic drawing
- Time-management
- Attention to detail
- Creativity
- Contrast and tonal values
EDUCATION
Associate of Arts, Art
Company Name ,City,State
Top 4 Characteristics of a Best-in-Class Painter Resume
- Summary Present a combination of your top work experiences and qualifications in “elevator pitch” style, communicating everything in a crisp two to three sentence summary statement. For example: “Detail-oriented painter skilled in creating artwork for building interiors. Has 7 years of experience in painting using all forms of media.”
- Skills Feature technical skills (such as contrast and tonal values, 3D painting, spray painting techniques, drawing and sketching, and exhibition preparation and presentation) as well as soft skills (such as interpersonal skills, physical dexterity, time management, and ability to take criticism and feedback).
- Work History For each previous job, include at least three bullet points outlining your best accomplishments and responsibilities, emphasizing skills that fit the job you’re applying to. For example, if the job calls for expertise in oil- or vinyl-based paints, mention any tasks from your past that show your experience in this area.
- Education List your top credential (e.g., bachelor’s degree in fine arts or related major), as well as any additional courses or training that relate to painting. If you have a link to a portfolio website or can list a few examples of your work that have gained recognition, you can also create a separate “Works” or “Portfolio” category here.
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Find the Right Template for your Resume
Give your resume an impact worthy of a painter position by using one of these professionally-designed resume templates:
Insightful
This resume template uses a simple but effective layout, with section headers listed on the left margin for quick reference. The candidate’s name and contact information is separated by a thick color bar.
Accentuate
Using a splash of color for the header, this design uses a dual-column layout, leaving plenty of room to expand on your credentials.
Cool
Strong colors and section headings differentiate this resume template, while the clean, elegant header font makes a powerful statement.
For more free layouts you can use, visit our free resume templates page.
Do’s and Don’ts for Your Resume
- DO proofread your resume.A resume with obvious, eminent mistakes is one of the surest ways to leave a negative impression on a recruiter. Review your resume, and make sure your spelling, grammar and your facts are all correct. Save yourself some time on review by using our Resume Builder, which runs checks on your resume.
- DO mention soft skills.While technical painting skills are no doubt important for a painter position, soft skills like collaboration, organizational skills and problem-solving abilities are key for a resume — be sure to include them. See our Resume Skills page for more suggestions on top soft skills you can feature.
- DO quantify your achievements.Quantifying your accomplishments by using numbers and figures will give employers a better understanding of your capabilities. For example, instead of stating “Prepped and painted several art pieces as a team project,” write “Collaborated with team of 3 painters to complete 7 abstract and expressionism pieces for client.”
- DON’T use the same resume for every job.Create different versions of your resume for each job that you apply for, updating your summary, work history and skills sections to fit what each job wants. For example, if the job calls for “producing specialty finishes such as wood, stone, brick, metal and stained glass,” then you should feature work experiences in this area, or list “specialty finishes, including wood, stone, brick and metal” in your skills section. For more on customizing your resume, see our article How to Create a Targeted Resume.
- DON’T forget to focus on keywords.Scan the job description for the position you are applying for and note important phrases that spell out what the job needs, such as “preparing, priming and coating canvases.” Then match these keywords with your own abilities and experiences, and feature them in your resume. For example, you could list “preparing, priming and coating canvases” as a skill, or mention a previous work task that shows your facility with canvas work. See How to Use Keywords Effectively for even more keyword tips.
- DON’T get too fancy with your resume layout.As a painter, you may be tempted to add some visual flair to your resume design — just remember that a little goes a long way. Unusual resume fonts and graphics can confuse hiring managers, as well as the applicant tracking systems (ATS) they use to scan resumes. A resume is above all a professional document, so use a professional resume template for your resume.