Diesel Mechanic Resume: Examples and Tips
Diesel mechanics inspect and repair diesel-engine-operated vehicles for local garages, repair shops and car dealerships. For this job, you should have a good understanding of technical specs, good hand-eye coordination, and familiarity with a variety of tools, equipment and diagnostic software.
To build a diesel mechanic resume the right way, use the following resume tips and examples:
Table of Contents
Featured Resume Example: Diesel Mechanic
Name: ANDREA DAWSON
Address: City, State, Zip Code
Phone: 000-000-0000
E-Mail: email@email.com
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Talented Diesel Mechanic bringing 11 years of experience maintaining construction equipment, earthmovers, and generators. Understands wear and tear faced by hardworking vehicles. Relates well to operators and owners—an effective team player with an understanding of customer service standards and documentation requirements.
SUMMARY OF SKILLS
- Physical abilities to sit and stand for prolonged periods and lift heavy equipment.
- Valid New York Driver’s License with evidence of insurability.
- The capacity to work independently, carrying out oral and written instructions.
WORK HISTORY
Diesel Mechanic
Mar 2018 – Current
Company Name, City, State
- Successfully maintain clean, valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.
- Within company and government standards and regulations, perform a great variety of repairs and maintenance for buses, trucks, and construction equipment.
- Save $2,000 each month by implementing cost-saving initiatives that addressed long-standing problems
Diesel Mechanic Assistant
Apr 2012 – Mar 2018
Company Name, City, State
- Documented damaged part findings and all actions taken.
- Prepared and updated records on performance tests and works conducted on engines.
- Picked up and delivered auto and bus parts, supplies, and vehicles.
Apprentice Diesel Mechanic
Apr 2009 – Apr 2012
Company Name, City, State
- Aided other staff for the completion of their work activities.
- Learned to fuel, lubricate, grease busses, and other internal equipment.
- Polished, washed, and detailed buses and trucks.
Key Skills
- Transmissions
- Engine rebuilds
- Clean MVR
- Clerical
- Detail-oriented
- Fluid adjustments
- Teamwork
EDUCATION
High School Diploma
City, State
CERTIFICATIONS
Diesel Mechanic Training – 2010
Top 4 Characteristics of a Best-in-Class Diesel Mechanic Resume
- Summary Communicate your core strengths and areas of expertise in a few sentences, matching your own abilities with what the job needs. For example, for a job that emphasizes “HVAC and water treatment system diagnosis,” you could write: “Detail-oriented diesel mechanic adept in diagnosing faults in HVACs and water treatment systems. Well-versed in TPX Power Source tools and diagnostic software.”
- Skills Feature a mix of important technical skills such as engine rebuilds, steering and brake systems, and engine assembly knowledge, along with soft skills such as organizational ability, customer service skills and a solution-driven approach.
- Work History For each previous job, list the job title, name and location of the organization, and period of employment. Focus on important responsibilities and achievements instead of typical tasks. For example: “Troubleshot and repaired Colt-Pielstick diesel engines for 50-truck fleet.”
- Education List your highest academic qualification (e.g., GED or associate degree), along with any technical training you’ve received in diesel repair or service technology, or related areas such as Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) certification or Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification.
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Impactful
This powerful layout utilizes bold fonts and colors to stand out. The two-column layout is a good choice for emphasizing both skills and experiences.
Pinstripe
For a simple yet polished resume, you can’t go wrong with this design. In addition to elegant fonts and dividing lines, you can choose from a large selection of font colors.
Pacific
The colorful header makes a solid first impression, while intelligent use of spacing between sections makes for easy navigation.
To select from even more layouts, visit our resume templates section.
Do’s and Don’ts for Your Resume
- DO keep your resume short and sweet. Recruiters generally don’t have much time to read resumes — and even less time for resumes that are too long. Limit your resume length to a couple pages at most, and stick to skills and work accomplishments that directly relate to the specific job. Use bullet points and short phrases rather than long sentences, using our resume examples as a guide.
- DO emphasize soft skills. While everyone who applies for a diesel mechanic job is expected to have certain technical skills, you can separate yourself from the competition with soft skills that provide insight on how you approach work and collaborate with others. Look to feature soft skills, such as excellent customer service, team leadership, organizational skills, problem-solving abilities, punctuality, and a strong work ethic. Be sure to also show how you use these skills in your work history section. For example: “Trained and managed a team of 20+ members which earned five-star reviews on Yelp.”
- DO use action verbs for more impact. What sounds better — “Was responsible for troubleshooting engines for defective parts,” or “Diagnosed engines for defective parts”? The second example starts off with an energetic verb that presents you at the center of the action. When describing your work accomplishments or responsibilities, begin your statements with strong verbs such as monitored, trained, maintained, repaired and organized. Consider writing “Diagnosed troubled, disassembled engines and examined parts for defects and excessive wear” to make a more positive impact than “Was tasked with diagnosing disassembled engines.”.
- DON’T forget to cross-check your information. An inconsistent or false statement about your skills and career — even if unintentional — can ruin your chance to make a good first impression. In addition to punctuation, spelling and grammar, review your document to ensure everything is accurate and error-free. You can also use spell-checking tools like the ones in our Resume Builder to make sure your document is “running smoothly.”
- DON’T try to hide work gaps in your resume. It happens — you go for a while without a job, due to a personal reason, or a downturn in the job market. Be frank and up front about your experiences in your resume, and use your cover letter or a job interview to explain any work history gaps to your potential employer. If you’ve taken part on any non-paying work or training during times you’ve been unemployed, you can include them on your resume in a separate “Training” or “Activities” section.
- DON’T shy away from using numbers and metrics. Explaining to someone that you achieved something is one thing — explaining it using concrete numbers and metrics is even better. Describe your work achievements with numbers and stats when you can, and give hiring managers a better idea of the impact you can make. For example: “Performed safety checks on 45 vehicles of different segments worth $6.5 million every week.”
Diesel Mechanic Resume FAQs
- 1. What skills should you feature in a diesel mechanic resume?
- 2. What resume format best suits your resume?
- 3. How should you handle your resume if you’re applying to more than one job?
- 4. What are some resume “no-nos”?
- 5. What are examples of certifications you can add to your resume?
1. What skills should you feature in a diesel mechanic resume?
| Hard skills: | Soft skills: |
| Troubleshooting | Hand-eye coordination |
| Complete engine overhauls | Detail-oriented |
| Engine installation | Customer service |
| Auto Repair | Quick learner |
| Auto Repair Cloud | Patience |
| Pocket fleet Diagnostics | Verbal and written communication |
| All Systems Max | Physical strength |
| Garage Partner | Calm demeanor |
| Engine rebuilds | People management |
| Brake systems | Quick decision making |
| Transmission | Problem-solving approach |
| Steering systems | |
| CDL | |
| DOT | |
| OSHA | |
| Cummins | |
| HVAC | |
| Fleet vehicles | |
| Disassembling engines | |
| Parts replacement |
| Hard skills: |
| Troubleshooting |
| Complete engine overhauls |
| Engine installation |
| Auto Repair |
| Auto Repair Cloud |
| Pocket fleet Diagnostics |
| All Systems Max |
| Garage Partner |
| Engine rebuilds |
| Brake systems |
| Transmission |
| Steering systems |
| CDL |
| DOT |
| OSHA |
| Cummins |
| HVAC |
| Fleet vehicles |
| Disassembling engines |
| Parts replacement |
| Soft skills: |
| Hand-eye coordination |
| Detail-oriented |
| Customer service |
| Quick learner |
| Patience |
| Verbal and written communication |
| Physical strength |
| Calm demeanor |
| People management |
| Quick decision making |
| Problem-solving approach |
2. What resume format best suits your resume?
Since diesel mechanics are generally expected to have a mix of skills and work experience, consider using a combination resume, which presents an even blend of skills and work history. If you’re shooting for a more senior role or have ample work experience, use the chronological format, which focuses on your work history. If you’re a fresh graduate or lack experience, use a functional resume, which focuses on the job-ready skills and training you already have, as well as any extracurricular or volunteer activities where you’ve used important skills.
3. How should you handle your resume if you’re applying to more than one job?
Always customize your resume for each job opportunity. Scan the job description carefully and take note of specific skills and qualifications that are required, such as “air and hydraulic brake repairs” or “a positive attitude.” Match these requirements with your own skills and work history, and feature them in your resume. For example, you could feature “positive approach” as one of your skills, or recount a previous responsibility handling air and hydraulic brake repairs in your work history section. For more customization pointers, see How to Create a Targeted Resume.
4. What are some resume “no-nos”?
- References: Including references in your resume is a thing of the past. If an employer needs references, they will ask you to submit them separately.
- Don’t get too personal: Information about hobbies, interests, political affiliations or other random information can open you up to discrimination. Save your sparkling personality for the actual job interview.
- Don’t just parrot the job description: While it’s important to have the right keywords in your resume, just copying and pasting them from the job description can be a red flag. In your resume, present skills and work experiences that are similar, but unique (e.g., writing “customer-focused” instead of “customer service”).
5. What are examples of certifications you can add to your resume?
Some related certifications that can help buff up your credentials include:
- Certificate from National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)
- Certificate from National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
- Diesel Technology certification
- Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) certification
- Mechanic certification
- Diesel Mechanic certification by Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
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