Forklift Operator Resume Examples & Templates
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Forklift operators play an essential role in the work done in warehouses, distribution centers, construction sites and manufacturing plants, helping safely and efficiently move crucial materials about the work site.
With our expertly crafted forklift operator resume samples and pro tips, we’ll help you write a resume showcasing your expert technical knowledge and commitment to operational efficiency and workplace safety.
Start by editing this forklift operator resume sample, or explore our library of customizable resume templates to find the perfect option for you.
Forklift operator resume example (text version)
Luke Nichols
Burton, OH 44021
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Summary Statement
Skilled forklift driver adept at working quickly in fast-paced, demanding environments. Strong team player and problem-solver. Offering top communication and conflict resolution skills as well as a comprehensive background in shipping and receiving.
Professional Skills
Equipment Operation
- Unloaded and stacked materials up to 5,000 lbs by raising and lowering lifting devices.
- Used strapping and bracing techniques combined with proper balancing to prevent load shifting.
- Boosted team efficiency by moving materials with forklifts, cranes and other equipment.
Order Fulfillment
- Completed over 500 customer orders each day in a warehouse setting.
- Manually transported warehouse materials weighing up to 80 lbs and maintained stamina while standing, sitting, bending and walking for extended periods of time.
- Labeled and accurately moved customer orders to meet shipment timetables and minimize errors, ensuring a timely shipment rate of 99%.
Maintenance
- Serviced minor equipment malfunctions to keep machinery operational and completed equipment condition reports for the vice president of operations.
- Troubleshoot and diagnosed mechanical issues, completed basic repairs and conducted preventive maintenance actions to keep equipment functional.
- Reported damage to racks, faulty equipment and other safety hazards to the supervisor for remediation.
Work History
- October 2021 – Current
Forge Lumber – Burton, OH
Forklift Operator - July 2019 – August 2021
CHR – Middlefield, OH
Warehouse Worker
Skills
- Order picking and processing
- Safety standards and protocols
- Heavy equipment operations
- Production reporting
- Certified in forklift operation
- Teamwork
- Equipment maintenance
- Materials transport
- Forklift operation
- Assembly line experience
Education
Ohio State University Columbus, OH
Some College
(No Degree)
Certifications
OSHA Forklift Certification
Important resume sections
Contact details
Add your contact information to the top of your resume so hiring managers can contact you for an interview. As our sample resume for a forklift operator shows, your contact information must include your full name, city, state, ZIP code, phone number and professional email address. If you have a LinkedIn profile, add this last.
Personal statement
A forklift operator resume summary is a three-to-five sentence statement that tells hiring managers how long you’ve been in the industry, your strongest job-relevant skills and qualifications and one or two quantifiable accomplishments that speak to your positive impact in past roles. For example:
Certified forklift operator with over eight years of experience in fast-paced environments, adapting to diverse warehouse layouts and a variety of material handling needs. Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively, consistently meeting tight deadlines while prioritizing safety. Possessing expertise in loading and unloading, inventory control, maintaining accurate documentation, and safely navigating challenging environments. Adept at ensuring optimal space utilization and instrumental in reducing load time by 15% through efficient stacking and organization.
See our expertly crafted examples for additional forklift operator resume summary examples. If you are just starting out your career, consider using a resume objective for a forklift operator instead.
Skills
Use bullet points to create a balanced skills section for your forklift operator resume. See our forklift operator sample resume for an example of how to format your skills section effectively. Here are some examples of essential skills for a forklift operator:
- Transporting materials: Forklift operators must be skilled in loading and unloading, transferring goods and moving materials within a facility to designated areas.
- Inventory management and control: Forklift operators need to be able to accurately track goods and materials to minimize loss, prevent damage and optimize the utilization of available space.
- Workplace safety: Forklift operators must be keenly aware of all necessary safety regulations and protocols to protect themselves and their colleagues.
You want to match as many skills from the job description as possible to help show the alignment between your experience and the role requirements.
As our sample forklift operator resume shows, it’s best to include hard skills, like inventory management, safety protocols and materials transportation and soft skills, like communication, collaboration and attention to detail.
Work history
Your resume must include a work history section, even if this is your first professional job. Start with your most recent position and work in reverse chronological order, providing company names, locations and dates of employment.
Include three to five bullet points highlighting your most relevant skills and measurable achievements for each job you list. Here are a few examples of forklift operator resume bullet points that effectively convey key skills, responsibilities and accomplishments:
- Consistently exceeded daily productivity targets by an average of 15%, loading and unloading 20 trucks per shift with zero errors.
- Implemented efficient stacking techniques that maximized warehouse space utilization by 10%, improving accessibility and reducing retrieval times.
- Reduced product damage rates by 8% through careful handling and meticulous adherence to safe loading procedures.
Explore our resume examples for forklift operators to see additional work history section examples.
Education
A resume for a forklift operator should also include an education section. Start with the highest level of education you’ve obtained and work your way backward. Show the name of the school and your graduation date using bullet points.
There are typically no formal education requirements associated with forklift operator jobs. However, there are some other requirements and preferred qualifications that you may encounter.
For instance, you must be 18 and possess a valid driver’s license to operate a forklift. It is also necessary to complete a forklift training and certification program, but some employers may help you train for and complete your certification after you are hired.
If you did not attend college, list your high school information and any classes, training or certification programs you’ve completed since graduating. See how to list education on a resume for additional tips and examples.
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Action words for your resume
Use action words and quantifiable metrics to make the descriptions of your previous work experience more compelling.
Here is a short list of action words you could include in a forklift operator resume:
- Loaded
- Unloaded
- Transported
- Stacked
- Organized
- Inspected
- Navigated
- Verified
- Facilitated
- Managed
- Maintained
- Optimized
- Operated
- Prioritized
- Communicated
- Performed
- Oversaw
- Provided
Want more inspiration? We have 800+ resume examples to help you write a professional forklift operator resume.
Best skills for your resume
Review job descriptions carefully to ensure that you match the required skills to those that align with your background.
Your forklift operator resume skills section should feature skills like the following:
- Forklift operation
- Load handling
- Material transportation
- Loading and unloading
- Equipment maintenance
- Pre-operational checks
- Inventory management
- Warehouse management systems (WMS)
- Spatial awareness
- Safety regulations
- Hazard identification
- Risk assessment
- Emergency response
- Mental acuity
- Hand-eye coordination
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Reliability
- Adaptability
- Work ethic
Our Resume Builder has all the tools you need to create a professional resume in minutes! We’ll help you fill in your template, make edits on the fly, download and save your finished resume in multiple file formats.
Certifications for your resume
There are several certifications that a forklift operator can add to their resume to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise in the field and other related areas. Here are some examples of certifications that a forklift operator can consider:
- OSHA Forklift Certification
- Powered Industrial Truck (PIT) Operator Certification
- Specific Forklift Type Certifications
- Certified Logistics Technician (CLT)
- Certified Logistics Associate (CLA)
- First Aid and CPR Certifications
Adding relevant certifications to a resume can demonstrate the candidate’s commitment to their profession and expertise in specific areas related to safe and effective forklift operations.
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
FAQ
How should a resume for a forklift operator be formatted?
There are a few different options that you can choose from when it comes to resume format, and it often depends on your experience and career goals.
If you already have some experience, a chronological resume format that focuses on your work history and accomplishments might be best for you.
If you have a few years of experience but are more interested in emphasizing your full array of work experience and key skills, then a combination resume format might be a better option.
A functional resume format could be a good idea for a new editor, as this format helps you focus on your relevant skills instead of emphasizing your experience.
How do you include a forklift operator certification on your resume?
All forklift operators in the U.S. must be trained and certified to operate a forklift. Once you have obtained this certification, you can list it in the education section of your resume.
It’s important to include the name of the certification, the institution or organization that provided the training and the date that you were officially certified.
You can also list or mention your certification and some of the skills or competencies you gained through your official training in other areas of your resume, like your resume summary or skills section.
This can help bring this required qualification to an employer’s attention more quickly and effectively.
What should be included in a forklift operator resume summary?
You want to use your personal statement or professional resume summary to catch the reader’s attention and get them interested in you as a candidate.
To do this, it’s essential to closely examine job descriptions so you understand the employer’s priorities and can showcase how you are a good fit for the role they want to fill.
It can also be a good idea to highlight role-specific attributes, critical skills essential for the role and notable achievements demonstrating your effectiveness in operating specific types of forklifts, managing inventory and materials handling.
The message should be concise, relevant and impactful, aiming to make a strong impression on the hiring manager.
Best practices
- Use measurable achievements to describe your forklift operator skills and experience. For example: “Streamlined warehouse operations by safely and efficiently loading and unloading 15+ trucks per shift, resulting in a 12% reduction in average turnaround time.”
- Use action words to make an impact on your forklift operator resume.
- Tailor your resume to your target forklift operator job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your forklift operator resume.
- Format your forklift operator resume so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your forklift operator experience and skills.
- Boast that you’re the “most competent forklift operator ever.” Instead, focus on concrete examples of your ability to adhere to safety protocols, control inventory and optimize warehouse space.
- Include irrelevant personal information, such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience that are not relevant to a forklift operator job.
- Forget to proofread. A forklift operator resume with errors is unprofessional. Use our ATS Resume Checker to scan for 30+ common mistakes and improve your resume score.
Interview tips
Research first.
Before a job interview, it’s important to take the time to learn about the company or organization’s history, goals, values and people. Here are a few areas you might consider researching before your interview:
- Company background: Look into the company’s mission, values and work environment, their product and service offerings, safety records and any recent news.
- Safety protocols and best practices: Research to see if any changes or new developments to industry standards, safety protocols or operational best practices exist.
- Competitors: Examine the company’s market to identify some competitors and understand how it differentiates itself.
Researching these areas will help you convey your interest, passion and commitment – all traits that will help you set yourself apart from your competitors.
Practice your answers.
Practice is really important. Be sure to practice for your interview by reviewing the most common interview questions, such as:
Write down two or three possible answers for each question, then practice answering them with a friend. Ask your interview partner for feedback so you can improve your approach.
You should also prepare for some common behavioral interview questions, such as:
- Describe a time when you put your needs aside to help a colleague.
- Tell me about a time you missed a deadline. What things did you fail to do? What were the repercussions? What did you learn?
- Describe a time when you had to cope with a stressful scenario.
Additionally, you’ll want to prepare for some role-specific questions that they might ask you, like:
- Can you explain the pre-operational safety checks you perform before using a forklift?
- How do you assess and manage risks when lifting and moving heavy loads?
- What steps would you take if you noticed a forklift malfunction or damage?
- Can you describe your familiarity with warehouse management systems?
- What experience do you have with specialized forklift attachments like side shifters, clamps, or rotators?
- Have you ever identified and implemented a process improvement that increased efficiency or safety in your previous role?
Write down two or three possible answers for each question, then practice answering them with a friend. Ask your interview partner for feedback so you can improve your approach.
Prepare questions to ask during the interview.
After the hiring manager and potential colleagues question you, they will likely offer you the chance to ask them some questions. Always have at least three for each person you speak with. Doing so shows that you’re interested and have been paying close attention.
Some questions you might ask for a forklift operator job are:
- What kind of forklifts would I be operating on this job?
- Can you tell me more about the safety protocols in place to protect forklift operators at this company?
- Can you describe the typical daily routine for a forklift operator in this position?
- How does the company measure and evaluate forklift operators’ performance?
- What are the team’s biggest challenges, and how do you see this role contributing to solutions?
Gather references.
Have professional references ready before your interview — you never know if the hiring manager might want to contact them immediately. Ask a former manager and two former colleagues who can speak about your performance and who you know will speak highly about your abilities.
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Jasmine is certified career coach and recognized expert in job search strategy. She is committed to helping job seekers navigate the job market and succeed in their careers.
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