How to write an effective factory CV
Selection often goes through recruitment agencies that receive many CVs: yours must be clear and concrete.
What to highlight
The information recruiters look for first.
- Sector: metalworking, food, plastics, packaging, textiles, pharmaceuticals.
- Machines and tasks: presses, lathes, automatic lines, assembly, packaging.
- Shift availability: two shifts, three shifts, continuous cycle, weekends.
- Certificates: safety, forklift, first aid, fire warden.
Avoid empty descriptions
“General worker” on its own says nothing.
- Explain what you did with concrete verbs: ran, assembled, checked, set up.
- Give real numbers if you know them: parts per shift, format change times, lines handled.
Professional profile
Three or four lines summarizing experience, machines, sector and availability.
Example for a line operator
Adapt it to your details.
- “Production operator with 6 years of experience running automatic lines and presses in metalworking and packaging companies. I carry out format changes, quality checks and first-level maintenance. Available for three shifts and continuous cycles, with a forklift licence.”
Example for the food sector
Hygiene and procedures first.
- “Food production operative experienced on packaging lines, weight and label checks and HACCP procedures. Accurate and used to shift work.”
Work experience
For each role give your job title, company or sector, city, dates and 4-8 concrete tasks.
What to specify
Details that show your level.
- Type of machines and lines.
- Products made.
- Quality and documentation tasks.
- Responsibilities: format changes, training new staff, covering for the shift supervisor.
Agency contracts
Very common in industry.
- Give the company where you worked and the agency in brackets.
- If you were extended or hired directly, say so: it shows reliability.
- Group short assignments in one entry.
Technical and soft skills
List 8-12 real skills, the most important first.
Technical skills
The most requested in job ads.
- Running machines and lines.
- Format changes and setups.
- Using callipers, micrometers and measuring tools.
- Reading technical drawings.
- Welding, screwing, mechanical or electrical assembly, if you can.
Soft skills
They count as much as technique.
- Accuracy and attention to detail.
- Stamina and consistency.
- Teamwork.
- Punctuality and reliability on shifts.
Safety, certificates and licences
Certificates reduce onboarding time: they are a concrete advantage.
What to include
With level and, where relevant, validity.
- General and specific workplace safety training, with the risk level.
- Forklift certification.
- Fire warden and first aid.
- Specific licences: welding, aerial work platforms, overhead crane, if you have them.
- Food hygiene (HACCP) for the food sector.
Metalworking, food or packaging: adapting your CV
Change the order of skills and the keywords depending on the sector.
Metalworking
Machines and measurements.
- Highlight presses, lathes, CNC, drawing reading, measuring tools.
Food
Hygiene and traceability.
- Highlight HACCP, weight checks, labels, batches and line cleaning.
Packaging and production logistics
Speed and format changes.
- Highlight automatic lines, format changes, palletizing and forklift.
Keywords from job ads
Agencies use ATS software to search for candidates: words from the ad help your CV appear.
Frequent keywords
Use them if they match your experience.
- Production operator / production operative / general worker / line operator
- Assembly / assembler / packaging
- Presses / automatic lines / CNC / format change
- Quality control / callipers / technical drawing
- Shifts / continuous cycle / forklift / safety
Check your CV
With WizardsCV's free ATS checker you can compare your CV with a job ad and see which keywords are missing.
ATS-friendly format and layout
A simple CV is read better by software and people.
Practical rules
Simplicity first.
- One page, standard titles, selectable text.
- Certificates section clearly visible.
- Phone and email at the top.
- PDF with a clear name.
Mistakes to avoid
The most frequent mistakes on factory worker CVs.
The most common
Easy to fix.
- Writing only “general worker” without details.
- Not listing safety certificates.
- Not stating shift availability.
- Listing machines you cannot operate.
- Long lists of agencies without saying what you did.
Factory worker CV with no experience
Many companies train in-house. Show reliability and practical skills.
What to highlight
Any practical experience counts.
- Vocational courses and internships.
- Manual jobs: warehouse, construction, agriculture, small maintenance jobs.
- Safety certificates and forklift licence.
- Availability for shifts and to start immediately.
Profile example
Short and honest.
- “Mechanical operator qualification, with a 3-month internship at a components company. I have safety training and a forklift licence. Looking for a first job in production, available for shifts.”
Application message
For agencies and companies a short message is enough.
Example
Adapt it.
- “Hello, I am applying for the production operator position. I have 6 years of experience on automatic lines and presses, I carry out format changes and quality checks and I am a certified forklift operator. I am available for three shifts and continuous cycles and can start immediately. Please find my CV attached.”
