Welder Resume: What Fabrication Shops Actually Look For

AWS D1.1

Structural Welding Code - Steel. Covers carbon and low-alloy structural steel. Common positions: 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G (plate) and 1F, 2F, 3F, 4F (fillet). All-position certification (1G-4G) is standard for structural welders.

AWS D1.5

Bridge Welding Code. Used for highway and railway bridge fabrication. Often requires visual and ultrasonic testing (UT) inspection. Many shops require D1.5 in addition to D1.1.

ASME Section IX

Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Covers pipe and pressure vessel welding. 6G position (pipe at 45-degree angle) is the most common all-position qualification. List the material (carbon steel, stainless, etc.) and diameter range.

AWS CWI

Certified Welding Inspector. If you hold CWI, list it separately from welder certifications. Many senior welders pursue CWI for QC and supervisory roles.

Welding Processes

List the specific processes you are proficient in. Use the AWS abbreviations. Generic entries like "arc welding" tell a hiring manager nothing.

Examples: SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding / Stick) / GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding / MIG) / FCAW (Flux-Cored Arc Welding) / GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding / TIG) / SAW (Submerged Arc Welding) / Oxy-acetylene cutting and heating

Positions and Orientations

Welding position matters. Shops need to know if you can weld overhead, vertical, or just flat/horizontal. Use the AWS position designations.

Plate positions: 1G (flat), 2G (horizontal), 3G (vertical), 4G (overhead) / Fillet positions: 1F, 2F, 3F, 4F / Pipe positions: 1G (rolled), 2G (horizontal fixed), 5G (vertical fixed), 6G (45-degree inclined fixed)

Materials

List the base metals you have experience welding. Material type affects process selection, filler metal, and heat input. Be specific about grades if you work with stainless or alloy steels.

Examples: Carbon steel (A36, A572, A992) / Stainless steel (304, 316, 304L, 316L) / Aluminum (6061, 5052) / Cast iron / Chrome-moly (P22, P91 for high-temp piping)

Blueprint and Symbol Reading

Shops expect welders to read blueprints and interpret weld symbols without supervision. If you can do it, say so explicitly.

Examples: Blueprint reading / Weld symbol interpretation (AWS A2.4) / Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) review / Procedure Qualification Record (PQR) review / Tolerancing and dimensioning / Fit-up and tack welding

Inspection and Quality Control

List any experience with weld inspection methods or quality documentation. Many fabrication shops require welders to perform visual inspection on their own work before submitting to QC.

Examples: Visual weld inspection (VT) / Dye penetrant testing (PT) / Magnetic particle inspection (MT) / Radiographic testing (RT) coordination / Ultrasonic testing (UT) coordination / Weld repair and rework

Listing certifications without positions or codes

Writing 'AWS Certified Welder' without specifying D1.1, D1.5, or ASME Section IX, the process (SMAW, GTAW, etc.), the material, or the positions qualified (3G, 4G, 6G) is not useful. A shop needs to know exactly what you can weld and in which orientations. List each certification with full detail: 'AWS Certified Welder - D1.1 Structural Steel, SMAW/FCAW, 1G-4G all positions.'

Using office-worker language

Corporate HR-speak sounds wrong on a trades resume. 'Leveraged advanced welding techniques to optimize fabrication outcomes' is not how a welding supervisor thinks about the job. 'Welded 6" Schedule 40 carbon steel pipe in 6G position per ASME Section IX using GTAW root pass and SMAW fill/cap' says the same thing in language that fits.

Omitting blueprint and weld symbol reading

Many entry-level welders can run a bead but cannot read a blueprint or interpret a weld symbol without help. If you can read prints and symbols (AWS A2.4 standard), put it on your resume. It signals that you do not need constant supervision on the floor.

Not listing materials

Writing 'welded steel and aluminum' when you mean 'welded A36 carbon steel plate, 304/316 stainless pipe, and 6061 aluminum structural members' wastes a line. The specific alloy or grade is the information. The category heading is not.

Listing expired certifications as current

AWS and ASME certifications expire if not maintained through continuity or requalification. Listing a cert from three years ago without noting its status (current, lapsed, or renewal date) will raise questions during a phone screen. If a cert has lapsed, either requalify before applying or leave it off.

Should I list every welding process I have ever used, or only the ones I am proficient in?

List only the processes you can run competently without supervision. A shop that hires you based on a GTAW qualification and then finds out you have only done it twice in a classroom will not keep you long. If you are learning a process but not yet proficient, leave it off your resume until you can pass a certification test or demonstrate consistent production-quality welds.

How do I list certifications if I am qualified in multiple positions under the same code?

Consolidate where it makes sense. 'AWS Certified Welder - D1.1 Structural Steel, SMAW 1G-4G (all positions)' is clearer than listing 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G separately. For pipe, list the highest position (e.g., '6G' implies you can also weld 1G, 2G, and 5G). If you hold multiple code certifications, list each on a separate line for clarity.

I have a lot of experience but no formal AWS or ASME certifications. Should I still apply for jobs that list them as required?

It depends on the shop and the role. Many fabrication shops will hire experienced welders and put them through a qualification test on-site. If the job posting says 'AWS D1.1 required,' it often means 'you must be able to pass a D1.1 weld test,' not 'you must already hold the card.' If you can weld to code but do not have the paperwork, apply anyway and mention in your cover letter that you are prepared to qualify on-site. Smaller shops and field service companies are more flexible about this than union shops or jobs requiring certified weld documentation for every weld.

Should I include welding school projects or practice welds on my resume?

Only if you have no professional welding experience. If you have worked as a welder for pay, your work experience is more relevant than school projects. If you are a recent graduate with no professional experience, list 1-2 significant school projects that demonstrate real skills (e.g., 'Fabricated and welded a structural steel workbench frame per instructor-provided blueprints using GMAW; passed visual inspection and load test'). Do not list routine classroom exercises.

How important is it to list specific equipment brands (Miller, Lincoln, etc.) on a welder resume?

Not very. Welders are expected to adapt to whatever equipment a shop runs. Listing 'Miller Syncrowave 250' or 'Lincoln Power MIG 350MP' can show that you have used professional-grade machines (not just a hobby welder from a hardware store), but it is not a deciding factor. Focus on processes, positions, and codes first. Equipment is secondary.