How to Create Your Diesel Mechanic Resume: Examples and Tips

Getting ready to apply for a diesel mechanic position?

One of the first steps to take before applying for any new job is to create your resume. This document gives a potential employer a summary of your education, professional experience, skills and more, all of which they take into account when determining if you would be a good fit for the role.

Whether you have an existing resume you’ll be working with or are a recent diesel graduate creating your resume for the first time, the following tips are for you. Keep reading to learn what to include in your resume, how to format it, tips for designing it and more!

Key Points:

- Creating a tailored resume: It's crucial to customize your diesel mechanic resume for each job application, emphasizing relevant skills and experiences. For instance, highlight product knowledge and customer service for a diesel service writer position, or focus on repair experience for trucks and heavy vehicles if applying for a technician role in the trucking and transportation industry.

- Essential resume components: A well-constructed resume should include a career objective that captures your goals and qualifications, a detailed work experience section in chronological order, your educational background with any relevant certifications (such as National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence or ASE certifications), a list of pertinent skills, and any notable awards and accomplishments.

- Design and presentation matter: The visual layout of your resume is important. Utilize professional templates available online to ensure your resume is organized and easy to read. Keep the design simple, with a neutral color palette and legible fonts, aiming to fit everything onto one page.

- The importance of a cover letter: Although not always required, a personalized cover letter can significantly enhance your application. It allows you to elaborate on your interest in the position, relevant experiences and why you're a great fit for the role. Always customize your cover letter for the specific job and company.

- Post-application follow-up: Stand out from other candidates by sending a thank-you letter after an interview. This demonstrates professionalism and reiterates your interest in the position. Make sure to send this within 24 hours of your interview to leave a lasting positive impression.

Creating Your Diesel Engine Mechanic Resume

Your resume is an evolving document that you will update throughout the course of your career. When reaching out to employers, this is often the first thing they will see before they even get the chance to meet you, so you want it to be a tool that helps you to make a great impression!

It’s important to remember that your resume isn’t a one-size-fits-all document—meaning the content should be updated to cater to each position you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a diesel service writer position, you’ll want to emphasize your product knowledge and customer service skills.

On the other hand, if you were applying for a technician position in the trucking and transportation industry, you’d want to highlight any experience you have with the repair of semitrucks, heavy trucks, buses and construction vehicles.

Today’s job market is competitive. When an employer goes through a stack of resumes, you want yours to stand out! This requires having the right content and an organized, professional layout that is easy to follow.

What To Include in Your Diesel Mechanic Resume

Everyone’s resume will look different depending on their background, skills and experience. However, there are some basic elements you should always be sure to include:

Career objective

A great resume starts with a career objective—a brief statement that expresses who you are and what you hope to accomplish in your career. While this isn’t always required, a strong career objective can spark the interest of an employer and make them want to keep reading.

Here are a few diesel mechanic resume samples:

“Universal Technical Institute graduate seeking full-time employment with Peterbilt. Possesses specialized training on Peterbilt technology as well as experience working in a fast-paced dealership environment.¹⁵ Skills include truck preventive maintenance, diesel fuel systems, transportation refrigeration and more.”

“Experienced mechanic applying for the position of heavy equipment mechanic with Freightliner. Possesses 5+ years of experience in maintenance of medium to heavy vehicles and diagnostic overhaul adjustment repair. Strong customer service skills, excellent time management and attention to detail.”

“ASE-certified mechanic with over 10 years of experience working in the industry. As a head mechanic for Cummins, increased sales by 7% and trained five new mechanics. Seeking the role of master technician with Daimler Truck North America to utilize my expertise and industry experience.”

Work experience

One of the most important sections of your resume is where you list your professional experience. In chronological order, starting with your current or most recent position, list the jobs you’ve had in the past. For each position, include the following information:

• The company you worked for
• Your job title
• The dates you worked there (ex: May 2014 - December 2018)
• A bulleted list of your responsibilities and key things you accomplished in the role

This section is designed to give the employer a general idea of what your experience entails. If you’re a recent graduate, you might not have much experience yet, but don’t stress! You can use this section to list any personal projects you’ve worked on, being sure to include the year, make and model of the vehicles. This will give the employer an idea of your skills as well as demonstrate the passion you have for the industry.

Education

Education is another key section employers look for on resumes. Here, you can list the school(s) you’ve attended, the program you completed, the year you graduated and even your GPA, if you want to include it.

If you have any certifications that are relevant to the role, you can list them in this section as well. ASE certifications can greatly benefit candidates applying for positions in the automotive and diesel industries, so be sure to include them here.

If you’re a technician just starting out, you can include more details about your education to make up for a lack of experience. For example, if you’re a UTI diesel grad, you can include the names of the courses you took.³³ Here’s an example of how you can format this:

Universal Technical Institute (UTI) Avondale, AZ

• Introduction to Engines
• Introduction to Powertrains
• Introduction to Automotive Physical Science: Undercar Systems
• Automotive Physical Science Principles: Electrical Fundamentals
• Electrical Applications
• Technology Principles and Consumer Communication of Automotive HVAC
• Advanced Electrical Applications
• Hydraulics
• Steering and Suspension Systems
• Drive Train
• Brakes
• Diesel Engines
• Diesel Engine Fuel Systems and Accessories
• Preventative Maintenance
• Transport Refrigeration

Diesel mechanic skills

A skill is your ability to do something that you’ve acquired through experience, training or practice. Examples of this for a diesel technician can be troubleshooting, heating and air conditioning, and automatic transmissions, just to name a few.

When choosing which skills to include on your resume, be strategic. Take a look at the required skills for the position, and if they are skills you possess, be sure to list them. Making this connection can show the employer that you’re a great fit for the role.

Some common diesel mechanic skills for resumes often include:

• Steering system diagnosis.
• Quality control.
• Engine repair.
• Engine performance.
• Managing crews.
• Equipment calibration.
• Knowledge of basic hand tools.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Awards and accomplishments

If you’ve received any awards that you feel can benefit you when applying for this role, create an awards and accomplishments section on your resume. Whether it’s your GPA, perfect attendance score or being voted Employee of the Month, these things can show potential employers that you go above and beyond in your work.

Contact information

If an employer wants to follow up with you to schedule an interview, they will most likely utilize the contact information listed on your resume. So, take the time to ensure that the information is correct and that you regularly check the email you provide. As a general rule, always include the following contact information:

• Name (first and last)
• Address
• Phone number
• Email address
• LinkedIn and other social media (optional)

Designing Your Diesel Mechanic Resume

Once you’ve gathered the right content for your resume, it’s time to work on the design. This is an important step, as the visual layout of your resume can play into whether or not the employer decides to read it. For example, if the resume is unorganized and the font is hard to read, the employer is likely to skip past it.

If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to designing your resume, try a resume template. There are a wide variety of free templates on the web that take care of the formatting for you—all you have to do is download the file and type in your content! Here are a few websites that offer great options for diesel mechanic resume templates:

• Indeed
• My Perfect Resume
• Freesumes
• Hloom
• ResumeGenius

When browsing templates, try to look for layouts that are on the simple side. Opt for a neutral color palette and always ensure that the font is legible. In general, try to keep your resume to one page in length. If it’s too long, this can also keep the employer from reading it.

Don’t Forget a Cover Letter

Cover letters aren’t always required, but a well-written letter can really boost your chances of getting called for an interview. While your resume provides general information about your experience, a cover letter is where you can further elaborate on your interest, relatable experience, skill set and what makes you a good fit for the role.

It’s important for your cover letter to be specific to the position you’re applying for. After all, it’s a letter to the employer! Take the time to customize your message and always have a friend or family member proofread it to ensure there are no errors.

Here’s an example of a diesel mechanic cover letter:

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing in response to your job listing seeking an entry-level diesel mechanic for your company. I will be finishing the Diesel Technology program at Universal Technical Institute in Avondale, AZ, in the fall, and plan to return to Texas after graduation.

My experience includes working in a dealership environment inspecting, repairing and maintaining light- and heavy-duty diesel trucks. I am used to working in a fast-paced environment and am very detail-oriented, which I believe could be a great benefit in this role. I am excited by the possibility of joining your team and growing with the company. I have my own tools and a valid driver’s license and am ready to start my new career.

Thank you for your time and consideration, and I hope to hear from you soon!

Sincerely,

[your name]

[phone number]

Follow Up With a Thank-You Letter

When interviewing for a job, you’re most likely up against several other candidates. A great way to stand out is by following up with a thank-you letter!

Sending a thank-you letter not only shows professionalism but also gives you an opportunity to remind the employer why you’re a good fit for the position. Be sure to send your letter or email within 24 hours of your interview and keep your message short and to the point. Here’s an example:

Dear [employer name],

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me to discuss the diesel mechanic position with your company. It was a pleasure speaking with you, and I enjoyed learning more about the company and what this position would entail.

I am excited about the opportunity and am confident that my skills and experience will allow me to succeed in this role. If there is any way I can be of further assistance as you are making your decision, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

[your name]

Resume for Diesel Mechanic Examples

One of the best places to start when creating your resume is to look at examples of other resumes used in your industry.

Click here to download a resume template that you can use today.

Overall, your resume is a powerful tool that can help to make a favorable first impression on a prospective employer. Remember to update it regularly and take the time to ensure it highlights your most important skills and accomplishments. Best of luck with your job search!

Complete Your Diesel Training at UTI

If you have a passion for the diesel industry, consider UTI’s Diesel Technology program. In just 45 weeks, you’ll be taught to diagnose and repair diesel fuel systems, perform hydraulic services and receive hands-on training with equipment from leading brands.^1,7,18

To learn more, visit our program page and request information today.