Tool and die maker Resume: Free Example (2026)

Start with a clean header that includes your name, city and state, phone number, and a professional email address. Add a short summary of 2 to 3 lines that highlights your years of experience, main machine skills, and the types of tooling or dies you build or repair.

Follow the summary with these sections in order: core skills, professional experience, certifications and education, and optional projects or machining highlights. This layout keeps your most relevant info near the top so hiring managers and applicant tracking systems find it quickly.

For contact info, use a single line for location and one line for phone and email so the header does not take up excess space. In your summary, write one concise sentence about your experience and one that states what you bring to the role, for example machining accuracy or die troubleshooting.

Example summary: "Tool and die maker with 8 years building progressive dies, setting up CNC turret punches, and reducing scrap rates through fixture redesign. Strong troubleshooting skills and experience mentoring apprentices." Use numbers when you can to quantify impact such as reduced downtime or scrap.

List jobs in reverse chronological order with job title, employer, location, and dates. For each role include 4 to 6 bulleted achievements that focus on outcomes, not just tasks.

Example bullets: "Rebuilt 12 progressive dies annually, improving first-pass yield from 86 percent to 94 percent by reworking punch clearance and pilot fits." "Programmed and ran CNC wire EDM to produce hardened core pins within .001 inch tolerances, reducing vendor lead time by three weeks." These examples show the tools you used, the problem you solved, and the measurable result.

Create a core skills list of 10 to 15 items that mixes machines, processes, and soft skills. Include CNC programming, mill and lathe setup, surface grinding, EDM, blueprint reading, GD&T basics, fixture design, tooling maintenance, metallurgy awareness, and preventive maintenance.

Group skills when possible so ATS and readers scan quickly, for example: "CNC: Haas Mill, FANUC controls. Manual machining: Bridgeport milling, Hardinge lathe.

Tooling: Progressive dies, transfer dies, punches, inserts." This keeps the list scannable and concrete.

List relevant certifications such as Journeyman Tool and Die, NIMS credentials, welding certifications, or apprenticeship completion with dates. If you have formal machining or toolmaking coursework, include the program name, school, and year.

Add short training entries for specific machines or software, for example a CAM class or SolidWorks training, and note proficiency level. Employers care about both formal credentials and hands-on courses that reduce ramp-up time.

Keep your resume to one page if you have under 10 years experience and to two pages only if you have extensive, relevant jobs. Use a 10 to 12 point readable font and consistent spacing so your document prints well and fits standard applicant systems.

Use clear section headings and left-aligned dates so recruiters can scan employers and timelines quickly. Avoid dense paragraphs; keep bullets short and begin each with a strong action verb followed by a specific result or metric.

Start bullets with specific verbs such as "repaired," "programmed," "designed," "reduced," or "improved" to show intent and ownership. Follow the verb with the technical task and end with the measurable outcome such as cycle-time reduction, cost savings, or quality improvement.

Quantify where possible: number of dies serviced, percentage reduction in scrap, time saved, tolerances held, or annual cost avoidance. These details help you stand out from applicants who list only duties without impact.

When applying to a production toolroom highlight throughput, die changeover speed, and daily maintenance tasks. For engineering-facing roles emphasize die design, CAM programming, GD&T use, and collaboration with design engineers to reduce tooling revisions.

Match keywords from the job posting in your skills and experience sections, but keep language natural and specific to your background. This helps both human reviewers and applicant tracking systems find your most relevant qualifications.