What a forklift resume should lead with
Forklift Operator jobs are in warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing plants, and retail stockrooms. A hiring manager for these jobs reads the top of your resume first, so put this there: forklift certification and equipment types, warehouse functions done, and safety record.
Put your work history first, then a short skills section and any certifications.
Write your summary in two or three lines. Say the job you want, what you have done that fits it, and one thing that makes you reliable.
A sample forklift resume. Type your details and watch it fill in.
[Your name]
[City, State] · [your phone] · [your email]
Summary
Forklift Operator with [number] years of [experience, clinicals or training]. [Your two strongest skills for this job, for example forklift operation and reach truck.] [One result you are proud of, with a number.]
Experience
Forklift Operator, [Employer name], [City, State]
[Month Year] to [Month Year or Present]
- Operated a sit-down forklift [add how many, how often, or for whom].
- Operated a reach truck or order picker [add how many, how often, or for whom].
- Loaded and unloaded trucks [add how many, how often, or for whom].
- Picked and packed orders [add how many, how often, or for whom].
- Used an RF scanner to track inventory [add how many, how often, or for whom].
[Your previous job title], [Employer name]
- [A duty from this job that also matters as a forklift, with a number.]
Certifications
- OSHA forklift certification [date earned]
- Reach truck certification [date earned]
- Order picker certification [date earned]
- OSHA 10 [date earned]
Skills
Forklift operation · Reach truck · Order picking · RF scanners · Shipping and receiving · Inventory control · Pallet jacks · Warehouse safety · RF scanner
Nothing you type here is sent or saved. The template below is this layout as a Word file and a PDF, with tips for career changers.
Resume template
A forklift resume, laid out and ready to fill in
- The forklift duties, skills and the words hiring systems scan for, already in place.
- Blanks in [brackets] for your own facts, and tips for career changers.
- A Word file to edit and a PDF to send, emailed in minutes.
$4.99, one time
One payment. Nothing recurring. No account needed.
Credentials to list on a forklift resume
List only what you hold or are finishing. Put the state or issuing body and the year.
- OSHA forklift certification
- Reach truck certification
- Order picker certification
- OSHA 10
- Logistics or warehouse program
- Driver's license
Example forklift resume lines
These are things people in this job really do. Use a line only if you did it, and add a number when you have one: how many patients, loads, orders or rooms, or how often.
- Operated a sit-down forklift
- Operated a reach truck or order picker
- Loaded and unloaded trucks
- Picked and packed orders
- Used an RF scanner to track inventory
- Did daily forklift safety checks
- Stacked and wrapped pallets
- Counted inventory and kept the floor organized
Skills and words employers look for in a forklift resume
Many employers search resumes by keyword, and recruiters skim for the same words. Use the ones that are true for you, spelled the way the job posting spells them.
Skills: Forklift operation, Reach truck, Order picking, RF scanners, Shipping and receiving, Inventory control, Pallet jacks, Warehouse safety, Lifting up to 50 pounds, Teamwork.
Words from forklift job postings: forklift operation, reach truck, order picking, RF scanner, shipping and receiving, inventory control, pallet jack, loading and unloading, warehouse safety, OSHA, productivity goals, WMS.
| Top skills to show | Words employers search for |
|---|---|
| Forklift operation | forklift operation |
| Reach truck | reach truck |
| Order picking | order picking |
| RF scanners | RF scanner |
| Shipping and receiving | shipping and receiving |
| Inventory control | inventory control |
| Pallet jacks | pallet jack |
| Warehouse safety | loading and unloading |
| Lifting up to 50 pounds | warehouse safety |
| Teamwork | OSHA |
What the job involves: O*NET 53-7051.00, Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators (US Department of Labor).
Coming to forklift work from another job
Your past work counts if you say what it shows. Retail stockroom, factory, and delivery work show lifting, inventory, and meeting daily goals.
Never claim a duty you did not do. Say what you did in words this job uses.
If you still need the training, WIOA can pay for it if you qualify: see how WIOA pays for forklift training.
Next steps
- Get the forklift resume template, a Word file and a PDF laid out for this job, $4.99 one time.
- Have your own resume rewritten for one forklift job, using only what is on it, $14.99 one time.
- See forklift jobs near you and get your resume rewritten for each one. The first application each month is free.
- Practice the forklift interview questions out loud before you go in.
- Check your resume first with the free resume grader.