HVAC Technician Resume Sample [+HVAC Service Skills]

You’re a quick scroll-down from the only HVAC resume sample that doesn’t suck or blow.

Here’s the problem:

That HVAC hiring manager is busy.

He’s got sweat stains up his back, asbestos in his hair, and nineteen customers with 150° living rooms.

He’s also got 90 HVAC tech resumes and no time to read them.

You’re in there somewhere like a cockroach in a mile of flexy duct.

You need an HVAC technician resume that stands out like a gold-plated space heater.

That comes down to achievements—and how you show them.

This guide will show you:

• A HVAC resume example better than 9 out of 10 others.
• How to write an HVAC tech resume that gets more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a resume for HVAC jobs.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for HVAC techs to get any job you want.

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Use this resume template

Sample HVAC Resume—See more resume examples here.

Thinking you might drop the snips and make the switch? See these other guides:

• Construction Resume
• Landscaping Resume
• Painter Resume
• Electrician Resume
• Warehouse Resume
• Technical Resume
• Maintenance Resume
• Maintenance Technician Resume
• Plumber Resume
• Mechanic Resume
• Material Handler Resume
• Janitor Resume
• Cable Technician Resume
• Handyman Resume
• Welder Resume
• Quality Engineer Resume
• Warehouse Associate Resume
• Resume Examples for Every Career

1

What's the Best Format for an HVAC Resume?

HVAC resume format is crucial.

With the wrong layout, your resume is like spaghetti ductwork—hard to follow.

Pick a trusted HVAC tech resume layout like the reverse-chronological resume format. It condenses your best moments first.

To economize the page, use white space, big headings, and the best resume fonts.

Finally, save your HVAC sales resume as a PDF. Today’s computers can read PDFs. Plus, they won’t go all moldy in transit like MS Word resumes.

One warning: check the job offer. If it puts a damper on PDF resumes, don’t send one.

Pro Tip: Just getting into HVAC jobs from another career? Use the combination resume format. It pulls in your transferable accomplishments from non-HVAC jobs.

Need other HVAC resume format choices? See our guide: 3 Resume Formats: How to Choose the Best One [Examples]

Here’s a bad dream:

You send off 50 HVAC specialists’ resumes. For a week, your phone’s as silent as a duct in shoulder season.

This bad dream comes true because there’s:

1. Too many applicants and
2. Most managers just glance at resumes, then pick a few to read in depth.

So—turn that glance into, “Hey, this girl knows her stuff.”

How?

With an HVAC resume objective or resume summary.

A resume summary wows the HVAC manager with experience. Use it if you were installing ducts back when HFC was just a concept.

A resume objective shows you’re motivated and you’ll work hard. Write one if your experience doesn’t register.

Here’s the secret that’ll get you hired:

Install either with a metric ton of measurable achievements.

These two senior HVAC/R resume examples show how.

HVAC Resume Examples [Resume Summaries]

The first of our senior HVAC/R resume samples is clogged:

Not exactly full of stachybotrys, but it won’t blow in a cubic mile of interview requests.

So—do like the next of our HVAC tech resume examples:

That flows. Those accomplishments and numbers heat it up.

Don’t have that kind of experience? See the junior HVAC resume examples below.

Two Entry-Level HVAC Resume Objectives

If your HVAC experience is still in boxes, write an HVAC resume objective.

In the R22 days, that meant showing passion and a strong work ethic. The next of our HVAC service resume objectives does that:

She’s motivated. But so are lots of experienced HVAC techs.

Is she doomed?

Nope.

She can add measurable achievements even if she’s never held a ductwork job.

Follow the next of our entry-level HVAC resume examples:

Whoosh. You just flew in like Superbender and stole the hiring manager’s tin heart.

But what if you have no experience to put on HVAC tech or HVAC engineer resumes?

That’s up next.

In an HVAC sales resume, keep track of your sales and list them as quantifiable data. ($700,000 in sales off my truck in 2017 for example.)

Jason

HVAC Service Tech, Rochester, MN

Pro Tip: Don’t have an HVAC license? Apply to local mom ‘n’ pops. They’re more likely to hire you with no degree, and many will chip in for school costs.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

Want an HVAC tech resume objective more powerful than a 20,000 CFM blower? Use the sample HVAC specialist resume up top. Plus, see our guides:

A Resume Professional Summary Statement that Gets Recruiters Hooked

20+ Career Objectives for a Resume - Examples and How-To Guide

3

How to Describe Your HVAC Experience

“Wow, let’s hire this one.”

Your HVAC resume should show the manager you know your way around a leak detector.

But what goes in your resume bullets?

You don’t want more clutter than the World Trade Center’s refrigeration plant.

But you don’t want so few details you could cover them with a squirt of Great Stuff.

So—start with your most recent HVAC job. Add 3-5 resume bullet points.

Use the first of our professional HVAC technician resume examples as your schematic.

HVAC Resume Examples [Experience]

One of these sample HVAC install resume experience sections is hot:

Boiling! Those accomplishments with numbers show you’re basically Superman with a psychrometer.

But snip out those achievements and:

That HVAC service resume example isn’t absolute zero, but it’s close.

And if you have no experience at HVAC jobs?

See these entry-level HVAC resume examples.

How to Write a Resume for HVAC with no Experience

“Nobody is hiring! I have no experience!”

You’re crying out in the wilderness, but there’s a cure.

You can get experience while you earn money, then trade it for great HVAC jobs.

Do:

• Volunteer work
• Fill-in work for mom ‘n’ pops
• Piecework as an HVAC helper
• Part-time work for local building inspectors
• Apprentice work for a big company like Johnson Controls

No big company will hire an HVAC tech with no experience. So, call the tiny HVAC places in your area. Send each one a resume and cover letter.

Convince them you’ll work very hard. You’ll start so far down at the bottom you’re practically inside the condensate pump.

Do that, and your entry-level resume for HVAC jobs will shine like a newly duct-trucked system.

Our next entry-level HVAC tech resume samples show how.

Two Entry-Level HVAC Resume Samples [No Experience]

The first of these entry-level HVAC resume examples has a tiny ΔT:

Ew. That applicant probably thinks “dry bulb” is an onion.

So—add details like this HVAC service resume example:

Ding! That applicant knows ventilation systems aren’t just a place for Bruce Willis to crawl around in.

Be specific, as in: successful in upselling complete system replacement on 85% of service call repairs quoted at $200 or less.

Todd

HVAC Service Manager, Myrtle Beach, SC

Pro Tip: Having trouble getting HVAC jobs near you? Try starting as an install helper. You won’t need as much experience on your HVAC resume. You can work your way up fast.

Don’t freeze out the employer with boring language in your resume for HVAC jobs. Switch him on instead with action words. See our guide: 240 Resume Action Words, Power Words and Buzzwords to Use (and Avoid)

Do you really need education on an HVAC resume?

Every resume needs education.

It’s there like a free Super Bowl ad. Don’t waste the space.

List:

• School Name and Location
• Years in School
• Degree

Then plug in achievements that fit the job.

The next HVAC master tech resume examples show the differential:

HVAC Resume Examples [Education]

Both these HVAC resume samples are for a job that needs skills in electrical work, installs, repair, and physical fitness.

That’s 50 million BTUs.

Now go plain Jane:

Whoops. Not interested in getting hired?

Pro Tip: Should you go to HVAC school? In some states it’s a must. In others, if you’re strapped for cash you can start low on the totem pole. Some employers will then pay for school.

Teach your HVAC resume education section a thing or two. See our guide: How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples]

It comes down to this:

If you can show the right skills, you’re hired.

So what’s the big mistake on most HVAC resumes?

They show all the skills.

That’s like tossing 100 duct sections in the basement and hoping the house gets cold. You need to connect them or they won’t do anything.

The professional HVAC service resume examples below show the plan.

HVAC Resume Examples [Skills]

Pretend the manager put this in the HVAC job description:

Required HVAC Skills: (1) Installs, (2) Sales, (3) Service

Put those in your HVAC resume skills list, plus a couple.

Then say:

Do that and you’ll expand into the job like spray foam.

Start with the HVAC skills for resumes below.

List of Skills to Put on an HVAC Resume

Here’s an HVAC resume skills list of great keywords for your resume, but—

Source your keywords in HVAC job descriptions online. Pay special attention to the job offer you’re applying to.

Pro Tip: Writing an HVAC service resume? Include past work that shows your skills with electrical testing equipment and hand tools, plus customer service skills.

Charge your HVAC resume skills section up to 10 million PSI. See our guide: +30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips)

“Uh-oh. She’s not certified.”

Do you need a certification on HVAC resumes?

In some states, yes. Even if it’s not required, a certificate is still a good idea.

If you’ve got a cert or license, don’t bury it.

Put it:

• At the top of your HVAC engineer or HVAC sales resume, near your name
• At the beginning of your resume summary
• In a special “Certification” section

Then even if the manager skims your resume for HVAC jobs, he’ll know you make the grade.

Got other certifications like a NATE cert or EPA 608 cert? Put them in another section below “education.” That way you don’t clutter up your all-important HVAC tech license.

Pro Tip: What states require HVAC certifications on a resume? Here’s a handy list of where your resume for HVAC jobs will (or won’t) need licensing.

Want a list of certifications to help boost your HVAC resume? See our guide: How to Include Certifications on a Resume

The hiring manager is nodding.

You’ve got experience and education.

But he’s still not calling you.

Why not? He’s not sure if you’re a good employee. So—he’ll look through the 90 other resumes on his desk to see if somebody jumps out.

Jump out. Do it with special "other" resume sections only a few applicants get right.

Let’s take two sample HVAC resume sections.

HVAC Resume Examples [Other Sections]

The first of our HVAC resume examples has a sucking hole:

Do any of those prove you’re good at HVAC?

Instead, add a heat pump to your resume for HVAC jobs like this:

Toasty. Your professional HVAC resume will make the hiring manager call you in the middle of the night.

Have you gone to conferences? Written articles? Led trainings or taught classes? Those all look great on an HVAC engineer resume or HVAC sales resume.

Pro Tip: Are you writing an HVAC controls resume? In your “other” bullets, show you’re a great troubleshooter. If you’re trying for the sales side, show your people skills.

Not sure what bells & whistles to weld onto your HVAC engineer resume or HVAC master tech resume? See our guide: +20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests To Put on a Resume (5 Tips)

Some “experts” say you don’t need to send a cover letter with an HVAC resume.

They’re right 60% of the time.

If you’re shooting for 100%, write an HVAC cover letter. But—

A cover letter that says, “Here’s my HVAC tech resume” is trashbound.

Instead, connect to the employer like a heat exchanger.

1. Reiterate the needs shown in the job offer.
2. Prove you’ll do the job like Iron Man in coveralls.

This short example HVAC cover letter aces it:

Always end a cover letter with an offer. Try, “Can we set aside some time to discuss ideas to increase your sales by 25% in the next six months?"

Pro Tip: Writing an entry-level HVAC resume and cover letter? Convince the hiring manager you’ll work hard and take every grimy job they toss your way.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

Create my cover letter now

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Want a great template for your HVAC cover letter? See our guide: How To Write A Cover Letter in 8 Simple Steps (+12 Examples)

9

Do This Before You Add Contact Info to a Resume

How do you add contact info to your resume?

Start with:

• Full Name
• Updated Phone Number
• Professional Email Address

Like this:

Maci Sciota, HVAC/R Master Tech, maci.sciota@gmail.com, 201-542-6539

For a "professional email address," use john.doe@gmail.com, not TommyBoyCoolzAndHeatsIt239487924@yahoo.com.

Check your social media presence too. If the employer looks you up on Facebook, will he find those Burning Man pics from five years ago?

Pro Tip: In an HVAC interview, be able to talk confidently about concepts like subcooling, superheat, or troubleshooting steps. Be honest when you’re stumped.

A good HVAC resume is like a good-looking install. If it looks nice, everyone assumes the guts are perfect too. Get yours gleaming with our guide: How to Write a Resume that Gets You the Job [+Samples]

Here’s a recap of how to write an HVAC resume that cooks:

• Write an HVAC resume objective or resume summary. Package yours with radiant achievements.
• Read the job description like your life depends on it. Vacuum-seal your HVAC tech resume bullets to it with measurable accomplishments.
• Add other sections that prove you’re not just another tin cutter. List certifications, memberships, and interests that show you fit the work.
• Write an effective HVAC cover letter. Show you understand the employer’s needs and you’ll stand out like a red-hot Energy Star logo.

Do you have questions on how to write a great resume for HVAC jobs? Not sure how to describe your skills or achievements? Give us a shout in the comments! We’d be happy to reply.