Top 12 Handyman Skills to Put on Your Resume
In today’s crowded job market, a sharp, honest resume cuts through the noise—especially for handymen. Showcasing a broad set of proven skills tells employers you can solve problems quickly, safely, and without fuss. The right mix of technical know-how and clean execution? That’s what gets the call-back.
Handyman Skills
1. Carpentry
Carpentry for a handyman means cutting, shaping, joining, and installing wood and composite materials for repairs, builds, and finish work—everything from framing and trim to doors, shelving, and furniture fixes.
Why It's Important
Carpentry underpins countless tasks: building, repairing, and improving structures and finishes. Strong carpentry chops let you solve more problems, faster, with cleaner results.
How to Improve Carpentry Skills
Skill grows where sawdust falls. Practical, steady steps:
Practice with purpose: Take on varied projects—square cuts, miters, joinery, scribing—so accuracy becomes instinct.
Master your tools: Know how to tune, maintain, and set up saws, planes, chisels, and routers. Sharp tools, safer hands.
Measure with care: Establish a routine—reference edge, consistent tape, story sticks. Mark clearly. Recheck before cutting.
Plan stock and sequence: Cut long to short, rough to finish. Mill lumber to acclimate. Dry fit before glue.
Prioritize safety: Eye and ear protection, dust control, push sticks, proper stance. No shortcuts.
Study fundamentals: Grain direction, wood movement, fasteners, adhesives. These rules prevent cracks and callbacks.
Keep projects small, then scale. Precision stacks up quickly.
How to Display Carpentry Skills on Your Resume
2. Plumbing
Plumbing covers installation, repair, and upkeep of supply and drain lines, fixtures, valves, and appliances that move clean water in and wastewater out.
Why It's Important
Water damage spreads fast and costs more. Solid plumbing skills protect health, preserve structures, and keep systems efficient.
How to Improve Plumbing Skills
Small leaks, tight systems. Focus on fundamentals:
Inspect proactively: Look for corrosion, slow drains, moisture at joints, weak seals. Catch issues before they escalate.
Use quality parts: Solid valves, proper pipe types (PEX, copper, PVC) for the job, correct fittings and sealants.
Cut and join cleanly: Square cuts, deburr edges, proper flux, adequate heat, correct crimp depth or solvent weld technique.
Control pressure: Verify pressure, add expansion tanks where needed, replace failing PRVs. Quiet lines last longer.
Know code basics: Traps, vents, slope, cleanouts, dielectric unions. Do it right, avoid do-overs.
Carry the right tools: Pipe wrenches, basin wrench, cutters, press tools or crimpers, test gauges, Teflon tape and pipe dope.
Neat work, tight joints, dry floors. That’s the target.
How to Display Plumbing Skills on Your Resume
3. Electrical
Electrical work includes installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting wiring, devices, and fixtures so power moves safely where it should and nowhere else.
Why It's Important
Done right, systems run quietly and safely. Done wrong, shocks and fires. Competence here is non‑negotiable.
How to Improve Electrical Skills
Think safety, then sequence.
Learn core theory: Voltage, current, resistance, grounding, and load calculations. Concepts first, then the hands-on.
Follow the code: Know key parts of the NEC and local amendments: box fill, conductor sizing, GFCI/AFCI, bonding.
Use test gear well: Multimeter, non-contact tester, continuity checks. Verify de-energized before touching anything.
Practice clean terminations: Proper strip length, tight connections, no nicked conductors, correct device ratings.
Label and document: Panel schedules, junction box maps, circuit IDs. Future you will thank present you.
Respect safety: Lockout/tagout where applicable, insulated tools, PPE, working clearances.
Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast—and safe.
How to Display Electrical Skills on Your Resume
4. Drywall
Drywall is gypsum sandwiched in paper, fastened to framing to form smooth, paint-ready walls and ceilings.
Why It's Important
It’s the canvas of the interior. Flat, tight joints and crisp corners make everything else look better.
How to Improve Drywall Skills
Clean work, cleaner finish.
Frame and fasten right: Straight studs, proper screw length and spacing, stagger seams, avoid overdriving fasteners.
Tape and mud in stages: Light coats, wider each pass. Feather edges. Let it cure; don’t rush.
Sand smart: Use a sanding pole or sponge; aim for flat, not over-sanded paper. Control dust with extraction.
Prime before paint: Dedicated drywall primer evens porosity and reveals flaws to touch up.
Patch with purpose: Backer boards for larger holes, setting compound for speed, finish with lightweight mud.
When the light rakes across the wall and it stays smooth, you did it right.
How to Display Drywall Skills on Your Resume
5. Painting
Painting means prepping and coating surfaces to protect them and make spaces look sharp—walls, trim, doors, cabinets, you name it.
Why It's Important
It seals, protects, and sells the finish. Good paint work lifts a room; bad paint work ruins it.
How to Improve Painting Skills
The secret is 80% prep, 20% patience.
Prep like a pro: Clean, degloss, sand, fill, and caulk. Mask edges tightly. Dust-free surfaces matter.
Choose right products: Match paint to surface and conditions. Quality brushes and rollers save time and leave fewer marks.
Cut clean lines: Practice steady cutting-in. Keep a wet edge. Work from top down.
Mind the environment: Temperature, humidity, and ventilation affect flow and cure. Adjust your pace.
Multiple light coats: Thin, even coats beat one heavy sludge pass every time.
When edges are crisp and sheen is even, the space feels new.
How to Display Painting Skills on Your Resume
6. HVAC
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning—the systems that shape temperature, humidity, and indoor air quality.
Why It's Important
Comfort, health, and efficiency ride on HVAC performance. Understanding the basics helps you keep equipment reliable and costs in check.
How to Improve HVAC Skills
Small adjustments, big savings.
Maintain regularly: Change filters, clean coils, check refrigerant charge and electrical connections. Listen for odd noises.
Seal and insulate ducts: Tight joints and proper insulation prevent losses and balance airflow.
Use smart controls: Program schedules, set reasonable setpoints, and calibrate thermostats.
Improve envelope: Add insulation and air sealing so equipment doesn’t work overtime.
Clear airflow: Unblock supply and return vents; verify correct fan speeds and static pressure.
Know when to upgrade: Old, inefficient units drain money. Right-sized, high-efficiency equipment pays back.
Efficiency builds quietly, then shows up on the utility bill.
How to Display HVAC Skills on Your Resume
7. Roofing
Roofing means installing, repairing, and maintaining the protective shell over a structure—shingles, membranes, flashing, vents, and gutters working together to shed water and resist weather.
Why It's Important
One leak can snowball into rot, mold, and structural headaches. A sound roof keeps everything beneath it safe.
How to Improve Roofing Skills
Safety and details rule the day.
Inspect often: Look for damaged shingles, loose flashing, clogged gutters, and soft spots. Catch issues early.
Ventilate and insulate: Balanced intake and exhaust reduce heat and moisture buildup, extending roof life.
Use the right materials: Match products to climate and pitch. Follow manufacturer install specs to the letter.
Flash correctly: Chimneys, valleys, skylights—meticulous flashing and sealant work stops water in its tracks.
Work safely: Harnesses, anchors, footwear with grip, clear staging. Weather-aware scheduling.
Water finds the weak link. Your job is to leave none.
How to Display Roofing Skills on Your Resume
8. Flooring
Flooring covers installation, repair, and refinishing of surface materials—hardwood, laminate, vinyl, tile, carpet—built for durability, safety, and style.
Why It's Important
Floors take daily abuse. Quality work improves comfort, reduces hazards, and upgrades the look and value of a space.
How to Improve Flooring Skills
It starts below the surface.
Assess and prep: Check for moisture, flatness, and structural soundness. Level, patch, and underlay as needed.
Acclimate materials: Let products rest to site conditions before install to minimize movement.
Mind layout: Balance cuts, follow manufacturer staggering, keep lines straight and transitions clean.
Use proper adhesives/fasteners: Right trowel notch, correct nail or staple length, clean work pace.
Protect and finish: Apply sealers or finishes where required; add trims and thresholds for a tidy wrap‑up.
Maintain: Educate clients on care to extend life—felt pads, mats, cleaning routines.
Underlayment flatness and tight seams separate pros from dabblers.
How to Display Flooring Skills on Your Resume
9. Tiling
Tiling is the craft of setting ceramic, porcelain, stone, or glass tiles with accurate layout, reliable adhesion, and watertight grout lines.
Why It's Important
It’s tough, cleanable, and water resistant—ideal for kitchens, baths, and high-traffic zones. Crisp lines and solid bonding make it last.
How to Improve Tiling Skills
Precision from the first snap line.
Measure and plan: Dry lay to visualize. Center the layout. Avoid sliver cuts at edges.
Prep the substrate: Flat, clean, and rigid. Use cement board or membranes where moisture or movement demands it.
Choose the right tools: Quality cutter or wet saw, notched trowels, spacers, leveling system, rubber float.
Apply mortar properly: Correct trowel size, consistent ridges, back-butter large tiles for better coverage.
Grout and seal: Pack joints fully, clean timely, and seal grout or stone if required.
Mind movement: Add movement joints at perimeters and long runs to prevent cracks.
Straight lines, even joints, tight coverage—that’s the whole game.
How to Display Tiling Skills on Your Resume
10. Welding
Welding joins metal by heating to fusion and forming a durable bond—MIG, TIG, and stick each serving different materials and situations.
Why It's Important
Metal repairs and custom fabrications open new doors: brackets, railings, gates, equipment fixes—strong, reliable, permanent.
How to Improve Welding Skills
Clean metal. Calm hands. Consistent practice.
Match process to job: MIG for speed and mild steel, TIG for thin or precise work, stick for outdoor and rough conditions.
Prep thoroughly: Remove paint, rust, and oil. Good fit-up reduces distortion and porosity.
Dial in settings: Amperage, wire speed, gas flow, polarity—test on scrap and adjust.
Control the puddle: Maintain travel speed and arc length; steady manipulation yields uniform beads.
Protect yourself: Proper helmet shade, gloves, jacket, ventilation, and fire safety.
Inspect and learn: Check penetration and bead consistency; grind and rework when needed.
Good welds look right, sound right, and hold under stress.
How to Display Welding Skills on Your Resume
11. Landscaping
Landscaping shapes outdoor spaces—plants, turf, grading, irrigation, lighting, and hardscapes—so yards look good and work well.
Why It's Important
Curb appeal skyrockets. Usability improves. Thoughtful layouts reduce maintenance and water waste.
How to Improve Landscaping Skills
Design with the site, not against it.
Start with a plan: Map sun, wind, drainage, and soil. Group plants by needs and purpose.
Build healthy soil: Test, amend with compost, and mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Choose resilient plants: Favor native or climate-appropriate species for lower maintenance and better survival.
Water wisely: Drip lines, smart timers, and zoning to match plant needs. Fix leaks promptly.
Add structure: Paths, edging, beds, and retaining walls provide order and durability.
Maintain routinely: Prune, weed, aerate, fertilize as needed. Little and often beats big and late.
Form, function, and seasonal interest—get all three and spaces sing.
How to Display Landscaping Skills on Your Resume
12. Locksmithing
Locksmithing involves installing, rekeying, repairing, and troubleshooting locks and basic access hardware, plus simple key duplication and door hardware adjustments.
Why It's Important
Security and convenience hinge on well-fitted, reliable locks. Quick fixes and clean installs keep clients at ease.
How to Improve Locksmithing Skills
Precision, patience, and practice.
Learn mechanisms: Pin tumbler, wafer, and electronic basics—how they fail and how they’re fixed.
Build a practice kit: Clear training locks, progressive pinning, and decode tools to level up technique.
Expand hardware knowledge: Deadbolts, latches, strikes, smart locks, door closers—proper selection and fitment matter.
Work cleanly: Precise drilling, centered alignment, correct backset, and smooth operation on test.
Certify and document: Seek recognized certification where available and keep records of keying systems and service history.
Quiet, smooth turns and doors that latch perfectly—security you can feel.
How to Display Locksmithing Skills on Your Resume
