Top 12 Journeyman Skills to Put on Your Resume

In the fiercely competitive job market, standing out as a journeyman means showing a lively blend of technical skill and practical judgment—tools in both hands. A resume that captures those strengths cleanly, without fluff, makes hiring managers stop scrolling and pay attention.

Journeyman Skills

1. AutoCAD
2. SolidWorks
3. PLC Programming
4. CNC Operation
5. Revit
6. Python
7. AWS (Amazon Web Services)
8. Lean Manufacturing
9. Six Sigma
10. PMP (Project Management Professional)
11. HVAC Systems
12. Electrical Troubleshooting

1. AutoCAD

AutoCAD is computer-aided design software for building precise 2D drawings and 3D models. Journeymen use it to interpret, detail, and coordinate work across architecture, engineering, and construction tasks.

Why It's Important

It speeds up plan creation and revision, strengthens accuracy, and keeps teams aligned—essential when deadlines crowd and tolerances are tight.

How to Improve AutoCAD Skills

Sharpen your workflow and accuracy, then push into advanced features:

1. Lean on shortcuts: Memorize commands you use constantly to cut time and clicks.

2. Tune your workspace: Tool palettes, ribbons, and profiles should match your habits, not fight them.

3. Standardize templates: Lock in units, layers, styles, and title blocks so every new drawing starts right.

4. Precision matters: Object snaps, tracking, and constraints—use them like a compass and square.

5. Go deeper: Dynamic blocks, sheet sets, external references, and parametrics tidy complex jobs.

6. Keep current: New releases bring small features that save big time.

7. Compare notes: Join practitioner forums and local user groups for tricks you won’t find in manuals.

How to Display AutoCAD Skills on Your Resume

2. SolidWorks

SolidWorks is CAD and engineering software for creating 3D models, generating drawings, running simulations, and preparing designs for manufacturing.

Why It's Important

It allows quick iteration, tight fit checks, and smart change management—less rework on the floor, more confidence before cutting metal.

How to Improve SolidWorks Skills

1. Practice with purpose: Build small parts, then assemblies; push features you rarely touch.

2. Advance your training: Tackle surfacing, simulation, sheet metal, and weldments.

3. Learn from the community: User forums and meetups surface real fixes to real problems.

4. Pursue certifications: CSWA, CSWP, and CSWE validate skill progression and expose gaps.

5. Stay updated: New versions tweak performance and add tools that speed modeling.

6. Memorize shortcuts: Mouse gestures, hotkeys, and custom toolbars keep you in the flow.

7. Explore add-ins: PDM, CAM, and specialized tools can streamline handoffs and machining.

How to Display SolidWorks Skills on Your Resume

3. PLC Programming

PLC programming means writing, testing, and maintaining logic that controls machinery and processes. Common languages include Ladder Logic, Function Block, and Structured Text.

Why It's Important

Automation boosts throughput, uptime, and safety. A journeyman fluent in PLCs can diagnose quickly and adapt systems without chaos.

How to Improve PLC Programming Skills

1. Code often: Small projects compound. Build sequencers, interlocks, and alarms from scratch.

2. Study other people’s logic: Read proven programs, discover patterns, and adopt what works.

3. Lock in fundamentals: Timers, counters, scan cycles, memory types—know them cold.

4. Know the standards: Align with IEC 61131-3 concepts and naming conventions.

5. Simulate first: Use emulators or virtual factories to test logic before touching a live line.

6. Specialize by industry: Packaging isn’t water treatment. Learn the quirks where you work.

7. Attend workshops: Hands-on sessions accelerate practical skill and troubleshooting habits.

8. Earn certificates: Vendor or platform training cements good practice and credibility.

9. Follow technical publications: Keep pace with safety, networking, and controls trends.

10. Try multiple brands: Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Mitsubishi—their ecosystems differ; versatility pays.

How to Display PLC Programming Skills on Your Resume

4. CNC Operation

CNC operation covers programming, setup, and safe operation of computer numerical control machines to cut and shape materials to tight specs.

Why It's Important

Precision and repeatability. That’s the heartbeat of modern manufacturing—and the CNC operator keeps it steady.

How to Improve CNC Operation Skills

1. Keep learning: New tooling, new strategies, new controls—stay curious and current.

2. Dial in tooling: Choose the right geometry, coatings, and feeds/speeds for the material and job.

3. Own your CAM: Toolpaths, work offsets, post-processors—make the software work for you.

4. Maintain religiously: Clean, lubricate, inspect—precision slips when upkeep does.

5. Think lean: Reduce setup time, standardize fixtures, and cut motion that adds no value.

6. Measure like a pro: Micrometers, bore gauges, CMM checks—verify and document.

7. Prioritize safety: Lockouts, guarding, PPE, and clear procedures prevent downtime and injuries.

How to Display CNC Operation Skills on Your Resume

5. Revit

Revit is Building Information Modeling software for creating coordinated 3D models, annotated 2D views, and structured data used across the AEC lifecycle.

Why It's Important

It aligns disciplines, reduces clashes, and speeds decisions from concept to construction, making field work smoother and rework rarer.

How to Improve Revit Skills

1. Master the basics: Families, views, sheets, and worksharing—build a sturdy foundation.

2. Advance deliberately: Dive into complex families, phasing, design options, and schedules.

3. Standardize: Build templates, view filters, and naming conventions that the whole team follows.

4. Use extensions: Select plug-ins that shave time from repetitive modeling and documentation.

5. Model with intent: Clean geometry, consistent parameters, and purposeful levels and grids.

6. Ask the crowd: Revit user communities are gold mines for practical solutions.

7. Stay current: New releases improve performance, coordination, and documentation tools.

8. Apply BIM standards: Follow recognized guidelines to keep deliverables predictable and usable.

How to Display Revit Skills on Your Resume

6. Python

Python is a high-level programming language known for readable syntax, broad libraries, and versatility across automation, data, web, and AI.

Why It's Important

It lets you move fast. From quick scripts to robust systems, the language scales with your ambition.

How to Improve Python Skills

1. Level up language features: Generators, decorators, context managers—write cleaner, tighter code.

2. Strengthen algorithms: Practice data structures and problem solving to boost performance and clarity.

3. Contribute to open source: Real code, real reviews, real growth.

4. Specialize with libraries: Pandas and NumPy for data, Flask or Django for web—go deep, not just wide.

5. Follow PEPs: PEP 8 and the Zen of Python shape style and mindset.

6. Do code reviews: Pair programming and peer feedback surface blind spots fast.

7. Keep learning: Newsletters, tutorials, and podcasts can be a steady drip of insights.

8. Ship projects: Automate a task, build an API, analyze a dataset—apply and iterate.

How to Display Python Skills on Your Resume

7. AWS (Amazon Web Services)

AWS is a broad cloud platform spanning compute, storage, networking, databases, and managed services. It supports building, scaling, and securing applications without buying hardware.

Why It's Important

Rapid provisioning, near-infinite scale, and pay-as-you-go economics let teams focus on outcomes, not racks and patching.

How to Improve AWS (Amazon Web Services) Skills

1. Nail the core: EC2, S3, IAM, VPC, RDS, and CloudWatch—know how they fit together.

2. Get certified: Associate and Professional tracks organize your learning and signal proficiency.

3. Build with the free tier: Stand up labs, break things, and fix them.

4. Join communities: User groups and forums surface patterns and pitfalls early.

5. Track updates: AWS changes quickly—release notes and summaries keep you sharp.

6. Practice with labs: Hands-on scenarios beat theory, every time.

7. Use the Well-Architected lens: Review workloads for security, reliability, cost, performance, and operations.

8. Automate: Learn CLI, SDKs, and IaC (CloudFormation or Terraform) to make deployments repeatable.

9. Prioritize security: Least privilege IAM, encryption, logging, and guardrails by default.

10. Watch the bill: Rightsize, schedule, and use cost tools to keep spend honest.

How to Display AWS (Amazon Web Services) Skills on Your Resume

8. Lean Manufacturing

Lean Manufacturing trims waste and smooths flow so value reaches the customer with fewer hiccups and less friction.

Why It's Important

Better quality, faster throughput, lower costs—plus a calmer workplace. For a journeyman, that’s fewer fire drills and clearer standards.

How to Improve Lean Manufacturing Skills

1. Value stream map: See the whole process, spot delays, remove bottlenecks.

2. Apply 5S: Sort, set in order, shine, standardize, sustain—clean spaces improve results.

3. Run kaizen: Small, frequent improvements beat occasional big overhauls.

4. Use jidoka: Stop the line for quality; build in error detection, not just inspection.

5. Adopt Just-In-Time: Produce only what’s needed, when it’s needed, in the amount needed.

6. Poka-yoke: Error-proof steps so mistakes can’t sneak through.

7. Standard work: Document the best-known method and keep refining it.

How to Display Lean Manufacturing Skills on Your Resume

9. Six Sigma

Six Sigma is a data-driven framework that reduces variation and defects to lift quality and consistency.

Why It's Important

Fewer defects mean happier customers and sturdier margins. Journeymen using Six Sigma keep processes behaving, even under stress.

How to Improve Six Sigma Skills

1. Deepen statistics: Control charts, hypothesis tests, regression—use data to steer, not guess.

2. Learn continuously: Books, courses, and case studies keep techniques fresh.

3. Do real projects: DMAIC on the shop floor cements learning and shows impact.

4. Network: Communities and peer groups share templates, wins, and war stories.

5. Advance certification: Green to Black Belt (and beyond) as your scope grows.

6. Find a mentor: Guidance trims dead ends and sharpens judgment.

7. Blend with Lean: Use both toolkits—speed plus quality is the goal.

8. Seek feedback: Reviews and retrospectives surface lessons you can reuse.

9. Attend workshops: Practical exercises build muscle memory.

10. Use software: Get comfortable with analysis tools to move from gut feel to evidence.

How to Display Six Sigma Skills on Your Resume

10. PMP (Project Management Professional)

PMP is a globally recognized certification proving advanced knowledge of project planning, execution, and delivery within scope, time, and budget.

Why It's Important

It signals you can lead teams, manage risk, and deliver predictably—skills that translate across industries and pay grades.

How to Improve PMP (Project Management Professional) Skills

1. Refresh frameworks: Revisit scheduling, risk, cost, and stakeholder management often.

2. Study actively: Courses, webinars, and practice exams keep concepts sharp.

3. Practice exams: Time-boxed drills improve recall and test strategy.

4. Build your network: Groups and forums surface templates and real-world tactics.

5. Apply it at work: Volunteer to lead small projects and iterate your approach.

6. Seek mentorship: Learn from seasoned PMs who’ve delivered under pressure.

7. Stay organized: Use tools to track scope, baselines, and retrospectives.

How to Display PMP (Project Management Professional) Skills on Your Resume

11. HVAC Systems

HVAC systems heat, cool, ventilate, and filter indoor spaces. A journeyman installs, maintains, and repairs these systems so comfort and air quality stay steady.

Why It's Important

Healthy air, dependable temperatures, and controlled humidity—HVAC sets the baseline for comfort and safety in homes and commercial buildings.

How to Improve HVAC Systems Skills

1. Service routinely: Change filters, clean coils, check refrigerant, verify airflow, inspect ducts.

2. Upgrade smart: High-efficiency equipment, variable-speed drives, and smart thermostats cut energy use.

3. Seal and insulate: Tight, insulated ducts reduce losses and noise.

4. Add smart controls: Zoning and scheduling trim energy and boost comfort.

5. Consider renewables: Pair with solar or heat pumps where feasible for long-term savings.

6. Improve ventilation: Energy recovery ventilators can lift air quality without heavy energy penalties.

7. Follow codes and safety: Local codes, proper refrigerant handling, and lockout/tagout keep work safe and compliant.

How to Display HVAC Systems Skills on Your Resume

12. Electrical Troubleshooting

Electrical troubleshooting is the methodical process of finding and fixing faults in electrical systems—wiring, components, protection devices, and controls.

Why It's Important

It prevents hazards, restores uptime, and protects equipment. Safety and speed, in balance.

How to Improve Electrical Troubleshooting Skills

1. Reinforce fundamentals: Ohm’s law, series/parallel behavior, power, and grounding—no shortcuts.

2. Use the right tools: Meters, clamp ammeters, insulation testers, and safe test methods.

3. Read schematics fluently: Translate diagrams into mental models you can test step by step.

4. Be systematic: Verify power, isolate sections, test assumptions, and document findings.

5. Lead with safety: De-energize when possible, follow lockout/tagout, and wear proper PPE.

6. Capture lessons: After-action reviews make the next fault faster to fix.

7. Pursue advanced training: Courses in drives, controls, and protection raise your ceiling.

8. Track code changes: Keep current with local codes and the latest standards.

9. Lean on peers: Trade notes with other electricians; field experience is priceless.

10. Get hands-on: Variety builds intuition. Different systems, different symptoms.

How to Display Electrical Troubleshooting Skills on Your Resume