Overview
Carpentry is one of the most in demand trades in UK construction, and junior carpenters with a City & Guilds or NVQ Level 2 can find work quickly. The problem is that most apprentice carpenters write resumes that say "completed apprenticeship" and leave it at that. Site managers want to know whether you can hang a door, fit a staircase, or set out stud partitions. They want numbers: how many doors, how many kitchens, how many metres of skirting. Your resume needs to read like a trade portfolio, not a school report.
This resume belongs to Ethan Briggs, who completed a 2 year carpentry apprenticeship through Wiltshire College and is now working as a junior carpenter with a regional housebuilder. He holds a City & Guilds Level 2 in Site Carpentry, a CSCS Blue Card, and has worked on new build housing sites fitting first fix timber, second fix joinery, and kitchen installations.
What Makes This Resume Work
First fix and second fix are clearly separated. These are distinct skill sets in site carpentry. Ethan's resume describes his first fix work (stud partitions, floor joists, roof truss bracing) separately from his second fix work (door hanging, skirting, architrave, kitchen fitting). A site manager scanning this resume can immediately see which phase of the build Ethan can contribute to.
Installation counts are specific. 46 internal doors hung across 12 plots. 8 full kitchen installations including wall and base units, worktops, and end panels. 1,200 metres of skirting and architrave over a 6 month period. These numbers tell the employer both the volume and the pace of his work.
The CSCS Blue Card signals skilled worker status. A Blue Card requires an NVQ Level 2 and the CITB HS&E test. It tells employers that Ethan is a verified skilled worker, not a labourer helping out the chippies. This distinction matters for both site access and pay rates.
Workshop skills from college are included. His City & Guilds coursework included building a full size stud wall partition, constructing a half turn staircase, and making a window frame with mortise and tenon joints. These practical assessments show that his hand skills were tested in a controlled environment before he went on site.
Key Takeaways
Separate your first fix and second fix experience. They are different skill sets, and many site managers are looking specifically for one or the other depending on the phase of their project.
Count everything. Doors hung, kitchens fitted, metres of skirting, number of plots worked on. Carpentry is measured work, and your resume should reflect that.
Include your CSCS card colour and your City & Guilds level. These two details determine whether you are classified (and paid) as a labourer or a skilled tradesperson.
