The Tradie Resume Prompt Playbook (8 Prompts to Get Hired)
You're a craftsman. You know the exact tool for every job, but when it comes to finding a better paycheck, the "tool" is a computer, and the job is fixing your resume. It's frustrating.
Here's the truth: Your resume is not read by a person first. It's scanned by a machine—an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)—looking for specific keywords. If you don't use the right language, your resume goes straight to the digital waste bin, regardless of how good your work is.
The good news? You're not fighting the machine alone. You can use another machine—AI, like ChatGPT—to beat the system and get your experience in front of a real human.
Forget paying an expensive resume writer. Here is your fast, actionable playbook for using AI to turn your rough, duty-based resume into a polished, results-driven contract.
The Tradesman's Resume Prompt Playbook (8 Prompts to Get Hired)
You just need to copy-paste these prompts into your favorite AI tool and follow the directions. Customize the bracketed parts [...] to fit your specific trade (e.g., HVAC Technician, Master Plumber, Journeyman Electrician).
Phase 1: Diagnosis & The Hook
| Prompt # | The Goal | The Actionable Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Spot the Flaws | Find the Weak Spots. Identify what looks weak or vague to a trade recruiter. | Act as a skilled trades recruiter for a large [HVAC/Plumbing/Electrical] firm. Review my resume below and highlight weak areas, generic statements, and missing hard numbers (metrics). Be brutally honest. |
| 2. Craft My Hook | Write the Opener. Create a powerful summary that makes a recruiter stop scrolling. | Write a powerful, 3-line professional summary that hooks a recruiter in under 10 seconds for the role of [target role, e.g., Commercial Plumber]. Prioritize impact, clarity, and the value I deliver. |
| 3. ATS Boost | Beat the Machine. Make sure your experience uses the right words to pass the electronic gate. | Update this resume to be fully optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) for the role of [specific role/title, e.g., Industrial Welder]. Use industry-specific keywords naturally. |
Phase 2: Reinforcement & Detail
This is where you turn duties into dollars saved or time cut.
| Prompt # | The Goal | The Actionable Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| 4. Upgrade Experience | Show the Results. Focus on what you achieved, not just what you did. | Rephrase the experience section below to highlight impact, results, and transferable skills using powerful action verbs and quantifiable outcomes. |
| 5. Rewrite for Impact | Clean it Up. Fix the vague language and make it sound like you're running a business. | Rewrite this resume section to sound more results-driven, quantifiable, and compelling for [target role]. Focus on achievements, not just daily duties. |
| 6. Format Fix | Keep it Simple. Get a clean format that works for print and the scanner. | Suggest a clean, modern resume format that works for both humans and ATS. No graphics, no columns. Just structured and effective for the trades. |
Phase 3: The Close
These final prompts customize your application for the specific job you want.
| Prompt # | The Goal | The Actionable Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| 7. Tailor for the Role | Custom Fit. Every job description (JD) has unique words—match them. | Tailor this resume to specifically fit this job description [paste JD]. Highlight matching experience and reword sections to match the exact language used. |
| 8. Standout Cover Letter | Write the Pitch. A short, powerful letter to show you're serious. | Write a compelling cover letter based on this resume and job description. Keep it personal, enthusiastic, and under 200 words. |
Level Up: Getting Recruiters to Find You on LinkedIn
In the trades, the best jobs often come from recruiters reaching out. Your LinkedIn profile shouldn't look like a generic obituary of past jobs. It should be a live advertisement for your skills.
Here are 7 prompts to turn your profile into a hiring magnet:
- 1/ Profile Scan, Like a Recruiter ↳ “Act like a hiring manager in the [Welding/Plumbing/HVAC] industry. Review this LinkedIn profile summary and tell me exactly what’s weak, vague, or missing that would make me pass it up.”
- 2/ Rewrite My Headline for Discovery ↳ “Based on my experience in [specialty, e.g., commercial pipefitting, industrial controls], write a LinkedIn headline that’s keyword-rich, clear, and makes me stand out to trade recruiters—without sounding generic.”
- 3/ Summary That Actually Sells Me ↳ “Write a compelling LinkedIn summary that highlights my biggest wins (quantified with numbers), my unique value (e.g., expertise in older systems), and my professional personality—in 3 short paragraphs for the trades.”
- 4/ Experience Section Upgrade ↳ “Rewrite these 3 job descriptions using action verbs, measurable results (e.g., 'cut downtime by 15%'), and trade-specific keywords recruiters for a [target role] actually search for.”
- 5/ Skills Optimizer Prompt ↳ “List the top 10 LinkedIn skills I should add for someone trying to get hired as a [target role]—based on what top trade hiring managers and companies look for in 2025.”
- 6/ Comment Strategy for Visibility ↳ “Give me a 7-day plan to comment on posts from major trade associations (e.g., ABC, NAHB) that raises my visibility and builds credibility, specifically using insights related to [your trade's biggest current challenge, e.g., supply chain issues, new code requirements].”
- 7/ Turn Me Into a Thought Leader (Even If I’m New) ↳ “Write 5 simple post ideas that share insights, lessons, or tips from my career in [your trade]—so I can show up as credible on LinkedIn without sounding like I’m bragging.”
The Takeaway
AI is the newest, most powerful tool in your job-seeking arsenal. Don't let a machine decide your future based on weak writing. Use these prompts, get past the gatekeepers, and land the high-paying gig you deserve.
Ready to get started? Check out our tradie career accelerator and full accelerator programs that teach you all this and more to get hired asap.
→ Copy-paste your first prompt and start building your 6-figure resume right now.