If you think that crafting a job-winning farmworker resume is difficult, let us prove you wrong! With our comprehensive, yet easy-to-follow guide, you'll create a compelling resume that lets all your best skills and experience shine with ease. So, dive in and discover all the best writing tips, customizable templates, and plenty of examples. Plus, we'll show you resume samples that were created by actual professionals.
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Keep reading to learn about:
- Choosing a resume format that fits your experience level as a farmworker
- Writing an attention-grabbing farmworker resume summary
- Key farmworker skills to include on your resume
- Writing the work experience section correctly as a farmworker
- Including the proper educational credentials on a farmworker resume
- Accessing top resources for job-seeking farmworkers
1. Choosing a resume format that fits your experience level as a farmworker
The first decision you need to make when writing your farmworker resume is which resume format will work best for your needs and experience level.
There are 3 main options when it comes to resume formats:
- Reverse-chronological resumes: This resume focuses primarily on work experience, with your most recent job listed first followed by previous jobs in reverse-chronological order.
- Functional resumes: This resume format moves the focus from work experience to education, skills, and unpaid experience. Applicants who have recently graduated and lack prior work experience often opt for this format.
- Hybrid resumes: The hybrid resume combines elements of the above two formats. It will generally split the focus of the document evenly between all sections, making it ideal for applicants who are switching career paths or working around gaps in their work histories.
Reverse-chronological resumes are the preferred format and standard expected by most employers. However, the other two formats have their time and place for use, especially if you are lacking in relevant work history.
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2. Writing an attention-grabbing farmworker resume summary
How do you make your resume stand out in a pile of farmworker resumes that all list similar work experience and skillsets? With an attention-grabbing resume summary, of course!
A resume summary is a brief, 1 to 3 sentence statement that introduces you as a professional to the employer. While a summary isn't a required element on a resume, it can help you to make a lasting impression that ultimately aids you in landing an interview or job offer.
To illustrate how to write an effective resume summary, we've provided an example of a weak resume summary, followed by a corrected explanation:
Bad farmworker resume summary example
Currently employed at a farm, with responsibilities including crop maintenance and livestock care. Interested in gaining experience with irrigation systems and farm management tasks, such as working with customers to place and fulfill orders.
What's wrong with this example? In this example, the applicant is too casual in the way they describe their experience, skills, and goals. Even if you have limited experience, you should always try to frame your summary in a compelling manner that highlights your strengths and professional objectives.
Good farmworker resume summary example
Driven Farmworker with over 1 year of experience working on an independent farm. Skilled in crop maintenance and livestock care, with a passion for implementing water-saving irrigation systems. Professional objectives include advancing to the farm management level and working directly with customers.
Why is this better? In this corrected example, the applicant uses stronger keywords and sentence structures to create a summary that encapsulates their current experience level and future goals. They outline their experience as an entry-level farmworker clearly, while also stating they wish to progress professionally within the industry.
3. Key farmworker skills to include on your resume
Though much of your job as a farmworker is highly labor-intensive, you need a strong skillset of interpersonal abilities as well. Including both your technical skills and people skills on a resume shows employers you understand the important role that interpersonal abilities play at any farm.
Here are 10 examples of technical skills and 10 examples of interpersonal skills that look great on a farmworker resume
Technical skills
- Physical strength and dexterity
- Knowledge of farm machinery operation
- Livestock care
- Crop maintenance
- Harvesting scheduling and procedures
- OSHA and USDA safety standards
- Strict deadline adherence
- Soil irrigation and irrigation systems
- Fertilization products and processes
- Assessing crop health
Interpersonal skills
- Collaboration
- Active listening
- Time management
- Multi-tasking
- Verbal and non-verbal communication
- Adaptability
- Problem-solving
- Eagerness to learn
- Strong work ethic
- Dependability
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4. Writing the work experience section correctly as a farmworker
Your work experience section is your best opportunity to showcase your skills, abilities, and accomplishments. When detailing past work experiences, you should focus on your key responsibilities and achievements as a farmworker.
Here is an example of a work experience entry from a farmworker resume
Farm Hand | Bloomington Farms & Livestock
Dallas, TX | April 2019 to June 2021
- Rotated cattle and other livestock between pastures according to a strict schedule
- Helped install a new order fulfillment and organization process that sped up order distribution time by 10%.
- Assisted farm manager in coordinating with customers, including calling to remind customers to place orders by specific deadlines and processing payments.
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5. Including the proper educational credentials on a farmworker resume
When writing your education section, it's important to include your full range of educational credentials – from degrees to certifications.
While a degree alone can be more than enough to earn you an entry-level farmworker position, specialized certifications give you a greater competitive edge for higher-level jobs. As such, you should include any certifications you've earned on your resume – or seek out new certification opportunities to boost your resume’s impressive factor in the future.
Here is an example of a well-crafted education section on a farmworker’s resume:
Education
Associate’s Degree in Agriculture | Cleveland State Community College
- Graduated: 2018
- President of the Student’s Agricultural Association
Certifications
- Certified Irrigation Contractor | Irrigation Association
6. Valuable job search resources for farmworkers
Job searching is always a challenge, no matter the profession. But using the following online resources will help you navigate the sea of option with more ease:
- Job boards for farmworkers: The best place to look for job vacancies is on platforms that cater specifically to your profession. For example, AgCareers.com, Farmers Weekly, and Farm and Ranch Jobs.
- Professional associations: Organizations like the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the National Farmers' Federation (NFF), or the Federated Farmers of New Zealand are goldmines of job listings, training programs, and industry get-togethers.
- Farmer internships and apprenticeships: For students looking for internships, we recommend checking out websites like Career Harvest, Land-Based Learning, Rodale Institute, or GetMyFirstJob.
- Farmer job fairs and agricultural expos: You can learn about the latest agricultural innovations and findings at events such as World Ag Expo, AgQuip, or the Royal Highland Show. Not to mention that you can also discover a bunch of new employment opportunities.
- Specialized publications: Another way of keeping up with the latest industry insights is by following specialized media like “Farm Journal,” “Modern Farmer,” and “Progressive Farmer.”
While resources that focus on farming only are invaluable, don't forget to also pay attention to platforms like Indeed, Glassdoor, or LinkedIn. Because more often than not, these can also yield compelling results.
Farmworker Resume FAQ
How can I best showcase my skills as a farmworker on my resume?
Focus on specific agricultural skills you possess, such as operating farm machinery, knowledge of irrigation systems, or experience with organic farming techniques. Ideally, you'll show these in the context of real-life situations you've encountered when describing your past work experience. To give your words more weight, support your achievements with quantifiable data whenever possible. Remember to focus more on the outcomes of your skills rather than just the skills by themsleves.
What are common mistakes to avoid in a farmworker resume?
Avoid being too vague; be specific about your skills and experiences. Don’t forget to tailor your resume to align as closely as possible with the requirements mentioned in the job posting. Also, avoid any typos, grammatical errors, or misspelling and proofread your resume multiple times. If you're worried about some minor errors escaping your attention, use our resume builder to stamp them out.
How can I use keywords in my farmworker resume?
First of all, you need to scan the job posting for specific terms that describe required skills and qualifications, and incorporate these into your resume. This could include words like “harvesting,” “crop management,” “livestock feeding,” or “equipment maintenance.” Sprinkling keywords throughout your resume will ensure that it passes through the ATS.
What is the ideal length for a farmworker resume?
Generally speaking, your resume should be one page long. Focus on concisely presenting your most relevant experiences and skills to keep the length appropriate and content impactful. In case you're a seasoned farmworker with years and years of experience, two pages are also acceptable. But no more!
Should I include references on my resume?
It’s generally better to provide references upon request rather than including them directly on your resume. This approach saves space for more relevant content and gives you control over when your references are contacted. But, if the job posting you're responding to asks you to include your references directly on your resume, do as instructed!
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