Tool and Die Maker Resume Examples by Level (2026)

Tool and Die Maker Resume Examples & Writing Guide

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects roughly 34,200 annual openings for machinists and tool and die makers through 2034, yet industry surveys show nearly 75 percent of the current tool-and-die workforce is over age 45 and two in five are either retirement-eligible now or will be within seven years (American Machinist, 2024). That retirement wave, combined with reshoring initiatives pushing domestic tooling demand higher, means shops are competing hard for anyone who can hold a die to ±0.0002 in. For job seekers, this is a leverage moment — but only if your resume proves you belong on the shop floor, not just in the applicant pool. This guide provides three complete resume examples — entry-level, mid-career, and senior — along with ATS keyword lists, professional summary templates, and formatting advice built specifically for tool and die makers earning a median wage of $63,180 per year (BLS, May 2024).

Table of Contents

1. Why the Tool and Die Maker Role Matters
2. Entry-Level Tool and Die Maker Resume Example
3. Mid-Level Tool and Die Maker Resume Example
4. Senior Tool and Die Maker Resume Example
5. Key Skills & ATS Keywords
6. Professional Summary Examples
7. Common Resume Mistakes
8. ATS Optimization Tips
9. Frequently Asked Questions
10. Citations & Sources

Why the Tool and Die Maker Role Matters

Tool and die makers are the backbone of precision manufacturing. Every stamped automotive panel, every injection-molded medical housing, every progressive die that blanks 400 parts per minute exists because a toolmaker built it to spec — and keeps it running. The occupation sits at the intersection of manual craftsmanship and advanced CNC technology: a modern toolmaker might hand-fit a punch to 0.0003 in. clearance in the morning and program a Sodick wire EDM for a 0.0005-in. T.I.R. cut in the afternoon. According to the BLS, about 55,200 tool and die makers were employed in the United States in 2024, earning a median annual wage of $63,180. The top 10 percent earned above $87,660, with toolmakers in the motor vehicle manufacturing sector and aerospace industries commanding the highest premiums. Although overall employment is projected to decline 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, that statistic hides a critical reality: the replacement rate from retirements alone will generate tens of thousands of openings, and shops that cannot fill them face production stoppages and lost contracts. The skills shortage is real. The National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) reports that member shops routinely cite workforce availability as their number-one challenge. A four-to-five-year apprenticeship — typically 8,000 to 10,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 500 to 600 hours of classroom instruction — creates a long pipeline, and not enough young workers are entering it. For those who do, the career offers above-average wages, high job security, and a clear path from apprentice to journeyman to master toolmaker or shop supervisor. Your resume needs to communicate that you are one of those in-demand professionals. The examples below show you exactly how.

Entry-Level Tool and Die Maker Resume Example

**MARCUS DELGADO** 4821 Industrial Pkwy, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 | (616) 555-0184 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/marcusdelgado

Professional Summary

Detail-oriented tool and die apprentice with 2 years of hands-on experience building and repairing progressive and compound dies for automotive stamping applications. Completed 4,200 of 8,000 required apprenticeship hours under NTMA-registered program. Proficient in manual and CNC milling, surface grinding, and wire EDM setup. Maintained 100% safety record across 14 months of shop floor work while holding tolerances to ±0.0005 in. on Class A die components.

Technical Skills

Blueprint Reading | GD&T (ASME Y14.5) | Manual Lathe & Mill | Surface Grinding | Sodick Wire EDM | Haas VF-2 CNC Mill | MasterCAM X | SolidWorks | Mitutoyo Digital Micrometers | Brown & Sharpe CMM | Gage R&R | Heat Treatment Basics | Jig Boring | Die Tryout | 5S Lean Manufacturing

Professional Experience

**Tool and Die Apprentice** *Autocam Precision Components — Grand Rapids, MI* June 2024 – Present - Built and assembled 12 progressive dies for automotive bracket stamping, maintaining punch-to-die clearances within ±0.0003 in. across all stations - Operated a Haas VF-2 vertical machining center to mill die shoe pockets, holding positional tolerances of ±0.0005 in. on 97% of first-article inspections - Set up and ran a Sodick AQ325L wire EDM for 35+ die section profiles, achieving surface finishes of Ra 8 μin. on carbide inserts - Reduced bench fitting time by 18% on compound blanking dies by pre-grinding parallels to within 0.0002 in. flatness using a Chevalier FSG-818AD surface grinder - Performed die tryouts on a 200-ton Komatsu press, adjusting shut heights and timing to achieve burr-free blanks within 3 trial runs per die **CNC Machine Operator (Co-op)** *Wolverine Metal Stamping — Wyoming, MI* January 2023 – May 2024 - Operated 3 Haas CNC lathes producing die components at a rate of 45 parts per 8-hour shift, maintaining ±0.001-in. dimensional accuracy on 99.2% of parts - Monitored tool wear using Renishaw touch probes, replacing inserts proactively to keep scrap rate below 1.4% across 6,800 parts per quarter - Inspected finished components using Mitutoyo digital calipers, micrometers, and height gages, documenting results on SPC charts for 100% of production lots - Assisted senior die makers with 8 die repairs, grinding and lapping punch faces to restore cutting clearances within 2 hours of press downtime per incident - Completed 240 hours of related classroom instruction in metallurgy, blueprint reading, and GD&T through Grand Rapids Community College

Education

**Associate of Applied Science — Tool & Die Technology** Grand Rapids Community College — Grand Rapids, MI | Expected May 2026 - GPA: 3.6/4.0 - Relevant coursework: Advanced Blueprint Reading, CNC Programming, Metallurgy, Tool Design, GD&T **NTMA-Registered Apprenticeship** Autocam Precision Components — Grand Rapids, MI | 4,200 of 8,000 hours completed

Certifications

• NIMS Level I — Milling (2024)
• NIMS Level I — Turning (2024)
• OSHA 10-Hour General Industry (2023)
• First Aid/CPR Certified (Current)

Mid-Level Tool and Die Maker Resume Example

**JENNIFER KOWALSKI** 1120 Precision Dr, Dayton, OH 45414 | (937) 555-0297 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/jenniferkowalski

Professional Summary

Journeyman tool and die maker with 8 years of experience designing, building, and maintaining progressive, transfer, and compound dies for automotive and appliance stamping operations. NIMS-certified in milling, turning, grinding, and EDM. Proven track record of reducing die build lead times by 22% and cutting press downtime by 35% through preventive maintenance programs. Experienced with Makino wire and sinker EDM, Okuma CNC machining centers, and Zeiss CMM inspection. Currently building dies rated to 600 tons across 14-station progressive configurations.

Technical Skills

Progressive Die Design | Transfer Die Build | Compound Die Repair | Makino U6 Wire EDM | Makino EDNC43 Sinker EDM | Okuma MB-46VAE CNC Mill | Okuma LB3000 CNC Lathe | Chevalier & Mitsui Surface Grinders | Zeiss Contura CMM | SolidWorks | AutoCAD | MasterCAM | GD&T (ASME Y14.5-2018) | Die Simulation (AutoForm) | Jig Boring | Jig Grinding | Heat Treatment (Rc 58-62) | Gage R&R | SPC | Kaizen | 5S | TPM

Professional Experience

**Journeyman Tool and Die Maker** *Dayton Lamina Corporation — Dayton, OH* March 2021 – Present - Build and maintain 8–10 progressive dies per year rated for 200–600-ton presses, each producing 15,000–40,000 stamped parts per shift with scrap rates under 0.8% - Reduced average die build lead time from 14 weeks to 11 weeks (22% reduction) by implementing a standardized component library of 340+ catalog punches and die buttons - Program and operate a Makino U6 wire EDM for profile cutting of D2 and A2 tool steel inserts, holding contour tolerances of ±0.0002 in. with surface finishes to Ra 6 μin. - Perform die tryouts on 400-ton and 600-ton Komatsu servo presses, achieving production-ready approval within an average of 2.4 trial runs versus the shop average of 3.8 - Trained 4 apprentices in surface grinding technique, jig boring setup, and wire EDM operation, with all 4 completing NIMS Level I certification within 12 months - Designed and built a 12-station progressive die for an HVAC bracket that produced 28,000 parts per shift at 45 strokes per minute with zero unplanned press stoppages for 6 consecutive months **Tool and Die Maker** *Shiloh Industries (now Dura-Shiloh) — Chardon, OH* August 2018 – February 2021 - Constructed 22 compound and progressive dies for automotive structural stampings, maintaining flatness within 0.001 in. across die faces up to 48 in. x 72 in. - Operated a Makino EDNC43 sinker EDM to produce 60+ cavity inserts per year in S7 and H13 tool steel, holding pocket depths to ±0.0003 in. - Cut press downtime by 35% (from 14.2 hours/month to 9.2 hours/month) by establishing a preventive die maintenance schedule covering 38 active dies - Performed first-article inspections using a Zeiss Contura G2 CMM, running automated programs for 15+ dimensional characteristics per part and documenting Cpk values above 1.33 on all critical features - Collaborated with die design engineers using SolidWorks and AutoForm simulation to identify 7 springback issues before die build, saving an estimated $42,000 in rework costs **Tool and Die Apprentice** *Jergens Inc. — Cleveland, OH* June 2016 – July 2018 - Completed a 4-year NTMA-registered apprenticeship (8,000 OJT hours + 576 hours related instruction) in 26 months of accelerated track, passing all competency evaluations on first attempt - Built 6 fixture plates and 4 workholding jigs for CNC machining cells, holding hole-pattern positional tolerances to ±0.0005 in. across 24-in. spans - Ground flat and parallel surfaces on A2 and D2 tool steel blocks using Mitsui MSG-250H surface grinder, achieving flatness within 0.0001 in. on 95% of setups - Assisted in die repair for 3 transfer dies running on 800-ton Danly presses, reducing average repair turnaround from 8 hours to 5.5 hours through improved bench layout

Education

**Associate of Applied Science — Tool & Die Making** Cuyahoga Community College — Cleveland, OH | 2018 - Dean's List, 3 semesters

Certifications

• NIMS Certified — Milling Level II (2020)
• NIMS Certified — Turning Level II (2020)
• NIMS Certified — Grinding Level I (2019)
• NIMS Certified — EDM Level I (2021)
• NTMA Certified Journeyman Die Maker (CJDM) — 2020
• OSHA 30-Hour General Industry (2019)
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (2022)

Senior Tool and Die Maker Resume Example

**ROBERT STANKIEWICZ** 7340 Tooling Way, Sterling Heights, MI 48312 | (586) 555-0461 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/robertstankiewicz

Professional Summary

Master tool and die maker with 18 years of experience and NTMA Certified Journeyman credentials, specializing in high-tonnage progressive and transfer die systems for automotive body-in-white and powertrain applications. Lead a 6-person die build team responsible for $2.8M in annual tooling projects. Expert in Makino wire and sinker EDM, 5-axis Makino and DMG MORI machining centers, and Zeiss PRISMO CMM metrology. Track record of completing 92% of die builds ahead of schedule and maintaining scrap rates below 0.5% across dies producing 1.2M stamped parts annually. Holds 3 internal patents for die design innovations that reduced material waste by 11%.

Technical Skills

Master Die Building | Progressive Die Design (up to 22 stations) | Transfer Die Systems | Class A Die Standards | Makino U6 & U86 Wire EDM | Makino EDAF3 Sinker EDM | DMG MORI DMU 50 5-Axis CNC | Makino a51nx HMC | Haas VF-4SS | Okuma MULTUS B300II | Zeiss PRISMO CMM | FARO Arm Portable CMM | SolidWorks | NX CAD/CAM | AutoForm Die Simulation | DEFORM FEA | MasterCAM | GD&T (ASME Y14.5-2018) | PPAP Documentation | Gage R&R (MSA) | SPC/CPk Analysis | Lean Manufacturing | TPM | Kaizen Leader | APQP/FMEA | Cr12MoV / SKD11 / DC53 Tool Steels | Vacuum Heat Treatment | PVD/CVD Coatings | Die Tryout (200T–2,000T)

Professional Experience

**Senior Tool and Die Maker / Team Lead** *Magna International — Cosma Division — Sterling Heights, MI* January 2018 – Present - Lead a 6-person die build team delivering 12–15 progressive and transfer die sets annually for GM, Ford, and Stellantis body-in-white programs, with tooling budgets totaling $2.8M per year - Completed 92% of die builds ahead of contractual delivery dates over a 7-year period, earning Magna's internal Tooling Excellence Award in 2021 and 2024 - Engineered a 22-station progressive die for a structural B-pillar reinforcement running at 32 strokes per minute on a 1,500-ton Schuler servo press, producing 1.2M parts annually with a scrap rate of 0.38% - Developed 3 proprietary die design innovations (internal patent pending) for cam-actuated aerial return systems that reduced strip material waste by 11%, saving approximately $185,000 per year in raw material costs - Program and operate Makino U86 wire EDM for large-format die sections up to 31.5 in. x 23.6 in. x 14.2 in., achieving contour accuracy of ±0.00012 in. on hardened DC53 tool steel (Rc 60-62) - Implemented a die health monitoring system using vibration sensors on 22 progressive dies, reducing unplanned press stoppages by 47% (from 6.2 to 3.3 incidents per month) - Mentored 8 apprentices over 6 years, with 7 completing journeyman certification and 2 advancing to lead toolmaker roles within 3 years of program completion **Tool and Die Maker** *Martinrea International — Auburn Hills, MI* April 2012 – December 2017 - Built and maintained 40+ progressive and compound dies for automotive chassis and suspension stampings, including dies rated for 800-ton to 1,200-ton presses - Operated a DMG MORI DMU 50 5-axis machining center for complex die cavity milling, holding 3D contour tolerances of ±0.0004 in. on form surfaces with cycle times reduced 28% versus 3-axis strategies - Performed advanced die tryouts on Aida servo presses (600T–1,200T), optimizing cushion pressures and slide motion profiles to eliminate 14 wrinkling defects across 9 die sets without design changes - Conducted PPAP submissions for 30+ stamped components, achieving first-submission approval on 87% of parts with Cpk values exceeding 1.67 on all critical-to-quality dimensions - Developed a standardized die maintenance checklist adopted across 3 Martinrea stamping plants, reducing die-related downtime by 29% (from 18.4 to 13.1 hours per month per plant) - Trained 5 CNC operators in offline CAM programming using MasterCAM, increasing department throughput by 15% by enabling parallel programming and machining cycles **Tool and Die Maker** *Oetiker Group — Marlette, MI* June 2007 – March 2012 - Built 50+ compound and progressive dies for clamp and ring stamping operations, producing parts at rates of 200–400 strokes per minute on Bruderer high-speed presses - Maintained die tolerances within ±0.0002 in. on punch profiles for stainless steel and spring steel clamp components with material thicknesses from 0.008 in. to 0.040 in. - Operated a Sodick AQ750LH wire EDM for precision cutting of carbide punches and die buttons, achieving corner radii as small as 0.002 in. with Ra 4 μin. surface finish - Reduced setup time for die changeovers by 32% (from 47 minutes to 32 minutes) by designing quick-change die shoe systems with self-aligning guide pins - Performed root-cause analysis on 25+ die failures using SPC data and metallurgical examination, identifying wear patterns that led to a PVD coating specification change reducing punch replacement frequency by 40%

Education

**Associate of Applied Science — Tool & Die Technology** Macomb Community College — Warren, MI | 2008 **NTMA-Registered Apprenticeship** Oetiker Group — Marlette, MI | 10,000 hours completed (2007–2011)

Certifications

• NTMA Certified Journeyman Die Maker (CJDM) — 2011
• NIMS Certified — Milling Level III (2015)
• NIMS Certified — Turning Level II (2013)
• NIMS Certified — Grinding Level II (2014)
• NIMS Certified — EDM Level II (2016)
• NIMS Certified — CNC Milling Programming Level II (2018)
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt — Villanova University (2020)
• OSHA 30-Hour General Industry (2012)
• Certified Quality Inspector (CQI) — ASQ (2019)

Awards & Patents

• Magna Tooling Excellence Award — 2021, 2024
• 3 internal patents for cam-actuated aerial die return systems (2022, 2023)
• Martinrea Continuous Improvement Award — 2015

Key Skills & ATS Keywords

The following 30 keywords and phrases appear most frequently in tool and die maker job postings. Weave them into your resume naturally — in your summary, skills section, and experience bullets.

Core Technical Skills

1. Progressive die building
2. Transfer die construction
3. Compound die repair
4. Die tryout and debugging
5. Wire EDM (Sodick, Makino)
6. Sinker EDM (Makino, Belmont)
7. CNC milling (Haas, Okuma, DMG MORI)
8. CNC turning
9. Surface grinding (Chevalier, Mitsui)
10. Jig boring and jig grinding
11. GD&T (ASME Y14.5)
12. Blueprint reading
13. SolidWorks / AutoCAD
14. MasterCAM / NX CAM
15. Zeiss CMM inspection

Materials & Processes

1. Tool steel (D2, A2, S7, H13, DC53)
2. Carbide tooling
3. Heat treatment (Rc hardness specifications)
4. PVD/CVD coating
5. Precision measurement (Mitutoyo, Brown & Sharpe)

Quality & Methodology

1. SPC / Cpk analysis
2. PPAP documentation
3. First-article inspection
4. Gage R&R / MSA
5. Root-cause analysis

Manufacturing Systems

1. Lean manufacturing / 5S
2. Kaizen / continuous improvement
3. TPM (Total Productive Maintenance)
4. APQP / FMEA
5. Die preventive maintenance

Professional Summary Examples

Entry-Level (0–3 Years)

Detail-focused tool and die apprentice with 2 years of hands-on progressive die building experience in an NTMA-registered program. Completed 4,200 of 8,000 required OJT hours with NIMS Level I certifications in milling and turning. Proficient in Haas CNC mill operation, Sodick wire EDM setup, and Mitutoyo precision measurement tools. Maintained ±0.0005-in. tolerances on Class A die components while contributing to a team that delivered 12 dies on schedule with zero safety incidents.

Mid-Level (4–10 Years)

NIMS-certified journeyman tool and die maker with 8 years of experience building progressive, transfer, and compound dies for automotive and industrial stamping. Skilled in Makino wire/sinker EDM, Okuma CNC machining, and Zeiss CMM metrology. Reduced die build lead times by 22% through standardized component libraries and cut monthly press downtime by 35% via preventive maintenance programs. Experienced with die tryout on presses up to 600 tons, consistently achieving production approval within 2.4 trial runs.

Senior Level (10+ Years)

> Master tool and die maker with 18 years of experience and NTMA Certified Journeyman credentials, leading a 6-person die build team delivering $2.8M in annual tooling projects for Tier 1 automotive suppliers. Expert in high-tonnage progressive and transfer dies for body-in-white applications running on presses up to 2,000 tons. Holder of 3 internal patents for die design innovations that reduced material waste by 11%. Completed 92% of die builds ahead of schedule over 7 years while maintaining scrap rates below 0.5% across 1.2M annual stamped parts. NIMS Level III certified in milling with Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

Common Resume Mistakes

1. Listing Equipment Without Context

**Wrong:** "Operated wire EDM machines." **Right:** "Programmed and operated a Makino U6 wire EDM for profile cutting of D2 tool steel inserts, holding contour tolerances of ±0.0002 in. with Ra 6 μin. surface finish." Name the specific machine, the material, the tolerance, and the result. Every hiring manager in a die shop knows the difference between loading a program someone else wrote and actually programming the cut.

2. Omitting Tolerances and Measurable Outcomes

Tool and die making is a precision trade. A resume that says "maintained quality standards" communicates nothing. State the tolerance (±0.0003 in.), the measurement instrument (Zeiss Contura G2 CMM), and the outcome (Cpk above 1.33 on 15 critical dimensions). Numbers are the language of the shop floor.

3. Ignoring Die Specifications

Saying "built dies" without specifying the type (progressive, compound, transfer), tonnage rating (200T, 600T, 1,500T), number of stations, press manufacturer, or production volume leaves the reader guessing. A shop building 200-ton compound dies has different needs than one building 1,500-ton 22-station progressives. Be specific so the right shops find you.

4. Burying Apprenticeship and Certification Details

Many applicants list "Apprenticeship completed" with no detail. State the program sponsor (NTMA, state-registered), total OJT hours completed (8,000 or 10,000), classroom hours, and the year. List every NIMS credential with the level and year earned. These are the credentials that separate you from self-taught machinists.

5. Using a Generic Resume Format for a Skilled Trade

One-column text-heavy resumes designed for office jobs do not serve toolmakers well. Your resume needs a visible technical skills section near the top, clearly labeled certifications, and enough white space that a hiring manager scanning 30 resumes can spot your EDM experience and NIMS certifications in under 10 seconds.

6. Neglecting Soft Skills That Matter in the Shop

Die shops are collaborative environments. Mentoring apprentices, coordinating with die designers, communicating tryout results to process engineers — these are real responsibilities. If you trained 4 apprentices and all 4 passed NIMS certification, that is a quantifiable achievement that belongs on your resume.

7. Failing to Show Career Progression

If you moved from apprentice to journeyman to team lead, your resume should make that trajectory unmistakable. Use clear job titles, dates, and scope changes (number of people managed, budget responsibility, complexity of dies built) to demonstrate growth.

ATS Optimization Tips

1. Use Standard Job Titles

Applicant tracking systems match on job titles. Use "Tool and Die Maker" as your primary title, not "Toolmaker," "Die Builder," or "Mold Maker" — unless the specific posting uses that language. If the posting says "Die Maker / Tool Maker," mirror that exact format in your resume header.

2. Spell Out Abbreviations on First Use

Write "Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)" the first time, then use "GD&T" afterward. Do the same for "Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM)," "Computer Numerical Control (CNC)," "Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM)," and "Statistical Process Control (SPC)." ATS parsers may search for either the full phrase or the abbreviation.

3. Match the Posting's Exact Keyword Phrasing

If a job posting says "progressive die experience," use the phrase "progressive die" in your resume — not "prog die" or "multi-station stamping die." If it says "wire EDM," write "wire EDM," not "WEDM" or "wire erosion." Review each posting and mirror its specific language.

4. Include a Dedicated Technical Skills Section

Place a clearly labeled "Technical Skills" or "Core Competencies" section within the top third of your resume. List equipment manufacturers and model numbers (Haas VF-4SS, Makino U6, Sodick AQ750LH), software (SolidWorks, MasterCAM, AutoCAD), and measurement tools (Zeiss Contura CMM, Mitutoyo micrometers). ATS systems index this section heavily.

5. Use a Clean, Parseable Format

Submit your resume as a .docx file unless the posting specifically requests PDF. Avoid tables, text boxes, headers/footers, columns, and graphics — all of which can break ATS parsing. Use standard section headings: "Professional Experience," "Education," "Certifications," "Technical Skills." Stick to fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman at 10–12 pt.

6. Quantify Everything — ATS Reads Numbers Too

Many modern ATS platforms use AI-assisted scoring that evaluates the depth of your experience. "Built progressive dies" scores lower than "Built 12 progressive dies rated for 600-ton presses, producing 28,000 parts per shift at 45 strokes per minute with a scrap rate of 0.38%." Numbers help both the ATS and the human reviewer.

7. Include Certification Credential IDs When Possible

List certifications with the full name, issuing organization, and year: "NIMS Certified — Milling Level II, National Institute for Metalworking Skills, 2020." Some ATS platforms index credential names as keywords. Avoid listing only the abbreviation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should an entry-level tool and die maker put on a resume with limited experience?

Focus on your apprenticeship progress (hours completed out of the total required), NIMS certifications earned, specific equipment you have operated with real tolerances achieved, and any measurable contributions during co-ops or internships. If you reduced scrap rate, improved setup time, or assisted on a specific number of die builds, those numbers matter. Academic coursework in tool design, metallurgy, GD&T, and CNC programming is also worth listing if you are early in your career.

How important are NIMS certifications for tool and die maker resumes?

Very important. More than 6,000 manufacturing companies rely on NIMS credentials for hiring decisions (NIMS, 2024). NIMS certifications verify hands-on competency through both written exams and performance evaluations — they are not just classroom tests. Listing NIMS credentials with the specific level (I, II, or III) and discipline (Milling, Turning, Grinding, EDM) gives hiring managers immediate, objective proof of your skill set. The NTMA Certified Journeyman Die Maker (CJDM) credential, which requires 5 years of experience plus examination and portfolio review, is the gold standard for experienced toolmakers.

Should I list specific machines and brand names on my resume?

Absolutely. Tool and die shops invest heavily in specific equipment platforms. A shop running Makino EDMs wants someone who already knows Makino controls. A shop with Haas CNC mills needs operators familiar with the Haas controller interface. List the manufacturer, model, and the type of work you performed on it. "Operated Makino U6 wire EDM for profile cutting of D2 inserts, ±0.0002-in. tolerance" tells the hiring manager exactly what you can do on day one.

How do I handle a resume gap if I left manufacturing temporarily?

Be straightforward. If you spent time in a related field (maintenance, welding, quality inspection), highlight the transferable precision skills. If the gap was for personal reasons, a brief note is sufficient — hiring managers in the trades are pragmatic. What matters is demonstrating that your skills are current. If you completed any training, personal projects, or certifications during the gap, list them. Consider a functional or combination resume format that leads with skills and certifications if the gap is longer than 12 months.

What is the best resume length for a tool and die maker?

One page for entry-level candidates with fewer than 5 years of experience. Two pages for journeymen and senior toolmakers with 8 or more years, multiple employers, extensive certification lists, and mentoring or leadership responsibilities. Never exceed two pages. If your resume is running long, prioritize the most recent 10–15 years of experience and summarize earlier roles in 1–2 lines. Every line on your resume should earn its space with a specific achievement, tolerance, or measurable result.

Citations & Sources

1. **Bureau of Labor Statistics.** "Machinists and Tool and Die Makers: Occupational Outlook Handbook." U.S. Department of Labor, 2024. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/machinists-and-tool-and-die-makers.htm
2. **Bureau of Labor Statistics.** "Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023: 51-4111 Tool and Die Makers." U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes514111.htm
3. **American Machinist.** "Skills Shortage Is a 'Crisis' for Tool-and-Die Makers, OEMs." Penton Media, 2024. https://www.americanmachinist.com/cutting-tools/article/21901810/skills-shortage-is-a-crisis-for-tool-and-die-makers-oems
4. **National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS).** "Credentials." 2024. https://www.nims-skills.org/credentials
5. **The Manufacturing Institute / NIMS.** "National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS)." 2024. https://themanufacturinginstitute.org/workers/skills-certifications/nims/
6. **Apprenticeship.gov.** "Occupation Finder: Tool and Die Makers." U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.apprenticeship.gov/apprenticeship-occupations/listings?occupationCode=51-4111.00
7. **O*NET OnLine.** "51-4111.00 — Tool and Die Makers." National Center for O*NET Development. https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-4111.00
8. **Makino.** "Wire EDM Machine Centers." 2024. https://www.makino.com/en-us/machine-technology/machines/wire-edm
9. **Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.** "Tool and Die Maker Apprenticeship." State of Wisconsin. https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship/occupations/tool-n-die-maker.htm
10. **ASME.** "ASME Y14.5-2018: Dimensioning and Tolerancing." American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2018. https://www.asme.org/codes-standards/find-codes-standards/y14-5-dimensioning-tolerancing