How to write each section (step-by-step)
You don’t need a “perfect” CV. You need a CV that matches how plumbing work is actually judged: speed, cleanliness, correctness, documentation, and customer trust.
a) Professional Summary
Think of your summary like the label on a parts box. If it’s vague, it’s useless. If it’s specific, the right person grabs it immediately.
Use this formula:
- [Years] + [Type of plumbing] + [Specialization]
- One measurable win (call-backs down, first-time fix up, jobs/week, snag-free handovers)
- Target role (Plumber, Plumbing Technician, Plumbing and Heating Engineer, Heating Engineer, Plumbing Contractor)
And keep it tight: 2–3 sentences. Not a life story.
Weak version:
Objective: To obtain a challenging position where I can use my plumbing skills and grow with the company.
Strong version:
Plumber with 5+ years’ experience in domestic reactive maintenance and bathroom refits, strong in fault-finding and clean second-fix work. Improved first-time fix rate to 85% by standardizing isolation testing and pressure checks. Targeting a Plumbing Technician role with a facilities team in Ireland.
The strong version tells them what you do, how well you do it, and where you want to do it next.
b) Experience section
Your experience section is where you win the job. Not by listing duties—but by proving outcomes.
Write bullets that sound like a foreman’s update: what you did, what you used, what changed. Numbers matter because they signal reliability. If you don’t have perfect metrics, use honest operational numbers: jobs/week, units completed, % reduction in call-backs, hours saved, snag rate.
Weak version:
Installed bathrooms and did maintenance.
Strong version:
Installed 12 bathroom refurbishments using solvent-weld waste and copper press-fit, achieving 10/12 snag-free handovers by verifying falls, trap alignment, and pressure tests before boxing-in.
Those details (falls, traps, pressure tests) are exactly what experienced plumbers watch for—because that’s where failures hide.
Action verbs that fit plumbing (use these instead of “responsible for”):
- Diagnosed, isolated, traced, repaired, replaced
- Installed, commissioned, balanced, tested, verified
- Routed, sleeved, clipped, sealed, fire-stopped
- Coordinated, scheduled, kitted, standardized, documented
c) Skills section
Skills are your keyword engine. In Ireland, many employers use ATS filters or quick Ctrl+F scanning. Your job is to make sure the terms they search are actually on your page.
Here’s the trick: don’t invent a skills list from memory. Pull it from 3–5 job ads and mirror the language—especially for specializations like heating, reactive maintenance, refurbishments, or facilities.
A strong Plumber skills list for the IE market (pick what you truly have):
Hard Skills / Technical Skills
- Reactive maintenance, fault-finding, leak detection
- Bathroom fit-outs (first-fix/second-fix), kitchen plumbing
- Soil stacks, wastes, traps, falls/levels
- Hot water cylinders, circulating pumps, pump sets
- Expansion vessels, PRVs, TMVs (thermostatic mixing valves)
- Pressure testing, commissioning, snagging and handover
- Plant room maintenance (light commercial)
Tools / Software
- Manometer (gas/pressure checks where applicable), pressure test pump
- Pipe cutters, deburrers, press-fit tools (where used), soldering kit
- Acoustic listening equipment (where used)
- Job management apps (if you use one), photo documentation on mobile
Certifications / Standards
- Safe Pass (commonly requested on Irish sites) — Safe Pass
- Manual Handling (often requested)
- If you work with gas: make sure you state the correct, legally valid registration for Ireland (don’t guess). Ireland uses RGI for gas installers — Register of Gas Installers of Ireland
One more thing: don’t stuff your skills with soft traits. “Reliable” doesn’t get you through ATS. “Pressure testing” does.
d) Education and certifications
For plumbing in Ireland, education is less about prestige and more about proof you’ve done the structured training. List your plumbing qualification clearly (Advanced Certificate/QQI where relevant), the institution (ETB/FET college), and dates.
Certs matter when they’re job-relevant and current. If you have Safe Pass, put it where it’s easy to spot. If you’re in-progress on an apprenticeship or additional modules, say so plainly—employers like momentum.
What to omit? Old, unrelated courses that clutter the page. Your CV is not a storage unit. Keep it job-focused.