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Resume example

Carpenter resume example

In France, a charpentier builds structures, not furniture or fitted kitchens: roof frames, timber-frame houses (maisons à ossature bois), floors, staircases and the heavy oak frames of old buildings.

The week usually splits between the workshop and the site. In the workshop you read the architect's or engineer's drawings, trace the joints, cut rafters, purlins and trusses on a CNC machine or by hand, and apply preservative treatment. On site you lift and assemble the frame with a crane or telehandler, often at height with a harness, so the roofer can follow. Some firms specialise in heritage work on listed buildings, where traditional mortise-and-tenon joints and hand tools are still the norm.

Resume example

[First name Last name]

Carpenter (Charpentier bois) | Roof Structures, Timber Frame, Site Assembly

[City] · [phone] · [email]

Profile

Carpenter with [x] years in timber construction, from workshop cutting to site erection of roof structures and timber-frame extensions. I read engineers' drawings, organise lifting with the crane operator and can lead a small team on site.

Experience

Carpenter (Charpentier bois), [Company], [City]

[month year] to present

  • Cut and assembled roof structures for [x] individual houses per year, from workshop tracing to site erection.
  • Prepared timber-frame wall panels in the workshop to shorten assembly time on site.
  • Guided crane lifts with hand signals and radio while placing trusses and ridge beams.
  • Replaced decayed rafters and wall plates on a [century] farmhouse, keeping the original joints where possible.
  • Trained an apprentice in tracing and hand-tool techniques.

Resume headlines

  • Carpenter (Charpentier bois) | Roof Structures, Timber Frame, Site Assembly
  • Timber Frame Carpenter | Workshop Cutting on CNC and Site Erection
  • Heritage Carpenter | Traditional Oak Framing and Restoration

Summaries for your profile

Entry level

CAP charpentier bois holder with two years of apprenticeship in a [City] firm building roof frames for individual houses. I trace and cut rafters and purlins, prepare loads for lifting and work at height with a harness.

Experienced

Carpenter with [x] years in timber construction, from workshop cutting to site erection of roof structures and timber-frame extensions. I read engineers' drawings, organise lifting with the crane operator and can lead a small team on site.

Career change

Former joiner retraining into structural carpentry through the Titre professionnel charpentier bois. I already work wood daily and want to move from interior fittings to roof frames and timber-frame buildings.

Tips

  • State whether you know traditional framing, timber frame, or both: French firms often specialise.
  • List the software you have used for cutting files, such as Cadwork or SEMA, even at a basic level.
  • Mention any time with the Compagnons du Devoir: French employers in this trade know and respect it.
  • Add your CACES or harness training, since site supervisors check them.
  • Photos of finished frames can go in a link to a short online portfolio.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Using "carpenter" alone, which French recruiters may read as joinery (menuiserie).
  • Listing tools without saying what you built with them.
  • Leaving out site safety training and work at height.
  • Forgetting your driving licence, which matters for site travel.

Working as a carpenter in France

Working as an employed charpentier is not regulated in France, but employers expect a French qualification or equivalent experience: the CAP charpentier bois, the BP charpentier bois, the Bac pro technicien constructeur bois the Titre professionnel charpentier bois, or for heritage work the Bac pro interventions sur le patrimoine bâti (option charpente). Training with the Compagnons du Devoir carries real weight. Be careful with titles: search « charpentier », « charpentier bois », « charpentier poseur » or « charpentier ossature bois » for structural work, and « menuisier » only if you want joinery. Work at height and lifting require specific safety training, and some roles ask for a CACES for telehandlers.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between charpentier and menuisier?

A charpentier makes load-bearing structures such as roof frames, floors and timber-frame walls. A menuisier makes doors, windows, stairs, cabinets and interior fittings. English uses carpenter for both, so put the French term next to your title to avoid being filtered into the wrong roles.

Should I add photos of my work?

Not on the resume itself, which should stay one or two pages of text. A link to a portfolio with a few photos of finished frames, each with a short caption saying what you did, is useful. Recruiters in small firms often look at it before calling.

Is a foreign carpentry qualification accepted?

Carpentry is not regulated in France, so an employer can hire you on experience. Describe your training in plain terms, with its length and content, and mention the closest French level such as CAP or Bac pro. A trial day on the workshop floor often settles the question.

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