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Resume example

Joiner resume example

The French word menuisier covers two quite different days.

In the workshop, a bench joiner reads a drawing, selects and cuts the timber, planes it on the surfacer and thicknesser, shapes profiles on the spindle moulder or a CNC machine, then assembles windows, doors, staircases, kitchen units or fitted wardrobes, before sanding and finishing. On site, an installation joiner (menuisier poseur) removes old frames, fits new windows in wood, PVC or aluminium, hangs doors, lays wooden floors and installs made-to-measure cabinets, sealing and adjusting everything so it opens and closes properly. Many joiners in small French companies do both. Some specialise in shop fitting (agencement) or in restoring old joinery in historic buildings.

Resume example

[First name Last name]

Joiner (Menuisier) | Bench Joinery, Staircases and Made-to-Measure Fittings

[City] · [phone] · [email]

Profile

Menuisier with [x] years of workshop and site experience: windows, interior doors, staircases and fitted kitchens. Reads plans, prepares cutting lists, programs simple CNC jobs and installs the finished pieces at clients' homes.

Experience

Joiner (Menuisier), [Company], [City]

[month year] to present

  • Manufactured interior doors, staircases and fitted wardrobes from drawings, from cutting list to finishing
  • Programmed and ran a CNC machine for repeated parts in kitchen and wardrobe projects
  • Took site measurements and installed made-to-measure pieces in clients' homes
  • Replaced [x] windows in a renovation project, including removal, fixing and airtight sealing
  • Trained an apprentice on the spindle moulder and safe machine use

Resume headlines

  • Joiner (Menuisier) | Bench Joinery, Staircases and Made-to-Measure Fittings
  • Installation Joiner | Windows, Doors and Interior Fit-Out
  • Joiner and Shopfitter | CNC, Cabinetry and On-Site Installation

Summaries for your profile

Entry level

Joiner with a CAP Menuisier fabricant, trained as an apprentice in a workshop producing doors, staircases and fitted furniture. Confident on traditional machines, careful with measurements and keen to gain experience in on-site installation.

Experienced

Menuisier with [x] years of workshop and site experience: windows, interior doors, staircases and fitted kitchens. Reads plans, prepares cutting lists, programs simple CNC jobs and installs the finished pieces at clients' homes.

Career change

Former [previous job] who retrained as a joiner through an adult CAP programme. Brings patience, precision and a long-standing practice of woodworking, with a placement in a workshop making fitted furniture in [City].

Tips

  • Specify if you are mainly a workshop joiner, an installer, or both.
  • Name the machines you can operate safely, including CNC models if relevant.
  • List the products you have made: staircases, doors, windows, kitchens, shop fittings.
  • Add photos of pieces you made, with what you did on each one.
  • Mention a Compagnons du Devoir path or a competition such as Meilleur Apprenti de France if applicable.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Mixing up carpentry (structural timber framing) and joinery on the CV.
  • Not saying which materials you install (wood, PVC, aluminium).
  • Omitting machine safety training.
  • Listing hobbies in woodworking without separating them from professional work.

Working as a joiner in France

Search for menuisier, menuisier fabricant, menuisier poseur, menuisier agenceur or poseur de menuiseries extérieures. Do not confuse with charpentier (structural timber) or ébéniste (fine furniture). The trade is not regulated for employees, but employers recognise the CAP Menuisier fabricant, the CAP Menuisier installateur, the Brevet Professionnel Menuisier and the Bac Pro Technicien menuisier agenceur, as well as the Compagnons du Devoir path. Window replacement often falls within energy renovation work, where grants require the company to hold the RGE label. Woodworking machine safety and dust extraction rules are taken seriously in French workshops.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a joiner the same as a carpenter in France?

No. A charpentier builds roof structures and timber frames, while a menuisier makes and installs joinery: doors, windows, stairs and furniture. An ébéniste makes fine furniture. Use the French term that matches your experience when you search for jobs.

Should I mention PVC and aluminium window work?

Yes. Many French installation companies fit PVC and aluminium windows as much as wooden ones, especially in energy renovation. If you have experience in both manufacturing and fitting, say so, because employers often struggle to find installers with good finishing skills.

How do I show my level without a French diploma?

Describe the pieces you can make on your own and the machines you master, and offer a portfolio. Many workshops will ask you to make a test piece or work a trial day. The CAP can also be obtained later through validation of experience (VAE).

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