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Diesel Mechanic CV example

Heavy diesel ads want to know what you work on, how well you diagnose, and whether you can road test what you've fixed. This diesel mechanic CV example names the makes and machines, the diagnostic tools and the licence classes up front.

Written for New Zealand, with notes for Australia · Checked

Free. Then compare it with a real Diesel Mechanic job ad.

The example

A Diesel Mechanic CV, start to finish.

Jaspreet Singh is made up, and so are the employers. The layout and the wording are what New Zealand employers expect: no photo or date of birth, the most recent job first, and every bullet showing what was done and what came of it.

Jaspreet Singh

Heavy Diesel Mechanic, trucks and trailers

Tauranga · 027 555 0138 · jaspreet.singh@email.com

Profile

Qualified heavy diesel mechanic with nine years servicing and repairing trucks and trailers, including a four-year apprenticeship, for a busy freight fleet. Quick and methodical with electronic diagnostics, confident on engines, transmissions and air brakes, and holds a Class 4 licence to road test the work.

Skills

Heavy vehicle servicing · Electronic diagnostics · Engine and driveline repairs · Air brake systems · Hydraulics · Trailer and suspension work · Certificate of fitness preparation · Workshop safety

Experience

Heavy Diesel Mechanic, Kaimai Heavy Diesel

Tauranga · 2021 to now

  • Service and repair a fleet of 60 trucks and 90 trailers for port and log cartage customers
  • Diagnose engine, transmission and electrical faults with dealer diagnostic software, cutting repeat repairs
  • Prepare vehicles for certificate of fitness inspections, with most passing the first time
  • Carry out roadside breakdown callouts on a one-in-four after-hours roster
  • Mentor a second-year apprentice through engine and brake work

Apprentice Heavy Diesel Mechanic, Mātai Transport

Rotorua · 2017 to 2021

  • Completed a heavy automotive apprenticeship in a 12-bay transport workshop
  • Carried out scheduled services, brake relines and clutch replacements under supervision
  • Kept service records up to date in the workshop system so the fleet stayed compliant

Education

New Zealand Certificate in Heavy Automotive Engineering (Level 4), Road Transport strand, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

2021

Other details

Driver's licence
Full Class 4
Tools
Own full tool kit
Work rights
New Zealand resident

Referees

Available on request

Jaspreet wrote a cover letter to go with it. Read the diesel mechanic cover letter

Skills and keywords

What diesel mechanic job ads look for.

Use the ad's own words where they're true of you. An ATS, and a recruiter skimming, both look for them.

  • Heavy dieselSay whether you work on trucks, buses, earthmoving plant or agricultural machinery. They're different jobs.
  • DiagnosticsName the software and makes you've used. Employers want someone who finds the fault, not just swaps parts.
  • Certificate of fitnessFleet workshops live by CoF dates. Say you prepare vehicles to pass.
  • Air brakesA core heavy vehicle skill that most ads ask for by name.
  • HydraulicsEssential for plant and machinery roles, and useful for trucks with cranes or tippers.
  • Heavy vehicle licenceRoad testing needs the right class. Say exactly which you hold.
  • On callMany fleet roles include breakdown callouts. Say if you've done a roster.

Bullet points

9 strong lines to borrow from.

Each says what was done, how, and what came of it. Swap in your own facts: a line is only strong if it's true.

  1. 1Serviced and repaired a fleet of 60 trucks and 90 trailers for port and log cartage customers
  2. 2Diagnosed engine, transmission and electrical faults with dealer software, cutting repeat repairs
  3. 3Prepared vehicles for certificate of fitness inspections, with most passing the first time
  4. 4Attended roadside breakdowns on an after-hours roster and got trucks moving again
  5. 5Rebuilt a heavy truck gearbox in the workshop, saving the customer the cost of a replacement
  6. 6Relined air brakes and replaced clutches to manufacturer specifications
  7. 7Kept service records up to date so the fleet stayed compliant
  8. 8Mentored a second-year apprentice through engine and brake work
  9. 9Road tested repaired vehicles on a Class 4 licence before handing them back

Common mistakes

What costs diesel mechanic CVs interviews.

  • Writing "mechanic" with no word on what you work on.

    Say heavy trucks, buses, earthmoving plant or tractors, and name the main makes. A plant workshop and a truck fleet hire for different experience.

  • Leaving out diagnostics.

    Name the diagnostic software and give an example of a fault you traced. It's the skill that sets a good diesel mechanic apart.

  • Forgetting your licence classes.

    Put your exact licence classes in your details. An employer needs to know you can road test and move what you fix.

New Zealand and Australia

What changes across the Tasman.

New Zealand

Many heavy diesel ads ask for a Class 2 licence or higher so you can road test trucks, and New Zealand licence classes are set by the NZ Transport Agency. Say exactly which classes you hold.

New Zealand CV format

Australia

Some states require a licence for vehicle repair work: in New South Wales, work on the mechanical operation of heavy or light vehicles needs a motor vehicle tradesperson certificate. Australian employers usually say resume rather than CV, and expect about two pages.

Australian CV format

Sources: NZ Transport Agency: driver licence classes, NSW Government: working as a motor vehicle tradesperson.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Something else on your mind? Email support@smartcvs.ai and a person will reply.

Should I list the makes I've worked on?

Yes. Put them in your summary or bullets. A dealer workshop or a fleet running one make will look for that name first.

I trained on trucks. Can I apply for plant or machinery roles?

Yes, if you show what carries across: diagnostics, hydraulics, engines and driveline. Say you're keen to learn the machines and give an example of picking up something new quickly.

Do I need to show my apprenticeship?

Yes, as a job with the workshop and the kind of work. Once you're qualified, keep it short and lead with your work since.

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