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As a janitor, you’re a skilled professional with the attention to detail and dedication required to maintain a clean and orderly environment. To secure the ideal janitor position where you can showcase your abilities and contribute to a well-kept workspace, you need a resume that effectively highlights your sanitation skills and positive hardworking attitude.
We’re here to assist you in reaching that objective. With the help of our comprehensive guide and inspiration from our janitor resume examples, you’re well on your way to creating a resume that emphasizes your janitorial expertise and strong work ethic.
This guide will cover:
- Inspirational janitor resume examples.
- A step-by-step process for writing a strong janitor resume.
- Optional sections to enhance your resume and showcase your cleaning proficiency.
- Tips for writing a strong cover letter.
- Key insights for your resume.
Ready to build a professional resume quickly? Give our AI Resume Builder a try. Choose a template that matches your style, and receive expert guidance for each section, ensuring your resume truly reflects your skills and aligns perfectly with the janitor job description for the role you’re seeking.
Janitor resume examples
Why this entry-level janitor resume works:
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Focuses on skills
This applicant does not have a whole lot of on-the-job experience, so he built his resume around the relevant skills that would allow him to excel in the role regardless of experience.
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Uses active language
Action-oriented verbs like “conducted,” “implemented” and “executed” give this resume a sense of energy and professionalism.
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Includes soft skills
Knowledge of sanitation techniques is important for a janitor, but so is a strong work ethic. This resume highlights this and other soft skills alongside the candidate’s more specific abilities.
Why this experienced janitor resume works:
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Simple layout
This resume uses a basic template that showcases the candidate’s qualifications without adding distractions. It’s easy to understand and skim at a glance.
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Uses numbers
Including data for some of her responsibilities and achievements gives the reader a sense of the scale and impact of this candidate’s work.
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Focuses on experience
This candidate has been a janitor for more than a decade, so her resume focuses on her work history. This shows off her competence and comfort level with the required skills for the position.
Related resume examples
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Choose the right resume format for your janitor resume
You can’t clean a building without the right materials. In the same way, a pristine resume requires the right foundation. Before you start writing, it’s important to understand your strengths and weaknesses as a candidate and choose a format for your resume that suits your career history.
Make sure you’re intentional about choosing the right tool for the job. How you organize your information on your resume can profoundly impact how potential employers perceive your qualifications, so it’s vital to opt for a format that effectively showcases your strengths:
- The chronological resume format is an excellent choice for experienced janitors, emphasizing your work history and highlighting your years of expertise in maintaining cleanliness and order.
- The combination resume format strikes a balance between your janitor skills and work history, making it a valuable option for midcareer janitors with a bit of experience. This is a great resume for a janitor looking to take on more supervisory responsibilities.
- The functional resume format places your janitorial skills at the forefront, enabling you to demonstrate your abilities without relying heavily on your previous experience. This format can be especially advantageous for entry-level janitors without much experience to rely on.
Once you’ve determined the most suitable format for your experience, the next step is to select a resume template.
Choose the right resume template for your janitor resume
Your resume template should effectively represent your professional identity and positive and enthusiastic approach to your responsibilities.
For janitors aiming to create a well-crafted and professional resume quickly, a simple resume template is a solid choice. These templates follow essential formatting guidelines, eliminating unnecessary distractions.
If you want to infuse a touch of your unique style into your resume, you might try a creative template that adds some color or interest. For a balance between creativity and professionalism, modern resume templates are a strong choice. These templates feature visually appealing and stylized designs. When selecting such a template, ensure it aligns with the role. Try to match the energy of the position with a resume that’s as professional as the role expects.
Our resume templates come in various file types, including Word resume templates and Google Doc templates, making it easy to download and customize them to suit your individual needs.
Now that you’ve chosen the style and format for your resume, it’s time to delve into the writing process.
How to write a janitor resume in 5 simple steps
A job-winning resume needs to be targeted to the role and written to maximize your skills and accomplishments on the page. We’ll help you pull it off with our step-by-step guide for resume-writing.
Step 1
Review the janitor job description for keywords
To kick off the resume-writing process for your janitorial career, begin by taking a look at the janitor job description for the specific janitorial position you’re aiming for. The job listing provides valuable clues that can assist you in tailoring your resume to align with the role’s specific requirements and expectations. Take the time to read through the listing multiple times, paying close attention to key phrases and terms the employer uses to outline the job responsibilities and the qualities they seek in their ideal candidate.
It’s common for employers to employ applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen applications, sorting for qualified candidates using relevant keywords. To create a resume that effectively passes through ATS screening, it’s crucial to incorporate the keywords and phrases mentioned in the job listing.
For instance, if the job posting emphasizes terms like “janitorial expertise” or “cleaning proficiency,” make an effort to include these exact phrases when describing your relevant experience. By using this exact language, you demonstrate that you’re the ideal candidate to meet the requirements of the role. However, it’s important to maintain accuracy — make sure that the qualifications you highlight truthfully reflect your background and skills.
Step 2
Summarize your career achievements
Your janitor resume should begin with a brief introduction to your career, whether you’ve worked in a janitorial role before or not. This section is referred to as a resume profile. There are two primary types of resume profiles to consider: professional summaries and career objectives. Your choice should be tailored to your experience level.
A professional summary offers a short and sweet overview of your career and abilities, making it an excellent choice for janitors with experience to discuss. This format is generally recommended for experienced candidates.
On the other hand, a resume objective outlines your career goals and is suitable for janitors who might be newer to the profession, including first-time janitors.
Here are examples of each:
Janitor professional summary:
Experienced janitor with a decade of expertise in various cleaning methods and a strong track record of maintaining cleanliness and order in diverse settings. Proficient in floor care, sanitation and waste management, with a history of upholding the highest cleaning standards and safety protocols.
Janitor resume objective:
Aspiring janitor with a background in facility maintenance and a strong passion for delivering top-notch janitorial services. Eager to leverage my attention to detail, efficiency and commitment to cleanliness in contributing to facilities that demand impeccable hygiene and organization. Committed to ensuring a tidy and well-maintained environment for all occupants.
Step 3
Highlight your essential janitor skills
Your skills are what allows you to get the job done. As a janitor, these can range from interpersonal “people” skills all the way to the safe handling of corrosive cleaning materials. It’s essential to showcase a diverse range of skills to demonstrate that you can tackle whatever the job throws your way. Let’s break down the two main categories of janitor skills for your resume.
First, there are hard skills. These are the practical and technical abilities that enable you to perform tasks effectively as a janitor. They encompass your proficiency in various cleaning techniques, knowledge of different cleaning materials and equipment, and expertise in safety and hygiene procedures. These skills are typically gained through education, training and hands-on experience.
The second category is your soft skills. These relate to your personal attributes and interpersonal abilities, including effective communication with team members, adaptability to changing cleaning practices, and the capacity to problem-solve and provide guidance to colleagues. These skills are often inherent and shape your overall effectiveness as a janitor.
Here’s a list of some hard and soft skills that accomplished janitor candidates incorporate into their resumes:
- Cleaning techniques (e.g., floor care, sanitation, waste management)
- Knowledge of cleaning materials and equipment
- Safety and hygiene procedures
- Equipment operation
- Quality control and inspection
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
Your role as a janitor is pivotal in ensuring the quality and cleanliness of facilities and spaces. Your skills should reflect your ability to maintain a clean and orderly environment, adhere to safety and hygiene standards, and contribute to the overall success of janitorial tasks.
Here’s an example of a robust janitor skills section:
- Proficient in various cleaning techniques, including floor care, sanitation and waste management.
- In-depth knowledge of cleaning materials and equipment used in janitorial tasks.
- Adherence to strict safety and hygiene procedures to ensure a clean and safe environment.
- Competent in operating cleaning equipment and tools for precise and high-quality cleaning.
- Dedicated to quality control and inspection to deliver spotless and well-maintained spaces.
While hard skills can be learned and developed through training and experience, soft skills such as effective communication and teamwork are inherent qualities. Your work ethic and attention to detail are important assets that should feature on your resume just as prominently as your hard skills.
Step 4
Describe your janitor work history
As a janitor, you need to be able to think on your feet, manage your time well and pay attention to the little details that go into maintaining a clean and safe facility. That’s why the experience section of your resume is so important. This is where you get to showcase your ability to apply your skills to real-world scenarios and get the job done despite obstacles or challenges.
Here’s an example of a robust janitor work history section:
Janitor, Littleton Instructional Campus
Chicago, IL
March 2020 – November 2022
- Led janitorial teams in maintaining cleanliness and order in various facilities, resulting in a 15% improvement in operational efficiency and ensuring impeccable hygiene standards.
- Collaborated closely with facility managers to develop cleaning schedules and ensure precise cleaning procedures, adhering to strict cleanliness standards and client specifications.
- Introduced innovative cleaning methods and equipment, reducing waste by 10% and enhancing overall efficiency in facility maintenance.
- Implemented rigorous safety and hygiene protocols, resulting in a pristine safety record and zero cleanliness issues in completed projects.
- Adapted swiftly to changes in cleaning technology and materials, staying updated on industry trends and best practices to consistently deliver top-notch janitorial services.
- Provided guidance to junior janitors, enhancing team performance and knowledge sharing in the janitorial department.
Infuse your resume with some energy by using action-packed verbs to replace common repetitive resume phrases like “responsible for.”
Step 5
Showcase your education
A janitor uses their knowledge of cleanliness standards, techniques and safety codes to maintain their facility. To prove you have what it takes, write an education and training section that outlines both your formal education and any relevant vocational training you’ve received.
Janitorial Certification – Cleaning Professionals Association
Received in May 2019
Advanced Cleaning Techniques Workshop
CleanTech Institute
Chicago, IL
Completed in September 2024
Education may not seem vital for a janitorial career, but the ability to show up and learn new information is a useful skill in any trade. Even if you don’t have a diploma, it still helps to demonstrate that you’ve had some education, so don’t be afraid to list something that’s in progress or incomplete.
Additional sections for your janitor resume
Languages
Effective communication in various languages can be a valuable asset for a janitor, especially in diverse and multicultural work environments. If you are multilingual, it’s beneficial to highlight this skill on your resume. Being able to communicate with colleagues from different linguistic backgrounds can enhance workplace safety and collaboration.
Example of how to showcase languages on your janitorial resume:
- Fluent in English and Vietnamese
- Proficient in Spanish
Hobbies and interests
Including your interests on your resume can provide employers with insights into your character and personality, demonstrating a well-rounded approach to life. Ensure that the hobbies you list are both relevant to the role and appropriate for the professional workplace setting.
Example of how to showcase interests on your janitor resume:
- Continuous skill development: Actively engage in skill development programs and workshops to enhance my janitorial proficiency and stay updated with industry trends.
- Safety advocacy: Enthusiastic about promoting safety awareness in the workplace, actively involved in safety committees and advocate for maintaining a secure work environment.
Community involvement
Active engagement with the community can demonstrate your commitment to social responsibility and safety, which can align with workplace safety initiatives.
Example of how to showcase community involvement on your janitor resume:
- Volunteer for Safety Awareness Programs: Participate in safety awareness programs to support the well-being of colleagues, providing assistance and promoting safety during janitorial projects.
- Workplace Safety Initiatives: Collaborate with local organizations to promote workplace safety, offering safety training and mentorship programs aimed at enhancing the overall safety of janitorial projects. This includes facilitating safety workshops and sharing insights on maintaining a safe work environment.
Add a cover letter
Now that the hard part is done and you’ve written a convincing resume, it’s time to finish the job with a strong cover letter that reiterates everything that you bring to the table while also adding context to your resume and outlining some key accomplishments that align with the role.
While writing a cover letter might feel like extra work, it’s a great opportunity to leave a strong impression on potential employers.
For help writing a strong janitor cover letter, check out our guide on how to write a cover letter and gather inspiration from our extensive library of cover letter examples.
To maintain a consistent visual style between your cover letter and resume, try one of our cover letter templates or even generate your cover letter using our Cover Letter Builder.
Key takeaways for your janitor resume
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Customize your janitor resume for each job application
Tailor your resume to align with the specific requirements of each janitorial position, emphasizing your skills in various cleaning techniques, equipment operation and hygiene practices. Look for keywords that can help you pass through ATS (Applicant Tracking System) screening processes.
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Highlight your janitorial experience
Showcase your hands-on involvement in janitorial work, from maintaining cleanliness and order in various facilities to adhering to hygiene and safety standards. Demonstrate your ability to excel in the demanding field of janitorial services.
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Emphasize your commitment to continuous improvement
Highlight any advanced training, certifications or workshops you’ve completed in the field of janitorial work, underscoring your dedication to staying informed about the latest cleaning practices and adhering to the best industry standards.
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Express your passion for cleanliness and organization
While your resume provides an overview of your skills, a well-crafted cover letter can convey your genuine passion for delivering spotless and well-maintained spaces and your motivation for pursuing a janitorial career. Employers appreciate employees who demonstrate a true passion for their work.
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Highlight measurable achievements
If you’ve contributed to improved operational efficiency, maintained impeccable hygiene standards or implemented innovative cleaning techniques, emphasize these accomplishments with specific metrics and results.
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Showcase collaboration and teamwork
In the field of janitorial work, effective teamwork is critical, especially when maintaining large facilities. Highlight instances where you’ve collaborated seamlessly with colleagues, facility managers and clients, showcasing your ability to foster a cooperative and efficient janitorial environment for optimal facility maintenance success.
Commonly asked questions about resume writing
Last Updated: October 30, 2023
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Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.
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