Drainer resume template
A clean starting structure with example content grounded in what drainers actually do day to day, not generic filler. Download and replace the bracketed placeholders with your own details.
Which resume format should you use?
Reverse chronological
You have a steady work history. This is the format almost every recruiter and ATS expects by default.
Functional
You're changing fields or have gaps in your employment. Leads with skills rather than a job-by-job timeline.
Combination
You're early career or have worked consistently but for only a few employers. Blends a skills summary with a shorter chronological history.
This template uses the reverse chronological format: the one most drainers should default to, since most Australian recruiters and ATS software expect it.
Professional summary
I am a qualified drainer with experience installing and maintaining below-ground drainage systems for sewer, stormwater and wastewater. I read plans, set out runs, excavate trenches, lay pipes to correct falls and test for compliance. I work safely in confined spaces and around heavy machinery, and I take pride in protecting public health and the environment.
Key skills
- Reading and interpreting drainage plans and specifications
- Trench excavation and pipe bedding preparation
- Laying, joining and sealing sewer and stormwater pipes
- Installing inspection points and connecting to mains
- CCTV drain camera inspection and fault diagnosis
- Laser level and pipe laser operation for accurate grades
- Excavator operation and plant equipment handling
- Worksite safety management including trench shoring and confined space entry
- Compliance testing for leaks and adherence to AS/NZS 3500
- AutoCAD for reviewing drainage layouts
- Hand and power tool proficiency
Experience: example bullet points
- Installed over 500 metres of sewer and stormwater pipe across residential subdivisions, ensuring correct falls and alignment using pipe laser and laser level.
- Excavated and prepared trenches for drainage runs, reducing manual handling time by coordinating with excavator operators.
- Conducted CCTV inspections on existing drains, identifying root intrusions and joint displacements, and recommending targeted repairs.
- Tested new drainage systems for leaks using water and air pressure methods, achieving compliance with local water authority requirements.
- Collaborated with site supervisors to mark out drainage runs from plans, minimising rework and delays on a 20-lot subdivision.
- Maintained a safe worksite by implementing trench shoring and confined space procedures, contributing to a zero-incident record over a 12-month project.
Education
Certificate III in Plumbing (Drainage), typically completed through an apprenticeship, plus current registration or licensing with the relevant state or territory plumbing regulator.
Keywords an ATS is likely to scan for
Applicant tracking systems match your resume against terms in the job ad before a person ever sees it. Only include the ones that actually apply to your experience, but if a term below matches something you've done, use the same wording the job ad uses.
- Plumbing registration
- Drainage licence
- AS/NZS 3500
- Water Act
- CCTV drain inspection
- Pipe laser
- Laser level
- Excavator ticket
- White Card
- Confined space entry
- Trench shoring
- Stormwater drainage
- Sewer mains
- Inspection points
- Compliance testing
- Pipe bedding
- Grade checking
- Site plans
- WHS legislation
- Plumbing and Drainage Act
Getting past ATS screening
- Match the specific skills, certifications and terms used in the job ad, not just your own wording for the same thing.
- Keep formatting simple: no tables, text boxes, columns, headers/footers or graphics. Parsers frequently drop content placed in these.
- Submit as .docx or PDF unless the job ad specifies otherwise.
- Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills) rather than creative alternatives.
- List your core skills and technical competencies in their own section so a keyword scan can find them instantly.
This is a starting point, not a guarantee of interviews. Tailor every bullet point to your own real experience and the specific job ad.