ATS keywords for an air conditioning technician resume
Many employers keep applications in an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), where recruiters search and sort them by the skills the role needs. Use these terms where they honestly describe your experience, so your resume is easy to find and easy to read:
Key skills to highlight
- ▸Installing split, ducted and commercial systems
- ▸Servicing and preventative maintenance
- ▸Fault finding and diagnostics
- ▸Safe refrigerant handling
- ▸Commissioning and compliance
Credentials Australian employers screen for
- ▸Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration
- ▸ARCtick Refrigerant Handling Licence
- ▸Restricted electrical licence where required
- ▸White Card and a driver's licence
Common mistakes to avoid
- ▸Not stating the ARCtick and electrical licences, the first screening items.
- ▸Listing 'HVAC work' without the systems or settings.
- ▸Omitting current tickets the role requires.
- ▸A generic resume rather than matching domestic vs commercial work.
Air Conditioning Technician CV example: before and after
One experience entry, written twice. The numbers are illustrative, the structure is what matters.
Before
Air Conditioning Technician, 2019 to present. Install and service air conditioning systems for customers. Carry out maintenance, find faults and repair units. Complete paperwork and follow safety procedures on site.
The ARCtick refrigerant handling licence and the restricted electrical licence are the first two things screened, and neither appears, so a recruiter checking for them may move on before reading the experience. It also never says whether the systems were domestic splits or commercial plant, which is the difference between two very different jobs.
After
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician | ARCtick Refrigerant Handling Licence XXXXXX | Restricted electrical licence XXXXXX | Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration
Commercial HVAC contractor servicing retail, office and light industrial sites | May 2019 to present | Full time with on call rotation
- ▸Installation of split systems from 2.5 kW to 14 kW, ducted systems to 20 kW and multi head VRF, including pipework, brazing, evacuation, condensate and electrical connection under restricted electrical licence.
- ▸Preventative maintenance across a portfolio of around 60 sites, servicing 8 to 12 units a day: filter and coil cleaning, belt and bearing checks, superheat and subcooling readings, and logged asset condition reporting.
- ▸Fault finding and diagnostics on refrigeration and control faults using gauges, clamp meter and manufacturer fault codes, with most breakdown calls closed out first visit from a stocked van.
- ▸Safe refrigerant handling under ARCtick: recovery, decanting, pressure and leak testing, and accurate refrigerant logs for every charge and recovery.
- ▸Commissioning and compliance handovers on new installs, including airflow balancing, controls setup, client demonstration and completed commissioning sheets, working to WHS requirements with White Card and working at heights tickets current.
Same technician, same van. The rewrite puts ARCtick and the electrical licence in the title line where the screen looks for them, then names system types, capacities, site numbers and daily service volume, so the service manager can see the level of work you run unsupervised.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need an ARCtick licence on my resume?
Yes. A Refrigerant Handling Licence (ARCtick) is required to handle refrigerant in Australia, so state it near the top with your electrical licence.
Should I list the systems I've worked on?
Yes. Employers screen for relevant experience, so name the system types (split, ducted, commercial refrigeration) and match them to the role.
How do apprentices write an HVAC resume?
Lead with your apprenticeship stage, employer and the systems you have worked on, plus your White Card and licensing progress.
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