Why a Janitor Resume Needs to Show More Than Just Cleaning
This guide walks through a real janitor resume example, section by section. You'll see what to put in your summary, how to describe your daily tasks, and which skills stand out to a hiring manager. You can copy the free resume template and swap in your own details.
What to Include in a Janitor Resume, Section by Section
Start with your contact information, then a short summary about yourself. After that, list your work experience, starting with your most recent job. Below is a full example built from a real janitor's resume, so you can see how the pieces fit together.
Use the exact job title you held, like "janitor" or "custodian." You can build your own version of this layout with our resume builder and fill it in as you go.
Resume Example β Janitor
Daniel Reyes
Pittsburgh, PA
Janitor with over three years of experience maintaining office buildings and schools.
Trusted with building keys and alarm codes, and manages nightly cleaning without direct supervision.
Janitor
Crestwood Business Center, Pittsburgh, PA
08.2021 β Present
Custodian
Lincoln Heights Elementary School, Pittsburgh, PA
09.2018 β 06.2021
High School Diploma
Steel Valley High School, Pittsburgh, PA
2013 β 2017
Writing a Summary That Shows You Can Be Trusted With Keys
Since janitors often work alone with keys and alarm codes, mentioning that trust matters. Below are three examples for different experience levels.
How Many Floors or Buildings You Maintain Belongs on Your Resume
If you've worked more than one janitor or custodian job, list your most recent one first. Give it four to six duties. Older jobs can have fewer, shorter bullet points.
Work Experience β Janitor Resume Example
Janitor
Crestwood Business Center, Pittsburgh, PA
08.2021 β Present
Custodian
Lincoln Heights Elementary School, Pittsburgh, PA
09.2018 β 06.2021
Cleaning Skills and Repair Skills That Make a Janitor Resume Stand Out
List four to six skills that match your real experience. Don't copy a long list of skills you've never actually used.
Skills for a Janitor Resume
| Job-Specific Skills | Personal Strengths |
|---|---|
| Operating a floor buffer and wet/dry vacuum | Working well without direct supervision |
| Handling cleaning chemicals safely | Staying alert to safety hazards |
| Doing basic repairs like changing light bulbs | Solving small problems on your own |
| Following a nightly cleaning checklist | Staying organized across a large building |
| Managing building keys and alarm codes | Being trustworthy with property and access |
| Lifting and moving furniture and heavy bins | Handling physical work for a full shift |
| Cleaning and restocking restrooms | Paying attention to detail |
| Running a pressure washer for outdoor areas | Staying calm during early or late shifts |
| Sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming large floor areas | Working efficiently under a time limit |
| Reporting maintenance issues clearly | Communicating well with building managers |
Trash, Restrooms, Floors, and Small Repairs β How to List Your Daily Work
Use the table below as a starting point. Then swap in the exact tasks from your own job.
Typical Janitor Duties
| Area | Example Janitor Duties |
|---|---|
| Trash and recycling | Emptying trash and recycling bins in offices and common areas every night |
| Restrooms | Cleaning and restocking restrooms with soap, paper towels, and toilet paper |
| Floors | Sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming floors across multiple rooms or floors |
| Floor care equipment | Running a floor buffer to maintain hallway and lobby floors |
| Small repairs | Changing light bulbs, unclogging drains, and tightening loose door handles |
| Building security | Locking doors and setting the alarm system at the end of a shift |
| Outdoor areas | Sweeping entryways and using a pressure washer on sidewalks and loading docks |
| Event setup | Setting up and breaking down chairs and tables for meetings or school events |
| Supply management | Keeping track of cleaning supplies and requesting more before running out |
| Maintenance reporting | Reporting broken locks, burnt-out lights, or other repair needs to the building manager |
Ready to put this into a resume? Use our resume builder to add your own duties in minutes.
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What Training Actually Matters for a Janitor Job
Formal certifications aren't common for this job either. One that does come up is OSHA Hazard Communication training. It teaches safe labeling and handling of cleaning chemicals, which some employers require or prefer. If you've completed a course like this, add it to your resume.
Why a Clean, Simple Resume Layout Fits a Janitor's Reputation
Stick to one page and clear section headings. Avoid long paragraphs. A hiring manager should be able to see your last job and top skills within seconds of opening the file.
Not sure which layout fits best? Try our template library.
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Mistakes That Make a Janitor's Resume Look Weak
Writing "cleaned the building" with no detail. Say how many floors, classrooms, or square feet instead. It shows the real size of the job you handled.
Leaving out repair skills. Changing light bulbs or fixing a loose handle is part of the job at most buildings and worth listing.
Skipping trustworthiness. Janitors often work alone with keys and alarm codes. A line about locking up or handling building access builds trust.
Forgetting to mention flexible or off-hours availability. Many janitor shifts happen early morning, evening, or on weekends.
Listing skills you've never used, like equipment you saw on a job posting but haven't touched.
Using a messy or crowded layout that hides your experience.
Not mentioning any safety habits, like handling cleaning chemicals correctly.
If you're also sending a cover letter, keep the tone consistent with your resume. Our cover letter guide can help with that.
Key Takeaways for Your Janitor Resume
Use real numbers, like floors or classrooms covered, instead of vague phrases. List your duties by area β trash, restrooms, floors, and repairs. Mention trust and building access, since janitors often work alone. Keep education simple if a diploma is all you have. Add any safety training, like handling cleaning chemicals. Choose a clean, one-page layout so nothing gets missed.
For more general resume advice, see our full resume-writing guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Focus on any cleaning or maintenance work you've done, even at home or for family. Mention that you're reliable, learn routines quickly, and can handle physical work all shift. In your summary, say what you're looking for and what you can already do. Many employers train new janitors on building-specific steps, so willingness to learn matters a lot.
No formal certification is required for most janitor jobs. Some employers prefer OSHA Hazard Communication training, which covers safe labeling and handling of cleaning chemicals. If you've completed it, list it under certifications on your resume.
Yes. Being trusted with keys, alarm codes, or building access shows you're reliable, which matters a lot for this job. Add a short line about it in your summary or work experience.
Give a specific number, like "three floors of office space" or "two commercial buildings." A specific number is easier for a hiring manager to picture than a general phrase like "multiple locations."
These titles usually describe similar work. List each job with the exact title you actually held, and keep the duties specific to what you did in that role, like classroom cleaning versus office cleaning.
Yes, if you've done them. Skills like changing light bulbs, unclogging drains, or tightening door handles show you can handle more than basic cleaning, which many employers value.
One page is enough, even with several years of experience. List your two or three most recent jobs in detail and summarize older ones in a single line.
Being too vague. Phrases like "cleaned the building and other duties" don't tell a hiring manager anything useful. Specific tasks, building size, and honesty about your experience level work much better.
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