Skills
Paperhanger Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in paperhangers, and how to build and show them.
What skills do paperhangers need?
Paperhangers need technical skills such as wall prep, layout, and pattern matching, plus people skills like patience and precision. They also use tools such as Smoothing brushes and Seam rollers.
Technical (hard) skills
- Wall prep
- Layout
- Pattern matching
- Hanging
- Trimming
- Mural installation
People (soft) skills
- Patience
- Precision
- Eye for design
- Customer service
Tools, equipment and technology
- Smoothing brushes
- Seam rollers
- Razor knives
- Levels
- Paste tables
- Ladders
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how paperhangers put their skills to work:
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Wall prep” and “Layout.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “patience,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as WIA certification near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our paperhanger glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Paperhanger training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.