If you want to land a job in construction, you need an eye-catching resume when you apply for jobs. A construction resume features information specific to your experiences and training related to the popular career field.
Crafting a construction resume is relatively easy, but you'll need to gather the proper information to impress potential employers and hiring managers.
Below, we walk through construction resumes, what format to use, what to include, and skills to list on your resume to grab the right people's attention.
Consider hiring a professional resume writing service to apply with a top-quality resume.
If you want to land a construction job, start your search on ZipRecruiter. ZipRecruiter is easy to use and free for job seekers. Get started on ZipRecruiter today!
If you’re an employer looking to fill a construction job, or any other position, check out our list of the best free job posting sites.
What Is Unique About A Construction Resume?
The construction trade includes several job categories you won't find anywhere else. With such a unique industry, you need a resume that shines a light on your experience learning and working in the construction industry.
The resume format you should use depends on your experience. For many, a standard reverse chronological order format makes sense. It's easy to create and systematically walks through your most current experiences and works backward.
If you have a varied or limited work history, a combination resume might be a better fit. This format combines reverse chronological format in certain sections while highlighting transferable skills and experiences learned outside the construction trade.
You could also opt for a functional resume format, which focuses more specifically on your skills and expertise instead of your work history. This is also a good choice for individuals who have a limited work history or work outside the construction industry.
Ultimately, the format you use might depend on the potential employer or specific career path. Here's a look at some of the jobs available within the construction trade.
- Architect
- Carpenter
- Chief construction officer
- Civil engineer
- Construction manager
- Drywall installers
- Electrician
- Equipment operator
- Estimator
- Field engineer
- Foreman
- Forklift operator
- General laborer
- Inspector
- Ironworkers
- Joiners
- Painter
- Pipefitters
- Project manager
- Roofer
- Safety specialist
- Signal workers
- Structural engineer
- Surveyor
- Welders
Related: Highest Paying Construction Jobs
What Should Be Included On A Construction Resume?
Certain information and sections should be present in a construction resume regardless of which format you choose. As we walk through what to include, we'll use the reverse chronological format to craft the ideal resume for your job search.
Here are sections you should include in your construction resume.
HEADER
Include a header towards the top of your resume. A resume header includes your name and contact information, including your name, phone number, and email address. There's no need to include your mailing address at this point. Most employers use other methods to contact job applicants these days.
SUMMARY
Another essential element of an outstanding resume is a resume summary. Include the summary near the top of the resume as well. Consider the summary as a quick peek into who you are as a candidate, including relevant work experiences, accomplishments, and skills. It should be a brief look, not a long-winded essay. Limit the resume summary to two paragraphs or less.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Another crucial section to include is the work experience section. List your work history, starting with the most recent job, and work backward. It's ok to include other work roles if they include transferable skills and training that would be beneficial in a construction role. Include any internships or apprenticeship programs you've completed in the work section.
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Follow this format when listing your work experience:
- Position title
- Company name
- Location
- Dates of employment
Also, include a bulleted list of your responsibilities and accomplishments. Use action words and other data to support the details.
Related: Construction Worker Job Description
EDUCATION
You also need to include an education section on your construction resume. The education section lists formal education experiences you've completed. Follow reverse chronological order starting with the highest degree you’ve received, and work backward.
When listing education experiences, include the following:
- College, university, or school name
- Location (city, state)
- Years attended
- Degree earned
- Major (if relevant)
If you're still in school, list the same information except include your anticipated graduation date instead. You can also list any trade school experiences or relevant associations, clubs, or achievements within the education section if you have them.
CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES
There's a good chance you've earned some certificates or licenses needed to work in the construction industry. If so, include them in a separate section on your resume. List them by including the:
- Certificate or license title
- License number
- The issuing organization or association
- Expiration date (if included)
SKILLS
Your skills section highlights your most relevant skills related to the construction job you're applying for. The skills you list should be a mix of hard skills and relevant soft skills. Hard skills are more technical skills learned through your training. Soft skills are generalized skills that apply to multiple work environments. List your 10 to 15 of your most relevant skills maximum.
What Should Be Left Off A Construction Resume?
Try to reserve resume space for the most relevant information that improves your chances of landing a job interview and, ultimately, a construction job. If you don't have a long enough work or education history, it's ok to include other experiences that provide relevant, transferable experiences. Be prepared to explain any gaps in your resume during job interviews.
Important Job Skills For Construction Resumes
The construction industry features a variety of roles that require highly technical skills to complete. Some skills can be learned anywhere, while others require specific training to master.
Here are some of the skills you might include on a construction resume.
- Active listening
- Building
- Building codes
- Building materials
- Communication
- Demolition
- Dependability
- Engineering
- Framing
- Hand-eye-coordination
- HVAC
- Ironwork
- Joining
- Leadership
- Masonry
- Mathematical skills
- Organization
- Pipefitting
- Plumbing
- Power tools
- Problem-solving
- Purchasing
- Reading
- Renovations
- Roofing
- Sourcing
- Structure repair
- Surveying
- Teamwork
- Verbal communication
- Wallcovering
- Welding
- Woodwork
- Written communication
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be on a construction resume?
A construction resume should contain information relevant to the open construction job and captures the attention of potential employers. Include your name and contact information, a summary of recent accomplishments, your work and education history, and relevant skills that make you a good fit.
Should a resume be two pages?
Your resume can be two pages if you have enough relevant experiences that make sense to include. In most cases, though, one page is sufficient to capture all of your pertinent information without overwhelming the recruiter or hiring manager.
What skills should I list on my resume?
Include a mix of hard skills and soft skills on your resume. Hard skills are technical skills gained through training and experience. Soft skills are transferable skills, like listening and leadership, relevant to almost any job role.
What skills are needed for construction?
The skills you need for a construction job depend on the specific role and what's required by the employer. Construction skills include ironwork, masonry, welding, woodworking, surveying, purchasing, and plumbing.
The Bottom Line
If you're still looking for a construction job, head to ZipRecruiter. The online job marketplace features more than 9 million jobs and is free to use. Crafting a solid resume isn't hard as long as you have the necessary information on hand to fill it out. You can also use a resume writing service if you want help getting the attention of potential employers.
