Resumes & Cover Letters

How to Write a Perfect Construction Resume (Examples Included)

construction-resume
Written by Kate Lopaze

when you think “construction jobs,” you might not think “resume,” because it’s such a physical job with skills that can be shown rather than told. however, as with any job hunt, your resume is the key to getting in the door—and out on the site.

Construction helper

Experienced construction worker

Construction manager

first we have john, who is looking for his first full-time construction job, as a helper.

construction-resume-helper

download this resume in ms word

john davis

39 magnolia street

dallas, tx 89898

(5555) 666-7777

johndavis@emaildomain.com

summary: quick learner, with a positive attitude and a focus on safety and time management. familiar with construction protocols, tools, materials, and equipment. able to lift up to 100 pounds.

core competencies

  • landscaping
  • general maintenance
  • paving
  • mixing mortar and cement
  • working on scaffolding
  • safe handling of power tools
  • heavy lifting
  • punctuality and time management
  • working as part of a team
  • licensed driver with a clean driving record and reliable transportation

experience

grounds crew member

floyd stadium

dallas, tx

  • watering and maintaining a grass baseball field
  • operating grounds maintenance equipment
  • mixing and pouring cement
  • performing general maintenance duties

education

forest hills high school

dallas, tx

high school diploma

without specific construction experience, john knows he needs to show what else he brings to the table to make up for experience. the best way to do this is to put his skills and general qualifications up front, so that the reader sees those before his or her first impression is “no direct experience.” this way, john frames the proficiency he does have (working with equipment, working as part of a team, knowledge of safety protocols) as valuable experience. to that end, he also beefs up his objective into a summary, setting the narrative tone for the rest of his resume. rather than a single statement, he makes sure to offer several points that qualify him for the construction helper job he’s seeking. this should be tailored as closely as possible to the specific job/company to which you’re applying, so that the reader can see how you would fit into the job.

next we have jean, who is an experienced construction worker on the lookout for the next job opportunity. jean’s current goal is not necessarily a specific position, but rather to keep the resume up to date so that if there’s a great opening, it’s ready to go with some quick revisions for the specific job description.

construction-resume-experienced-construction-worker

download this resume in ms word

jean anderson

231 edgewater street

plainville, fl

jpanderson@emaildomain.com

888-999-3333

experienced, safety-minded laborer with 15+ years of experience in construction, inspections, roofing, handy work, and repairs.

work experience

bph construction                                                                plainville, fl

constructor worker/laborer                                     2008 – present

perform general maintenance and construction work for large corporate accounts, such as sandwich heaven, mcduff’s, burger prince, and donut town.

  • develop work schedules for each project with the project manager, and ensure that the team meets deadlines.
  • work closely with subcontractors throughout all stages of the construction process.
  • manage demolition, masonry, carpentry, flooring, and plumbing.

perform inspections and ensure that all safety protocols are followed

spinelli roofing                                                                        orlando, fl

laborer/roofer                                                                       2005 – 2008 

roofer and laborer for orlando’s #1 rated roofing company.

  • stripped and shingled roofs.
  • coordinated materials and inventory necessary to complete jobs on time and on budget.
  • patched holes with tar, measuring and cutting the shingles to spec, and nailing down the shingles into the roof.
  • cleaned up work sites and ensured that all tools and materials were removed and stored according to best safety practices.

db construction                                                                       orlando, fl

construction worker                                                             2003 – 2005

transported and moved drywall, construction material to job site.

  • job site maintenance/pick-up and removal of construction debris.
  • prepared composition and taping solutions for construction.
  • performed hand and machine sanding.
  • mounted and hung drywall to framing wood.
  • applied composition solution to wall cracks, gaps, covering patches, screw nail seams and outlets.
  • worked with subcontractors to complete projects on time and on budget.

martell and associates                                                           orlando, fl
construction helper/worker                                            2001 – 2003

assisted construction team in demolition and site construction.

  • unloaded and load construction materials at the job site, distributed materials, and erected scaffolding in compliance with safety protocols.
  • performed controlled demolitions using explosive materials.
  • mixed and poured concrete and asphalt.
  • managed traffic flow in and out of the construction site, including erecting signage and monitoring safety.
  • secured attachments to heavy equipment in conjunction with operators to ensure completeness and safety.
  • oiled and grease hoists, operated pneumatic hammers and tampers.

education

florida state college, plainville, fl; a.s. business administration (in progress)

harris high school, tampa, fl; high school diploma

jean’s resume is ready to go as soon as there’s an opportunity to pursue. even if you don’t have an immediate job opening in mind, it’s wise to do resume maintenance at least once a year—even if you’re in the same job, your skills and experience are evolving, and you want to make sure you’re including everything you possibly can to show off your professional history and skills. here, jean has created a base that can be adapted as necessary. the experience stands, and can be updated as jean adds more proficiencies. jean can also add more elements to tailor the resume for a specific company’s needs or the job description, adding specific skills and an updated summary statement to reflect what the job calls for.

and last but not least, let’s look at brian, who is transitioning from an on-the-ground construction role to an upper management role.

construction-resume-construction-manager

download this resume in ms word

brian felix

67 broad street

hartford, ct 56565

(444) 555-6666

bfelix@emaildomain.com

construction manager with more than 20 years of successful oversight and completion of all phases of multimillion-dollar construction projects for clients (both government entities and private sector companies). experience includes managing crews of up to 100 members in building demolition and construction. proven track record of completing projects on time, on budget, with a superior attention to detail and quality.

skills summary

  • managing crews and subcontractors
  • infrastructure evaluation and improvement
  • ensuring total compliance with osha safety protocols and safety best practices
  • field engineering
  • running cost estimates and creating project bids/proposals
  • controlling costs to ensure budget compliance
  • ensuring time management best practices are followed to keep established schedules
  • spearheading demolition and construction projects

experience

construction project manager                                            jan. 2013 – present

ct construction                                                                                  hartford, ct

managed commercial construction projects including hartford business park development and the parker school.

  • lead a team of laborers and subcontractors responsible for project planning, execution, and construction.
  • average budget: $3 million.
  • plan projects to maximize schedules and reduce overhead costs.
  • communicate schedules and updates to stakeholders and crews.
  • execute osha safety protocols and ensure compliance from all team members.
  • coordinate subcontractors for proposals as part of the bid process.

construction project manager                                      april 2005 – jan. 2013

rd yardley & co.                                                                                hartford, ct

managed construction projects valued up to $2 million. managed a construction team of 6, as well as subcontractors.

  • saved an average of $250,000 per year by identifying cost-saving measures and implementing them in project plans.
  • average budget: $1.5 million.
  • allocated project resources including subcontractors, suppliers and company labor, while maintaining projected budgets and
  • reviewed and prepared contracts, permits, drafts, cost estimates and insurance documentation.
  • performed quality assurance on job sites to ensure top-quality service.
  • coordinated daily standup meetings with team leaders, subcontractors, and client stakeholders.

construction worker                                                     nov. 1998 – april 2005

demolition helper                                                            may 1996 – nov. 1998

take it down demolition, inc.                                               east hartford, ct

oversaw demolition projects, including high-profile government and private sector building projects.

  • used heavy machinery and equipment, including jackhammers, drills, pumps, generators, and electric saws to complete fast, effective, and safe demolition.
  • cleared debris, trash and hazardous materials from assigned site and prepared it for renovation crews.
  • worked with teams to complete and clear sites safely and on time.
  • promoted to construction worker after less than a year on the job.

additional skills

  • microsoft office suite
  • quickbid cost estimate and bidding software
  • bilingual (spanish)

education

marsh college
a.s., civil engineering, 2010

brian is hitting his management skills hard in this resume, to make sure that he’s viewed as a leader by anyone reading it. he has long experience, but rather than make the reader connect the dots, he starts up front with a detailed summary statement to set the narrative. he follows this up by using each of his job experiences to underline a facet of his leadership (managing crews, bidding for projects, creating and sticking to budgets and plans). his skills summary is important because it’s the high-level list of themes he wants to convey in his experience, which he does with specific responsibilities and achievements under each job.

brian also knows his audience: companies that want to complete projects as cost-effectively as possible, so he includes specific budget numbers and stats on cost savings, whenever that info is available. it shows the reader that he’s results-oriented and conscious of the financial bottom line, without explicitly saying, “i’m results-oriented.”

for someone at a senior level, the reader likely expects brian to have demonstrable expertise and experience, and brian makes sure to weave that information through as much of the resume as possible. the construction world calls for “doers,” so a resume like this should have lots of big action words: “execute,” “lead,” “spearhead,” etc. it’s all about framing your narrative, and the more dynamic you sound, the more engaged the reader will be. it’s all about the packaging, and your resume gives you a great amount of control over that branding.

if you’re on the hunt for jobs in construction, TheJobNetwork has you covered! check out the below listings, and search for the position you want in your immediate area:

Want more resume samples? Check out the following resume templates:

About the author

Kate Lopaze

Kate Lopaze is a writer, editor, and digital publishing professional based in New York City. A graduate of the University of Connecticut and Emerson College with degrees in English and publishing, she is passionate about books, baseball, and pop culture (though not necessarily in that order), and lives in Brooklyn with her dog.