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Think of your construction worker resume as the blueprint for your career. How you craft it can lay a foundation for building the career you desire.
Whether you’re writing a superintendent resume or a resume for a laborer, = learning how to write a resume is a tool that you’ll use throughout your career in construction. Just follow a few simple instructions and use our construction resume examples for reference and the task will be done quickly and easily.
Keep reading to find:
- Construction resume examples for applicants with and without experience.
- An overview of what makes a construction worker resume great.
- Tips and tricks for writing your resume, including how to study a construction laborer job description for resume keywords.
- What to include in every section of your resume.
- How to choose the right resume template and format for the role.
Ready to write a construction worker resume now? Use our professional AI Resume Builder for step-by-step help writing every section.
Construction worker resume examples
What makes this a great entry-level construction resume sample?
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Detailed career objective
This applicant uses her career objective, also known as a resume objective, both to outline her related work experience and to express her career goal, which is to eventually become a construction worker.
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Use of multiple skills sections
This applicant wisely uses most of her construction resume to highlight her related skills. By employing two different types of skills sections, she makes it easy for potential employers to see that she has cultivated the skills necessary to excel in the construction worker role she aspires to attain.
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Appropriate resume template
Construction workers are employed for all different types of projects by all different kinds of companies. By choosing an understated resume template, this applicant has crafted a resume that is versatile and appropriate to use for almost any job that catches her eye.
What makes this a great experienced construction resume sample?
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Versatile resume template
Like the resume above, this applicant makes the wise choice to use an understated — and therefore versatile — resume template, which allows him to customize the content but use the same template for all of his applications.
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Strong professional summary
This construction superintendent resume kicks off with a professional summary that will make hiring managers take notice. It features critical skills and uses metrics to showcase his stated experience.
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Detailed work experience section
This applicant uses multiple detailed bullet points to highlight his past professional experience and strong career trajectory.
Related resume examples
Not finding the construction resume that you need? Check out the related job titles below or take a look at our full library of resume examples to browse hundreds of job titles to find what you’re looking for.
Select the best format for your construction worker resume
To land the construction worker job you want, you need to get the right information in front of a recruiter. How do you accomplish that? By choosing the resume format that puts your most impressive credentials front and center. The resume format you choose should be based on your level of experience in the field of construction.
Here’s how to decide which one is right for you:
- The chronological resume format works best for experienced applicants who have five or more years of relevant construction experience.
- The combination resume format is great for midlevel applicants who have a few years of work experience as a construction worker.
- The functional resume format is perfect for applicants with little to no direct work experience in construction.
Visit our guide on how to format a resume for more information on how to best showcase your skills, training and experience.
Now that you’ve chosen the perfect format, it’s time to pick your construction resume template.
Choose an appropriate template for your resume
While every resume will have the same basic sections — a professional summary or resume objective, skills, work history and education — you can customize the look and feel of your resume by selecting the right resume template.
While there are many different resume designs, a versatile simple resume template may be the way to go. Its minimalist design makes your skills and experience the star of the show over fussy design elements.
For a more stylish resume, try a modern resume template. These have a more contemporary design but are still easy to read and appropriate for most employers.
Now let’s learn about the writing process.
How to write a construction worker resume in 5 simple steps
While there are some basic rules for writing a great resume, top candidates for competitive construction worker jobs know that the key to getting noticed is to write a resume that is specific to the industry and the role they seek. We’ve outlined how to accomplish that in five simple steps.
Let’s get started.
Step 1
Study the construction worker job description
A well-written construction worker resume is customized to include keywords that show employers that you have what it takes to perform the role. Why is this important?
Many employers run resumes through applicant tracking systems (ATS) that screen out unqualified candidates based on preset keywords. If your resume doesn’t contain the right keywords, you’ll be eliminated before a human ever sees your resume. To make your resume ATS-friendly, you’ll need to customize it to the construction laborer job description to improve your chances of landing a job interview.
But how do you choose the right keywords? Just read the job ad.
While every construction worker role is different, a good job ad should tell you everything you need to know about which keywords to add to your construction worker resume. The key to success is to study the job description and make a list of critical keywords.
For example, if the job description asks for “tool proficiency,” “teamwork and collaboration,” and “physical stamina and knowledge of OSHA guidelines,” you’ll want to be sure to use those exact words in your construction worker resume. Look for opportunities in your professional summary, skills section and work experience section to add the keywords you’ve identified. Then, go through your resume and make sure that what you wrote matches the wording in the job description so that the ATS recognizes it.
It may sound like a lot, but once you get used to the process, it should only take you a few minutes to do and will get your construction worker resume better results than if you don’t tailor it.
Step 2
Write a professional summary or resume objective
Depending on your level of experience, your construction worker resume should include either a professional summary or a resume objective to start. Think of this section as your resume profile, where you provide potential employers with a summary of your most relevant skills and experience and some professional highlights.
Less experienced applicants for construction roles should choose a resume objective, which states your transferable skills and your career goals. Applicants with more direct experience in a construction worker role should use a professional summary, which outlines your skills and experience and highlights some of your most notable professional accomplishments.
Let’s look at how each of these would appear on a construction worker resume.
Construction worker resume objective example:
Dedicated and safety-conscious construction worker with six months of hands-on experience in residential construction. Possess comprehensive knowledge of OSHA regulations with a proven track record of executing tasks with precision and efficiency. Adept at blueprint interpretation, equipment operation and maintaining a clean and organized work environment. Seeking to leverage expertise gained from actively contributing to the successful completion of a multiunit housing project, demonstrating proficiency in framing, roofing and finishing work.
Construction worker professional summary example:
Highly skilled construction worker with more than six years of hands-on experience in the dynamic realm of commercial building. Completed a rigorous 30-hour training program, solidifying comprehensive knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and best practices in construction safety, hazard recognition and incident prevention. Proven expertise in executing complex construction projects with precision, efficiency and an unwavering commitment to safety. Adept at coordinating diverse teams, interpreting blueprints and leveraging a robust toolkit of technical skills. Demonstrated ability to consistently deliver high-quality workmanship within project timelines and budget constraints.
Step 3
Highlight your most relevant construction worker skills
Regardless of your experience level, hiring managers will be looking closely at the construction worker resume skills you list. Skills for a construction worker resume should be added to your resume skills section and peppered into your professional summary (or resume objective) and your work experience section.
It’s critical that you provide employers with a solid mix of hard and soft skills. Hard skills are the measurable skills needed to perform a job, like advanced carpentry skills. These skills are easily taught in a classroom. Soft skills, like collaboration and teamwork, are behaviors and personality traits, which make them difficult to measure.
Below, we provide a side-by-side list of hard and soft skills to help you see the difference between the two.
Key skills for a construction worker resume
- Tool proficiency
- Blueprint interpretation
- Mathematical skills
- Carpentry experience
- Masonry skills
- Problem-solving
- Customer service
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Leadership
Here’s an example of a strong resume skills section for a construction worker:
- Effective communication with team members, supervisors and clients.
- Accurate execution of blueprint plans and construction tasks.
- Basic understanding of electrical and plumbing systems.
- Knowledge of safety protocols and adherence to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines.
- Competency with various hand and power tools.
- Strong time management skills.
When writing your skills section, adding computer skills and other technical abilities are great. However, soft skills also count in many construction roles where interaction with co-workers and clients is part of the job. Try to find a mix of hard and soft skills to show that you’re a well-balanced applicant.
Step 4
Write a strong construction worker work experience section
While the required background and experience will be different for each role, the key to getting noticed is writing a work experience section that demonstrates what you will bring to the table.
Think about your work experience in terms of projects that challenged you, obstacles you’ve overcome and professional wins you’ve enjoyed over the course of your career. Describing your work experience in these terms helps show off the impact of your work rather than just your job duties.
Sample construction worker work history entry:
Construction worker, BuildIt Group
Palo Alto, CA
June 2021 – Present
- Specialize in the construction of multilevel parking garages.
- Execute precise concrete formwork, contributing to an average of 20% reduction in material wastage, thereby enhancing project cost-efficiency.
- Safely operate heavy machinery, including cranes and forklifts, maintaining an accident-free record for over two years.
- Collaborate with a team of 15+ skilled workers, ensuring seamless coordination and achieving an average project completion time of 10% ahead of schedule.
- Conduct routine equipment inspections, resulting in a 15% decrease in unscheduled maintenance and downtime.
Make your construction worker credentials pop by using action words, data and metrics to capture the attention of a hiring manager. The work experience section above is a great example of how to employ those techniques to make your resume stand out.
Step 5
Showcase your education and training
To be hired as a construction worker, you’ll need to show employers that you have the required education and training. In many regions, becoming a construction worker typically does not require formal education beyond a high school diploma or equivalent.
However, there are certain aspects that may require specialized training or licensing, including apprenticeships or OSHA training. When you’re listing your degrees, there is no need to list your year of graduation unless you’re a very recent grad.
How to list your education:
EDUCATION
Mission High School
San Francisco, CA
May 2022
APPRENTICESHIP:
ABC Plumbing, Oakland, CA
June 2022 – June 2024
CERTIFICATIONS:
- OSHA 30-Hour Certification, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (ACRP)
- First Aid and CPR Certification, American Red Cross
Optional sections for your construction worker resume
Languages
Knowing more than one language is highly prized in today’s job market. With construction being a field that attracts people from all walks of life, being multilingual expands your communication abilities, giving you the ability to effectively interact with a wider range of people.
Ultimately, all else being equal, if a job opening comes down to two candidates with similar qualifications and one of them lists multiple languages on their resume, the multilingual candidate will be more attractive to the employer.
How to showcase languages on your resume:
- Fluent in English and Spanish
- Conversational Mandarin Chinese
Hobbies and interests
Featuring personal projects or hobbies, especially those tied to community service, athletics or creativity, offers a more comprehensive view of your passions. It’s fine to add any of your personal interests to your resume as long as they aren’t political or religious in nature. It’s best if they have some relevance to the role you’re applying to but not completely necessary.
How to feature hobbies and interests on your resume:
- Avid dirt bike rider.
- Regular volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.
Include a cover letter
Adding a construction worker cover letter to your application can help you stand out. Why? Because it gives you extra space to convince the employer that you’re the right person for the job.
Learning how to write a cover letter for a construction worker job starts with studying our cover letter examples to learn how to express your unique candidacy in a compelling way and how to format your cover letter for success.
Or, if you want a job-specific cover letter in a matter of minutes, use our professional Cover Letter Builder, which offers professionally written text suggestions for every section. Use the wording as-is or customize it to suit your needs.
Key takeaways for your construction worker resume
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Personalize your resume
Tailor your resume to align with the specific requirements of each job ad to which you apply, making note of the critical skills and experience outlined in the job description.
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Select the right resume format for you
Decide what you’d like to emphasize the most on your construction worker resume — such as strong skills, an impressive work history or both — and then select the format that will help you put your best foot forward.
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Choose an appropriate template
If you’re applying for a job at a conservative company, you’ll want to choose a conservative resume design. For less traditional work environments, your resume template can be more colorful and creative.
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Follow our steps for a standout resume
Take care to write all five sections of your resume in a way that is specific to the job you seek. Your professional summary, skills, work experience and education section should all contain information that is targeted to the job ad.
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Include both hard and soft skills
Being a construction worker requires a mix of technical and personal skills to do the job well, especially in roles where you will interact with homeowners or other clients. Study our list of hard and soft skills to be sure that you include a balance of both types in your resume.
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Make your work experience section shine
Accomplish this by using action verbs, data and metrics to show the impact of your work. Using interesting language will keep a recruiter engaged and metrics help hiring managers see what you’ll bring to the table if hired.
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Go the extra mile with a cover letter
Including a well-written construction worker cover letter can increase your chances of landing a job interview, so take the chance to include one with your application.
FAQs from job seekers
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Heather is the Content Strategy Manager for Resume Now and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than ten years of experience writing about job search and career topics. She is based in San Francisco.
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