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Resume Template: Construction Contractor

Every successful construction project has a skilled contractor behind it.
Contents
Resume Template: Construction Contractor

As a construction contractor, you’ll have many competitors. So you’ll want to demonstrate to clients that you are the preferable option.

Whether you’re contracting on a residential or commercial project, small- or large-scale, you need to show that your skill and experience level is up to par with the requirements of the job.

What sets you and/or your company apart from all the other options in the marketplace?

What special expertise do you have to offer?

Do more than prove basic competency — instead, show that you are exceptional at what you do.

The process begins with crafting a brilliant and comprehensive construction contractor resume that demonstrates your true value and accomplishments.

Summary

  1. Resume Template
  2. Formatting
  3. Writing Your Resume Summary
  4. Areas of Expertise
  5. Writing Your Work Experience
  6. Writing Your Education Section
  7. Additional Sections
  8. Resume Points to Remember
  9. Resume “Don’ts” to Remember
  10. Some Helpful Tools

Let’s begin with a sample construction contractor resume to demonstrate how all the resume pieces fit together. Then we will break each section down to really drill into how to write the best construction contractor resume you possibly can.

Construction Contractor (Text Version)

CONTACT INFO:

Robert Harris
[email protected]
(602) 596-7689
Phoenix, AZ 85005
linkedin.com/robertjharris

SUMMARY STATEMENT

Construction Contractor: Efficient and ethical general contractor with 15 years experience, known for close collaboration with clients, quality work, and clean job sites. Skilled in team leadership and detailed planning. Thorough knowledge of construction materials and methods including applicable building and LEED codes.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Written/Verbal Communication
  • Blueprint Interpretation
  • Project Management
  • Project Bidding
  • LEED Codes
  • Building Materials
  • Creative Vision
  • Good Attitude
  • Detail-oriented

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Desert Building
Phoenix, AZ | General Contractor | March 2015–Present

  • Acquire contract for warehouse construction project
  • Collaborate with client in planning, including budgets and timelines
  • Develop blueprints for structures
  • Work with subcontractors to erect structures
  • Ensure project compliance with LEED building codes

Ridgeline Construction
Phoenix, AZ | Construction Manager | January 2010–December 2014

  • Managed team of workers for residential projects
  • Communicated with clients about plans and specifications
  • Executed project goals and objectives
  • Exercised quality control on-site, including material inspection
  • Observed all relevant building codes

Miller and Associates
Phoenix, AZ | Subcontractor | June 2007–December 2009

  • Accepted residential projects from general contractors
  • Assisted and managed builders on-site
  • Resolved material shortages, equipment breakdowns, and structural problems
  • Contributed to total home renovations as well as partial remodels

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION

Degree in Construction Management
University of Arizona Online
2006

Formatting

Much as you closely follow blueprints to erect a structure or building, so there is a format to stick to when structuring your resume.

You want to ensure that your construction contractor resume has maximum readability and an overall polished appearance.

Keep in mind that in this day and age, many companies use bots to sort through resumes. These bots work through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to identify relevant language and keywords within a resume.

While an ATS may not be used in the projects you’re pursuing as a Construction Contractor, it is nevertheless important to structure your resume according to the most recent trends and norms.

In terms of human evaluation, if you’re dealing with a hiring manager, chances are your resume will only spend an average of six seconds before their eyes. Given this, you must pay close attention to formatting.

First Things First

It is good practice to format your resume in reverse chronological order.

Place your most recent position/job/project first and work backward from there. Doing this ensures that a potential employer or client will see your latest accomplishments first.

Beware of inappropriate fonts that are difficult to read or too fancy. Choose a plain and sensible font that can be read easily at a glance.

Make use of appropriate white spaces in your resume, especially when aligning your paragraphs, columns, and lists.

Remember that readability is the goal.

Fashioning Your Resume Summary

Your summary comes first.

In 2–3 sentences, you must both attract and keep the attention of the reader.

Your summary is your jumping-off point, the section that will set the tone for the remainder of your construction contractor resume.

So let’s make it great!

While a few sentences doesn’t seem sufficient to make an impression, it’s all in how you write them and what you include.

Don’t keep things general in your summary.

Demonstrate why you are the ideal candidate with strong language that conveys experience and initiative.

A solid summary will radically increase your chances of being hired.

We guarantee it!

PRO TIP: A resume summary is a compact statement of your expertise and skills. While it used to be common practice to frame the summary in terms of an objective, it is not currently the norm. An exception might be if you are a recent graduate or lack experience. Only then should you consider including your professional objective in the summary.

Let’s look at a few examples of a Construction Contractor resume summary:

Yes!

Efficient and ethical general contractor with 15 years experience, known for close collaboration with clients, quality work, and clean job sites. Skilled in team leadership and detailed planning. Thorough knowledge of construction materials and methods including applicable building and LEED codes

No!

General contractor with lots of experience. I know all about team leadership and planning. I also know about materials and building codes. I am looking for clients who value quality work and clean job sites.

Why is the first example preferable to the second?

Let’s compare and contrast.

In the first summary example, the applicant’s official title is not just stated, but qualified with specifics. He’s not just a “general contractor,” but an “efficient” and “ethical” GP with “15 years experience.”

The summary goes on to list the candidate’s strongest skill and knowledge points.

The second summary example is vague and unprofessional. The reader gains no real knowledge of the applicant’s value and potential.

Use of the first-person “I” is a liability in a resume summary. It is something you never want to do.

Finally, the writer pins an objective onto the end of the summary, forgetting that it is he who is being considered here, not the client. It is a given that you want to work with desirable clients. You don’t need to state it.

Take time with your summary and make certain you are thoroughly conveying your worth and skill points.

Area of Expertise/Key Accomplishments

While your summary is short and to the point, a little something else is needed to really pinpoint your expertise and accomplishments.

So the second section of your construction contractor resume will cover your Areas of Expertise.

Your specific skills are what set you above the herd and make you the ideal candidate for the project/job.

Just what makes you an excellent construction contractor?

List your Areas of Expertise with bullet points.

A bulleted list will help the reader gain an immediate knowledge of your skill set.

Example:

  • Written/Verbal Communication
  • Blueprint Interpretation
  • Project Management
  • Project Bidding
  • LEED Codes
  • Building Materials
  • Creative Vision
  • Good Attitude
  • Detail-oriented

To really convey your expertise, your list should be a combination of both hard skills and soft skills.

What’s the difference?

Hard skills comprise those talents relevant to your trade or field. They are the things you’ve learned about what you do.

Soft skills are the areas in which you excel personally. They include things like communication, attitude, modes of thinking, and so on.

After you make your list of hard and soft skills, look it over to make sure what you’ve listed reflects what your potential employer is looking for in an applicant.

Pro Tip: Your Areas of Expertise section really goes to the heart of what makes you a good applicant. So take your time with it. Consider what skills make you stand out in your line of work. What have you been praised for in the past? What elements of your past work are you most proud of?

(See below for a helpful table of some suggested hard and soft skill ideas to inspire you in writing your skills section.)

Writing Your Work History

After your summary and list of accomplishments, it is time to get to your actual work experience.

Now is when you really show what you’ve been up to out in the working world.

What positions have you held?

Are you advancing in your working life?

Your work experience will take up the most space on your construction contractor resume.

So let’s make it count!

Begin with layout.

Remember reverse chronological order? It is what you should use when structuring your work history section.

Start with your most recent position or project. That way, the reader will immediately see what you’ve been doing lately and how you’ve been employing your relevant skills.

Note: You don’t need to list everything you’ve ever done work-wise — just those jobs relevant to the career you’re pursuing.

An exception would be if you lack experience or have recently graduated.

Things to include:

  • The company name
  • Where the company is located
  • What job you performed there

Most of the time, you will also list dates of employment.

However, due to gaps in employment or short terms of employment, you may choose to leave dates off your work history. If you do this, be aware that you will most likely need to address their absence should you advance to the interview phase.

List your day-to-day roles in a bulleted list.

Power words will help you write an effective work history. They convey action and drive.

Each bulleted list should comprise 3–5 relevant points. Not too much, not too little. Just enough to communicate your competence and value.

See these examples for reference:

Yes!

Ridgeline ConstructionPhoenix, AZ | Construction Manager January 2010–December 2014
• Managed team of workers for residential projects
• Communicated with clients about plans and specifications
• Executed project goals and objectives
• Exercised quality control on-site, including material inspection
• Observed all relevant building codes

No!

Ridgeline Construction Phoenix, AZ | Construction Manager  
• Managed team
• Managed clients
• Project goals and objectives
• Quality control and material inspection
• Followed building codes

The first list conveys action and power, right? The reader gets a clear and concise breakdown of the applicant’s specific roles in the position.

Each entry begins with a strong power word, making an impact and communicating competency.

The second list is too general and lacks power.

Power words are used partially, but also repeated, making the entries redundant and unremarkable.

Of course, this is the last thing you want.

Ideally, your work experience should leave the reader impressed and wanting to interview you.

PRO TIP: The points in your work experience list should be as relevant as possible to the position you’re seeking. As you write, reference the job description to ensure your points and power words remain relevant..

Bots and Your Work History

Remember the Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

The last thing you want is a bot disqualifying your construction contractor resume. If you’ve employed keywords and proper language, this should not occur, but some choose to go a step further.

You can format your work history entries as paragraphs rather than bullet lists. It will give you the option of including more keywords to increase your chances of satisfying ATS bots.

So instead of a list:

Ridgeline ConstructionConstruction ManagerPhoenix, AZ January 2010–December 2014

  • Managed team of workers for residential projects
  • Communicated with clients about plans and specifications
  • Executed project goals and objectives
  • Exercised quality control on-site, including material inspection
  • Observed all relevant building codes

Use a paragraph:

Managed team of workers for residential projects, and communicated with clients about plans and specifications. Executed project goals and objectives while exercising quality control on-site and completing material inspections. Observed all relevant building codes.  

Or, opt for a combination of the two formats, with special responsibilities listed as bullet points.

Managed team of workers for residential projects, and communicated with clients about plans and specifications. Executed projects goals and objectives.

  • Exercised quality control on-site and completed material inspections
  • Observed all relevant building codes

A disadvantage to these alternate formats is that they make your work history harder to read.

Your Areas of Expertise may be strong enough to negate such a disadvantage, but it’s still a risk to take.

Unless you’re sure your potential employer uses an ATS, we recommend staying with an exclusive bullet point format for your work history section.

Writing Your Education Section

Listing your education is an important part of drafting an overall picture of your experience.

Perhaps you have a degree in a specialized area, or maybe a more general degree in liberal arts.

Whatever the case, you should list it, starting with your highest level of education and then working backward.

Example: Master’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Highschool Diploma

Include your area of study and the institution(s) you studied at or earned your degree(s) from.

Be sure to add certifications, minors, or academic accomplishments as well.

Consider adding your GPA if you happen to be a new graduate. While your GPA will be of less relevance as you move up in your career, it can help boost your credentials when you’re just starting out.

Example:

Degree in Construction Management
University of Arizona Online
GPA: 3.5
2006

You may also add any additional education points, such as certifications, licenses, conferences, and so on.

Additional Sections

Have any special accomplishments or experience points to list? Consider adding an additional section to your construction contractor resume.

An additional section can also help fill out your resume if you lack experience.

Here are some options:

  • Awards and honors
  • Publications
  • Noteworthy Projects
  • Social Media Influence
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Hobbies/Interests
  • Volunteer Work

No Experience

Perhaps you’re new to the field of contracting. Maybe you only have a few projects under your belt — or none at all.

Don’t let this stop you from writing a good resume. It can still be done, though you should consider shuffling some of the elements around.

You’ll still want to kick things off with a strong summary.

Then consider following your summary with your education credentials.

With little to no experience, your education will be the strongest selling point of your resume.

Also, when listing what work experience you do have, make sure your bullet points relate to the requirements of the job you’re seekling. It may prove challenging, so really consider what tasks and responsibilities are relevant.

Have you held a job that required organization and clear thinking?

How about a position that involved managing a team or structuring a budget?

Have you ever taken inventory or ordered needed goods/materials?

These are some experience points that could be applied in the context of construction contracting.

Key Points to Remember

A few important elements to remember/include:

Be sure to always include your contact information. There’s no point in crafting the perfect resume if you do not list a way to be contacted.

A LinkedIn profile.

An email address.

A business address.

Whatever is the best way to get in touch with you, include it on your construction contractor resume.

Use good spacing.

Remember to use space efficiently in your resume. You have one page to work with, so you need to make sure your most impressive skill points are seen first. Put them in your summary at the top of the page. Then, list your areas of expertise followed by your work history and education sections.

Wield power words.

Using power words gives your resume the punch it needs to stand out above the rest. Strong language is key when writing a brilliant resume.

Get a proofreader.

Even the best writers make mistakes. By taking the step of recruiting a proofreader, you’ll ensure that your resume turns out as polished as possible.

Remember the Resume “Don’ts”

Let’s review some things to avoid when writing your resume:

No first-person language.

It feels natural and friendly to use first-person language, especially when you’re trying to convey details about yourself. However, this is undesirable in a professional resume. So no “I” or “me.” Keep your language centered on your skills and experience.

Keep it to one page.

Unless you’re a rocket scientist, your construction contractor resume should only require one page. Your skills and experience listed neatly on a single page will ensure readability and a professional look.

Avoid repetition.

Don’t repeat yourself in your resume, and this includes power word selection. Employ a variety of power words to keep the reader engaged and ready to learn more.

(We’ve put together a handy table of power words below to use for inspiration.)

Avoid fancy fonts.

In the majority of cases, you’ll want to stick with basic fonts. Nothing crazy or stylized. Your resume should look both legible and readable.

Some Tools to Help You:

Power Words

  • Acquire
  • Collaborate
  • Develop
  • Work
  • Ensure
  • Managed
  • Communicated
  • Executed
  • Exercised
  • Observed
  • Accepted
  • Involved
  • Monitored
  • Contributed

Skills List

Hard Skills Soft Skills
Blueprint Interpretation Written/Verbal Communication
Project Management Creative Vision
Project Bidding Good Attitude
LEED Codes Detail-oriented
Building Materials Efficient

 

 

Pamela Skillings
Pamela is the co-founder of BigInterview and an expert interview coach on a mission to help job seekers get their dream jobs. As an HR authority, she also provides consulting services to companies wishing to streamline their hiring process.

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