Resume Template: Construction Worker

It’s hard work — but rewarding — as you contribute to projects and watch them take shape.

There are boundless opportunities for employment in this field.

Construction is an area with many specialities, so a central part of looking for construction work is to determine what your specialities are.

What do you have to offer?

Perhaps you think a construction worker isn’t in need of a polished resume. Not so! Don’t miss this chance to really impress a hiring manager with your skills and accomplishments.

A great construction worker resume is always an asset.

It will take some time and dedication to write your perfect Construction Worker resume, so let’s get started.

We will go through the steps you need to take to turn out a well-written and professional resume.

How to begin?

A construction worker needs specific materials to do his job. Likewise, you’ll need to know the central elements and resources required for a good resume.

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 worker 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 worker resume you possibly can.

You use plans and blueprints to build a house or structure. Framing is essential.

It’s the same with a resume, step by step.

Proper formatting will help you overcome some of the hurdles facing job applicants in this day and age.

Some employers use software bots to scan for keywords. It’s a vetting process that occurs before your construction worker resume is even seen by a hiring manager.

However, if you use scannable formatting and language, your resume will have a good chance of getting through.

You must also consider that the average resume spends six seconds in the hands of a hiring manager.

So your resume will need to make an impression and fast.

First off, be sure to lay out your resume in reverse chronological order. This means you’ll list your most recent job first and work backward from there, covering all your relevant work history.

Second, use simple fonts, never anything fancy or stylized.

Third, make wise use of your white spaces. Proper white spaces vastly help the scannability of a resume.

So align your entries and columns in a clean and presentable way.

It’s time to start writing.

Your summary is an important part of your construction worker resume. It goes at the top of the page. It will be read first before anything else.

So let’s get it right.

Your first impression should be 2–3 sentences that encapsulate your skills and attributes.

You want to get at the essence of what makes you a great construction worker.

Language and keywords are important to your summary. You’re trying to demonstrate your value to the potential employer. So really try and be specific.

Writing a good summary is the crucial first step in creating your resume. It is going to really help get your foot in the door.

PRO TIP: Keep in mind that your summary should not be a breakdown of your work history. Listing your work experience will come later. Rather, your summary should be a summation of your most relevant skills, the things you excel at that will most impress the reader.

Time to look at some summary examples. Let’s consider what to do and what not to do.

One of these examples is preferable over the other.

But why?

The first is a compelling glimpse into the candidate’s expertise as a construction worker. We not only learn what they are capable of skill-wise, but also that they are reliable and experienced.

Power words and keywords are used to good effect. They convey action and specificity.

The first example is a good jumping-off point for the rest of the resume. The reader wants to know more.

Now let’s consider the second example.

It lacks definition overall. We gain no real sense of the applicant’s experience level. We’re given a skill list, but no qualification of those skills. Is the candidate good at them or mediocre?

The second example just lacks enthusiasm and a sense of drive and action, all of which you want to convey in your resume.

Even though the applicant uses the first person several times (a big “no-no”), we have no insight into who they are and what they’re about.

Make sure to give your summary enough detail and make it action-oriented. Use power words and keywords to good effect.

Language is everything!

The next section of your resume will highlight your hard and soft skills. Here is an opportunity to emphasize your expertise and accomplishments with a bulleted list.

Why do this?

Because you don’t want to miss the chance to stand out from other applicants. Perhaps you have a special construction skill or talent that few others have. Now is the time to bring it out.

A glance at your skills list will let a hiring manager know in what areas you really shine.

Example:

• Power Tools
• Collaboration
• Mathematical Computation
• Detail-oriented
• Blueprint Interpretation
• Organization
• Time Management
• Safety Procedures

Let’s break this down.

Remember that your list should consist of both hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills are those things related to construction work, like tool use or equipment operation.

Soft skills are related to your personality and behaviors on the job. Are you organized and efficient? How about your attitude? Are you a positive person?

Listing your hard and soft skills will give a potential employer an accurate idea of your overall personality and skill set.

Pro Tip: Sometimes we haven’t stopped to consider what we’re good at. Or perhaps we know or have an idea, but we have never articulated it. When writing your list, try telling yourself aloud what your skills are. Don’t leave anything out!

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

Listing your work history comes next.

View this section as your chance to really impress a potential employer. Your work experience will show just how you’ve been putting your skills and expertise to work.

It will show where you’ve been and how your career is shaping up.

If you lack much work experience, don’t be worried. It only takes a job or two to communicate your value.

Layout is, of course, important when considering your work history section. You’ll want to use reverse chronological order.

List your most recent employment first, followed by the jobs that came before that.

If you happen to have a long and varied work history, don’t worry about writing an entry for every job you’ve ever worked. Just include those positions most relevant to the job you’re currently seeking.

Be sure to include the following:

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

It is accepted practice to include your dates of employment as well. However, some opt not to do this, seeking to avoid listing short terms of employment or gaps in employment.

If you choose to leave dates off your construction worker resume, keep in mind that you will probably be asked about them in an interview scenario. So have positive answers prepared for these questions.

Your day-to-day functions on the job will be listed with bullet points. 3–5 points should be sufficient.

Examples for reference:

The first example is preferable to the first because it demonstrates competence and skill level. This person is obviously responsible, organized, and has an eye for details. Power words help to convey this impression.

The second example is a bit lackadaisical and too vague. The reader gains no detailed sense of the applicant’s day-to-day competency or how he performed his tasks.

In sum, there’s no power to the second example. Power words are used — but not to good effect.

You want your work history to impress, not leave the reader feeling apathetic.

PRO TIP: Look at the job description to pinpoint what specific skills they’re looking for. Determine what roles and functions you fulfilled in prior jobs that reflect the sought-after skill set. Doing this will help you “trim the fat” off your work experience and really zero in on what they want to see from an applicant.

ATS and Bots

A quick word about the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and its scanning bots. If your potential employer is using one, your construction worker resume will have to cross an extra hurdle before a hiring manager views it.

Due to this, some applicants choose an alternate layout for their work experience section. They’ll list the entries in a paragraph format instead of bullet points.

Bullet points:

Phelps Construction | Construction Worker | Springfield, MO | May 2018–Present

• Evaluate work sites, both new and old construction
• Help to transport needed materials to job site
• Gather proper tools and check their functionality
• Perform tasks while observing all relevant safety guidelines
• Assemble structure frames according to blueprint specifications

Paragraph:

Evaluate work sites of both new and old construction. Help transport needed materials to job site and gather proper tools and check functionality. Perform tasks while observing all relevant safety guidelines.  

You could also use a mixed layout with bullet points to highlight specific skills.

Paragraph/Bullet Points

Evaluate work sites of both new and old construction. Help transport needed materials to job site and gather proper tools and check functionality. Perform tasks while observing all relevant safety guidelines.

• Assembled structure frames according to blueprint specifications

While these alternate layouts may help get your resume past ATS bots, they may also impact readability.

After all, bullet points are easier to read than paragraphs.

And a typical hiring manager wants to get through a stack of resumes as quickly as possible.

So unless you feel it is really imperative to go with an alternate layout for your work experience, you should probably stick with straight-up bullet points.

Finally, you will create your education section.

Have you received an education for the line of work you’re pursuing?

Perhaps you have a more general degree.

Or none at all.

Regardless of your situation, list your education starting with the highest level acquired.

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

Name your school or the institution you received your degree(s) from.

Remember to include any certifications or minor areas of study as well.

Consider including your GPA. This is helpful if you’re just starting out after graduation. It lets the reader know how you fared in school and gives them an impression of your work ethic and level of dedication.

If you’re in the construction field, perhaps you’ve been an apprentice or have a certification. If so, include these details in your education section.

Example:

• Completed 2-year construction apprenticeship, Seymour, MO

Additional Sections

Is there a special accomplishment or project that you want to share on your resume? If so, you may want to include an additional section.

Remember that your main goal is to demonstrate your full value!

An additional section will also help complete your resume if you lack work experience.

Consider adding:

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

Little or No Experience

Maybe you have little to no experience as a construction worker.

No problem.

Whether you’re just starting out or wanting to change careers, you can still come up with a relevant and well-organized construction worker resume.

You’ll still start with a strong summary paragraph.

Next, try moving your education section up on the page so that it sits under your summary.

If you lack experience, your education is going to be one of your main assets. It will let a hiring manager know if you have your highschool diploma or have graduated college or a relevant program.

What work history you have will come next. Try and make it as relevant as possible.

You’ll be surprised at what skills jump out at you as being relevant to the line of work you’re seeking. Chances are, there are more than you realize.

Have you ever used tools before?

Have you ever completed a project that involved organization and attention to detail?

Skills like these could be highly relevant. So be sure to include them.

A few “tips of the trade” to remember:

Include contact information.

Remember to include a way to be contacted. It’s easier than you think to leave this crucial information off your resume by mistake.

Use your space wisely.

Remember your formatting and the length of your sections. You want to utilize the space you have for maximum impact.

Power words are essential.

Remember: You want to convey a sense of action and competence with your resume. You want to come across as a candidate who “gets it done.” Power words will help you achieve this goal. Use them!

Have a friend look it over.

It’s always a wise idea to recruit a proofreader for any type of writing. It’s easy to miss typos and grammar mistakes sometimes. So don’t let an unpolished resume slip out the door!

As with a construction project, there are things you definitely do not want in your construction worker resume.

Here are a few:

No “I” or “me.”

Avoid the use of first-person language in your resume. It’s unprofessional. While your resume should be an impressive document of your relevant skills, it is not a personal letter or communication.

A single page does the trick.

Few people need to exceed one page when writing their resume. Your skills and experience should fit nicely. A single page is easy to handle and easy to read.

Say it once.

No need to rehash an experience point or repeat power words. Say it once and say it well. There are so many power words to choose from.

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

Use simple fonts and formatting.

Your resume needs to be legible and clean-looking. No need for a wacky font or “creative” layout. Keep it all simple, straightforward, and professional.

Power Words

• Evaluate
• Help
• Gather
• Perform
• Assemble
• Assisted
• Mixed
• Poured
• Interpreted
• Installed
• Provided
• Performed
• Ensured
• Completed

Skills List