Writing a resume doesn’t come naturally to many people. And if you’re looking for a construction job, it may feel even harder. How can you possibly explain your skills and experience in writing, especially when most of the examples online are geared toward office jobs? Fortunately, the basics of resume writing remain the same for every industry. Here’s how to craft an outstanding construction resume.
How Can You Create an Outstanding Resume For a Construction Job?
Pick Out Keywords
Your resume will likely go through an automated software system before a human ever sees it, so you’ll need to convince the software that you’re qualified. You do this by using keywords. Carefully read the job description to pick out words and phrases that match your qualifications. Then repeat them precisely on your resume, making sure to weave them into the text. A human will eventually read your resume, so make sure the language sounds natural.
Highlight Your Skills
For most construction jobs, your skills are more important than your education or experience. So, create a skills section near the top of your resume. Be sure to include whatever hard skills are relevant, such as reading blueprints or working with cost-estimating software. But you’ll also want to list soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and organization.
Focus on Your Accomplishments
The work experience section should come next. But don’t just write a list of everything you did. Instead, focus on what you accomplished. Did you come up with a process to simplify workflow? Maybe you led a team to finish a specific project ahead of schedule. Whatever it was, use action language to explain what you achieved.
Streamline Your Education
Education usually isn’t as important on a construction resume, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore it altogether. Instead, make it the last section and keep it brief. List the schools you attended, including their names and locations, along with any certifications that might be relevant. Leave off your GPA, graduation date, and other irrelevant details.
Keep It Simple
There are plenty of fancy resume templates available online, but they’re unnecessary. Simply put your name and contact information at the top, and then a short career summary. Then get right into your skills, work experience, and education. Don’t go back more than 10-15 years. Use an easy-to-read font in a 10 or 12-point size.
Proofread
Finally, read through your resume to find and remove any mistakes. Ask someone else to read it as well, as a fresh set of eyes can often find any lingering problems. Your construction resume is now ready to go!
Ready for a New Position?
If you’re ready to jumpstart your career, Pirate Staffing can help. Take a look at our open opportunities or simply submit your resume today!
