Whether you’re a job site manager, superintendent, a skilled laborer, a specialized tradesman, an entry-level employee, or any other construction site worker, you need to show off your skills when applying for a job opening. While you may fill out an application either way, your resume is the place to showcase your professional experience and achievements.
An application will provide your relevant work history, but a resume allows you to present yourself as a polished professional. If you want to rise above the other applicants, you’ll need a strong resume. Here are four critical categories all construction workers should include on a resume:
Skills: Materials, Planning, Equipment
Can you read a blueprint? Have you worked with tools for drilling and cutting? You want your potential new employer to feel confident that if they hire you, they’re hiring a competent, skilled professional. Highlight any specific materials you have worked with, such as brick, wood, piping or concrete, to show that you can manage a variety of tasks. Take the time to explain your planning skills, such as your ability to read and record plans, scales and flowcharts. Also be sure to showcase the equipment you’ve used, big and small, and give examples of how your expertise with these tools helped the crew be more productive and complete a project on time.
Teamwork: Collaboration, Communication, Leadership
Construction crews vary in size, diversity, and skill level. A strong construction candidate is one with experience working effectively with all kinds of crews. Can you speak another language? Are you strong at motivating and inspiring others? Teamwork is very important for a job site’s productivity. Showing on your resume that you can work with a diverse group of construction workers gives you an edge over the competition. The hiring manager will know that you are someone who can help keep production going and won’t get weighed down by interpersonal issues.
Safety: Record, Procedure, Specifics
Safety is a major concern for construction jobs. Hiring managers want to know that the candidates they’re considering make safety a priority. When accidents happen on a job site, production can slow or halt, and lives may be at risk. Are you a liability or a reliable, safe worker? Give details about your safety record – especially if you have prevented accidents or helped identify potentially hazardous situations. Talk about the procedures you’ve used to resolve situations, OSHA standards you’re familiar with and any safety responsibilities or titles you’ve held in past jobs.
Education: Certification, Training, Classes
When you have specific training and education, you take your experience to a whole new level. On-the-job learning is incredibly valuable, but it shows initiative when you take the time to earn a degree, a certification or take training classes. You gain a level of insight with techniques and tools that you just can’t get on the job. Plus, your resume will show that you’re a candidate who can think critically about the project and all the tasks that lead to success. Many construction companies promote from within and look specifically for candidates with education to elevate.
Gone are the days when a verbal recommendation was all you needed to secure a good construction job. Today, especially with the construction industry booming, managers often require a resume, especially to help weed out underqualified candidates. Don’t be shut out of a good position. Get your resume up to speed by contacting the experienced recruiters at CCS Construction staffing today.