Construction Worker Resume: Templates, Examples, & Essential Skills

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As a Construction Worker, you know what’s necessary to build different types of buildings and see projects through to the end. But, are you having some trouble constructing a job-winning resume? If that’s the case, take advantage of our expert resume templates..

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Ready to “build” a new career for yourself? If you like working with your hands, perhaps a career in construction is for you! But before you can start applying to jobs, like any good building, you need a solid foundation to start with. In the job-search world, that foundation is a killer resume.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to create a Construction Worker resume that’s sure to get you on the job site in no time, including:

• Building the best possible resume for a construction position
• Writing a construction worker resume objective or summary
• Completing your experience and education resume sections
• Including relevant construction work experience
• Tips, tricks, and advice to help you start your career in construction

Because every good Construction Professiona lneeds a blueprint to look at, we’ll also include plenty of Construction Worker resume examples to show you how to build your perfect resume and give you the tools like our handy resume builder to get the job done.

Building the perfect resume isn’t always easy, so keep reading if you want helpful tips, tricks, and advice to fill out your sections. By doing so you’ll set a strong foundation for your job search and your career as a Construction Worker. 

We’ll help you understand how to showcase your skills, interests, and experience to impress any employer. Ready to start building? Let’s get started!

Before you start throwing sections together, let’s check out some examples. This will give you an idea of which sections to include, how to arrange them, and the information to add to each. 

When you start building your own resume, you can select a different template or layout, but the overall sections should be the same. Just think of this as your little taste of inspiration.

Resume Example

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[Jonathan Beard]

[Construction Worker]

[49 Lumber Street, Charlotte, NC 28105   |   704-555-9846   |    jbeard91@email.com]

Summary

Hard-working construction professional with 8+ years of experience in commercial and residential construction, handy work, inspections, framing, and brick laying. Aiming to utilize my skills as a construction site manager to provide safe and secure buildings for families and businesses.

Experience

Built-Well Construction, Inc., Charlotte, NC

2019 – 2021

Construction Worker

• Inspect an average of six job sites per month and create reports detailing needed repairs, budget, and project completion timeline
• Assist in the construction of residential and commercial buildings, including framing, brick work, plumbing, drywalling, and carpentry
• Ensure safety regulations on the job site, maintaining a 1.5% or lower TRIR

Renewed and Refreshed Co., Durham, NC

2015 – 2019 

General Laborer

• Collaborate and manage relationships with several home restoration specialists
• Performed routine repairs to drywall, countertops, electrical wiring, plumbing, framing, and paint
• Installed appliances, including sinks, washers, dryers, toilets, ranges, and refrigerators
• Completed 63% of projects under deadline

Education

Technical Institute of North Carolina – Charlotte, NC

2013 – 2015 

• High School Diploma
• 3.6 GPA

Skills

• Familiar with building standards and inspection codes
• Understanding of OSHA safety regulations
• Can lift 100 pounds
• Expert knowledge of most power and hand tools
• First Aid and CPR

Awards

• National Safety Council Award Recipient – 2020

Hobbies and Interests

• Woodworking
• Restoring vintage cars
• Movies

If you are into the woodworking side of construction, why not check out our Carpenter resume sample?

For Construction Professionals, a combination resume format is typically the best choice. 

Many hiring managers in the field of construction will pay more attention to your skills, so try to use a format that emphasizes skills and accomplishments rather than just job titles.

• Combination resume format: A mix of a functional and chronological resume, highlighting skills and accomplishments in a separate section at the top of the resume and then providing a chronological work history below. This format is ideal for those with a solid work history in the construction industry and who want to showcase both their skills and experience.
• Functional resume: Highlights skills and accomplishments in a separate section at the top of the resume, followed by a brief summary of work history. This format is ideal for those with a diverse work history or those who are transitioning into construction from another field.

Because being a construction laborer is such a serious job, employers need to know you can handle the workload and take it seriously. Your resume is the first impression employers get about you, so it needs to showcase your skills clearly and effectively. 

However, there are a few standard resume formatting tips that’ll help keep your document clean and clear:

• Emphasize your skills over experience
• Leave plenty of open space between paragraphs and sections to keep the page clutter-free.
• Keep your resume to one page (two pages max if you absolutely can’t help it).
• Use bold headings, so employers can easily scan the page for information. 
• Pick clean, easy-to-read fonts like Helvetica, Georgia, and Arial, to name a few. 
• Choose a readable font size between 13-15 for headings and 11-12 for body text.
• Save your resume as a PDF to prevent formatting issues. 

Because people read from top to bottom, you want the most important, best-looking information at the top. Even within sections, make sure the most impressive details are at the top.

For example, saying you have masonry experience is a big plus on a resume, but having an American Concrete Institute (ACI) Certification looks a lot better to employers. Put your ACI cert at the top of your skills list, and leave “masonry experience” toward the bottom.

Now that we know all the parts that go into the perfect Construction Laborer resume, let’s break them down one by one. 

Since your personal information section should be pretty straightforward, we’ll jump right to the resume summary or resume objective. 

While these two things may sound similar, they serve very different purposes. So, what’s the difference between a resume summary and a resume objective?

• Resume summary – A brief explanation of your experience along with the knowledge and skills you can bring to the job site.
• Resume objective – An overview of your career goals.

As a Construction Worker, you need to make sure your construction skills stand out, whether that’s in an objective or a summary.

Construction Worker Resume Summary Example

As the name might suggest, a resume summary is a summary of your entire work history. In other words, it’s a sentence or two that describes your professional experience.

Before you start writing, it’s best to create a list of all the experience you want to add. That way, you know you won’t forget anything important. 

First let’s look at what you should avoid doing:

This summary is bad because it’s too vague and lacks specific details about the applicant’s experience and skills. The language is informal and lacks professionalism. A good summary should be compact, highlight relevant experience, core competencies and skills, and be written in a professional tone

Armed with your list of experience, you should condense it down into about one to two sentences but still manage tosum up everything you’ve done and learned over the years—professionally, of course. 

So, here’s an example of a good summary:

This not only gives the exact years that the candidate has worked as a Construction Laborer but emphasizes their skill set. 

The idea is to keep your summary detailed and short. You want to include specifics about your experience without taking up too much valuable space on the page.

Here is another strong example:

How to Write an Entry-Level Construction Worker Resume Objective

Resume summaries are all about showcasing your experience, but what if you don’t have much (or any) experience!? That’s when a resume objective comes in.

A resume objective is a quick summary of your professional goals. You want to convey your passion for working with your hands and building something from the ground up. Think about what you really want to get out of a career as a Construction Worker and put it into a few sentences.

While skills are likely to be incredibly important, not having experience isn’t ideal. However, you can counter that by mentioning your motivation to work and improve as a Construction Worker.

Once you have your goals in mind, throw in a few skills you have that are relevant to the position. Choose two or three skills you already possess that would make you a great asset to any construction team e.g.

• Physical stamina and strength for performing manual labor and lifting heavy objects.
• Proficiency in operating construction equipment and power tools.
• Basic knowledge of construction techniques and materials.
• Ability to follow instructions and work effectively in a team environment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining quality standards.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

For example, if you’re applying for a job with a specific construction company, including the company’s name in your resume objective is a great way to show your potential employer that you possess attention to detail and take care with your work—which is very important in the construction world!

Of course, copy/pasting the same resume objective for every job application is easier, but nothing that’s worth having comes easy. If you really want to stand out from the other applicants and prove you’re the best candidate for the job, personalized resume objectives are always best.

Entry-Level Construction Worker Resume Objectives

Now that you have the basics of writing a killer objective down, it’s time to look at some examples of how you should begin your entry-level construction resume. 

First, let’s take a look at what not to do:

Nothing in that resume objective is going to inspire employers to hire you. It doesn’t show anything specific about your goals or your skills, and the experience wasn’t very descriptive (or special). 

If you want your Construction Worker resume objective to awe and inspire, you have to use concrete details about your goals and include skills that are relevant to the position. Try to use powerful verbs and other words that demonstrate your abilities and leadership.

Here’s a good example of a construction resume objective:

That’s the winner! Unlike the previous example, this resume objective offers specific details about your qualifications and motivation to become a better all around Construction Worker.

Here’s another good example:

You could be the best Construction Worker in the business, but unless you know how to effectively describe your experience on a resume, employers may not believe you.

While a recruiter may focus a bit more on your skills that doesn’t mean experience isn’t essential. In fact some managers may pay more attention to your experience over your skills. After all, it’s where you prove you can use your skills in the real world—which is ultimately what employers are looking for.

In the experience section of your resume, you should include all the following information:

• Work history
• Key accomplishments
• Responsibilities

Just like all the other sections of your resume, the key to a killer experience section is finding that line between providing enough detail and not going on and on forever. You want to hit the highlights about your experience but keep it nice and straight to the point. 

If you really want your experience section to stand out, follow these tips:

• Include specific and concrete numbers and statistics
• Tailor your construction experience to fit the job
• Keep it to the point
• Use keywords mentioned in the job description

For example, a job description for a Construction Worker might mention the ability to lift 50 pounds. If you know that’s what an employer is looking for, give it to them! Mention that in one of your previous jobs, you had to regularly lift 75-pound bags of stone. 

That detail will jump out to employers looking for strapping Construction Laborers.

Construction Worker Resume Examples: Experience

Want a quick example to get started? First, let’s look at the wrong way to write a Construction Worker resume experience section:

That doesn’t tell a potential employer very much about your background. Unfortunately, it’s not going to turn any heads. 

The key to a great experience section on a resume is detail. You want to include specifics about your background, relevant experience, and achievements.

Now, let’s take a look at a good resume experience section:

This example shows plenty of concrete details and figures. If you show off the cold, hard facts of your experience, you show employers that you’re serious about what you do and will stand out from the other applicants. 

Entry-Level Construction Worker Resume: Experience Section

What if you don’t have any experience to show off? That doesn’t mean you can’t still write a killer experience section on your resume. Everyone has to start somewhere! 

Think about every odd job or project you’ve worked on in the past. All that counts as tangible, resume-worthy experience. Even if you just spent a summer working with your uncle fixing up the old family cabin, that’s good enough for a start!

Before you see a good one, let’s take a look at an entry-level Construction Worker resume experience section that’ll likely just end up in the incinerator:

This applicant probably won’t be getting any callbacks. It doesn’t show off that they’ve even used their ability to “build things and work with their hands” in real-world application, and the experience they do provide isn’t relevant to construction work.

Some keywords for a construction laborer resume include:

• Construction site management
• Blueprint reading
• Heavy equipment operation
• Material handling
• Safety regulations and compliance
• Quality assurance
• Construction materials

If you include words like these, your entry-level experience section should look more like this:

In this example, the applicant was precise with their (lack of) experience. 

Even though it wasn’t in a professional setting, this section will likely stand out with employers because it shows they have performed similar tasks in the past.

Although only 7% of Construction Workers have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, that doesn’t mean that you can skimp on your education section. 

Most employers still want to know whether you graduated from high school, and any additional education you have related to construction work will help set you apart from other applicants.

Construction Worker Resume Education Section

For an education section on a resume for Construction Workers, you don’t have to go into much detail. Typically, employers just want to know three things:

• Where you went to school
• The dates of attendance
• Whether you got a diploma or certificate

If you want your education to not look like the bare minimum, you should avoid the following:

West Charlotte High School | Charlotte, NC

Diploma 2012

• GPA: 3.0

This is still a bad example of an education section because it does not provide any information regarding construction knowledge. Additionally, a GPA that is only 3.0 probably isn’t worth mentioning on your resume.

Here’s an example of a perfectly acceptable education section:

It might be short, but it contains all the information employers want to see. They know you graduated from high school and took some continuing education courses related to construction work.  You could also include relevant projects or coursework in further bullet point.

If you do not have a college degree, no big deal in this case construction is one of the jobs that place little importance on education, but it’s critical to format this section correctly. 

Your experience and education might say a lot about your qualifications, but they’re not everything. Toward the end of your resume, it never hurts to add a skills section to showcase what more you can bring to the job site besides just your experience.

Skills on a resume can be broken down into two types:

• Hard skills – Skills that can be measured.
• Soft skills – Skills that are harder to define and more universal.

It’s a good idea to include a mix of both hard and soft skills on your resume. Here’s a quick Construction Worker skills list of both hard and soft skills you might want to add:

Whenever you’re working on the skills section of your resume, just make sure that any skills you add are actually relevant to the job you’re applying to.

Like all the other sections, keep your skills section concise. Limit yourself to a handful of the most impressive and relevant skills. You might have dozens and dozens of skills, but no employer wants to read through all those bullets!

Use Appropriate Keywords in Your Construction Resume

When crafting a construction worker resume, it’s essential to include relevant keywords that align with the job description and industry requirements.

These keywords can help your resume get noticed by applicant tracking systems (ATS) and hiring managers. Here are some important keywords to consider:

1. Construction Methods: Framing, concrete work, roofing, drywall installation, masonry, excavation, welding, plumbing, electrical work, flooring.
2. Tools and Equipment: Power tools, hand tools, heavy machinery, forklift, excavator, backhoe, crane, saws, drills, scaffolding.
3. Safety Practices: OSHA compliance, safety protocols, hazard identification, personal protective equipment (PPE), fall protection, job site safety, emergency response.
4. Reading Blueprints: Blueprint interpretation, construction plans, technical drawings, measurements, scale, symbols.
5. Construction Materials: Lumber, steel, concrete, bricks, blocks, drywall, roofing materials, insulation, flooring materials.
6. Project Management: Time management, organization, task prioritization, project planning, resource allocation, team coordination.
7. Quality Assurance: Inspection, quality control, craftsmanship, precision, attention to detail, code compliance.
8. Communication: Team collaboration, verbal and written communication, problem-solving, reporting, documentation.
9. Physical Abilities: Strength, stamina, manual dexterity, lifting and carrying heavy objects, working in various weather conditions.
10. Certifications and Training: OSHA certifications, First Aid/CPR, construction-related licenses, specific trade certifications (e.g., welding, electrical, plumbing).

Incorporating these keywords throughout your resume, particularly in the skills, experience, and qualifications sections, can help demonstrate your expertise and increase the chances of your resume being selected for further consideration.

However, remember to use the keywords naturally and in context, rather than simply creating a list of unrelated keywords.

You’ve accomplished a lot in your life, and it’s important to show it all off on your resume. If there’s something you want to add that doesn’t fit into any of the other sections (and is relevant to the job you’re applying to), you can add some “other” sections.

Other sections are just there to make your resume stand out and provide employers with some additional information about yourself. You can add as many or as few other sections as you want, just remember not to clutter up your resume!

Construction Worker Resume Sample “Other” Sections

There are other sections of a resume that you can use to impress hiring managers. You can add different professional certifications and achievements in your “other” section. If you want an idea of what some other sections might look like. here are a few examples of what you can add:

Licenses

• CDL Class A
• CPR and First Aid Certified
• Certified Forklift Operator

Awards

• National Safety Council Award Recipient
• Associated General Contractors of America Construction Safety and Excellence Award Recipient
• Employee of the Month – Well-Built Construction, Inc. | May 2019

Extracurricular

• Restoring vintage cars
• Missionary work to Mexico building schools for underprivileged children

Remember to only add relevant achievements, certifications, hobbies and interests to these additional sections.

Industry Associations and Trade Organizations

While there may not be specific memberships or organizations exclusively tailored for construction workers in the US, there are industry associations and trade organizations that can provide valuable resources and networking opportunities.

Consider including any relevant memberships or affiliations on your construction worker resume. Here are a few examples:

1. Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): ABC is a national trade association representing the construction industry. They offer training programs, certifications, and networking events for construction professionals at all levels.
2. National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): NAHB is a leading trade association for the residential construction industry. They provide educational resources, industry insights, and networking opportunities for construction workers involved in home building.
3. Construction Management Association of America (CMAA): CMAA is an organization dedicated to advancing the profession of construction management. They offer professional development programs, certifications, and access to industry events for construction managers and professionals.
4. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW): If you have expertise in electrical work, being a member of IBEW can be valuable. It is a union representing electrical workers, offering training programs, job placement assistance, and benefits.
5. Local Trade Associations: Depending on your location and specific trade, there may be local trade associations or contractor associations that offer memberships and resources for construction workers. These associations often provide networking opportunities and access to local industry events.

Including relevant memberships or organizations on your resume showcases your commitment to professional development, staying updated with industry trends, and connecting with fellow construction professionals.

Be sure to tailor the memberships to your specific trade or specialization within the construction industry.

You know you can build just about anything, but it’s your resume’s job to prove it to potential employers.

If you want to “build” a resume that’s guaranteed to impress,  remember to do the following:

• Customize your resume to suit the job description
• Be specific about your experience and skills
• Make sure all experience and skills are relevant to the job
• Use specific and concrete numbers to back up your experience
• Keep the page clean and easy-to-read
• Choose a functional format 
• Use resume building tools like a customizable resume template for construction jobs
• Save your resume as a PDF

By following these guidelines, there’s nothing that can stop you from becoming the great Construction Laborer you know you’re meant to be! Throw your tools in the truck, and get started.