Construction Worker resume example & writing guide

Being a construction worker is a physically demanding but rewarding career if you enjoy working with your hands and have an eye for detail. Companies are looking to hire construction workers who are experienced, knowledgeable, and well-trained. A top-notch construction worker resume can help you show off your skills and set yourself apart.

This resume guide, along with the corresponding construction worker resume example, will cover the following topics:

• What should a construction worker resume include

• Tips and advice for every section of your resume (summary, work history, education)

• How to effectively add relevant key skills to your resume

• Choosing the right resume template for a construction worker.

What should your construction worker resume include?   

The main goal of your construction worker resume is to shine a spotlight on your skills, experience, and expertise. A wide variety of skills are required for this line of work, such as demolition, pouring concrete, and framing, along with “soft skills” like communication, training, and mentoring. The hiring manager (or project manager) is likely busy juggling multiple projects, so it’s important to lay out your experience and abilities in a concise and easy-to-read manner.

Your construction worker resume should contain the following elements:

• The resume header, which provides your contact information

• The resume summary 

• The employment history section

• The resume skills section

• The education section

How to create a professional summary

A construction worker needs to introduce him or herself concisely, accurately, and informatively, outlining the training and skills that make you the best person for any job. The place to do that is in your resume’s professional summary, which is 2-3 sentences that provide an overview of your practical skills, experience, training, and the unique value you bring to the table. Think of it as an “elevator pitch” of your most important experience and accomplishments. You might highlight your commitment to safety, your talent for bringing projects in under budget, or your stellar communication skills. 

If you like, you can also include an Areas of Expertise list, “nailed” onto your professional summary. This list might be extra helpful if you have extensive skills and training, as it will give you a bit of room to expand on your skills and provide some brief context.

See our adaptable construction worker resume summary below.

How should you describe your work experience as a construction worker?   

The work experience section is the “nuts and bolts” of your resume, where you lay out why you’re the person a construction company should hire. Read the job description carefully, like a set of blueprints, to clearly define your past responsibilities, projects, and accomplishments and how you made a positive impact while making skilled, concrete contributions to projects for your past employers.

The best way to present your work experience is in reverse chronological order (most recent to oldest), starting with the name of the company, your job title, how many years you worked there, and your job responsibilities. After each job entry, add bullet points to highlight your accomplishments, using quantifiable data, such as numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts, when possible. The main point of these bullet points is to show that you’re someone who gets things done, not just a drone checking tasks off of a list.

For example, if you had extensive experience implementing safety protocols and programs on a job you’d like to highlight. 

• Co-developed a safety program at ABC Construction, contributing to a 22% reduction in on-site work injuries within the last calendar year.

Along with quantifiable achievements, you can also include other achievements such as the size of the teams you’ve led, how many new workers you’ve mentored, or how many projects you’ve worked on that have come in under budget.

Take a look at the adaptable construction worker resume employment history section below.

Include a relevant construction worker resume education and certifications section

It’s easy to labor under the misconception that education isn’t important if you’re a construction worker. While that might be true for entry-level work, if you’re looking to climb the proverbial ladder, education and training in the field of construction is vital, and may be one of the most examined areas of your resume. When constructing your education section, keep in mind the following tips:

• Keep it simple. You don’t have to list every class you’ve ever taken. Simply list the name of the school you attended, your major, where the school is located, and your degree. Provide the graduation date only if it's less than 10 years ago. (If you didn’t go to college, that’s fine; just include your high school diploma or vocational school.)

• List your education in reverse order, placing the highest degree first (i.e. put college or vocational training above high school).

• Include any certifications you’ve completed or are working towards, such as OSHA training, Green Business Certification, Certified Professional Constructor (CPC), or Certified Safety Manager (CSM). Don’t forget to list the dates they were issued.

Which key skills are relevant for a construction worker resume?

A hiring manager will obviously want to see if you have construction experience, but they will also need to know that you have the skills to do the work safely and effectively. But how do you know what an employer is looking for, and how do you incorporate that into your resume? (Hint: no cement mixer required.)

Rather than just guessing or using a scattershot approach, examine the job description. That description most likely gives you the keywords that you can include verbatim in your resume, or  you can identify similar skills that align with yours. Keep in mind that most large companies now use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan incoming resumes for designated keywords and rank them according to how well they match the job description. (We provide detailed information on how to ATS-proof your resume here: Resume ATS optimization.)

Even if you’re applying to a smaller company that doesn’t use ATS, you’ll still want to incorporate those keywords into your resume to catch the eye of the hiring manager and motivate him or her to keep reading.

If all this sounds a bit overwhelming, don’t worry. Our resume templates give you a list of common key skills needed for construction workers. But don’t limit these keywords to your work history section; utilize them throughout your resume by demonstrating how you used those skills on the job. For a construction worker a few critical skills might include:

• Carpentry

• Masonry

• Demolition

• Drywall

• Flooring

• Legal compliance

• Workplace safety

• Blueprints and diagrams

• Preventive maintenance

• Heavy machinery operation

• Quality control

• Inventory management

• Project planning

• Cost control and budgeting

How to select the most impactful construction worker resume template

The construction site is no place for clutter, disorganization, or unprofessionalism, and the same goes for your resume.

A construction worker resume should use a clean, easy-to-read, modern resume design that is eye-catching but not flashy. You can use a dash of color if that appeals to you, but don’t overuse it. This sample construction worker resume uses our London template that is simple, elegant, and straightforward.

Unless you have more than 15 years of experience, a construction worker resume shouldn’t be longer than one page. Even then, keep it concise and relevant.  

We’ve got a variety of resume templates in our resume builder, so you can find the template that works best for you. If you need some inspiration, we’ve got over 100 resume examples to help you write one that gets you noticed and makes your job search quicker and easier than ever.

Copyable construction worker resume example

Key takeaways for writing a construction worker resume

1. When creating your resume, it’s important to highlight the skills, experience, and training that make you an asset to any construction project.

2. Tailor your resume for each job you apply for by including keywords from the job description in each section.

3. Use our online resume builder to build the perfect construction worker resume with customizable templates and AI-supported content. Don’t waste time spinning your wheels—we’ve got the tools to make your job search faster and easier!