Construction Worker Resume—30+ Skills & Examples

You excel at preparing construction sites and developing new structures seems as easy as a basic Lego set. You can work it out in no time.

But your resume construction collapses. Your phone hasn’t rung for weeks. And you need instructions like a glass of water on a muggy day on site.

Learn how to build a solid construction worker resume from scratch so that it leads you toward a new, promising career.

In this guide:

• A construction worker resume sample that gets jobs.
• How to pick up the best construction resume skills.
• How to write a resume for a construction worker that gets interviews.
• Expert tips and examples to boost your chances of landing a construction worker job.

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Need a resume for construction-related jobs? Study these resume samples:

• Construction Project Manager Resume
• Construction Resume
• Construction Superintendent Resume
• Electrical Engineering Resume
• Entry-Level Engineering Resume
• Landscape Architect Resume
• Logistics Resume
• Machinist Resume
• Manufacturing Engineer Resume
• Production Worker Resume

Construction Worker Resume Sample

Construction workers perform a whole spectrum of physical labor at construction sites. They operate hand and power tools such as jackhammers, earth tampers, or cement mixers. And construction laborer resumes must show you know how to prepare sites, dig trenches, erect scaffolding, and more.

Now that you’ve checked the above sample and know what it has to include, let’s create your resume starting from the very foundation:

1. Choose a Solid Format For Your Construction Worker Resume

You don’t want your resume to land among The 100 Funniest Things in the History of Internet. 

That’s why you need to avoid typical mistakes that candidates make. Number one—poor resume formatting. If it’s mayhem and chaos, how would a sane man believe you have some sense of structure?

Lay a solid foundation for your construction worker resume, and pick a proper resume format. The three most common resume formats are reverse-chronological, functional, and hybrid.

The reverse-chronological resume format favors work history and education, presenting your most recent occupations first. The functional resume format suits those who want to underscore their skill set. The third one, the chrono-functional resume, incorporates features from both mentioned above. 

For starters, here’s how to format your construction worker resume:

1. Select the best resume template. It can be anything from professional and modern resume templates. Fancy layouts won’t work best this time.
2. Pick one of the typical resume fonts like Helvetica or Georgia. The font size should be 11–12pt for all entries, while the name and section headings need to be 14–16pt.
3. Use 1-inch standard resume margins on all sides to keep clarity and enough space.
4. Implement spacing: blank lines should detach section headings and entries.
5. Build up a one-page resume unless you have more than 5 years of experience. If so, opt for a two-page resume.

Once you’re all done with formatting, think about the resume sections you want to include. As a construction worker, you need these few blocks:

1. Contact Information
2. Resume Summary/Objective
3. Work Experience
4. Education Section
5. List of Skills
6. Additional Sections

Bear in mind, it is better to save your resume in PDF rather than DOC. You don’t want your resume to break apart.

2. Prepare a Slick Construction Resume Summary/Objective

Remember the GMC Sierra jaw-dropping TV spot? Basically, you want your employer to do the same when seeing your resume summary.

Why? Because your resume summary holds an opportunity for you to be noticed. And for an employer to find a matching candidate.

Here’s how to start a resume with a well-crafted summary:

1. Put an adjective first. How would you describe yourself as a worker? Reliable, skilled, knowledgeable? 
2. Present your job title. In this case, it is a construction worker.
3. Inform about years of experience: +4, +5,or as many as you have.
4. Highlight a goal tailored to the position you’re applying for. Can be: to leverage communication skills and technical knowledge, and serve as a leader for on-site safety.
5. Choose the best 2–3 achievements. Take this example: At Constrain, supervised safety and maintained the stable 0.9 EMR score for 2 years.

Brilliant! Let’s take a look at the below resume examples for a construction worker to get the hang of it:

Construction Worker Resume Sample—Summary

Summary

Skilled construction worker with 5+ years of experience. Seeking to join HITT Contracting Inc. to leverage technical knowledge and communication skills, and serve as a leader for on-site safety. At Constrain, supervised safety and maintained the stable 0.9 EMR score for 2 years. At Carver, kept a monthly productivity rate above 85% during the entire contract.

Summary

Great construction laborer who worked previously on numerous sites. Experienced in operating power tools such as jackhammers, earth tampers, and machines like skid steers. Responsible for preparing sites, digging trenches, erecting scaffolding, and cleaning up the space. Assisted other workers as a reliable teammate.

Can you spot the difference between these two? First thing first, the good example gives a concrete number of years worked. Numerous isn’t a solid piece of information.

Next, it clearly specifies the intent and shows the skills that are likely valuable for the company. Finally, it pinpoints relevant achievements proved with numbers.

If you’re an entry-level candidate with demanded skills and a goal-oriented approach, use a resume objective.

Construction Worker Resume Sample—Objective

Objective

Reliable construction worker skilled in operating various hand and power tools and impeccable site maintenance. Seeking to join CDM Smith as a Commercial Construction Worker to utilize both extensive technical knowledge and exceptional communication skills. Built the first construction worker experience at Ref Bluff, receiving management commendation for exceptional efficiency and focus.

Objective

I have little experience as a construction worker, but I am a keen learner and can work under any conditions. Seeking to join CDM Smith as a Commercial Construction Worker to expand my career profile and bring benefits to the company. I pay a lot of attention to safety and work ethic.

What speaks for the first example? It starts with a strong trait and presents two key skills. Then, it states the position, the company's name, and the goal for potential employment. It’s all clear.

Now, what’s wrong with the second one? For once, it’s written in the first person. Secondly, it emphasizes the little experience, which is a shot in the foot. Thirdly, it’s misty. Instead of promising benefits, it’s better to say precisely what skills you’ll utilize if working for the company.

3. Display the Job Description for a Construction Resume

Your work history might be as stately as the Empire State Building. You might have worked for Turner Construction. And that’s awesome.

But if you don’t know how to showcase your vast experience, you can ruin your work experience section in seconds. The secret is this: the job description for your construction worker resume should match the job posting. Like a wrench matches a nut.

Follow these rules to create a perfectly matched job description:

1. Look back over the job posting. Examine it.
2. Scan for duties and skills required for the position.
3. Think of matching similar responsibilities that you performed and skills that you possess.
4. Write bullet points with professional achievements that are hard to skip. Use action verbs to supercharge your work experience section.

Construction Worker Resume—Job Description Samples

Experience

Construction Laborer

Carver, Charlotte, NC

September 2019–January 2021

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

• Operated diverse hand and power tools and did inventory at each workday's end, reducing equipment loss and undetected damages by 20%.
• Maintained monthly productivity rate above 85% during the entire contract.
• Supported leaders in conducting an internal WHMIS security training for 30+ construction workers.

Experience

Construction Laborer

Carver, 2021–2022

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

• Operated different machines and provided regular machine inventory.
• Was responsible for applying weather stripping to reduce energy loss.
• Offered assistance to carpenters, plasterers, and masons.
• Did a lot of training to improve work safety.

The first one gets an immediate YES. It lists key job responsibilities and professional achievements, and serves numbers as proof.

The second one? It’s a NO–NO. Although it provides a reader with some valuable responsibilities, they’re inaccurate. Plus, this example has bad formatting. The company's name and work dates should be shown on separate lines.

If you don’t want your hopes to get crushed, pay attention to the details and avoid common resume mistakes. Believe it or not, they matter a lot for the whole.

4. Make Use of Your Multifaceted Skills for Construction Resume 

Well, construction workers aren’t really poets, although you can find poems about them. What we want to say instead, they’re accounted for their work rather than words.

Once done with your error-free job descriptions, focus on your top-notch construction skills to create another solid block of your resume. Besides vast technical knowledge and manual dexterity, employers expect you to possess soft skills like decent communication, critical thinking, and more.

See the list below to understand this complexity better: 

30+ Skills for a Construction Worker Resume

• OSHA compliance
• CPR/First aid
• Operation and control
• Quality control
• Equipment selection
• Equipment maintenance
• Operations monitoring
• Managing worksites
• Systems analysis
• Record-keeping
• Heavy equipment operation
• Minor equipment operation
• Heating and ventilation
• Drywall installation
• Electrical wiring
• Pipe fitting
• Demolition
• Framing
• Flooring
• Cleaning
• Roofing
• Plumbing
• Masonry
• Metalwork
• Physical strength
• Self-confidence
• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Active listening
• Critical thinking skills
• Troubleshooting
• Complex problem-solving
• Strong work ethic
• Time management
• Speed and efficiency
• Material resources management
• Driver’s license
• Computer skills

Got it? Now, pick the ones that match your experience and create a robust skill set.

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5. Utilize The Education Section in Your Construction Worker Resume

You don’t get hired for a shiny smile and a good joke. Unless you’re Tim The Toolman.

If you’re expecting to be invited for an interview, you need a strong resume—don’t just build castles in the air. This includes the education section—and no excuses. Reports prove the significance of education in the construction industry.

Here’s how to showcase your education:

Construction Worker Resume Sample—Education

Education

Business Administration

Guttman Community College

September 2016–August 2017

• Pursued passion for business operations and technology.
• Gave tutoring in business economics to college friends.

You can add a few bullets to summarize key activities during your studies. Show that it’s not just a title—it’s where you developed your interest in technical fields.

6. Finish Your Construction Resume With Added Sections

A house without an elevation will still be a house. But it won’t look nice. Your resume can stay unfinished, too. But it won’t impress a boss.

Now that your resume has a solid construction, it’s time for the finishing touches. Think about a few added sections that might be a great trim to what you’ve already created.

Take advantage of the below examples to brush up on your resume:

• Relevant Coursework
• Critical Certifications
• Foreign Languages
• Additional Activities
• Hobbies and Interests
• Professional References

See the example:

Resume for a Construction Worker—Extra Sections Examples

Licensing

• Basic First Aid & CPR

Courses

• NCCER Construction and Worksite Safety, Craven Community College, 2019
• OSHA Training for Construction, OSHA Education Center, 2017

Languages

• American English—Native
• Spanish—Elementary

Expert Hint: You might think a construction worker doesn’t need a cover letter. In fact, if a recruiter is on the fence about a candidate, they’ll likely read it. Check how to write cover letters to strengthen your position.

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Key Points

For a strong construction worker resume that gets interviews:

• Study the construction worker resume template and build up your own.
• Put an outstanding resume summary or objective at the top.
• Create a solid work experience section with your most critical achievements.
• Adjust construction worker job descriptions and skills to the job posting.
• Use added sections, and do not leave an employer uninformed.
• Write a construction worker cover letter tailored to the position you are applying for. Accentuate your achievements and skills, and wait for a phone to ring.

Got questions about the construction worker resume? Struggle to decide what to include in your application? Leave us a comment. We’re here to answer.

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At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.