With the slowdown in the housing market looking for a job in the construction industry has become more difficult. More people are applying for fewer job availabilities so you need to make yourself stand out from the rest. Having a properly written resume can go a long way in helping you to separate yourself from other applicants. However a resume that will work for other jobs such as retail, sales, or the food industry will not work for the construction field.
In construction there are many types of fields and each field has its own separate requirements. So when you write your resume you need to make sure that the requirements that a prospective employer will want to see are included on your resume. With that being said here are some specific examples of the type of information that should be included in your construction resume.
• Name and Contact Information- Every resume you send out should begin with your name, current address and contact information. It is important that a perspective employer be able to actually reach you so you should give them your home phone number and if you have one, your cell phone. While actively looking for a job make sure you answer your phones in a professional tone as answering your phone, "Talk to me" will not make a good impression.
• Your Objective- Here you should state the job that you are applying for and what you hope getting this job will help you accomplish. For example you may want to include information about how the job may open you to new opportunities in the trade you are applying for.
• Work History- You need to include your work history. Start with the most current job you have held. If you are presently employed make sure you have an answer when they ask you, "Why do you want to leave your current job?" This answer should be professional because bad mouthing a current employer looks worse on you then on them.
• Responsibilities- Give a summary of what you are responsibilities are with your current employer. For example if you are general contractor you should let them know that you are responsible for seeing to the job's completion is on schedule and budget, hiring subcontractors, talking to the customers, pulling necessary permits, getting all the inspections completed and requesting payment draws. Knowing what you do and have done can make all the difference.
• Schooling- Listing any schooling you have received starting from the high school level. This should include trade schools, junior colleges, state or private colleges. Make sure you list all diplomas you have received and any special awards you may have received such as being on the dean's list or perhaps graduating with honors.
• List Credentials- This is very important especially if you are applying for a trade in the construction business that requires special training. For example if you are a welder by trade you want to make sure that a perspective employer knows that you have the necessary qualification so make sure you list things such as being ASME certified. This lets them know that you are well qualified for the position that they are offering.
• Licensing & Insurances- Make sure that you list all of the licensing and insurance that you have and make sure that they are current and verifiable. For example if you are a cabinet installer most companies hire installers as subcontractors. If this is the case then your employer is going to want to see that you have an occupational license, liability insurance, and either a worker's compensation policy or a state issued worker's comp exemption.
• Tools- This is important for those trades that require you to own your own tools. As with the previous example a cabinet installer is going to need a complete set of tools. Everything from a generator to a screw gun and not being self reliant with your own set of tools will keep most employers from hiring you. So when necessary for your trade list the tools that you own.
These are the categories that you should make sure to cover on your application. One of the best ways to complete your resume is to do a rough draft first and then go back and tweak it some. A good example would be making sure that your resume has keywords include in it. A keyword is simply adding words into the resume that are specific to the trade you are applying for. Using keywords lets the employer know that you understand the terms and words used in the trade. This will help you to further clarify your expertise in the area.
Employers in the construction business are looking for other intangibles also. Most employers know that the construction industry has high turnover rates, especially in the manual labor sector. They hear lots of excuse every day and they are looking for people that they can count on to show up and give them an honest day's work. So if you can add details such as having a dependable vehicle or the fact that you are married and/or have children this can help you to look like a more dependable worker.
With the construction industry currently slowing down it is important that when you are looking for a job that you have a well written, informative and accurate resume. Remember that there are going to be many people competing for the same opportunity and you need to stand apart from the crowd. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by taking some time and writing an impactful resume. A good construction resume will speak volumes about the type of employee you will make and make a lasting impression.
