Constructing any type of career is tricky at the best of times. But did you know that while the construction industry is seeing modest growth post-pandemic, job opportunities haven’t changed? That means the industry is changing and you’ll need a top construction CV to be considered for a spot at the table.
When you are building a career in a high-demand trade such as construction, it’s still just as important to be intentional about laying the building blocks of your career and thinking about where you want to spend the next part of your career.
Luckily Resume.io knows a thing or two about constructing a career that suits you. Our CV guides and CV examples are available for 100+ professions. This CV guide, along with the corresponding CV example will cover the following topics:
- What does a construction professional do?
- How to write a construction CV (tips and tricks)
- The best format for a construction CV
- Advice on each section of your CV (summary, work history, education, skills)
- Professional CV layout and design hints.
What does a construction professional do?
As a construction professional, you play a vital role in the building, repair, and renovation of various structures. The projects you work on could include residential houses, commercial buildings, bridges, and roads. Within the construction industry, there are diverse job opportunities that cater to different aspects of the construction process.
Whether you’re a construction manager, a mason, a roofer, or something else entirely you’re making an important contribution to the structures that shape the world around us. You are expected to deliver on schedule, within budget, and keep the results to a high standard along the way. No easy feat.
Construction job market and outlook
The types of contracts and therefore job roles in the construction industry are subject to change as society’s needs shift and develop. The latest statistics release from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed recovering rates of new construction orders. They reported that construction new orders rose 30.5% in 2021 to £72,578 million. This is the highest level in over 45 years.
In-demand construction work
According to a report by the Chartered Institute of Building, the share of the construction industry that is made up by infrastructure sector output has risen, from around 12% to closer to 17% over the past five years.
How to write a construction CV
Any hiring manager will be looking to see that your CV has the necessary building blocks. If you want the best chance of landing that next ideal job in construction, your CV needs to follow a tried and tested structure. Your CV should contain the following elements:
- The CV header
- The CV summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The CV skills section
- The education section
How you fill in each section is the next step to writing a successful construction CV. We will address how to do this in the following sections of this writing guide.
Choosing the best CV format for a construction
For most job seekers, the best CV format is the reverse chronological. This will focus on your previous job experience. However, there are certain roles where it makes more sense to highlight your specialist skills. In this case take a moment to consider what the best CV format for you and your role could be.
Our CV sample content in the following sections will help you to see how a reverse chronological CV is constructed.
CV summary example
The first thing that the hiring manager will look at is the CV summary describing the skills and experience you bring to your construction role. You have three or four sentences to tell the hiring manager why you would be right for this particular CV. This will signal to them to read the rest of the document.
The CV sample content below shows you how to highlight your “best bits” to show a snapshot of your professional profile.
Accomplished construction manager with wide-ranging experience overseeing all life cycle phases of large-scale construction projects. Talent for assembling, training, and leading world-class, multidisciplinary engineering and construction teams.
Employment history sample
If you are using the reverse chronological format this is the most important section of your construction of your CV. Complete this section by listing the job title, employment dates, company name, and location for each of your past roles. Remember the most recent one goes at the top.
Underneath the subheading you create for each role you can list your most impressive accomplishments and skills demonstrated in the job. This could include highlights from specific projects or general responsibilities and tasks. Remember to reflect the language used in the job description of the job ad, if one exists. That way you can be sure you’re speaking the same language as the hiring manager.
Construction Project Manager, Manning Global, Bristol, UK
February 2018 - Present
- Plan and manage all phases of large-scale construction projects.
- Design and coordinate allocation of annual multi-million-pound project budgets.
- Recruit, hire and train consultants and contractors and negotiate contracts.
Site Manager - Build, Randstad Construction and Property, Bristol, UK
June 2014 - January 2018
- Oversaw teams of construction workers and recruited / hired subcontractors.
- Procured and ensured appropriate usage of materials for each project phase.
- Closely examined site reports, designs and drawings.
Construction Superintendent, Sobha Constructions LLC, Dubai, UAE
May 2011 - April 2014
- Provided on-site supervision to construction subcontractors.
- Developed project plans, to include schedule, cost, time and quality plans (estimates and actuals).
- Monitored build costs and project progress while also conducting quality and safety inspections.
The CV sample content for your employment history section will give you an idea of how to build your very own on your construction CV. However, if you want some further inspiration on how other professions complete this section beyond the construction industry, the following CV samples could give you some further inspiration:
CV skills example
A strong CV skills section is vital for a robust construction CV. List your top skills in a bullet point list. They should be prioritised in order of relevance for the particular role you’re applying to. Look at our CV sample content below to see how it’s done.
- Quality Control Management
- Construction Management
- Leadership
- Knowledge of Code and Regulations
- Procurement
- Project Budgeting
- Site Inspections
- Client Relations
- Contract Negotiations
- Project Scheduling
Beyond your technical skills
You might think that your hard skills are the most valuable thing as a construction professional. The best professionals in construction — or any other industry for that matter -— will showcase a range of soft skills, too.
Soft skills are about the way you communicate with your team and solve problems. For example, how are your organisational skills? These types of abilities are harder to teach and acquire than technical (aka hard) skills. So make sure to include some of these on your construction CV.
Construction CV education example
In the education section you should list your most recent qualifications. If you have a higher education qualification then there’s no need to list your secondary school education. Remember that your construction CV example should include the name of the qualification, the educational institution, dates attended and location.
Look at the CV sample content below to see how this format looks in action.
MSc, Construction Project Management, UWE Bristol, Bristol, UK
February 2014 - February 2015
BSc, Construction Management, GBS Dubai, Dubai, UAE
May 2006 - September 2010
CV layout and design: the finishing touch
Depending on your role in the construction industry, you may be used to putting the aesthetic finishing touches on a project. The design of your CV is considered one of the most important points. This is the first real impression the hiring manager will have of you and your work. You want to visually communicate that you have great attention to detail.
If executing visual design isn’t your thing, consider using one of our field-tested CV templates, where we construct your CV example’s visual identity for you.
Key takeaways for a construction CV
- The right CV structure builds a strong foundation for a CV that’s worth reading.
- Remember to consider the best CV format for the job you’ll be applying for.
- Your CV summary is a snapshot of your value as the right construction professional for the job.
- Use a professionally designed CV if you’re unsure how to add those visual finishing touches yourself.
