By Brandon Jastal, Account Manager
Speed! When it comes to filling a position, construction recruiters and hiring managers are always looking for ways to quickly find the construction skills they need. Like a construction manager who wants their project to move forward with the least amount of delays, a construction recruiter wants the hiring process to move on without unnecessary lags. When too much digging is required on a candidate’s experience, chances are that the job will be offered to another applicant who can quickly show their qualifications. How about making sure that you are always ahead of other candidates? Help construction recruiters and hiring managers pick you by giving them a professional and up-to-date summary of your construction career. Take a look below at the elements to keep in mind as you build your construction resume.
Stay Relevant
Let’s assume that you are applying for an electrical job that requires you to have specific certifications or it calls for certain technical experience. Instead of simply stating in your resume that you are an electrician with X numbers of years under your belt, it is more efficient to list the certifications and licenses you hold that make you the perfect match for the job. Are you OSHA certified? Are you licensed in more than one state? Are you in the process of getting certified? Mention this information when you build your construction resume, in order to separate yourself from other candidates.
Show Your Strengths
Sticking with the previous example of applying for an electrical job, what the hiring manager or construction recruiter wants to know is whether you have the experience to handle the job role and the tasks that come with it. With that being said, your construction resume needs to paint the picture of previous roles you held and projects you have worked on that relate to the current position. Make sure to include solid examples of similar labor and assignments that create the necessary confidence to the person who reads your resume to pick you for the position.
Make the Connection
Not every electrical job, or construction job in general, is the same, so using one and the same resume is not the way to land a position. In order to maximize your chances of getting selected for the next round of the hiring process, you need to build your construction resume in a way that addresses the needs of the job. Emphasize the construction skills that are the most relevant to the opening and give good examples that allow you to demonstrate how your construction career makes you the perfect candidate. The more specific you are, the more you make your application pop up.
Use Keywords
Something really important to keep in mind as you build your construction resume is that you have a small window of opportunity to draw attention to your construction skills. The reason is that as construction recruiters and hiring managers scan the numerous resumes they come across, they are looking for specific signs. For example, if they want to fill an electrical job opening, they want to find keywords like blueprint reading and interpretation, control circuit troubleshooting, 3-phase AC motors, HVAC systems, programmable logic controller (PLC) systems etc. that are also the needed qualifications for the job. Make sure you list abilities and terms that quickly catch the eye of your potential employer and urge them to reach out to you.
Get Reinforcements
The best way to find great opportunities for your construction career is to make sure that your construction skills are always up-to-date and they help you stay competitive. To do this, you need to stay focused on improving your expertise. Reach out to a construction recruiter and take advantage of their knowledge in helping you promote your skillset based on the position you are going for. They know how to help you build your construction resume by emphasizing the right points and filling up gaps. In addition, keep in mind that they know how to identify immediately the opportunities that match with your resume and they have the relationships to help you land the job quickly.
Key Takeaways for Resume the Construction of Your Career:
- Highlight certifications and licenses that separate you from other applicants
- Talk to previous roles and tasks you worked on and are relative to the open position
- Modify your resume according to the job you are going for
- Make sure you use keywords that catch the attention of potential employers
- Work with construction recruiters to build a strong construction resume
About TradeSource
Founded in 1993, TradeSource is a construction labor solutions firm focused on delivering labor solutions to contractors throughout the United States. By supplying skilled tradespeople – where and when they’re needed – we help contractors grow their companies, without the associated costs and hassles of full-time hires. Likewise, we match qualified employees with rewarding and well-paying job opportunities in the construction industry. www.tradesource.com
