A construction worker CV is more than just a job application document. It gives you the chance to prove you have the skills and experience to succeed in building sites. The best ones highlight hard skills, concrete achievements, and personal construction projects.
In this article, we will show you how to write a construction worker CV, provide a compelling example to inspire you, and explain how to organise its sections and content.
Key Takeaways
Construction worker applications are CVs for building site jobs, which may entail residential, industrial, and commercial projects.
A typical construction job CV format for the UK market is the reverse chronological format, which lists information from the most recent entry.
A construction CV should showcase your experience, skills, education, personal projects, achievements, certifications, and spoken languages.
When writing a CV for trades and labour jobs, like construction, focus on practical examples, tailor your application for each job, and proofread the document.
Job-Winning Construction Worker CV Example
Before we get to the writing tips and tricks, here is a good construction worker CV example for the UK job market to serve as an illustration:
How to Format a Construction Worker CV
To format a construction worker CV, you should pick one of the three commonly used formats: reverse chronological, functional, or combination.
While all three have their strengths and weaknesses, we recommend sticking to the reverse chronological format, as it is the most widely accepted one. Recruiters particularly like it because it prioritises professional background and lays out information in an easy-to-follow way, starting with your most recent work experience.
However, a functional format is also acceptable, especially if you’re at the beginning of your career and lack relevant experience. It emphasises skills and places them above the work experience section.
Construction Worker CV Layout
Formatting your CV goes beyond choosing the right structure; you also need to present the information in a clear, professional way.
Here are some things to pay attention to:
CV Layout Guidelines
CV font. Use a professional font like Calibri, Times New Roman, Arial, or Helvetica, and don’t experiment too much. These fonts may not be particularly creative, but they are sleek and readable, which is far more important for a professional document.
Length. Your CV shouldn’t be longer than two pages, and, ideally, you should stick to one page only. That means you should focus only on the most relevant information; no need to add anything more than that.
White space. Clever use of white space can increase your CV’s impact and make it more presentable. Break the content into paragraphs, use headings, and don’t write long walls of text.
Construction Worker CV Mandatory Sections
Construction worker CVs typically include mandatory sections such as contact information, CV objective and summary, professional work experience, education, and skills.
Now, let’s take a look at how to write each section in more detail:
#1. Contact Information
Contact information is the first section of every CV, placed at the top where recruiters can immediately see it. Though it doesn’t say anything about your qualifications or skills, it is crucial because it shows hiring managers how to reach you if they want to invite you for an interview.
This section should contain your full name, address, email address, phone number, and, optionally, LinkedIn profile or professional website. Avoid adding links to your social media or personal blogs; this is both unnecessary and potentially damaging to your chances of securing an interview.
As we’ve seen in our example above, here’s what a typical contact information section should look like:
Contact Information Section
Contact Information
Jonathan Stone London, United Kingdom johnathanstone@example.com +4423134522
#2. CV Objective and Summary
The next section may be somewhat challenging to write, as it essentially provides a snapshot of your entire CV, giving recruiters a preview of what they can expect. It also serves to hook them in and motivate them to read on.
In general, a CV summary must be short (4–5 lines only) and packed with the most relevant information. A typical formula is this:
Sentence #1 explains who you are by mentioning your title, years of experience in the field, and several of your past responsibilities.
Sentence #2 highlights your most impressive achievement using a concrete example, strong action verbs, and measurable outcomes.
Sentence #3 briefly emphasises your hard and soft skills or explains why you’re applying for this specific position.
In practice, here’s what a CV summary looks like:
CV Summary Section
Professional Summary
Safety-conscious construction worker with 10 years of experience in working on residential and industrial projects across the UK. Assisted in the construction of an office building complex worth over £500,000, meeting all the deadlines and expectations. Known for my attention to detail, communicative nature, and skilful operation of hand tools.
#3. Professional Working Experience
Work experience is the most important section on a construction worker CV, as this is where you get to demonstrate your skills and qualifications through examples. You’ll do this in bullet points under each entry, which serve to elaborate on your past job positions.
Now, don’t make the mistake of writing about your past responsibilities only; recruiters know what positions in your field entail, so this information doesn’t interest them. Instead, focus on your achievements and present them using action verbs and measurable outcomes.
So, for example, don’t do this:
Bad Example
Work Experience
Construction Worker ABC Construction June 2020–May 2025
Performed tasks that included bricklaying, mixing concrete, and plastering.
Loaded and unloaded building materials.
Operated machinery like cement mixers, drills, and cutting tools.
Instead, write the following:
Good Example
Work Experience
Construction Worker XYZ Construction, London, UK November 2022–May 2025
Assisted in the construction of residential housing worth over £5 million.
Led and mentored a team of four junior workers, ensuring their safety and efficiency.
Maintained a clean and safe environment, contributing to a track record of zero accidents in 2 years.
#4. Education Section
The education section should contain your two latest degrees, the institutions that provided them, and the start and end dates of your attendance. Generally speaking, there’s no need to write more unless you lack work experience and want to pad out your CV.
Here’s what an education section might look like:
Education Section
Education
Level 2 Diploma in Construction Skills September 2015–June 2017 College of North West London, London, UK
Duke’s Aldridge Academy September 2010–June 2015 London, UK
#5. Hard and Soft Skills
Lastly, the skills section is where you should showcase both your hard and soft skills, demonstrating what you bring to the table. It’s common practice to start with hard skills first and then move on to soft skills; we recommend sticking to this approach.
Remember that you don’t need to elaborate on your skills; a list of 6–10 bullets is sufficient. If you feel that you need to explain anything, do so in your cover letter or elsewhere in the document.
Now, this is what the skills section for a construction worker CV might look like:
Skills Section
Skills
Site preparation
Bricklaying and drywall installation
Reading and following blueprints
Health & Safety compliance
Operation of hand tools
Communication
Teamwork
Problem-solving
Attention to detail
What Other Sections Can You Add to Your Construction Worker CV
Other sections you can add to your construction worker CV include personal projects, languages, and certifications, all of which can be helpful if you have limited work experience.
Let’s see how to write them effectively:
Personal Projects
If you’ve completed any construction-related personal projects, feel free to add them to your CV. In this case, we advise briefly elaborating; you can state what the project was and explain what you’ve done in a single sentence.
That might look like this:
Additional Sections
Personal Projects
Home renovation (2024): Renovated a two-bedroom flat, adding new flooring and drywall.
Landscaping (2022): Built a patio for a private residence to improve property value.
Languages
Languages are always useful to include on a CV, as you never know when a foreign language might come in handy. This is true for construction workers, too; you may be asked to work with foreign labourers and receive higher compensation for speaking their language.
In this section, you should simply list the languages you speak and add your fluency levels, like so:
Languages Section
Languages
English – Native
German – Conversational
Certifications
Lastly, if you hold any relevant certifications, such as a CSCS Labourer Card, you should include them on your construction worker CV as well. Simply write the name of the certification and the year you received it; more than that isn’t necessary, but you can elaborate if you feel it might be helpful.
Here’s what that might look like:
Certifications Section
Certifications
CSCS Labourer Card (2024)
First Aid at Work (2022)
Construction Worker CV Template
If you need additional help with writing a compelling application, here is a site worker CV template, where you can simply enter your information in the empty fields:
Template
[Full name]
[Address]
[Email]
[Phone number]
[LinkedIn profile or website] (optional)
Personal Statement
Detail-oriented/responsible/hardworking [Your title] with [X] years of experience supporting residential, commercial, and industrial projects. [Summarise briefly your most significant professional or academic achievement using action words and measurable outcomes.] Known for excellent work ethic/ability to complete tasks quickly and accurately/another specific trait that helps you stand out among construction workers.
Work Experience
[The most recent job title]
[Company name], [City], [Country]
[Start date] – [End date]
Responsibility/Achievement #1
Responsibility/Achievement #2
Responsibility/Achievement #3
[Previous job title]
[Company name], [City], [Country]
[Start date] – [End date]
Responsibility/Achievement #1
Responsibility/Achievement #2
Responsibility/Achievement #3
Skills
Hard skill #1
Hard skill #2
Hard skill #3
Soft skill #1
Soft skill #2
Soft skill #3
Education
[Latest degree type and title]
[Start date] – [End date]
[School name], [City], [Country]
[Previous degree type and title]
[Start date] – [End date]
[School name], [City], [Country]
Certifications
Certification #1 (Year)
Certification #2 (Year)
Personal Projects
Personal project #1: Brief explanation
Personal project #2: Brief explanation
Languages
Language #1 – Fluency level
Language #2 – Fluency level
3 Final Tips for Creating a Construction Worker CV
Follow these three final tips to create a compelling construction worker CV:
Emphasise achievements in both your past positions and personal projects. The former should contain measurable outcomes, while the latter doesn’t have to, but it should still detail exactly what you’ve done and what the result was.
Tailor your CV for each job. Even if your skills and qualifications don’t change much, you can highlight different aspects of your professional life depending on what the position requires. Read the job description carefully to find out what that is.
Proofread the document once you have completed it, as typos and grammatical mistakes can appear highly unprofessional. If necessary, consider having someone else review it or using an online grammar checker for assistance.
Create a Compelling CV With CV.co
If you still need help writing a construction worker application, use our CV builder to create a brand new one within minutes. Simply enter your information in the required fields, follow our AI assistant’s instructions, and choose an appropriate CV template. You’ll have a submission-ready document in no time.
And if you don’t want to use our CV maker, you can still rely on our CV examples to inspire your writing. We have a wide selection for numerous industries, so you are sure to find a suitable one for your needs.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, our guide has helped you understand how to write an effective construction worker CV to secure your dream job in the industry. The key is to focus on your achievements and skills, and to showcase the projects you’ve worked on, both personal and professional.
Construction Worker CV FAQ
#1. How long should a construction worker CV be?
A construction worker CV should be 1–2 pages long, like all other types of application documents. Ideally, all relevant information should fit on one page, but you can write more if you have many significant experiences and achievements.
#2. What is a good objective for a construction resume?
A good objective for a construction resume should briefly summarise who you are, what skills and qualifications you bring to the table, and why you’re applying for the position. All this information should be condensed into 2–3 sentences, acting as a hook to motivate recruiters to keep reading.
#3. What skills are needed in construction?
Skills that are needed in construction include roofing, pipe fitting, demolition, electrical wiring, plumbing, framing, and similar. Aside from these, construction workers should also possess soft skills, such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and attention to detail.
