Some candidates underestimate the importance of creating a professional resume. This often proves to be one of the most significant mistakes made by those looking for a new opportunity in their construction career, because a quality resume is your first impression to an employer. As the construction industry becomes increasingly competitive, ensuring that your resume stands apart from the rest is paramount to getting interviews. Here are 4 tips to make your resume stand out.
Showcase Your Achievements
First off, you need to have relevant construction experience and it should be clearly presented in your resume. If you are submitting a resume for specific construction job, like a Construction Superintendent, then you should indicate relevant experience to that position. Highlight your tangible achievements in each role.
- Show achievements – not just job titles and skills.
- Achievements can include anything from promotions to receiving recognition for your work on particular project.
- Show how you improved some aspect of the company. Did you make the company money? Save the company money? Or improve a process or procedure?
Highlight Your Job Stability
In general, the practice of “job hopping,” or changing employers every few months or couple of years, is viewed unfavorably in the construction industry. Companies want to see job stability. They want to know you are in it for the long haul and that you see projects to successful completion, over and over.
- List stable, long-term projects on your resume. Companies are looking for those who show long-term commitment.
- Showing unfinished projects on your resume is a detractor. Yet, if you have that experience, it’s best to be honest and explain why in the interview.
- It shows well if you have jobs that lasted 5 to 10 years.
- For more experienced candidates, it’s still a plus to show you worked for one company for a long period of time (20 years).
Include a Detailed Project List
For those in the construction industry, including a detailed project list is a must. Including it will give potential employers a clear view of what projects you’ve worked on and the specific role you played.
- Be sure your project list is detailed.
- Clearly articulate the type of project, dollar amount of the project, and your exact role on the project.
- Bigger projects stand out.
- Working for well-known, reputable companies is a plus.
Niches in Demand
Certain niches in construction continue to be in high demand. If you have experience in those areas, be sure to highlight that experience and elaborate on any specialized skills in those areas. Construction niches that are in demand include:
- Healthcare
- Higher education
- Multi-Family
- Senior Living
On the other hand, if most of your experience is in a big-box niche, be aware that it makes you potentially less leverage-able. The takeaway is to be aware of that, and take the opportunity to highlight other aspects of your experience that are more in demand if possible.
Finally, be sure to proof your resume several times and make sure your relevant employment experience, education credentials, and contact information are all accurate. It’s best to be clear and honest on your resume so you set a positive tone of trust from the beginning. It also ensures that there are no delays processing your employment background check.
Are you ready to land your dream job?
If you are searching for an opportunity in the construction industry, contact The Birmingham Group today to discuss your career path or browse our open positions.
