Whether you are directly applying for construction jobs or have a recruiter in your corner, having a standout resume is important. You want to include all the important information on your resume that potential employers need without being overwhelming.

Norms as to what to include on a construction resume sometimes change, making it more complicated for you to draft this very important document.

To make it easier for you, we’ve gathered a list of the items not to include on your construction resume.

Employment Gaps – Or Gaps Without Explanation

Employment gaps can be a red flag to construction employers. There are some tips to avoid these gaps and ways to spin them to reduce their negative effects.

While the Gap Is in In-progress

If you are currently experiencing a gap in employment, see if you can fill your time doing something relevant to your career objectives. You can attend the occasional construction skill workshop or maybe do minor contracting work.

It’s not always possible to fill an unemployment gap with something relevant to construction. How you handle this will depend entirely on the situation.

For example, if you couldn’t find a good job during the gap, you can be honest about the fact that you carefully consider your roles. Turn your selectiveness into a strength, showing that you aren’t rash in making decisions.

You can even use this as an opportunity to reference specific aspects of the construction company or role you are applying for that make it a good fit.

Objective Statements

You don’t need to include an objective statement on most construction resumes. The only potential objection is if you are applying for a senior role.

Instead of an objective statement, consider a cover letter.

Details Indicating Your Age

Age discrimination shouldn’t happen, but it does, even subconsciously. So, avoid including any dates on your construction resume other than those for your previous jobs.

You may also want to avoid putting other indicators that you are either younger or older than the average candidate. For example, younger candidates may include their GPAs, while older candidates may have an email address at AOL or Hotmail.

Other Excess Information

You also don’t want to include more information on your construction resume than you need to. Pay particular attention to:

  • Personal information or your life story
  • Too much detail in past job descriptions
  • Brief, irrelevant jobs and positions
  • Negative comments about former employers
  • Extra information about your interests and hobbies

What Not to Include in Terms of Formatting

There is a long list of things to keep in mind when formatting and writing your construction resume. Make sure your resume doesn’t contain any of the following:

  • Spelling and grammar mistakes
  • Large blocks of text
  • Tiny text
  • Too much information
  • Passive language
  • A photo
  • Your address
  • Irrelevant social media links, with LinkedIn as the exception

Conclusion

Crafting a strong construction resume will help you get the attention of recruiters. It will also help you land the construction roles you apply for.

Keep the information on your resume relevant to your construction experience and avoid any indication of your age. Most importantly, don’t forget to proofread the resume to ensure all details are accurate and error-free.

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