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How to write a Construction Industry resume that hiring managers will actually read.
Start with a professional summary. This is where you spend 4 to 6 sentences telling the company who you are and what you have done. Write in broad statements and remember to use numbers. This section is the proverbial first impression, and they will see all of the details as they read further in your resume. Ask yourself three questions:
- How can I convey my strengths and assets as succinctly as possible, and
- How can I differentiate myself from my peers? (Remember to use numbers at any opportunity.)
- How have I helped my company make money, save money or solve problems?
Here is an example:
Seasoned Mechanical Project Manager with 20 years' experience in commercial and industrial construction installing HVAC, plumbing, sheet metal and process piping. Projects have included hospitals, office buildings, schools, universities and military bases. I have managed a direct staff of 3-6 individual and up to 250 field personnel. All of my projects have been completed on time and under budget many of which had a gross profit of 14-22%. My largest project was St Mary's Hospital which was a $25 million fast track project completed 3 months ahead of schedule netting an additional profit of $2.3 million.
Work experience section.
You want to highlight three things in the work history section:
- Responsibilities / duties
- Accomplishments. Be as specific as possible with numbers (e.g. in dollars, percentages, time, etc.). Don't be afraid to toot your own horn a little.
- It is a good idea to also include a summary of the company's work.
For example:
ABC Mechanical Contracting Company
Senior Project Manager 1999-present
ABC Mechanical is a $75 Mechanical Contracting company that performs commercial projects in the greater Atlanta, GA market. Projects include hospitals, universities, labs, commercial buildings and pharmaceutical facilities.
I was their onsite Mechanical Project Manager for a $130mm convention center expansion project in the center of a large urban community. The project occupied 2 city blocks at approximately 1mm square feet. The value of the Mechanical systems was over $23M. Duties & responsibilities primarily encompassed the day-to-day coordination, monitoring & direction of the installation of the HVAC and Plumbing systems. Constant interfacing & strategic planning with the field & senior management staff of the Owner, Architect/Engineer, associated contractors, as well as the various General Contractor staff members was required & occurred on a daily basis. The aggressive schedule for this massive project was less than 2.5 years, with the timely installation of the Mechanical systems playing a critical role.
Education, certifications, computer skills, and military experience
Be accurate and consistent with dates, spelling, etc. Include anything that helps convey your skills and traits. Remember, you have a set of skills that an employer will find valuable - identify those skills and convey the value those skills have brought to prior companies. If you were in the military, you're probably well-disciplined and confident in making decisions. This is time to think outside of the box in this part of your resume.
For Example:
Education:
NC State University Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering 1990
US Marines 1980-1986 honorable discharge
Computer Software Applications: Estimation, Quickpen, Autocad vs. 2010 2D and 3D, Navisworks, Microsoft Project, Primavera, Prolog, Microsoft Word/Excel
Professional License/Associations:
Professional Engineer in NC, SC, GA, FL
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Mechanical Contractors Association
