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How to add construction skills to a resume

Construction is a physically and intellectually demanding career. Many individuals work in the construction industry for a short time to pay for education. And some dedicate their whole working lives to construction or demolishing in the realm of contracting.

Potential construction employees may be unaware of how many necessary skills they now possess. Many individuals gain building expertise by operating on their home improvements or volunteering with neighbors or community groups. There are additional abilities relevant to construction activities that you may be proficient in particular settings like mathematics.

Organizations in the construction company want individuals with math proficiency, can operate standard instruments and are security-conscious. You may locate a construction career that is a suitable match for you by connecting your talents with those of possible companies. In this post, we'll go over the skills you'll require to be a construction worker, how to enhance them, and how to market your expertise while you look for a job.

Construction has everything to do with the development and erection of physical facilities. Although most construction occupations start on-site with mundane, arduous work, people who have been in the field for a long time can go on to supervise whole construction groups for large projects. Some traineeship courses need the completion of a high school diploma or GED. Many specialized skill areas, like soldering, may require specific training and licensing. Most construction occupations are well-paying.

What are the different types of construction skills

Image for part: What are the different types of construction skills

Bricklaying, woodworking, mixing cement, establishing drywall, and installing particular pieces of equipment are all examples of specialized construction abilities. Even though it is not related to the position you want, ensure to inform your potential employer what duties you have expertise completing and how much expertise you have. Jobs in construction may involve;

  • Carpentry
  • Painting
  • Drywall
  • Construction management
  • Construction reports
  • Concrete
  • Roofing
  • Sheet metal work
  • Demolition
  • Renovations
  • Repairs
  • Generating codes
  • Electrical codes
  • Environmental codes
  • OSHA safety requirements
  • Interpreting specifications
  • Reading and interpreting drawings
  • Inspecting
  • Measuring
  • Organize building materials
  • Interpreting drawings
  • Engineering
  • Erecting
  • Hazardous materials
  • HVAC work
  • Installation
  • Ironwork
  • Metal lathing
  • Pipe fitting
  • Refrigeration
  • Rigging
  • Steam fitting
  • Surveying
  • Trim
  • Construction equipment
  • Maintenance
  • Power tools
  • Electrical
  • Plumbing
  • Framing

Physical Skills

A construction worker should be solid and agile. Excellent ergonomics, especially appropriate lifting position and complying security, avoid severe and costly mishaps; career-ending wounds do not just happen to sportsmen. Abnormal behaviors can also lead to a recurrence of injuries, which young, fit individuals may reject and neglect, but which build up to disability years later. Accurate mobility is also more productive and impactful. Construction labor often entails;

  • Physical endurance
  • Compliance
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Heavy lifting
  • Dexterity
  • Heavy equipment operation

Office skills

To be sustainable, construction enterprises need funding, record-keeping, and promotion. You can be a valuable addition if you have professional skills, such as a grasp of document-processing, spreadsheets, publication tools, strong telephone etiquette, organizational and interpersonal skills.

Although if you devote your time on the field, having capable of pulling into the workplace as necessary is crucial if the office gets understaffed. Standard office abilities include the following;

  • Mobile devices
  • Microsoft office
  • Phone etiquette
  • Oral/Written communication
  • Information management
  • Basic math
  • Punch lists
  • Scheduling
  • Customer service

Design and Planning 

You must be capable of interpreting a blueprint if you are developing a project yourself or pursuing somebody else's proposal. You must also comprehend construction well to detect difficulties or flaws; while faults in blueprints are uncommon, they do occur. You may also have to make judgments about what resources to utilize or how to plan distinct aspects of the project, and a thorough grasp of the project's design will be essential. Such abilities are necessary during the project's designing and development phases;

  • Project management
  • Flexibility
  • Construction management
  • Construction reports
  • Analyzing the construction process.
  • Determining equipment prices.
  • Recognizing the design.
  • Evaluating blueprints
  • Giving and receiving instructions
  • Estimating

Codes and Regulations 

Construction laws, ecological laws, security guidelines, and labor contracts will all apply to you as a construction worker. Although entry-level employees will not be accountable for executing such standards, knowing the norms will make training go more efficiently. Examiners would prefer it if you provide them with all the details they'll want during site inspections. It is also possible that your company, your site supervisor—will violate the regulations. Your personal protection, customer protection, and those who reside and operate nearby are dependent on your ability to recognize and respond to the situation. The following skills are also vital;

  • Integrity
  • Compliance
  • Environmental awareness
  • Complying security measures
  • Problem sensitivity
  • Discernment
  • Attention to detail
  • Labor relations
  • Negotiation

Management Skills 

Generally, not every construction worker requires managerial or leadership abilities, but possessing them opens up more opportunities for progression in your profession. Construction personnel must manage work sites, produce estimates and negotiate rates, execute quality assurance, and connect with new clients. Traditional management abilities are;

  • Project management
  • Leadership
  • Managing a team
  • Providing/following instructions
  • Teamwork
  • Collaboration
  • Quality assurance
  • Compliance
  • Safety
  • Directing
  • Supervision
  • Problem-solving

Construction competencies and skills in the workplace

There are several methods to exhibit your building strengths in the job, regardless of the construction setting;

  • Maintain your technical abilities and keep current on new building advancements, techniques, and materials.
  • Spend some time with more seasoned construction personnel and gain knowledge from them.
  • Utilize possibilities for higher qualifications and on-the-job experience.
  • Raising questions and hearing team managers will help you develop your interpersonal abilities.
  • Review blueprints and other building papers to strengthen your capacity to comprehend them.
  • Educate yourself on new construction technologies and discuss everything you discover with team members.

Tips on how to add construction skills to a resume

When looking for employment as a construction laborer, it is critical to highlight your strengths. Here are some tips on how to make your construction skills stand out on your CV.

  • When drafting a CV for a construction job, it is integral to emphasize any construction-related credentials, technical experience, internships, or degrees you have achieved. 
  • Modify your employment history to reflect construction-relevant skills and expertise. 
  • Even if you don't have any past construction experience, your specific abilities and achievements might give you an edge in the eyes of prospective employers.


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