Jul 18, 2024
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12 min read
Build the perfect Construction Manager resume with our expert-backed tips.
Rated by 348 people
Civil Infrastructure Construction Manager
Residential Construction Project Manager
Commercial Construction Site Manager
Highway Construction Supervision Manager
Sustainable Construction Operations Manager
Industrial Construction Planning Manager
Building Retrofitting Construction Manager
Earthquake-Resistant Construction Manager
Green Building Construction Manager
Marine Construction Project Manager
When applying for this role, it’s essential to highlight any experience in project management or engineering disciplines. Emphasize your knowledge of construction materials and methods, along with project scheduling tools like Primavera or MS Project. If you hold relevant certifications such as PMP or LEED, definitely showcase them to reflect your commitment to industry standards. Provide specific examples of completed projects where you managed budgets, timelines, and teams effectively. Utilize a 'situation-task-action-result' format to demonstrate how you overcame challenges and added value to your previous employers.
When applying for this role, it's essential to showcase your experience in residential project management. Highlight your ability to coordinate with subcontractors, suppliers, and clients to ensure smooth project execution. If you’ve implemented project management software, mention it to demonstrate your efficiency. Include any training in budgeting or scheduling that you've completed. Use specific examples where you successfully completed a project on time and within budget, detailing the strategies you used to overcome challenges and achieve results.
When applying for this role, it’s important to showcase your experience in managing construction projects and teams. Highlight any relevant certifications, like OSHA safety training, to demonstrate your commitment to maintaining safe work sites. Include details about your budgeting skills and how effectively you’ve managed resources in past projects. Use the 'skill-action-result' format to provide clear examples of how your leadership improved project timelines and quality. Mention your ability to communicate with subcontractors and clients to ensure project goals are met efficiently.
When applying for this position, highlight your experience in supervising large civil construction projects. Discuss your knowledge of safety regulations and quality control processes. Mention any relevant certifications like OSHA or PMP that demonstrate your commitment to professional standards. Use specific examples of your leadership in managing teams and resolving issues on-site. Focus on your ability to maintain schedules and budgets, detailing how your oversight has led to successful project completions, using a clear ‘skill-action-result’ approach to illustrate your impact.
When applying for this role, it’s essential to showcase any experience with green building practices or eco-friendly projects. Highlight your ability to analyze energy efficiency and sustainability metrics, as these skills are critical. If you have certifications such as LEED or have taken pertinent courses like 'Sustainable Design', make sure to include these details to demonstrate your commitment to the field. Use specific examples of how you successfully implemented sustainability initiatives and the measurable outcomes they produced, following a 'skill-action-result' format.
When applying for this role, it's essential to showcase your expertise in project scheduling and resource allocation. Highlight any experience you have in coordinating with various stakeholders, as collaboration is key. Certifications like 'Project Management Professional' or safety training can enhance your profile. Use specific examples of how your planning efforts led to cost savings or increased efficiency on previous projects. Lastly, demonstrate how your analytical skills helped in risk management and decision-making, ensuring successful project outcomes.
When applying for this position, it's essential to spotlight your expertise in energy efficiency and sustainability. Highlight any experience with green building standards or retrofitting technologies. If you hold certifications such as LEED or BPI, be sure to mention these qualifications. Include examples of previous projects where your leadership resulted in cost savings or improved building performance. Use a 'skill-action-result' approach to show how your initiatives have positively impacted project outcomes, emphasizing your ability to manage teams and resources effectively.
When applying for this position, it’s essential to highlight your experience with seismic design and construction techniques. Discuss any relevant projects where you implemented earthquake-resistant measures. Certifications such as 'Seismic Design of Buildings' or 'Structural Engineering Essentials' should be included to showcase your expertise. Demonstrate how your proactive measures have minimized risks and enhanced safety on previous projects. Use a 'skill-action-result' format to illustrate how your initiatives have led to improved project outcomes, such as reduced costs or increased client satisfaction.
When applying for this position, it’s important to showcase your knowledge of sustainable building practices and materials. Highlight any experience you have with green certifications, such as LEED or BREEAM, to demonstrate your commitment to eco-friendly construction. Mention specific projects where you implemented energy-efficient solutions or reduced waste. Also, detail your collaboration with architects and engineers to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Use quantifiable results, like reductions in energy usage or cost savings, to illustrate the impact of your contributions.
When applying for this role, focus on your experience with marine construction techniques and regulatory compliance. Highlight any specific projects where you managed timelines, budgets, and resources effectively. Emphasize teamwork and leadership skills, showcasing how you motivated your team to meet safety standards. If you hold certifications in project management or marine engineering, mention these to demonstrate your expertise. Providing examples of how you resolved challenges during projects can showcase your problem-solving abilities, impacting your application positively. Use a clear structure to illustrate your skills and achievements.
Looking for your next construction manager position? You handle blueprints and budgets with ease, but when it comes to detailing your career on paper, you hit a brick wall. Mapping out your professional specialism—whether it’s residential, commercial, or infrastructure—isn’t the problem. Covering everything from your knowledge of local regulations to demonstrating your adherence to budgets can be tough.
What’s more, since you pull long hours on site, you may struggle to build a professional network. Expanding your connections and finding new contacts is a savvy way to learn about new opportunities.
In the following guide, we’ll share the best way to plan and create your next construction manager resume.
Key takeaways
Designed to showcase your leadership, project management, and operational expertise, this guide equips you with tools, tips, and examples specific to the construction management field.
You’ll learn how to stand out in a competitive job market and streamline the process with our resume builder, ensuring a polished and professional finish.
With this guide and our resume builder, you’ll have all the tools you need to craft a resume that emphasizes your leadership, project management, and technical expertise.
Don’t waste any time. Your construction manager resume must immediately showcase your leadership, project oversight, and operational management expertise. Share your ability to manage construction projects, comply with safety and building regulations, and deliver projects on time and within budget.
Drop your resume here or choose a file.
PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.
Avoid vague statements and instead focus on specific project achievements. Wherever possible, add metrics to claims. Numbers and percentages allow you to illustrate the impact of your hard labor. Pick a few exemplary accomplishments and include them when writing about work experience on your resume.
Led a cross-functional team to complete a $5M commercial construction project three weeks ahead of schedule, reducing labor costs by 10% and earning client commendation for exceptional efficiency.
Showcasing certifications like PMP, LEED, or OSHA can be tricky. It’s a challenge to highlight them effectively without sounding repetitive or overly technical. Many job seekers struggle to decide which certifications are most relevant to prioritize for a specific role.
PRO TIP
Review the job advert first. Often, the criteria will outline “must have” qualifications for construction managers. Start by including these on your resume. You can then add any additional certificates that align well with the demands of the vacancy.
The construction industry heavily relies on modern technology. Let the hiring manager know you’re a whiz with certain programs and systems. Examples of the software you may want to list include Buildertrend, Autodesk BIM 360, Sage Estimating, Primavera P6, and iAuditor.
Show, don’t tell
Don’t make the mistake of simply listing the software you use. Provide some context, too. For example, you may want to mention a program in your work experience section and describe how it helped you to excel. Give as many examples as possible.
Construction managers have to be innate problem-solvers. However, it’s no good simply saying that you’re a “problem-solver”. You need to show it (and detail the impact your creativity had!). One way you can do that is by discussing a situation in which you used this skill and what happened as a result.
Next, you need to choose the right format for your construction manager resume. We recommend the reverse-chronological format most of the time. This is the standard approach in the U.S., so hiring managers expect to see it.
This resume format details your professional history in reverse order. That means your most recent experience goes at the top of each section. As you move down, you also go backward in time.
As a general rule, your construction manager resume should include these sections:
If you’re unsure how to outline your next resume, we have a selection of resume templates you can use. Select the right one for your job search and fill it with your most recent information.
It’s smart to save your resume file as a PDF rather than a Word Document.
You don’t need to include volunteer experience on your resume, although you may choose to. This is particularly useful if you lack other work experience.
Typically, the answer is no. There’s no need to include a headshot or other photos on your resume.
Don’t believe the hype about ATS software. While many employers use this program to filter incoming resumes, it’s not as powerful as you may think. However, you can include keywords and phrases from the original job advert to help.
Next up, you need to create a clear resume header. This section works like a business card and includes your name, job title, and contact details.
List the following:
If your LinkedIn is up-to-date and active, include a hyperlink to it in your resume header. That way, the hiring manager can quickly and easily connect with you there.
Your resume summary sits at the top of the page. It’s a short paragraph, similar to an elevator pitch highlighting your top achievements, awards, and talents. Use concise language and powerful action verbs when writing this section of your resume.
Consider what makes you unique. For example, reflect on the specific skills you've developed.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Before you start writing your summary, check the job advert. Tailor this section to meet the needs of the vacancy at hand to give yourself the best chance of success.
The above summary hits the mark. It accentuates the construction manager's experience. Boasting key accomplishments, showing off their ability to handle big projects, and detailing their accolades, it’s a stellar example. It also includes vital details by highlighting specific achievements with numbers, key software skills, and important certifications.
Writing about your work experience on a resume is an important part of the process. If you’ve had a long, illustrious career in construction, now’s the time to shout about it. Once again, you should use the reverse chronological order—starting with your most recent position at the top of the section.
Don’t go back more than 10-15 years in the past. This experience is no longer relevant and can lead to age discrimination. Equally, you only need to list positions that relate directly to the vacancy. Ensure your language is simple, straightforward, and easy for the hiring manager to understand.
Action verbs
Using specific action words can help your experience stand out. Words like "led," "managed," "improved," and "achieved" can make your accomplishments more noticeable. Aim to showcase your skills by quantifying your achievements instead of listing responsibilities.
Your work experience section should include:
Remember to tailor your experience—particularly the accomplishments you share—to the job listing. Consider the demands of the role and write bullet points that speak directly to them.
Focussing on successful project management, team leadership, cost savings, and software use, the above is an excellent example. The use of metrics and specific details means that a hiring manager would instantly be able to see what the candidate brings to the table.
Moreover, the language is simplified and easy to read regardless of whether you have a construction background or not. By steering clear of industry-specific jargon, this example is accessible to everyone.
If you’re not sure where to get started, we’ve got you covered. There are many strategies you can employ while writing your experience section.
Here are some resume examples you can use for yourself:
Are you a real go-getter? If you've adhered to budgets, smashed timelines, and excelled at every feat, include these details in your work experience section. As always, you should add metrics to the mix. These work as evidence, backing up the big, impressive claims you make.
Can you use a diverse range of construction software? Are you a technological whiz-kid? If so, you should use this as your unique selling proposition (USP) when applying for positions. Mention the software that you use and how you use it. Wherever possible, add facts, statistics, and details to back up your points.
As a manager, you have a ton of responsibility. The success of any construction project rests on your shoulders. Remind the hiring manager of this fact and focus on how you led teams toward success. Include details about your past triumphs and the responsibilities you faced along the way.
Next, you’ve got to decide what skills to put on your resume. Construction managers wear many hats—not just a hard hat. You’ll be in charge of budgeting, project planning and scheduling, team leadership, operations management, and even conflict resolution. However, it doesn’t end there.
You should also include knowledge-based skills, including any software you use at a professional level. While we’ve already covered some options, additional programs include Procore, Bluebeam Revu, and CoConstruct. If any are mentioned in the job advert and you know them, be sure to list them.
Don’t forget to tailor your resume skills section to the job advert. Comb through the core criteria and check for any hard (i.e. technical) and soft skills you already have under your belt. Adding these to your list of skills may instantly increase your chances of getting to the interview stage of the process.
Hard skills are the foundation of your role as a construction manager. If you don’t get these right, there’s no way you can deliver results and complete large-scale projects. Of course, there’s a wide range of hard skills you may list. These include financial management, budget adherence, business intelligence, and data analysis. Think about which make you stand out and were listed on the job advert.
Every manager has to deal directly with their team. It’s your job to make sure that every employee does their part. To keep things ticking over, you’ll need a selection of soft skills. These are often harder to identify—and certainly harder to quantify. However, they are entirely necessary for the job.
If you want to land that all-important interview, you’ll need to list education on your resume. Use the reverse chronological order once again.
Here are some of the qualifications you may consider:
Building a compelling construction manager resume involves more than just listing your work experience. You want to show that you’re a well-rounded person. To do that, you can include your skills, languages, hobbies, volunteer work, and even the books you've read, that showcase your strengths and interests.
Working with international businesses? If so, your language skills may come into play. Mention any languages you speak and your proficiency level, such as "Fluent in Spanish." This skill may help you to stand out from the crowd.
What do you do outside of the workplace? Only include hobbies and interests that demonstrate relevant skills like "Woodworking" or "DIY projects.” Every hobby you include should speak to the vacancy. For example, if your interest is in “Celebrity Culture,” that has nothing to do with construction work.
Before you landed your first construction manager role, you may have completed some volunteer experience. Should that be the case, you can include an entire section dedicated to it. Add in any skills you developed or achievements you gained during this experience.
PRO TIP
Don’t add sections for the sake of it! When you’re thinking about including these additional sections, think about what they tell the reader about you. If you’re lacking in space on your resume, avoid adding information that could be considered “fluff.”
By this point, you should be ready to ace your Construction Manager resume. Be sure to tailor your resume to meet the needs of the vacancy. Show off your relevant experience, back it up with metrics, and use simplistic language. Generally speaking, you should use the reverse chronological order.
If in doubt, use our resume builder tool to effortlessly create the perfect application for the job.
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