Construction Manager Resume Sample [+Objective & Skills]

You’re driving around with a friend. As you pass brand-new buildings, you point at them and say, “I built this. And this. And this. Heck, I’ve worked on so many awesome construction projects recently!”

And then the alarm goes off. Oops.

Maybe it’s time to stop dreaming and make your dream of getting a new construction manager job come true.

The first thing you need to do is build a construction manager resume that stands out among the competition like a skyscraper among wooden huts. While this sounds like a big project, it’s definitely doable if you’ve got the right blueprint.

This guide will show you: 

• A construction manager resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a construction manager resume that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a construction manager resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for a construction manager to get any job you want.

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Construction Manager Resume Sample

Check out these other related resume guides:

• Architecture Resume Guide
• Construction Resume Guide
• Construction Superintendent Resume Guide
• Construction Project Manager Resume
• Facility Manager Resume
• General Project Management Resume
• Landscaping Resume Guide
• Maintenance Resume Guide
• Management Consultant Resume Guide
• Example Resumes for Any Job

Now, let’s get to it.

Here’s how to write a construction manager resume:

1. Choose the Best Format for Your Construction Manager Resume

As a construction manager, you know the importance of following blueprints to the letter.

Well—

On a construction manager resume, the resume format is that blueprint.

It lays the foundation, keeps everything neat and in order, and makes it easy for the employer to read.

Follow these rules to format a resume for construction management right:

• Write the address in a resume and stick it in the resume header.
• Split up the parts of the resume using bold headings for legibility.
• Don’t get stuck on which of the resume formats to choose. Usually, the chronological format is perfect.
• Deciding what font should a resume be in is also important, as well as utilizing the white space on your resume effectively.

Pro Tip: Send your resume as a PDF unless the construction project manager job description explicitly requests one in Microsoft Word. PDF resumes make sure the hiring manager can read it, no matter which device they view it on.

2. Write a Construction Management Resume Objective or Summary

A profile on a resume is also known as the resume objective or resume summary.

At just a few sentences in length, it gives your employer your pitch as to how your background and skills make you the right construction manager for the job.

But, which one to choose?

Choose the resume summary when you have solid experience. Not any experience, but a lengthy background in construction management. A summary sums up your candidacy by documenting your top construction skills, achievements, and experience.

Choose the resume objective when you’re new to the management side of construction. The resume objective gives them a statement on your career goals and an accomplishment with numbers to prove to them you’re the best.

Pro Tip: The construction manager resume objective or career summary goes at the top of the document, but save writing it for the end. Completing the rest of your resume allows you to sum everything up properly in a powerful heading statement.

3. Create the Perfect Construction Manager Job Description for a Resume

Whether supervising a minor house renovation or managing an entire skyscraper’s erection in New York, don’t get lazy with your job experience section.

So—

Here’s how to write a job description for a resume construction management employers will love:

• Start by listing your current or most recent job. You’ll go back from there.
• List each job title, company name and location, dates worked, and 4–6 bullet points of responsibilities you had at each job.
• Use action words and power verbs (e.g., supervised, consolidated, etc.) to begin each entry.
• List key wins with numbers, as these numbered achievements show (rather than tell) them you have what it takes to be the construction boss.
• Tailor your resume to one construction manager job. Don’t write a generic resume and send that to every job listing you find on Indeed.

Pro Tip: Even entry-level construction management resumes require experience with construction, as well as project management. When listing past jobs, pay close attention to giving duties which show project and construction management duties.

4. Make Your Construction Manager Resume Education Section Shine

It used to be that employers and contractors would place little value on the education section of a construction manager resume.

Not so anymore.

These days, to get that top construction job, a bachelor’s degree in management or something related is all but required.

You don’t slack on construction job sites, so don’t do it here, either.

Here’s how to write an education section correctly:

• Add your highest schooling first. Then go back from there in reverse-chronological order.
• List the degree, dates, school name, and location. Include anything else which could pump up your eligibility, such as honors and awards.
• Document relevant coursework. These help show you have the skills and abilities needed to be the best candidate they could consider.
• Don’t add high school if you finished college. Since you finished university (that’s usually a requirement for higher level construction managers), leave high school off.
• Add high school if you’re still finishing up. In university but some credits shy of a degree? Then add high school as a secondary entry.

Pro Tip: What’s relevant coursework for a construction manager resume? Any class or course in management (e.g., Business and Managerial Law) or construction (e.g., Engineering Materials for Sustainable Construction).

5. Highlight Your Construction Management Skills for a Resume

Employment of construction managers and construction project managers is expected to grow by 11% from 2016 to 2026, according to the BLS.

This is almost 45,000 new construction manager candidates to compete against.

So—

To highlight your potential, show them you have the construction skills and management abilities they’ve been surveying for.

Sample Construction Management Skills

• Low-Bid Selection
• Best-Value Selection
• Qualifications-Based Selection
• Project Scope & Budget
• Payment Contracts
• Capital Projects
• Conceptual Planning
• Schematic Design
• Programming and Feasibility
• Blueprints & Working Drawings
• Mathematics (Calculus, Geometry, etc.)
• Environmental Performance Measures
• Quality Management
• Public Safety
• Cost Management
• Communication Skills
• Physical Fitness
• Quick-Thinking
• Decision-Making Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Risk Assessment
• Management Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Project Management
• Effective Communication
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Time Management
• Accountability
• Analytical Skills
• Technical Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Adaptability

Also, specify the types of construction you are familiar with, such as:

• Residential Construction—Homes, apartment buildings, etc.
• Commercial Construction—Office buildings, stores, retail establishments, etc.
• Industrial Construction—Oil refineries, chemical plants, etc.
• Institutional Construction—Municipal and government buildings, such as schools and police stations.
• Heavy Civil Construction—Roads, bridges, airports, etc.
• Agricultural Construction—Barns, animal fencing, storage silos, grain elevators, etc.
• Environmental Construction—Waste treatment plants, wind power turbines, etc.

However—

Don’t take these lists and just add them straight into your top-level, mid-level, or assistant construction manager resume.

Here’s the best way to add construction skills to a resume:

• First, jot down all the employment skills you have related to construction and management.
• Pull out the construction management job description, and keep it out in front of you.
• Take note of the management skills and construction abilities they’re looking for in the requirements or qualifications area of the ad—those are the best keywords to put on a resume.
• If one of the noted skills matches one of those first job skills, put it on your construction management resume.
• Always include both soft skills and hard skills!

One last thing: contractors and other employers will care more about hard skills (design development, contract documents) than soft skills (time management, communication) on a construction management resume.

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6. Add Other Sections to Your Construction Manager Resume

Every building in a city could get by on the same set of blueprints, but that would be the ugliest and most boring city imaginable.

It’s the same with a construction manager resume.

All your competitors included those previous resume sections, because they’re core.

Stand out and be unique by including some extra resume areas.

Construction Manager Resume Examples—Extra Sections

Here are great additions for a construction manager resume:

• career certifications
• language proficiency
• construction projects
• job and industry awards
• city and state licenses
• organization memberships
• hobbies and interests
• volunteer positions

7. Attach a Construction Manager Cover Letter to Your Construction Manager Resume

Most employers want cover letters.

So—

Whether it’s a commercial, municipal, environmental, industrial, or residential construction manager resume, don't forget about a covering letter!

Here’s what to include in a cover letter for construction managers:

• A good resume introduction to start your cover letter.
• An overview of your construction experience and management skills.
• Several key achievements with numbers to prove what you tell them is true.
• A powerful call to action to end the cover letter with a bang.

Just like with your resume, no generic cover letter for construction manager jobs. Also, check out these great cover letter tips if you have any questions.

Pro Tip: A construction manager’s motto should be “always be prepared.” To that end, check out our best job interview tips to get ready for your big meeting.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

So, that’s it—

Now THAT’S a resume for construction managers you can build a career upon!

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This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Sources

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/construction-managers.htm