Submitting a Curriculum Vitae (CV) is the first step when it comes to applying for many professional jobs in the Construction Industry. The CV that you submit to the hiring company is most likely your first contact with them so it’s important that you include the right information and keep to a good structure to get off to the right start.
There a thousand of CV examples and templates on the internet, which could make it confusing on what to add to your own CV. We have asked Recruitment Consultants from O’Neill & Brennans Professional & Technical team some of the most asked questions when it comes to creating a Construction CV, to find out what information and structure they look out for when they are going through jobseeker's CV’s.
- How do I make my Construction CV stand out from competition?
Highlight the construction companies you worked for and projects that you worked on, instead of just listing your previous role responsibilities. Recruiters want to see what your capable of within your role through the projects that you have worked on previously. Do include 4-5 bullet points of your responsibilities under each company in a separate section to your projects. Include relevant keywords that are used in the job description, many employers use recruiting tech such as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen CVs. To ensure your CV gets through the ATS and in front of a human recruiter, include relevant keywords from the job description.
- How do I layout/structure my Construction CV so it is easy to read and visually appealing?
Your CV should contain the headers which provide the overall structure. Headings such as…
- Contact Information
- Skills / Achievements
- Work Experience
- Education
- References
Is a great start and excellent structure to any CV. These headings break up the text into relevant sections which makes your CV easy to read for the recruiter.
- How do I write an introduction to myself in my Construction CV?
An introduction paragraph is a great addition to any CV. It can set the tone for the rest of the CV and gives a first impression of you as a candidate. Your introduction paragraph should be no more than 3-4 sentences. Since your introduction paragraph is brief make sure you use it to highlight your most relevant construction projects, achievements and skills to show your strengths and how you’re an excellent candidate for the position. You could also include your goals and aspirations to show the employer what you want to achieve within the construction industry.
- What employment and education experience should I include in my Construction CV?
With each role there are different qualifications and experiences that may confuse you on what to include on your Construction CV. It’s important that you include all experience, education, certifications and training showing the employer how competent and able to carry out responsibilities that a job requires. If you are ever unsure of what to include on your CV, remember your O’Neill & Brennan recruiter will be on hand to guide you.
- What length should my Construction CV be?
There is no magic number as to how many pages should a Construction CV be. It can be as long as necessary giving you the space to include all of your relevant experience, education, certifications and training. If you find yourself to be in a scenario were your Construction CV is extensive, simply remember to keep each heading clear and concise.
- Should I include a photo in my Construction CV?
A photo attached to your CV is not essential and, in some cases not even advisable. If you’re on the fence about using a photo, then it’s probably best that you don’t use a photo of yourself, attaching a link to your LinkedIn profile could be more beneficial in this scenario. In the case that you do add a photo of yourself then please adhere to the following tips…
- Make yourself presentable: Dress to fit the company’s culture, check their social media and website to see what best suits each company.
- Consider using a professional photographer: The results are much better than using a smartphone. If you do decide to use a smartphone don’t use a selfie pose but have someone else take the photo for you.
- Utilise the space: Your image should be about the size of a passport photo, so it doesn’t distract the recruiter from your skills and qualifications.
- What personal information does the employer need?
You should include your Name, Address, Phone Number and Email Address in your construction CV. This gives the recruiter multiple ways to contact you to whichever is most convenient for them.
Now that you have read through this CV layout guide, why don’t you head over to our live job board filled with construction vacancies and apply for role that interests you. Alternatively, you can reach out to our Professional & Technical team via email ireprotech@oandb.ie
