Construction CV Example

Format and length

One or two pages, reverse-chronological. If you have under 5 years experience, keep it to one page. Senior site managers and trades with 10+ years can run to two, but only if every line adds value. Use clear headings and bullet points so a recruiter can scan your tickets and project history in under 10 seconds.

Section order

Contact details at the top (name, mobile, email, location). Then a short personal statement (2–3 sentences covering your trade or role, CSCS card colour, years of experience, and key strength). Follow with Tickets & Certifications as a dedicated block listing your CSCS card (with colour and expiry), NVQ level, CPCS/NPORS plant tickets, and H&S courses (SMSTS, SSSTS, asbestos awareness, first aid). This block is what gets you through the gate, so put it high.

Next comes Work Experience in reverse order, with the project type, scale, and your quantified contribution in each bullet. Then Education (NVQ, City & Guilds, apprenticeships, GCSEs). Finish with Additional Information covering own transport, willingness to travel, PPE/tools, and shift availability, these practical details matter as much as your trade skills.

Personal statement

Two to three sentences. Open with your trade or role, CSCS card colour, and years of experience. Add your NVQ level or apprenticeship if relevant. Close with one standout strength or project type. Do not write a generic paragraph about being hardworking or passionate.

Work experience

List roles in reverse order. For each, include the employer (or agency if you worked multiple contracts), your job title, location, and dates. If you worked short contracts through an agency, group them under the agency name with the overall date span rather than listing each 6-week job separately.

Use 3–4 bullet points per role. Each bullet should name the project type and scale (residential, commercial, civil; number of units or contract value), then quantify your output or impact (m² laid, bricks per hour, programme days saved, snags cleared, zero safety incidents). Start each bullet with a construction action verb (constructed, installed, poured, fixed, erected, excavated, laid, operated) and keep the focus on what you built or delivered, not vague duties.

Skills

List your trade-specific skills and the tools, plant, or methods you are hands-on with. For trades: bricklaying, carpentry, plastering, steel fixing, dry lining, groundworks, kerbing, slabbing. For plant: forward-tipping dumper, 360 excavator, telehandler, ride-on roller (state CPCS or NPORS category). For site managers: programming, contract administration, subcontractor coordination, quality assurance, RAMS, AutoCAD, Asta Powerproject. Avoid generic terms like "construction skills" or "teamwork" without context.

Education and certifications

List your NVQ level (1, 2, 3, or higher), City & Guilds, or apprenticeship with the awarding body and year. State the qualification route clearly because it maps to your CSCS card eligibility and the rates you can command. GCSEs and A-Levels go below your vocational qualifications. If you are working toward an NVQ, flag it as "in progress" and state your expected completion date.

Certifications live in the dedicated Tickets & Certifications block higher up the CV, not buried here.

Additional information

Use this section for the practical details employers ask about: full UK driving licence and own transport, own PPE and hand tools, willingness to travel or work away, and availability for early starts, weekends, or night shifts. For site managers, add software skills (Asta Powerproject, MS Project, Procore, AutoCAD). These details often decide whether you get the call, so do not leave them out.

The result-plus-metric pattern

Construction employers want to know what you built, how much, and to what standard. Every bullet should follow this shape: action verb + project type/scale + quantified output or impact. Do not list duties ("responsible for bricklaying"). Show what you delivered ("laid 85,000 bricks on a 48-plot residential scheme with zero snags at NHBC inspection").

Name the project type (residential, commercial, civil, heritage), the scale (number of units, contract value, building height, m² laid), and your contribution (bricks per hour, programme days saved, defects at handover, safety record). If you worked on a large site as part of a gang, state your role and the gang size so the reader understands your scope.

Before and after bullets

Action verbs for construction CVs

Use verbs that match the physical work: constructed, installed, poured, fixed, erected, dismantled, excavated, laid, operated, built, assembled, fitted, completed, coordinated, supervised, managed, delivered, inspected, maintained. For site managers, add programmed, scheduled, procured, liaised, resolved, mentored. Avoid passive voice ("was responsible for") and vague terms ("helped with", "involved in").

How to present qualifications

List your NVQ level, City & Guilds, or apprenticeship with the awarding body, the full qualification title, and the year you completed it. State the level number (1, 2, 3, or higher) because it maps directly to the CSCS card you are eligible for and the rates you can command. If you completed an apprenticeship, name the employer and the qualification you gained through it.

If you are working toward an NVQ or apprenticeship, flag it as "in progress" and state your expected completion date. This matters if you are applying for a role that requires a higher CSCS card than you currently hold, you can explain that you are working toward the Blue or Gold card via the NVQ route.

GCSEs and A-Levels go below your vocational qualifications. Include Maths and English grades if you have them, especially if the role involves site supervision or client-facing work.

Certifications that matter

Your CSCS card is the single most important certification. State the colour (Green Labourer, Blue Skilled Worker, Gold Advanced Craft/Supervisor, Black Manager, White Professionally Qualified) and the expiry date. Put this in a dedicated Tickets & Certifications section near the top of your CV, not buried in education. Holding the wrong card for the role you are applying to can get you refused entry to site.

For plant operators, list your CPCS or NPORS tickets by category: forward-tipping dumper, 360 excavator, telehandler, ride-on roller, etc. State the category code if you know it (e.g. A09 for forward-tipping dumper). Generic "operates machinery" is worthless; the specific ticket is what gets you on the job.

For site supervisors and managers, add SSSTS (Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme) or SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training Scheme). SMSTS is required for most site manager roles on principal contractor sites. Also list Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) if you hold it, plus first aid, asbestos awareness, and fire marshal if relevant.

For all roles, include the CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test pass that underpins your CSCS card, plus any extra H&S tickets: manual handling, working at height, confined spaces, abrasive wheels. UK principal contractors treat a clean safety record and current H&S certification as non-negotiable for site access.