Pay particular attention to your personal statement

The first place a hiring manager is going to look is at the top of the page on your CV. This is where you insert a summary of yourself. Make sure you start things off with something memorable and quick that gives them a clear idea of who you are and the work you are interested in. If you are a qualified tradesman include this in the summary or tell us about your specific title within the construction industry for example “General Labourer”.

Don’t write every single task of your current job

Try focus on key responsibilities and achievements within specific roles rather than listing all your day-to-day activities, we want to hear what your focus was within your role, to the point and the specifics, did you manage projects? Did you report to the Foreman? Did you plan tasks for the day, if so, we want to hear it!

Use bullet points to stay relevant and specific rather than long sentences and paragraphs. This will avoid the reader getting bored and keep them interested and intrigued.

Don’t forget the basics

Remember the basics within your CV such as spelling and grammar. This is an indicator to a contractor that you lack attention to detail. So, we would recommend proofreading your CV a few times and even ask someone else to proofread. An extra set of eyes won’t hurt!

Include All Certs and Tickets within your CV

If you have Certs and tickets, be sure to mention them in your CV and include them within your application. If you have more certs than someone this could be a key factor in getting a job over someone else.

Simplify your language and format:

Don’t use an excessive number of words to say something, keep it short and simple. Get to the point in a way that is easy for the reader to understand and quickly makes an impact. Use action verbs as much as possible. Also, avoid company-specific terminology that won’t translate to the reader.

Ensure your CV is easy to read and navigate

No CV should be longer than 2 pages at the most, no matter how many years you are working in the construction industry it should be condensed so the reader can clearly see your relevant and recent experience. The role titles must be clear, so we know what you have experience in.

This can be a difficult task if you have a lot of experience so you must be ruthless and start by eliminating information that is relevant to the role you are applying for.

Your personal details, personal statement, work experience, achievements, education, and hobbies all should be listed in a logical order. These are all important. Here at Sherlock, we need all this information in order to create a profile of you on our system.

Customise your CV to the job you are applying for

At Sherlock Recruitment we want to see all your construction experience. Ensure all your skills and experience is relevant to the job you are applying to. There is no need to put in your first job or any early education this all takes up valuable room for relevant skills and qualifications within the construction industry.

Provided you follow all these steps you should have no problem in obtaining an interview for the role you want. Send your up-to-date CV to Sherlock Recruitment today and we will be sure to find a role that is perfect for you.

References are important

It is extremely important you provide us with up-to-date references from your construction experience. This may be the previous Foreman you reported to or Contract Managers.