Construction Manager Resume Examples & Writing Guide
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A construction manager oversees and leads a range of building projects from beginning to end. They are responsible for setting and keeping schedules, monitoring finances and ensuring that everybody completes their assigned tasks correctly.
Construction managers also ensure that the construction site is free of safety hazards. This job typically requires a few years of experience, along with solid communication and leadership skills.
Follow our tips and construction project manager resume examples to craft a compelling resume that showcases your unique skills and qualifications.
Start by editing a construction project manager resume sample from this page, or browse our library of professional resume templates to find one that catches your eye.
Construction manager resume example (text version)
Steve Reed
Glendale Heights, IL 60139
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Professional Summary
Strategic construction manager with demonstrated success assessing project scope and adhering to deadlines. Safety-conscious and detail-oriented with 14-year industry background. Well-versed in team leadership and task delegation to drive project progress and foster client satisfaction.
Work History
November 2015 – Current
Advocate Construction – Glendale Hills, IL
Senior Construction Manager
- Collaborate with construction administration consultants to schedule field observations.
- Perform regular job site observations to provide direction for general contractor personnel and subcontractor laborers.
- Guide and direct over 50 third-party inspectors through project construction, commissioning and closeout.
November 2012 – November 2015
Dunnet Bay Construction – Glendale Hills, IL
Construction Manager
- Kept sites compliant with OSHA, federal, state and local regulations to prevent unnecessary delays.
- Led weekly production and 10+ operations contractor meetings, facilitating stronger communication and helping to resolve critical issues each week.
- Monitored supply levels and identified cost-effective materials to reduce project expenses.
March 2006 – January 2012
JMP Construction INC. – Glendale Heights, IL
Assistant Construction Manager
- Oversaw employee attendance record, handled payroll and ordered new materials for sites.
- Completed accurate material and labor estimates for jobs with $ 10,000+ budgets.
- Evaluated incoming materials for quality and amounts ordered.
Skills
- Interior and exterior renovation
- Reading blueprints
- Knowledgeable in construction safety
- Estimating
- General contracting professional
- Building, demolition and renovation
- Costs control
- Safe job site setup
Education
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL
Associate of Science Construction Management
5 essentials of a standout construction manager resume
Contact details
Add your contact information to the top of your construction manager resume. Include your full name, city, state, ZIP code, phone number and professional email address. Add your LinkedIn profile and professional website, if applicable. Reference our guide on how to write a resume for more advice on creating your contact details section.
Professional summary
Your professional summary is where you introduce yourself to the hiring manager and showcase your top qualifications in three to five sentences.
Remember to touch on one or two notable professional accomplishments and touch on how long you’ve been in the industry.
For example: “Results-driven and hands-on construction manager with over 10 years of experience. Completed over eight multimillion-dollar projects by coordinating trades, developing partnerships and building positive relationships with architects, engineers and vendors. Proficient in contract negotiations, document preparation and building codes and regulations.”
Skills
Read the job description well to know the required skills needed for the job and include 8-10 soft and hard skills that directly relate to it.
Skills like construction planning, scheduling and budget analysis fall under the hard skills category. At the same time, leadership, organization and time management are intangible traits or soft skills that show the hiring manager how you approach your work.
Remember to note your interpersonal skills, which help you communicate effectively with your coworkers on the job. You can also take a look at the construction project manager sample resumes on this page for more ideas.
Work history
Your resume needs a clear work history section that starts with your present or most recent job and lists your remaining work experience in reverse chronological order. Remember to mention the job title, employer’s name, company location and the duration of your employment.
As a construction manager, your work history will be the centerpiece of your resume. Instead of listing daily tasks, focus on your work achievements and use quantifiable metrics when possible to better portray them.
For example, instead of writing “Completed estimates for jobs,” consider the more impressive, “Completed accurate material and labor estimates for jobs with $200,000+ budgets.”
Read our guide on including work experience on your resume for additional tips from career experts.
Education
List your educational background starting with the most recent degree and working backward. Include the name of the schools and the year of graduation. Typically, construction managers need a bachelor’s degree in construction management, architecture, engineering or a related field.
Some construction managers may also have a degree in business management or a related field. The coursework in a construction management program typically includes subjects such as construction methods and materials, project management, cost estimation, building codes and regulations, as well as safety and risk management.
In addition to formal education, construction managers need to have a strong knowledge of construction practices and techniques, as well as experience working in the construction industry. Many construction managers start their careers as construction workers or contractors and gain experience and knowledge through on-the-job training and apprenticeships.
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Action verbs for a standout construction manager resume
If you take a look at our construction manager sample resumes, you’ll notice that the work experience bullet points use strong action verbs to make an impact.
Here are some examples of action words you can use for your construction manager resume:
- Build
- Install
- Construct
- Fabricate
- Assemble
- Repair
- Maintain
- Inspect
- Measure
- Cut
- Trim
- Shape
- Join
- Sand
- Frame
- Design
- Estimate
- Coordinate
- Supervise
Use our resumes for construction managers from this page or make a resume from scratch using our Resume Builder.
Top skills for your construction manager resume
Make sure the resume skills you include are relevant to the job description and what the employer is looking for in a candidate.
Here are some examples of construction manager skills:
- Budget and time estimation
- Excellent verbal and written communication
- Leadership
- Interior and exterior renovation
- Time management
- Organization
- Design and planning building systems and services
- Inspection principles
- Knowledge of OSHA safety regulations
- Reading blueprints
- Building
- Demolition
- Renovation
- Mentoring
- Quality assurance
- Microsoft Office
- Construction management software
- Detail oriented
- Team player
Just like the construction manager resume samples from this page, your resume should feature a mix of soft skills and technical skills to demonstrate your balanced experiences and qualifications.
Certifications to include on a construction manager resume
Create a separate section on your resume for certifications and licenses and list them using bullet points. There are several certifications that construction managers can obtain to demonstrate their expertise in the field. Some of the most popular certifications include:
- Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Associate
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 30-Hour Construction
- Certified Professional Constructor (CPC)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
Overall, obtaining a certification can help to demonstrate a construction manager’s expertise and commitment to professional development.
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
Construction manager resume FAQ
How do you write a construction manager resume?
Writing a construction manager resume requires highlighting your relevant skills, experience and education. Here are some tips to create a strong construction manager resume:
- Emphasize your experience: For each position, describe your responsibilities, accomplishments and the skills you developed. Use strong action verbs to describe your achievements, such as “managed,” “oversaw” or “implemented.”
- Highlight your education and certifications: This can include a degree in construction management, architecture, engineering, or a related field. Additionally, mention any relevant certifications you have earned such as the Certified Construction Manager (CCM) or LEED Green Associate.
- Showcase your skills: Highlight your construction management skills such as project management, budgeting, scheduling and risk assessment. Additionally, mention your technical skills such as knowledge of building codes and regulations, safety regulations and construction materials and methods.
Refer to our sample construction project manager resumes for inspiration. Using the MyPerfectResume AI resume builder can also help with generating skills and work experience bullet points related to construction management.
What are a construction manager’s job responsibilities and duties?
The specific duties and responsibilities of a construction manager will depend on the job, but they can typically include:
- Preparing and negotiating cost estimates, budgets and work timetables.
- Scheduling and coordinating all design and construction processes.
- Interpreting and explaining contracts and technical information to workers.
- Collaborating with architects and engineers.
- Instructing and supervising construction personnel and activities on-site.
- Preparing reports on work progress and budgeting matters for clients.
- Responding to work emergencies.
- Making sure jobs are completed on time and within the budget.
- Complying with legal requirements, building and safety codes, and other regulations.
Explore our library of 800+ resume examples for more inspiration.
What format should I use for a construction manager’s resume?
The best resume format for you will expand on the strength of your skills and experiences.
Consider using the chronological format if you have plenty of work experience as a construction manager and show your career progression in the work history section.
If you have only a few years of experience in the construction industry or are changing careers, consider the combination format, emphasizing skills and work history.
On the other hand, if you lack professional experience, then the functional format is your best ally as it centers your resume on your related skills in project management, team leadership or budget management.
To see how professionals from top industries format their resumes, view our library of over 800 resume examples.
How do you write a construction project management resume with no experience?
Writing a construction project management resume with no experience can be challenging, but there are strategies you can use to make your resume stand out. Here are some tips:
- Include relevant coursework: If you have recently completed a degree in construction management or a related field, include relevant coursework in your resume. This can help to demonstrate your knowledge of the industry and your commitment to professional development.
- Emphasize internships or volunteer work: If you have completed an internship or volunteer work in the construction industry, include this experience in your resume. Even if it was unpaid, it can demonstrate your interest in the field and give you some relevant experience to highlight.
- Use action verbs: Use strong action verbs to describe your skills and experience. For example, instead of saying “assisted with project management,” say “coordinated project timelines and budgets.”
If you are just starting your career, we recommend including a resume objective instead of a professional summary. For additional guidance, take a look at our guide on how to make a resume with no experience.
Do’s and don’ts for your construction manager resume
- Use measurable achievements to describe your experience. Reference our sample construction manager resumes for inspiration.
- Use an ATS Resume checker to scan your construction management resume for errors.
- Use strong action verbs to describe your work experiences, such as supervised, conducted, led, oversaw, performed, monitored or developed.
- Tailor your resume to the construction manager job you are applying for.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your construction manager resume. For example, “contract management,” “construction safety” and “submittals.”
- Format your construction manager resume with clear sections and appropriate fonts so that it is easy for ATS software to parse and hiring managers to read.
- Don’t lie about your experience and skills as a construction manager.
- Don’t make vague claims about your skills. Instead, provide specific examples of your experience managing construction workers and implementing site safety measures.
- Don’t include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Don’t include irrelevant skills and work experience. Focus on relevant skills instead such as using AutoCAD and Microsoft Project.
- Don’t forget to proofread. A construction manager is expected to have high attention to detail, and your resume should reflect that.
Top 4 tips for interviews for a construction manager job
Learn about the organization or company.
When applying for a construction manager role, it’s important to learn about the organization to demonstrate your interest in the position and to tailor your resume to the company’s needs. Here are a few areas to consider researching:
Here are some things to research about the construction company:
- Types of projects: Look into the types of projects the company typically undertakes. This can help you understand the company’s strengths and areas of expertise and prepare you for the types of projects you might be working on if hired.
- Company size and structure: Learn about the company’s size and organizational structure. This can help you understand the hierarchy and who you might be reporting to.
- Industry reputation: Look up the company’s reputation in the industry. Are they known for high-quality work, completing projects on time and within budget or for being innovative?
- Current projects: Research the company’s current projects and any recent news or press releases. This can help you understand the company’s current priorities and challenges and show that you are up-to-date on their activities.
Practice your answers.
It is important to prepare for your job interview by practicing commonly asked questions. Here are a few behavioral questions to prepare for:
- Provide an example of how you deal with change
- Describe a time when a colleague disagreed with you
- Describe a time in which you took initiative
During your interview, you will be asked a variety of questions to assess your knowledge, skills and experience as a construction manager. Here are some common questions that you might encounter:
- Can you describe your experience managing construction projects?
- How do you ensure projects are completed on time and within budget?
- How do you ensure safety on construction sites?
Prepare questions to ask during the interview.
Prepare for the interview process by brainstorming informed questions that you can ask. This will help you showcase your interest in the company’s mission and values.
Here are a few questions you can ask the interviewer to demonstrate your interest:
- What are the company’s top priorities for construction projects in the coming year?
- Can you describe the company culture and management style?
- Can you describe the role of the construction manager within the company?
- How does the company support professional development and continuing education for construction managers?
Gather references.
Gather your professional references to share with the hiring manager if requested. Make a list of two or three former colleagues and a former manager willing to speak highly about your abilities and performance as a construction manager.
CV examples for the next step in your construction career
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Construction Managers
- Wrike. Article. What is a Construction Project Manager?
- U.S. News & World Report. Best Construction Jobs. Article. Construction Manager Overview
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Construction Manager Resume Example
Kellie is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with extensive experience in digital media. She is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She earned a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.
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