Firstly let me assure you, you aren’t alone. This is a topic here at Amundson Group that we have vast experience with after reading and reviewing hundreds of thousands….potentially even millions of resumes. Therefore we wanted to share some tips to maximize your chances (regardless of whether you are a Pipe Foreman, Superintendent, Civil Estimator, or even a Grading Department Manager).
So here are five simple steps to consider:
1 – Keep it simple and make sure it’s readable.
If in doubt, get Calibri out. Select Calibri size 11, and that should get you going. A resume doesn’t need to be huge but there is no such thing as telepathic hiring. It’s impossible to know your expertise unless you display it on your resume. So whatever you have achieved/delivered, maybe it’s a storm drain project, heavy civil highway, or even if you have estimated using AGTEK or Bluebeam, make sure it’s on your resume.
2 – Add facts and figures.
Include the following; size of the project, cost of the project, software used, type of project, etc.
An example of this would be:
“Managed a residential subdivision project where we looked over the pipe and grading portion of the contract, which was worth $4million, and we delivered it on time and within budget.”
Using facts helps the prospective employer understand the specifics and can help them relate to your situation.
3 – Include Job roles and time worked with an employer.
Make sure to include the dates and roles you have worked for a company.
Including dates and roles helps show your potential employer your journey so far.
4 – Cut the fluff.
In the resume summary, you may want to include huge amounts of information on the expertise you have gained, but frankly, the reader will often overlook this. Also, the average time people take to read a resume is very short so making it punchy and to the point will save more room for the important stuff – i.e. your expertise!
5 – Include hobbies and interests.
Often overlooked, putting some hobbies and interests at the end of your resume will add a personal touch. No need to include everything but people buy from people. So if you like hunting, fishing, football, etc. we suggest putting that at the bottom of your resume.
