How To Write a General Laborer Resume

If you’re seeking a general laborer position, your resume should demonstrate you can handle various physical tasks and assist with various maintenance and construction activities. Writing a resume that shows your qualifications and skills to be a productive crew member can help you get the job. Use the steps and examples below as a starting point.

  • Entry-Level
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior-Level
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1. Write a brief summary of your general laborer qualifications

The profile summary should immediately tell a hiring manager what kinds of projects you have experience with, such as construction and landscaping or electrical and plumbing. This is also a place to list any extra skills you have, such as working with customers or providing estimates. Any kind of safety training or OSHA certification is a bonus. Ideally, the profile summary should let the hiring manager tell whether you fit the position and entice them to keep reading.

Senior-Level Profile Example


A general laborer with over 10 years of experience supporting commercial and residential projects, including construction, home renovations, and landscaping. Adept at coordinating with diverse teams to execute complex projects on time and under budget.

Entry-Level Profile Example


A results-driven general laborer with two years of experience specializing in landscaping, grounds maintenance, customer service, and residential construction. Adept at interfacing with clients, collaborating with contractors, and ensuring compliance with OSHA safety standards.

2. Create a powerful list of your general laborer experience

The professional experience section of the resume is where you list your current and previous job duties and responsibilities. But don’t sell yourself short, thinking you have nothing specific or noteworthy to include. While you should list what you did in a position, it’s even better to tie this into how you benefited the organization. For example, maybe you were part of a team with the quickest job completion times or the fewest safety incidents. You can add the kinds of tools and equipment you worked to show a hiring manager you won’t need extensive training to get started.

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example


General Construction Laborer, HRH Construction, Orlando, FL | March 2012 – present

  • Deliver support to project managers and subcontractors for construction and home renovation projects valued at $500,000 to $1.2 million, including digging and leveling to establish building foundations
  • Erect scaffolding on buildings up to three stories, load and unload various construction machinery and materials, and perform various labor tasks in compliance with OSHA safety
  • Conduct routine and preventative maintenance on machinery, hand tools, and power tools

Entry-Level Professional Experience Example


Landscape and Maintenance Crew Member, Palm Beach County Landscape, West Palm Beach, FL | August 2018 – present

  • Execute maintenance and construction projects for residential, public, commercial, and industrial properties in collaboration with large teams of contractors and general laborers
  • Cut lawns with various-sized power mowers and conduct trimming and edging of foliage with shears, pruners, and gas-powered edgers
  • Perform landscape grading, apply fertilizers and chemicals, and remove debris using hand tools

3. Add general laborer education and certifications

As a rule, resumes should list any formal education and certifications you’ve obtained. It’s okay if your education doesn’t match the job; list the highest level of education you’ve completed. If you went to, or are still in, trade school, list this as well. Other credentials that can help you edge out the competition include taking classes in construction or any trade and certifications, such as safety certifications through OSHA or specific trade certifications.

Education

Template

  • [Degree Name]
  • [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]

Example

  • Associate in Applied Science in Construction Management
  • Boulder Community College, Boulder, CO | August 2014

Certifications

Template

  • [Certification Name], [Completion Year]

Example

  • Concrete Flatwork Finisher Certification, 2020

4. Outline your most useful general laborer skills and proficiencies

General laborer positions require a lot of physical strength and endurance, which isn’t always easy to show in a resume. Use the list of key skills to show you have the physical capabilities and technical knowledge to handle maintenance and construction projects. You could organize your strengths into categories, such as physical and trade skills, and professional skills, like conflict resolution and team collaboration. Use this list to get started.

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Carpentry Communication
Construction management Electrical
Landscaping Manual dexterity
Masonry OSHA safety
Physical endurance Physical strength
Plumbing Power tool operation
Project management Safety awareness
Team leadership  

How To Pick the Best General Laborer Resume Template

If you love working with your hands, spending an afternoon writing a resume could be the last thing you want to do. Resume templates can make this process much quicker, but picking the right one is important. For a general laborer position, look for a simple, clean template that keeps everything on one page. A functional resume focusing on skills can make it easier to group your qualifications without needing multiple pages if you’ve worked many jobs.

General Laborer Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

  • Entry-Level
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior-Level

Lisa Berman
(720) 987-6543
[email protected]
19 Brookhaven Way, Boulder, CO 80300

Profile

A dynamic General Laborer with eight years of professional experience performing landscaping projects for residential and commercial properties. A strong history of performing high quality cement finishing and conducting property maintenance with a 92% client satisfaction rate.

Professional Experience

Construction General Laborer, Colorado Construction Associates, Boulder, CO
May 2016 – Present

  • Execute a variety of landscaping projects for clients, including cutting, grouting, and cement finishing for residential and commercial properties valued at up to $1M
  • Load and unload construction material and supply deliveries, maintain hand tools, power tools, and equipment, and ensure compliance with OSHA safety regulations

Landscaping General Laborer, CM Staffing Company, Boulder, CO
October 2014 – May 2016  

  • Mowed lawns, trimmed hedges, and raked leaves and maintained landscapes and gardens, including planting, pruning, removing debris, and other tasks
  • Installed concrete stepping-stones and statues and assembled decorative structures, such as gazebos, benches, and canopies

Education

Associate in Applied Science in Construction Management
Boulder Community College, Boulder, CO, June 2011 – August 2014 

Key Skills

  • Landscaping
  • OSHA Safety
  • Property Maintenance
  • Power Tool Operation
  • Customer Service

Certifications

  • Concrete Flatwork Finisher Certification
  • Residential Concrete Foundation Technician Certification

Frequently Asked Questions: General Laborer Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for general laborer resumes?-

As you’re writing the professional experience section, start each new bullet that describes your duties or responsibilities with a strong action verb. These verbs show what you accomplished in a previous position and the value of that job. It can be challenging to develop unique action verbs for every line, so we’ve included a list of common ones that general laborers may use. Make your language as specific as possible, such as “troubleshot” or “repaired” instead of “fixed.”

Action Verbs
Adapted Assessed
Assisted Collaborated
Communicated Constructed
Demonstrated Executed
Followed Inspected
Installed Lifted
Loaded Maintained
Operated Organized
Prioritized Repaired
Troubleshot Unloaded
How do you align your resume with a general laborer job description?-

Overall, the job outlook for construction laborers and helpers looks strong, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting continued growth on par with most other industries. However, general laborer positions often have high turnover and many applicants for the same role. Ensure you stand out and increase your chances of getting hired by aligning your resume to each job. Use keywords, skills, and qualifications from the job description to build your resume. Research the company to see what projects they generally take on and what they’re looking for in a crew member.

What is the best general laborer resume format?-

Reverse chronology is the ideal format for general laborers. This ensures your most recent and relevant work experience is featured at the top of your resume. Functional resumes, or skill-based resumes, are generally considered outdated by most recruiters. They don’t provide sufficient detail for your construction projects and career achievements. If you’re applying at the entry level, you can highlight your skills and certifications above your work experience. Craft bullet points to show transferable skills from your previous jobs.

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Expert Advice
Include a cover letter with your resume

While many general laborer positions won’t require a cover letter, including one with your resume can show a hiring manager you’re willing to go above and beyond what’s needed and help you stand out from other applicants. If you’re not sure how to create a cover letter or what should be included, our guide to writing a cover letter can help.

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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