How To Write a General Laborer Resume
If you are 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.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your 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. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
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 don’t have anything specific or noteworthy to list. 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 also list 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. Include relevant 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. List pertinent key skills
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 may want to organize your skills into categories, such as physical and trade skills, and professional skills, such as 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
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Perry L. Smith
(012) 345-6789
[email protected]
1561 NW Some Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Profile
A results-driven General Laborer with two 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.
Professional Experience
Landscape & 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
Volunteer Groundskeeper, Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation, West Palm Beach, FL
January 2018 – Present
- Removed trash and debris from trails at Riverbend Park, shaped plants with hand tools such as cutters and shears, and supported program managers with special events
- Maintained trails and provided support to landscaping staff for various projects
Key Skills
- Landscaping
- Residential Construction
- Client Relations
- Preventative Maintenance
- Power Tool Operation
Education
High School Diploma
Palm Beach Lakes High School, West Palm Beach, FL, 2018
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
Jason Alves
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
567 Second Street, Orlando, FL 12345
Profile
A General Laborer with 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.
Professional Experience
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 $500K-$1.2M, 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
Landscaping General Laborer, Garden Style, Orlando, FL
July 2006 – March 2012
- Performed a range of general landscaping duties, including mowing the lawn, raking leaves, pulling weeds, trimming hedges, and leaf blowing
- Unloaded garden design elements and ensured they were placed in the correct position
- Followed detailed instructions provided by clients and management
- Maintained and used various gardening tools such as lawnmowers, shovels, rakes, and leaf blowers.
- Maintained yards and gardens for commercial and residential clients
Education
High School Diploma
Orlando Central High School, Orlando, FL, September 2002 – June 2006
Key Skills
- Residential Construction
- Commercial Construction
- Landscaping
- Power Tools
- OSHA Safety
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. Action 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 be able to 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. Take the time to 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 that 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 because 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.
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.
