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.
Most Popular General Laborer Resumes
General Laborer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Perry’s resume clearly outlines relevant hands-on experience in landscaping and residential construction, highlighting essential skills like client interaction and adherence to safety standards. His volunteer experience adds an extra layer of commitment to his work ethic. Learn how to make your resume stand out here.
Skilled Laborer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Lisa’s resume highlights her concrete finishing and property maintenance expertise. With certifications and a broad range of skills, she demonstrates a solid foundation in both landscaping and construction. Learn how to list certifications on your resume.
Concrete Laborer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Jason’s resume emphasizes his extensive experience across construction, landscaping, and home renovations. The detailed description of tasks and skills demonstrates his versatility and readiness for complex labor projects. Explore how to put volunteer work on your resume.
Farm Laborer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Sophia’s resume showcases her comprehensive farm labor experience, emphasizing her hands-on work with equipment and crop management. Her consistent history of farm work is highlighted by specific skills like machinery operation and irrigation. Learn more about resume objective examples.
Asphalt Laborer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Marcus’ resume emphasizes his specialized skills in asphalt paving and road construction, with a focus on machinery operation and safety standards. The combination of hands-on experience and project collaboration highlights his expertise. Learn more about what to put on a resume.
Construction Laborer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Brandon’s resume demonstrates a range of skills across construction tasks and equipment operation, which is crucial for general labor positions in the field. His experience with both residential and commercial projects showcases his versatility. Learn about resume formats.
Manual Laborer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Jacob’s resume highlights his well-rounded experience in manual labor, with a focus on versatility across different industries, from landscaping to construction. His emphasis on safety and equipment operation further strengthens his qualifications. Learn how to list references on a resume.
Entry-Level General Laborer Resume
Why This Resume Works
Eric’s resume effectively demonstrates his foundational skills in manual labor and warehouse operations, key to entry-level positions. His versatility in landscaping and warehouse tasks shows his willingness to adapt and take on new responsibilities. Learn how to make your resume stand out.
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General Laborer Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Write a General Laborer Resume
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.
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.
What’s the recommended length for a general laborer resume?-
The recommended length for a general laborer resume is one page, especially for professionals with under 10 years of experience. A two-page resume can work for those with substantial accomplishments or a longer career, but only if it’s concise and highly relevant to the role. Tailoring your resume to the job and highlighting your strongest qualifications are key to success.
Stick to listing work experience from the last 10 to 15 years, as this period is most relevant to employers. Summarize or omit older positions unless they’re crucial for your application. A focused and streamlined resume will help capture the hiring manager’s attention.
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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.
