Crafting an impressive construction project manager resume is the foundation of success. If you’ve been working in this dynamic industry for a matter of years, applying for your next high-powered position is a savvy move.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Laying the groundwork for your future starts with a resume that tells your story so far. Your application should show off all the skills and expertise you’ve gained over the years and demonstrate why you’re a natural-born leader.
Resume.io is an effective tool for job seekers. We boast powerful resume guides and resume examples for 350+ professions, supported by our accessible resume builder. When you’re ready to take your next step on the career ladder, let us help you impress potential employers with a tailor-built construction project manager resume.
Within this resume guide and our resume example, we will cover the following important topics:
- What does a construction project manager do?
- How to write a construction project manager resume (tips and tricks)
- The perfect format for a construction project manager resume
- Expert advice on each section (summary, employment, education, skills)
- Professional resume format and design hints
What does a construction project manager do?
As a construction project manager, the success of large-scale construction projects rests upon your shoulders. You are responsible for overseeing every aspect of the construction including planning, execution, safety checks, control, and the final closure. Put simply, you take the construction project through from start to finish.
Chances are, you have many plates spinning at the same time. You will have to plan the entire build, manage client relations, ensure your team is using the correct safety protocols, and foresee any possible obstacles in the road ahead. Needless to say, it takes a smart, forward-thinking professional to fill these rather large work boots.
Construction project manager job market and outlook
The future is bright if you’re a construction project manager. This industry is growing quicker than average. If you’re looking to land a new role within the world of construction, there’s an opportunity awaiting you behind every door.
The construction sector is primed for growth. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of construction project managers will surge by 11% from 2020 to 2030. That’s quicker than the average for all other occupations.
Moreover, every year, there are more than 38,000 new openings in this interesting and diverse field. Experts suggest that there are two core reasons for these vacancies; either workers leaving to transfer to a different or related sector, or professionals leaving the workforce entirely. For example, it may be due to workers retiring from the field.
How to write a construction project manager resume
Before you start building your construction project manager resume, you’re going to need to know what to include. Your interview-winning CV should include all of the following:
- The resume header
- The resume summary/profile/personal statement
- The employment history section
- The resume skills section
- The education section
Constructing your resume is much like overseeing any project. You need the right tools for the job, a structure in mind, the correct materials, and the vision to bring it all together. It’s hardly rocket science. Simply figure out what your resume needs before you start writing.
The golden rule here is to tailor your resume to each employer. Ahead of applying for a role with a new firm, take a moment to research them as thoroughly as possible. You can start with the company’s website, but it pays to dig a little deeper than that. Check out the projects that the firm has completed, its clientbase, and the scope of the work there.
Want to set your resume apart from the crowd? If you’re going after your dream job, you don’t want to leave anything to chance. Follow our key strategies here:
- Emulate the tone and style of the company you are applying to. Take a look at the brand’s website and take some notes before you start your resume.
- Optimize your resume for the ATS, using keywords that are relevant to the specific position for which you are applying.
- Ensure that the design and format of your resume are crisp and clean. You don’t want to put hiring managers off by presenting them with a ‘busy’ resume.
Optimize for the ATS
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used by 55% of hiring professionals. These sorts through online job applications to find the best matches before a human lays eyes on them. The software searches each resume for specific keywords and ranks it against the competition. Think of it like a filter — it only lets the best applications through.
If you want to beat the bots and ensure your application ends up in a hiring manager’s hand, it’s worth optimizing your resume. The keywords that the ATS uses are likely to be the same as the wording within the job advert.
Edit your resume to use the exact terminology you found in the original posting. By incorporating these keywords, you can effectively boost your chances of getting past the first hiring phase. Avoid cramming your chosen words. You want it to sound as natural and organic as can be.
Choosing the best resume format for a construction project manager
When choosing the most fitting resume format, a simple and functional approach is best. Your work history needs to take center stage and you should use the reverse chronological format. Your accolades need to speak for themselves, and so you can include a wealth of detail about the projects on which you have worked and dedicate space to that.
Aside from your education, your skill-set needs to be strong. Create a sidebar including your most relevant technical and soft skills. As a bonus, you can add in any extra talents you’re bringing to the table here, such as languages you happen to speak. Our adaptable construction project manager resume sample can serve as a model for proper resume formatting.
Our related construction resume samples can offer even more insight into the structure of a top-notch resume. Get started with our contractor resume example, general laborer resume sample and construction manager resume sample.
Resume summary example: telling your story
Next up, it’s time to share your professional story with the hiring manager. The summary (or profile/personal statement) usually sits neatly below the resume header. The blurb will give a potential employer the highlights reel — the broad brush strokes of your career.
You can leave out any ‘I’ statements and get straight to the meat of things. Use verbs in the present tense to get to the point and tell the employer what you’re all about. Want to get ahead of the game? Check out the buzzwords hiring managers dislike the most.
Without a doubt, your summary is the most creative part of your resume. Gaining a full understanding of what a summary is will help you before you put pen to paper. The best examples of summaries walk the line between bragging and being overly modest. Take a moment to note down your biggest achievements and highlight them in this opener. See the summary from our adaptable resume sample below to get started.
Reliable and driven construction project manager with over eight years of industry experience. Proven track record of building partnerships, and working collaboratively with architects, vendors, and engineers to successfully carry projects from conception to completion.
Employment history sample: building your resume
Building out your employment section doesn’t have to be difficult. As we’ve mentioned, this section should be formatted in reverse chronological order. That means that you need to list your most recent employment first and then work your way backward. Simple.
Beneath each of your employment headers, you should list your contributions within that role. Once again, you can drop the ‘I’ statements and get straight into things. Use past tense verbs, such as facilitated, organized, assisted, monitored, and collaborated.
Wherever possible, it helps to quantify your experience. For example, if you monitored the budgets for projects, you may want to include the scope of those finances. Showcasing that you’re used to overseeing large amounts of funding will put you in good stead. Don’t be afraid to be specific about your duties and achievements when writing your resume. See the employment history section from our adaptable resume sample below.
Construction Manager at Hamden Construction, Hartford
June 2013 - July 2019
- Assisted superintendent with troubleshooting structural issues during the construction of a massive facility in downtown district.
- Oversaw the construction of a large-scale outdoor shopping facility in Bridgeport.
- Detected and found solutions for design problems related to multiple projects.
- Scheduled meetings with clients, vendors, and officials to meet project timelines and budgets.
- Established positive and productive work environments.
- Mentored staff and educated them on any construction related issues in a professional and effective manner.
Construction Manager at Sirio Construction Corp., White Plains
June 2009 - May 2013
- Reviewed and analyzed blueprints prior to construction.
- Prepared all construction documents.
- Worked through negotiations.
- Developed strategies to comply with budget goals.
- Ensured projects met building code regulations.
- Supervised work crew of up to 60 people.
- Worked as an effective manager for one of the most successful construction companies in New York.
CV skills example: your driving force
Looking for a way to make your construction project manager CV shine? Your skills section gives you the opportunity to shout about what it is that makes you the right candidate for the job. Consider which talents you want to highlight in this section.
It’s all about balance — you need the perfect mix of hard and soft skills on your CV. Hard (or technical) skills are the ones that apply directly to the job, such as structural analysis, carpentry, construction management and the principles and practices of engineering. On the other hand, soft skills are more general, such as leadership and teamwork traits. You can get some ideas from our skills resume example below.
- Business Management
- Knowledge of Code and Regulations
- Leadership
- Quality Control Management
- Problem Solving
- Industry Knowledge
Construction project manager resume education example
Experience is king in the realms of construction. However, your resume also needs to include details of your education. For most construction project managers, this part of the application should be straightforward. You may have undertaken an apprenticeship to hone your skills along with any high school certification to boot.
Of course, if you’ve gained additional qualifications since launching your career, that information belongs here too. Usually, you will list your education the same way as your employment — in reverse chronological order. Here you’ll find the education section from our construction project manager resume sample:
B.S. Construction Management, Arizona State University, Tempe
August 2006 - May 2008
Resume layout and design: first impressions
You never get a second chance to make the right first impression. Hiring managers spend an average of six to seven seconds looking at your resume. That’s not a whole lot of time, and so you need to use it wisely. The visual look of your resume matters.
Recruiters don’t have time to sift through a long document to find the right information. Do them a favor and lay your resume out in the simplest manner. It should be clean and boast plenty of white space. The more reader-friendly it is, the better your chances of success.
You might be tempted by a flashy or even gimmick-laden design. Resist the urge to go over-the-top with the look of your resume. This is a serious document and, as such, you need to keep things professional. That means uncomplicated and sleek-looking. You could use one of our field-tested resume templates to perfect the format the first time around.
Construction Project Manager text-only resume example
Profile
Reliable and driven construction project manager with over eight years of industry experience. Proven track record of building partnerships, and working collaboratively with architects, vendors, and engineers to successfully carry projects from conception to completion.
Employment history
Construction Manager at Hamden Construction, Hartford
June 2013 - July 2019
- Assisted superintendent with troubleshooting structural issues during the construction of a massive facility in downtown district.
- Oversaw the construction of a large-scale outdoor shopping facility in Bridgeport.
- Detected and found solutions for design problems related to multiple projects.
- Scheduled meetings with clients, vendors, and officials to meet project timelines and budgets.
- Established positive and productive work environments.
- Mentored staff and educated them on any construction related issues in a professional and effective manner.
Construction Manager at Sirio Construction Corp., White Plains
June 2009 - May 2013
- Reviewed and analyzed blueprints prior to construction.
- Prepared all construction documents.
- Worked through negotiations.
- Developed strategies to comply with budget goals.
- Ensured projects met building code regulations.
- Supervised work crew of up to 60 people.
- Worked as an effective manager for one of the most successful construction companies in New York.
Skills
- Business Management
- Knowledge of Code and Regulations
- Leadership
- Quality Control Management
- Problem Solving
- Industry Knowledge
Education
B.S. Construction Management, Arizona State University, Tempe
August 2006 - May 2008
Key takeaways for a construction project manager resume
- Construction project managers manage every aspect of large-scale projects from start to finish, which requires a varied skill-set.
- To give your resume the best chance of success, take a close look at the original job posting and use the same keywords as the employer.
- Take the time to research the company to which you’re applying and then pepper your resume with the same tone and language the brand uses.
- Our adaptable construction project manager resume sample can get you started creating a great page design.
- Using a resume maker means you can create a clean format that wins you interviews in record time!
