Resume tips for construction professionals
Traditionally a career objective is a brief statement that lets potential employers and recruiters know about your professional aspirations. But how relevant is this to your current situation and the specific job you’re applying for?
Should you have a career objective?
Although you may have written one with great intentions, a career objective that doesn’t align with the job you’re applying for or isn’t tailored to the specific employer, may do more harm than good. A misaligned statement written for the future can instill doubt on your long-term commitment to the company and job you’re pursuing today.
Because a career objective features right at the top of your resume, we recommend only including one if it’s relevant. Otherwise, use this space for something which highlights your value as a candidate.
When is a career objective relevant?
A career objective becomes relevant when you’re embarking on a new career path or changing industries. In this case, you may need to highlight how the skills gained from your previous positions can support your growth on your newly chosen path. It can also be relevant if you return to work after an extended career break.
For example, if you were changing from an office-based design, consultancy role to a site-based construction delivery role, you should briefly outline your objective. Or, if you’ve spent your civil engineering career on transport projects and then decided to move into utilities, it’s important to explain your motivation.
What can you do instead of writing a career objective?
When a career objective isn’t relevant, we recommend writing a resume headline with a brief profile or a branding statement. These are short phrases that immediately highlight what makes you a suitable match and a valuable candidate. It’s an ideal introduction for professionals with extensive experience that can be summed up in a few keywords.
Example resume headline:
“Project Manager with 10 years of experience delivering hard dollar civil construction projects.”
- Strong commercial background.
- Experience with GC21 contracts.
- Exceptional leadership capabilities.
Example branding statement:
“An innovative Project Manager with 10 years of experience in delivering complex civil projects for head contractors.”
- Kurilpa Bridge – $60m
- Pacific Motorway Upgrade – $80m
Make it count!
If you’re taking the time to write a career objective, resume headline, or branding statement, keep it concise, to the point, and make it count. Maximise your opportunity to create a positive first impression on the hiring manager or recruiter by highlighting specific skills and attributes tailored to the position or job listing you’re applying for.
In saying that, we understand that this can become an arduous task when you’re applying for multiple roles and of course, we have a solution for that too! When you apply for a role with us, your resume is looked at by people, not AI resume reading software. Partnering with real people, allows you to have real conversations. Honest conversations help us to get to know you better. When we know you, we represent you to clients who are looking for the skills and attributes you possess.
And, when that happens you get more time to invest in preparing for the next step of the process, rather than writing and re-writing your resume to align with many different job ads. Winning!
Now that you’re armed with some tips for success, visit our jobs page to apply for current opportunities or submit an expression of interest below.
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