If you’re in the business of construction engineering in California, there are countless companies and staffing agencies eager to hear from you. The need for construction workers and engineers in the Golden State is ever increasing as cities, companies, and communities expand. 

However, job seekers in skilled trades will encounter competition. Construction staffing agencies are looking for only the best. This means that if you want to win your engineering job in the construction industry, you’re going to have to wow construction staffing agencies with an excellent resume. 

Exactly what your resume should look like depends heavily on the specific engineering job you’re applying for, and what sort of construction site you expect to work at. This blog will give some tips for job-searching engineers on how to present a resume that staffing services will notice.

Skills

The point of any resume is to highlight skills and talents. However, even the most thorough construction staffing agencies will have limited time to review your resume. This means you need to hyper focus on the skills that are most sought after. Here’s a guide to what to zero in on.

Specific and relevant skills

As mentioned, there are a variety of engineering jobs out there in construction. Don’t make your resume sound generic. You’re a skilled tradesperson with an area of expertise, so be sure to mention that area of expertise. 

Up-to-date skills

Construction engineering is constantly evolving, and even in the short term, many of the requirements for skilled tradesmen will change. This means that it’s key you present the most up-to-date information and skills on your resume. Get specific. List your licenses and certifications. These are just as important, if not more so, than your educational qualifications. 

The soft skills 

When applying to construction recruiting agencies, emphasize soft skills. These can be considered the “icing on the cake” or the extra flair that lets you stand out among the many other qualified candidates. 

But what soft skills are helpful enough to put on your resume without seeming like you’re padding it with non-relevant information? There are generally a few soft skills that most construction businesses will look for. Here’s a good starter list.

Problem solving: When emphasizing your skills in engineering and mathematics, it’s essential to highlight your problem-solving abilities. Give examples of work experience where your problem solving, innovation, and creativity were on display. If you have actual projects you completed, showcase them.

Attention to detail: In construction engineering, details are everything. Try to think of examples where your attention to detail was a lifesaver.

Communication skills: You can be the most brilliant engineer in the world, but that won’t help anyone if you’re unable to communicate your insights and ideas. Emphasize your communication skills with construction staffing agencies.

Leadership: All the other soft skills listed are evidence you’ll work well in an existing team. Placing emphasis on your leadership abilities will show you’re able to excel. 

Beyond skills

Your resume needs to highlight your skill set to any potential construction staffing agency. But is there anything else you should include in a resume for construction engineering?

Licenses, certifications, and education are all good, hard proof of your capabilities. What’s also good to have is a list of contacts who can directly attest to your engineering skills.

Add a personal touch on the resume too. Generally, this comes in the form of a cover letter. A good cover letter will outline not only a concise argument for your competency but a way to express your goals in looking to take on the job in question.

Beyond the resume

Building a great resume is the first step toward developing the career you want. Certis Solutions takes you the rest of the way. Our recruiting team is here to help you take your career in construction engineering to exactly the places you want to go. Contact us today to get started.