11 Contractor Resume Examples for 2025

Creating a strong resume is key for contractors seeking jobs. This article offers proven examples tailored for the contracting field. It also shares strategic tips from a hiring manager's perspective. Use this guide to present your skills and experience clearly to potential employers.

  Compiled and approved by Liz Bowen
  Last updated on See history of changes

  Next update scheduled for

At a Glance

Here's what we see in the best resumes for contractors:

  • Show Impact With Numbers: The best resumes show clear impact by using numbers. Common metrics include increased project efficiency by 20%, reduced costs by 15%, completed projects 10% faster, improved client satisfaction by 25%.

  • Include Relevant Skills From The Job Description: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned in the job description. Some popular ones are AutoCAD, PMP certification, OSHA compliance, contract negotiations, project management software.

  • Focus On Industry Standards: Knowing industry standards can set you apart. Use phrases like met compliance requirements or followed safety guidelines to show your knowledge.

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Position your education smartly

In the context of a contractor's resume, the place of your education section depends on your experience. If you are new to the field, show your education first. Hire managers look for your latest training relevant to construction or contracting. For example, a recent degree in construction management or certification in a specialized trade goes at the top. This is because it's your strongest qualification.

However, if you have been a contractor for some time, list your experience first. Strong practical experience is what most hire managers search for in this field. If you have completed new training courses that are important for your work, like a safety certification, mention these early in the education section. Even for experienced workers, recent education that upgrades your skills can be a key point. Yet, the further back your education, the lower it should be on your resume. In this case, your hands-on experience speaks louder.

Certifications for contractors

Having specific certifications can make your resume stand out. For general contracting work, consider getting OSHA safety certificates or trade-specific licenses.

Highlight these near the top of your resume to ensure employers take note. It shows you are qualified and ready to start working.

Ideal resume length

As a hiring manager, I recommend that you keep your resume concise. If you're early in your construction career or have up to a decade of experience, aim for one page. This length shows that you can highlight the most relevant projects and skills without overwhelming the reader. Use clean templates to organize your information effectively.

For more seasoned professionals with extensive experience in the industry, a two-page resume can be appropriate. Ensure the first page captures your most significant and recent achievements as this is often what grabs attention during those crucial first few seconds of review. Remember, a shorter resume doesn't reflect less experience; it signifies your ability to prioritize the most important information about your work as a contractor.

Skills specific to contracting

Highlight your hands-on skills like equipment operation, blueprint reading, or project management. These are crucial for contractor roles.

Include any software skills related to construction management or design. Tools like AutoCAD or project management software can be important for certain jobs.

Beat the resume bots

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are often the first hurdle when you apply for a job. As a contractor, you need to make your resume ATS-friendly to ensure it reaches a hiring manager. Here are tips to help you:

  • Use keywords that match the job description. For a contractor, terms like 'project management' and 'safety compliance' are often important.
  • Keep your resume format simple. Complex designs can confuse the ATS. Stick to standard fonts and avoid tables or graphics that might not be readable by the system.

Make sure your resume shows your experience with clear, simple job titles and descriptions. For example, use 'contractor for residential construction' or 'commercial project contractor' to describe your roles. This way, the ATS can match your experience with the job requirements.

Tailor your resume details

You want your resume to show why you're right for construction work. Think about what you've done that fits what the job asks for. Make sure each point is clear and shows off your skills.

  • Highlight specific projects where you managed construction tasks or teams. Example: Managed a team of 15 to deliver a multi-storey office complex on time and 10% under budget.
  • Show the safety records of your sites. Example: Achieved a 100% safety record over a 5-year period on various construction sites.
  • If you're new to contracting, talk about similar work you've done. Maybe you’ve overseen projects in another field. Tell that story. Example: Coordinated cross-departmental teams in executing major IT infrastructure upgrades.

Show achievements, not tasks

When you list your experience on your resume, focus on your accomplishments rather than just your duties. Show how you made a difference in your past roles. This helps you stand out as a contractor who delivers results, not just someone who was there.

Before: Managed a team of subcontractors.
After: Directed a team of 15 subcontractors to complete a construction project 10% under budget and 2 weeks ahead of schedule.

Before: Maintained records for project supplies.
After: Implemented a new inventory system that reduced materials waste by 20% and saved the company $50,000 annually.

Use strong action verbs

When crafting your resume as a contractor, it's crucial to start each bullet point with a strong action verb. This helps you clearly show the impact you've made in your roles. Think about the tasks you have completed and how you can best describe those actions.

Using the right verbs will help you paint a clearer picture of your skills and experiences for hiring managers. Below is a list of verbs that are effective in highlighting your accomplishments in the field of contracting.

  • To display your ability to manage projects, use verbs like coordinated, executed, oversaw, supervised, and orchestrated.
  • For showcasing your technical skills, include verbs such as installed, repaired, retrofitted, constructed, and wired.
  • If you want to highlight your problem-solving skills, choose troubleshooted, resolved, restored, diagnosed, and remedied.
  • To reflect leadership and teamwork, use led, collaborated, delegated, motivated, and unified.
  • For emphasizing your ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, opt for achieved, completed, fulfilled, accelerated, and delivered.

Want inspiration for other action verbs you can use? Check out synonyms to commonly used action verbs like Organized, Designed, Analyze, Utilizing, Acted as.

Show leadership and growth

If you have moved up or led teams, it's key to show this on your resume. Think about times you have taken charge or helped others do their work better. This can make your resume stand out.

Here are ways to show leadership and promotion on your resume:

  • List any roles where you were in charge of a project or led a crew. For example, 'Managed a team of 5 in building a new house.' This shows you can lead and get things done.
  • If you got a better role in the past, make sure to put it on your resume. Use phrases like 'Promoted to lead contractor due to strong work ethic and project success.' This shows you are trusted and can handle more responsibility.

Remember, even if you are not sure if you have leadership experience, think about times when you were trusted to make decisions or train new workers. These are good examples of leadership.

Key skills for contractors

As a contractor, you know your skills are the tools of your trade. Here's a list of key skills you should highlight on your resume, depending on your specialization:

  • Project management
  • Cost estimation
  • Scheduling
  • Blueprint reading
  • Construction management software (like Procore or AutoCAD)
  • Building codes knowledge
  • Material procurement
  • Quality control
  • Safety compliance
  • Contract negotiation

Include these skills in a dedicated section for easy scanning. Remember that hiring managers often use application tracking systems (ATS) that search for these keywords. So, if you have experience in these areas, make sure they are visible on your resume.

You don't need to list every skill, only those that apply to the job you want. Think about the tasks you'll be doing and choose related skills. For example, if the job is heavy on site management, ensure project management, safety compliance, and quality control are clearly mentioned. If it's more about pre-construction work, focus on cost estimation and blueprint reading. Tailor your resume to show you're the right person for the specific role you're aiming for.

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