Tips on CV writing for the construction and engineering industry

Ten tips for the perfect CV for your construction and engineering job

1. Make your CV reflect the job description if you are sending it in for a particular job. If the job description asks for particular experience, make sure you highlight this experience on the first page of your CV.
2. Put your contact details on the first page - including email address and mobile phone number. Many recruiters are under time pressure when compiling short lists for interview and will have a slight preference for candidates who make their tasks easier.
3. Reflect the words used in the job description and job advertisement. For example if you notice buzz words, use the buzz words related to your industry.
4. Put down your highest level of qualification. And, unless you are just starting your career, you really do not need to put down your school.
5. Highlight achievements, rather than listing everything you have done. If you are a site manager in house building you could say: "was awarded an NHBC Top 100 award” Or in another role state another achievement that you are proud of.
6. Write a brief "personal profile" of yourself which is like an executive summary about you. You might say that you are "a degree-qualified quantity surveyor or engineer specialising in multi-million pound prestigious contracts”.
7. Don't leave out useful skills. No matter how irrelevant you may think a certain skill is make sure you include it if it is part of your job.
8. Tailor each CV to the job you are applying for. If you are a Planner applying for two different posts - one for a large main contractor and one for a regional/small contractor - you may want to produce two different CVs highlighting different areas of experience or expertise.
9. The one for the large main contractor will highlight your experience working for leading competitor; the one for the smaller company will show how you can transfer your skills to a smaller player, how you can work in small teams and how you are happy to muck in if there is pressure on time etc.
10. Try to avoid leaving gaps in your CV. If you were unemployed for a few months, you can sometimes glide over this by showing your job history in years rather than months or if you did some travelling while unemployed, you can actually confess to it. These days employers are more broad-minded about people who have had time out, but you do not want to raise unanswered questions in your CV that could make your interviewers feel uncomfortable or anxious about you.
11. Make everything positive on your CV. Try to avoid saying that you were made redundant. A bald statement of that kind could look as if you still feel negatively about that event or it may be that it could show you in a negative light. Your CV should convey a sense of vitality and an image of you progressing smoothly and confidently through your career rather than having bumps.

If you want your CV to stand out, you may be better off trying to make it look as professional as possible. Consider the following practical suggestions:

• Put your CV in an attractive layout, but don't try to be to clever using pictures or borders different fonts are ok providing they are clear and easy to read.
• Make your CV easy to photocopy, scan or fax.
• Put your name on each sheet of the CV. Sheets do get detached - so you do not want to lose half of your career and your referees.
• Keep your CV on the short side. It should be two - four sheets - but anything more makes people lose interest.
• Think carefully about emailed CVs. Many people send them as an attachment and forget to put in a covering note on the email as to why the person should read your CV at all.

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