General Laborer Resume Examples & Templates
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General laborers play a crucial role in many industries, from construction to manufacturing and transportation. They are responsible for performing a variety of physical tasks, such as carrying materials, operating machinery and cleaning work sites.
Without general laborers, many industries would struggle to function efficiently and effectively. Their hard work and dedication help ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget and to the required quality standards.
To land a job as a general laborer, you’ll need a compelling resume that showcases your teamwork, communication and tool operation skills. Take a look at our professionally made general laborer resume examples and expert writing tips to craft a standout resume in minutes.
Start by editing a general laborer resume sample from this page, or browse our selection of 40+ resume templates to find one that catches your eye.
General laborer resume example (text version)
Larry Henderson
Glendale Heights, IL 60139
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Professional Summary
Skilled general laborer with over 17 years of experience providing excellent service as part of licensed construction team. Familiar with safety regulations and occupational hazards. Safely operates equipment and remains focused on task completion.
Work History
November 2015 – Current
Advocate Construction – Glendale Hills, IL
General Labor
- Collaborate with construction administration consultants to schedule field observations.
- Perform regular job site observations to provide direction for general contractor personnel and subcontractor laborers.
- Guide and direct over 50 third-party inspectors through project construction, commissioning and closeout.
November 2011 – November 2015
Dunnet Bay Construction – Glendale Hills, IL
Construction Landscaper
- Kept sites compliant with OSHA, federal, state and local regulations to prevent unnecessary delays.
- Led weekly production and 10+ operations contractor meetings, facilitating stronger communication and helping to resolve critical issues each week.
- Performed general landscaping duties and tasks, including mowing lawns, leaf blowing, trimming hedges and raking leaves.
March 2006 – January 2011
JMP Construction INC. – Glendale Heights, IL
Construction Assistant
- Carried out other miscellaneous duties and responsibilities around the job site as requested.
- Completed accurate material and labor estimates for jobs with over $10K budgets.
- Maintained, utilized and repaired entrusted equipment and tools, including hand tools and power tools.
Skills
- Interior and exterior renovation
- Reading blueprints
- Knowledgeable in construction safety
- Estimating
- General contracting professional
- Building, demolition and renovation
- Costs control
- Safe job site setup
Education
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL
Associate of Science Construction Management
Certifications
CMAA (Construction Management Association of America) certified – 2021
OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration) certified – 2020
5 essentials of a standout general laborer resume
Contact details
Add your contact information to the top of your general laborer resume. Include your full name, city, state, ZIP code, phone number and professional email address. Add your LinkedIn profile and professional website, if applicable. Reference our guide on how to write a resume for more advice on creating your contact details section.
Personal statement
Your personal statement, otherwise known as a professional summary, is where you introduce yourself to the hiring manager and highlight your top qualifications in three to five sentences.
Your general laborer resume summary should showcase relevant skills, such as operating machinery and maintaining a clean and safe work environment. Include one or two notable professional accomplishments and touch on how long you’ve been in the industry.
If you are just starting your career, we recommend including a general laborer resume objective instead of a professional summary. Here is an example of a resume objective for a general laborer:
“Motivated and hardworking general laborer with experience in construction and manufacturing industries. Dedicated to completing tasks efficiently and effectively while adhering to strict safety and quality standards. Committed to contributing to a team-oriented work environment and eager to learn and grow with a forward-thinking organization.”
For additional guidance, take a look at our guide on how to make a resume with no experience.
Skills
List your top skills using bullet points to let hiring managers know what you bring to the table as a general laborer. An impressive resume will showcase a mixture of hard skills and soft skills.
Here are a few examples of general laborer skills for your resume:
- Physical strength and endurance: General laborers need to have the physical strength and endurance to perform physically demanding tasks such as lifting heavy objects, carrying materials and operating machinery.
- Attention to detail: They must pay close attention to details, follow instructions and adhere to safety and quality standards.
- Time management: General laborers need to have good time management skills to ensure that tasks are completed within deadlines.
Remember to note your interpersonal skills, which help you communicate effectively with your coworkers on the job. You can also take a look at general laborer job descriptions for resume skills that are relevant to your target role.
Work history
A general construction laborer resume needs a clear work history section that starts with your present or most recent job and lists your remaining work experience in reverse chronological order.
Remember to mention the job title, employer’s name, company location and the duration of your employment. Use bullet points to showcase your accomplishments and quantifiable achievements for each role.
For example: “Successfully completed the installation of a 500-foot fence within a tight deadline, resulting in positive feedback from the client and an increase in company revenue.”
Read our guide on including work experience on your resume for additional tips from career experts. Explore our library of 800+ resume examples for more inspiration.
Education
List your educational background starting with the most recent degree and working backward. Include the name of the schools and the year of graduation. If you did not attend college, provide information about your high school and any relevant courses you have taken since graduating.
The education requirements for a general laborer vary depending on the industry and the specific job requirements. Generally, a high school diploma or equivalent is the minimum educational requirement for most general laborer positions.
Some employers may prefer candidates with additional education or training in a specific field, such as construction, manufacturing or warehouse operations.
There are also vocational and technical schools that offer certificate or diploma programs in fields related to general labor, such as welding, carpentry, plumbing or electrical work. These programs can provide candidates with specialized skills and knowledge to perform specific tasks required in their job.
See why MyPerfectResume is a 5-star resume builder
Action verbs for a standout general laborer resume
If you take a look at our sample resumes for general laborers, you’ll notice that the work experience bullet points use strong action verbs to make an impact.
Here are some examples of action words you can use for your general laborer resume:
- Operate
- Lift
- Install
- Maintain
- Organize
- Assist
- Inspect
- Clean
- Collaborate
- Coordinate
- Maintain
- Communicate
- Ensure
- Facilitate
Select an example resume general laborers can use from this page or make a resume from scratch using our Resume Builder.
Top skills for your general laborer resume
Make sure the resume skills you include are relevant to the job description and what the employer is looking for in a candidate.
Here are some examples of general laborer skills:
- Physical strength
- Endurance
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork
- Time management
- Safety awareness
- Warehouse operations
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Problem-solving
- Adaptability
Overall, it is essential for general laborers to have a basic understanding of safety procedures, the ability to follow instructions and the physical skills and endurance to perform the job duties.
Certifications to include on a general laborer resume
Create a separate section on your resume for certifications and licenses and list them using bullet points.
The certifications that general laborers need can vary depending on the industry and the specific job requirements. Here are some examples of certifications that may be required or preferred for general laborer positions:
- OSHA Certification: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers certification programs in areas such as construction safety, industrial hygiene and hazardous materials.
- Forklift Certification: A general laborer who operates forklifts or other heavy machinery may need to have a forklift certification to demonstrate their ability to operate the equipment safely.
- First Aid and CPR Certification: Some employers may prefer or require general laborers to have certification in first aid and CPR, which can be important in the event of an emergency.
- CDL License: In industries such as transportation or construction, a commercial driver’s license (CDL) may be required for general laborers who operate vehicles such as trucks or buses.
- Welding Certification: A general laborer who performs welding work may need to have certification in welding to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in the field.
- Hazardous Materials Certification: General laborers who work with hazardous materials may need to have certification in handling, storing and disposing of these materials safely.
Having these certifications can help to demonstrate a general laborer’s knowledge, skills and commitment to safety, which can be valuable to employers in many industries.
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
General laborer resume FAQ
How do you write a general laborer resume?
By following our guide, you can create a strong general laborer resume that highlights your skills and experiences and positions you as a strong candidate for the job.
Here are some additional tips for writing a general laborer resume:
- Highlight your skills: In the skills section, list your abilities that align with the job requirements, such as physical strength, attention to detail, teamwork, time management, safety awareness and technical skills.
- Showcase your experience: In the experience section, list your previous work experiences in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. Focus on the tasks and responsibilities you had in each role, highlighting your achievements and contributions to the team.
- Customize for each job: Tailor your resume to each job you apply for by using keywords from the job description and highlighting your relevant skills and experiences.
Using an AI Resume Builder is a great way to make a standout resume in a matter of minutes. The MyPerfectResume builder will help you craft your general laborer resume with ready-made content suggestions and expert writing tips.
What skills should you include on a general laborer resume?
A general laborer needs to have a combination of physical skills, soft skills and technical skills to perform their duties effectively.
Here are a few key skills to highlight when writing your general laborer resume:
- Communication: For working effectively with colleagues and supervisors.
- Problem-solving: For identifying and solving problems that may arise during work.
- Flexibility: Flexible and adaptable to changing work environments and tasks.
- Technical skills: For operating machinery or using specialized tools.
- Teamwork: To work effectively in a team-oriented environment and to collaborate with others to complete tasks.
We recommend exploring our library of 800+ resume examples to see how professionals in various industries list skills on their resumes.
What is the best format for a general laborer resume?
The best resume format for a general laborer resume is the chronological or combination format.
The chronological format is a good choice for general laborers who want to showcase their extensive work experience. The combination format is great for midlevel job seekers who want to showcase a blend of work experience and job-relevant skills.
Entry-level general laborers can use the functional format, which focuses on relevant skills such as communication, teamwork and machinery operation.
Be sure to include clear headings and bullet points to make your resume easy to read and scan. Use a simple, professional font and keep the design clean and uncluttered. Avoid using graphics or images, as they can distract from the content of your resume.
Do’s and don’ts for your general laborer resume
- Use measurable achievements to describe your experience. For example, if you improved efficiency by a certain percentage or completed a project within a tight deadline, include these details in your resume.
- Use strong action verbs to describe your work experiences, such as “operated,” “installed,” “maintained,” “organized,” “inspected,” “cleaned” and “collaborated.”
- Tailor your resume to the general laborer job you are applying for.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your general laborer resume. For example, “safety procedures” and “ability to follow instructions.”
- Format your general laborer resume with clear sections and appropriate fonts so that it is easy for ATS software to parse and hiring managers to read.
- Don’t lie about your experience and skills as a general laborer.
- Don’t make vague claims about your skills. Instead, provide specific examples of your experience operating heavy machinery, carrying materials and maintaining a clean and safe work environment.
- Don’t include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Don’t include irrelevant skills and work experience. Focus on relevant skills instead such as operating heavy machinery and using specialized tools and equipment.
- Don’t forget to proofread. A general laborer is expected to have high attention to detail, and your resume should reflect that.
Top 4 tips for interviews for a general laborer job
Learn about the organization or company.
When applying for a general laborer role, it’s important to learn about the organization to demonstrate your interest in the position and to tailor your application to the company’s needs. Here are a few areas to consider researching:
- Company history and mission: Research the organization’s history and mission to understand its values and goals.
- Products or services: Learn about the company’s products or services to understand its industry and market.
- Company culture: Research the company’s culture to understand its work environment and values.
- Recent news and events: Stay up to date on the company’s recent news and events to understand its current initiatives and challenges.
Practice your answers.
It is important to prepare for your job interview by practicing commonly asked questions. Here are a few behavioral questions to prepare for:
- How do you deal with conflicts?
- Describe a time when a colleague disagreed with you
- How would your coworkers describe you?
During your interview, you will be asked a variety of questions to assess your knowledge, skills and experience as a general laborer. Here are some common questions that you might encounter:
- Can you describe your experience with physical labor?
- How do you prioritize tasks and manage your time effectively?
- How do you approach safety in the workplace?
Prepare questions to ask during the interview.
Prepare for the interview process by brainstorming informed questions that you can ask. This will help you showcase your interest in the company’s mission and values.
Here are a few questions you can ask the interviewer to demonstrate your interest:
- Can you describe a typical day in this role?
- What safety measures does the company have in place?
- What opportunities are there for growth and advancement within the company?
- How does the company support employee training and development?
- What qualities are you looking for in an ideal candidate?
Gather references.
Gather your professional references to share with the hiring manager if requested. Make a list of two or three former colleagues and a former manager willing to speak highly about your abilities and performance as a general laborer.
Cover letter examples for the next step in your construction career
CV examples for the next step in your construction career
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Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Construction Laborers and Helpers
- Spherion Staffing & Recruiting. Article. How to Become a General Laborer
- Randstad. Business Insights. Article. General Laborer
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General Laborer Resume Example
Kellie is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with extensive experience in digital media. She is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She earned a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.
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