General Contractor Resume examples & templates

Written by: 

Adam

Build Your Resume Now
Copyable resume examples

Copyable General Contractor Resume examples

Building the world isn't just about hammers and blueprints—it's about vision, leadership, and seeing potential where others see empty space. General Contractors are the maestros of construction, orchestrating complex symphonies of subcontractors, permits, and materials while balancing client dreams against the hard realities of physics and budgets. In an industry where a single miscalculation can cost thousands, these professionals carry enormous responsibility on their shoulders. And they're in demand: construction management jobs are projected to grow 8.5% by 2031, outpacing many other fields as America's infrastructure continues aging and residential demand stays strong.

The field is changing fast. With modular construction techniques gaining traction and BIM (Building Information Modeling) revolutionizing project visualization, today's successful GCs need technical savvy alongside traditional skills. Rising material costs—lumber prices have fluctuated by over 400% since 2020—mean estimating expertise is more crucial than ever. For those who thrive on challenge and tangible results, few careers offer the satisfaction of standing back after months of work and seeing a building that will stand for decades, maybe centuries. As we face growing demands for sustainable construction and resilient infrastructure, General Contractors will be at the forefront of building tomorrow's world.

Junior General Contractor Resume Example

JACK THOMPSON

Phoenix, AZ | (602) 555-8794 | jackthompson.az@gmail.com | linkedin.com/in/jackthompson-az

Entry-level General Contractor with hands-on experience in residential construction and remodeling projects. Familiar with building codes and permit requirements in Maricopa County. Strong background in carpentry fundamentals and job site management, looking to grow within a reputable construction firm where I can apply my technical skills and problem-solving abilities.

EXPERIENCE

Assistant Project Manager | Sunrise Builders LLC | Phoenix, AZ | January 2023 – Present

  • Coordinate with subcontractors and suppliers to maintain project timelines on 3 concurrent residential renovation projects ranging from $85,000-$175,000
  • Conduct daily site inspections to monitor work quality and identify potential issues before they impact schedule
  • Prepare and submit permit applications, reducing approval wait times by 31% through proper documentation
  • Create and manage material delivery schedules for 5-7 vendors per project, minimizing storage needs on limited job sites

Carpenter’s Assistant | Desert Home Construction | Scottsdale, AZ | June 2021 – December 2022

  • Assisted lead carpenters with framing, trim work, and cabinet installation on 12+ high-end residential projects
  • Gained practical experience with blueprint reading and material takeoffs for kitchen and bathroom remodels
  • Operated power tools including circular saws, nail guns, and drills while maintaining a perfect safety record
  • Helped develop and implement a new tool inventory system that cut replacement costs by 22%

Construction Laborer (Part-time) | Thompson Family Renovations | Mesa, AZ | Summers 2019-2020

  • Provided general labor support for family business specializing in bathroom and kitchen renovations
  • Assisted with demolition, cleanup, and material handling while learning basic construction techniques
  • Helped with customer communication and basic site documentation during busy periods

EDUCATION

Associate of Applied Science in Construction Management
Mesa Community College | Mesa, AZ | Graduated May 2021
Relevant coursework: Construction Methods, Blueprint Reading, Construction Estimating, Building Codes

OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety Certification | Completed November 2021

CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSES

Arizona Residential Contractor License (CR-42) | Obtained March 2023
First Aid/CPR Certification | American Red Cross | Renewed January 2023

SKILLS

  • Residential construction & remodeling
  • Blueprint reading & interpretation
  • Building code compliance (IRC focus)
  • Basic estimating & bidding
  • Subcontractor coordination
  • Material procurement & scheduling
  • Job site safety protocols
  • Microsoft Office & Project
  • Basic AutoCAD & SketchUp
  • Bilingual (English/Spanish – conversational)

ADDITIONAL

Volunteer Work: Habitat for Humanity – Phoenix Chapter (4 builds completed in 2022)

Mid-level General Contractor Resume Example

ETHAN RODRIGUEZ

Portland, OR 97205 • (503) 555-7182 • erodriguez.builds@gmail.com • linkedin.com/in/ethanrodriguez

Licensed General Contractor with 6+ years of experience managing residential and light commercial construction projects from concept to completion. Skilled at coordinating subcontractors, managing timelines, and delivering quality workmanship while maintaining strict budget controls. Proven track record of completing projects on time with 92% client satisfaction rating and building strong relationships with vendors, inspectors, and clients.

EXPERIENCE

Lead Project Manager / General Contractor
Northwest Custom Builders • Portland, OR • March 2020 – Present

  • Manage 5-7 concurrent residential construction projects ranging from $75K-$650K in value, including new builds and major renovations
  • Reduced average project completion time by 14% through improved scheduling and subcontractor management
  • Developed and implemented new quality control checklists that decreased post-completion callbacks by 27%
  • Negotiated with suppliers to secure better material pricing, resulting in ~$42K savings across 2022 projects
  • Supervise team of 4 carpenters and coordinate with 15+ specialty subcontractors per project

Project Coordinator / Assistant Contractor
Evergreen Construction Services • Eugene, OR • June 2018 – February 2020

  • Assisted in managing 3-4 residential remodeling projects simultaneously while learning all aspects of general contracting
  • Created and maintained detailed project schedules and material orders using BuilderTrend software
  • Performed quality inspections and punch-list completions, catching issues before final walkthrough
  • Managed permit applications and coordinated with city inspectors, achieving first-time approval on 87% of inspections

Carpenter
Precision Home Builders • Salem, OR • August 2017 – May 2018

  • Framed interior walls and installed finish carpentry for residential construction projects
  • Assisted in blueprint reading and material take-offs for new construction projects
  • Gained hands-on experience with various construction techniques and building materials

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

Associate of Applied Science, Construction Management
Portland Community College • Portland, OR • 2017

Certifications:

  • Oregon Contractor’s License #158974 (CCB) – 2019, current
  • OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety Certification – 2019
  • First Aid/CPR Certified – 2022
  • Lead-Based Paint Renovation Certification (EPA) – 2020

SKILLS

  • Project Estimating & Bidding
  • Blueprint Reading & Interpretation
  • Contract Negotiation
  • Subcontractor Management
  • Budget Control & Cost Analysis
  • Scheduling & Timeline Management
  • Building Code Compliance
  • Client Relationship Building
  • Problem-Solving & Troubleshooting
  • BuilderTrend, Procore, MS Office Suite

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Member, Oregon Homebuilders Association (2019-Present)
Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity (4 build projects completed)
Licensed to operate forklifts and skid steers

Senior / Experienced General Contractor Resume Example

MARCUS J. THOMPSON

Portland, OR 97205 • (503) 555-8127 • mjthompson@buildmail.com • linkedin.com/in/mjthompson-construction

Seasoned General Contractor with 14+ years of progressive experience managing residential and commercial construction projects valued up to $12.4M.

Known for delivering projects under budget while maintaining exceptional quality standards. Strong background in crew leadership, subcontractor management, and client relationships. Track record of completing 97% of projects ahead of schedule with zero safety incidents in the past 5 years.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR / OWNER
Thompson Construction Services, Portland, OR
January 2016 – Present

  • Founded and grew residential/commercial contracting business to $8.5M annual revenue with 23 full-time employees and 40+ regular subcontractors
  • Oversee 6-8 concurrent projects ranging from $750K-$4.2M in value while maintaining 94% client satisfaction rating
  • Negotiated preferred vendor agreements resulting in 17% materials cost reduction across all projects
  • Led award-winning downtown Portland mixed-use development (finished 35 days early despite unexpected foundation issues)
  • Implemented paperless documentation system cutting administrative overhead by $87K annually
  • Personally secured $12.4M commercial renovation contract—largest in company history—through relationship building and competitive bidding

PROJECT MANAGER
Northwest Building Group, Seattle, WA
March 2012 – December 2015

  • Managed portfolio of 4-5 simultaneous commercial construction projects valued at $1.2M-$6.5M
  • Supervised crews of 15-30 workers and coordinated 8-12 specialty subcontractors per project
  • Cut average project timeline by 23 days through improved scheduling techniques and proactive materials management
  • Maintained exceptional safety record with zero OSHA violations across 17 completed projects
  • Developed and implemented quality control checklists that reduced post-completion callback rate by 36%

SITE SUPERVISOR
Cascade Construction, Portland, OR
June 2009 – February 2012

  • Supervised on-site construction activities for mid-sized residential and light commercial projects
  • Coordinated daily activities of 12-18 workers across multiple trades
  • Managed material deliveries, equipment rental schedules, and site logistics
  • Completed Portland Community College library renovation 11 days ahead of schedule, earning company performance bonus
  • Implemented morning toolbox safety meetings that reduced minor injuries by 27%

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Science in Construction Management
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR – 2009

Certifications:

  • Oregon Certified General Contractor (CCB #178432) – Current
  • OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety Certification – Renewed 2022
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) – 2017
  • LEED Green Associate – 2014
  • First Aid/CPR Certified – Current

TECHNICAL SKILLS

  • Project Estimating & Bidding
  • Blueprint Reading & Interpretation
  • Building Code Compliance
  • Contract Negotiation
  • Crew & Subcontractor Management
  • Procore & PlanGrid Software
  • Microsoft Project & Excel (Advanced)
  • Budget Development & Tracking
  • Risk Assessment & Management
  • Client Relationship Management
  • Sustainable Building Practices

NOTABLE PROJECTS

  • Hawthorne District Mixed-Use Development – $4.2M (2021-2022)
  • Pearl District Condo Renovation – $3.7M (2019-2020)
  • Bridgeport Medical Center Expansion – $12.4M (2018-2019)
  • Portland Hills Custom Home Development (6 homes) – $8.1M (2017-2018)
  • Seattle Tech Campus Building C – $6.5M (2014-2015)

How to Write a General Contractor Resume

Introduction

Let's face it - the construction world is competitive, and your resume is often your first impression with potential clients or employers. As someone who's reviewed thousands of general contractor resumes, I can tell you that the difference between landing an interview and getting overlooked often comes down to how you present your experience. This guide will walk you through creating a resume that showcases your construction expertise, project management skills, and industry knowledge in a way that gets results.

Resume Structure and Format

Keep your resume clean and organized - just like your job sites should be! Aim for 1-2 pages maximum, with clear section headings and consistent formatting. For general contractors, I recommend a chronological format that highlights your progressive experience.

  • Use a professional, easy-to-read font (Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman)
  • Include clear contact information at the top (phone, email, LinkedIn)
  • Make sure your resume is scannable - busy hiring managers spend just 7.4 seconds on initial resume review
  • Save as a PDF to maintain formatting (unless specifically asked for a different format)
  • White space is your friend - don't cram too much information onto the page

Profile/Summary Section

Your summary should be a 3-5 line snapshot of your experience, specialties, and key qualifications. This isn't the place for generic statements - get specific!

Pro Tip: Tailor your summary to each job application. If the position emphasizes commercial projects, highlight your commercial experience. Going for residential work? Focus on your custom home building background.

For example, instead of "Experienced general contractor with strong leadership skills," try "Licensed general contractor with 8+ years managing $2-5M residential and light commercial projects, specializing in historic renovations with 97% on-time, on-budget completion rate."

Professional Experience

This is the meat of your resume. For each position, include:

  • Company name, location, and dates of employment
  • Your title and key responsibilities
  • 4-6 bullet points highlighting specific achievements
  • Quantifiable results whenever possible (project values, percentage under budget, crew size managed)

Focus on how you solved problems. Maybe you brought a troubled project back on schedule, implemented safety measures that reduced incidents by 42%, or developed relationships with subcontractors that saved $13,750 on a major renovation. These specifics matter more than just listing job duties.

Education and Certifications

Construction is an industry where certifications often carry as much weight as formal education. List your:

  • Contractor's license (with license number and state)
  • OSHA certifications
  • Any specialized training (project management, estimating, etc.)
  • College degree if applicable (no need to include graduation year if it was 10+ years ago)
  • Relevant continuing education

Keywords and ATS Tips

Many companies now use Applicant Tracking Systems to filter resumes. To make sure yours gets seen by human eyes:

  • Include industry-specific keywords from the job posting
  • Avoid tables, headers/footers, and text boxes that ATS can't read properly
  • Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills)
  • Don't try to "trick" the system with hidden text or keyword stuffing

Industry-specific Terms

Sprinkle these throughout your resume (where truthful and relevant):

  • Project lifecycle terminology (bidding, estimating, scheduling, punch list)
  • Building codes and compliance experience
  • Specific construction methods you're experienced with
  • Types of projects (new construction, renovation, design-build)
  • Budget management terms (cost control, value engineering)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Listing every single project you've ever worked on (focus on the most impressive/relevant)
  • Using construction jargon without explaining results (what was the business impact?)
  • Including personal information like age, marital status, or photos
  • Typos and grammatical errors (seriously - I've seen "attension to detail" more times than I can count)
  • Leaving off contact information (yes, this happens!)

Before/After Example

Before: "Responsible for overseeing construction projects and managing crews."

After: "Directed 5-7 concurrent residential projects ($750K-1.2M) while managing 3 foremen and 22 crew members, delivering 89% of projects ahead of schedule and averaging 4.8/5 customer satisfaction ratings."

Remember that your resume is a marketing document, not just a history of your work. Every line should help convince the reader that you're the right contractor for their needs. Good luck with your application!

Soft skills for your General Contractor resume

  • Cross-functional team coordination (clients, subcontractors, inspectors, and architects)
  • Crisis management and on-the-fly problem solving when unexpected issues arise
  • Budget negotiation with vendors – saved a bathroom remodel project $8,700 through material substitutions
  • Clear communication of technical requirements to non-technical stakeholders
  • Deadline-focused prioritization (juggled up to 4 concurrent projects while maintaining 94% on-time completion)
  • Conflict resolution between competing subcontractor needs and timelines

Hard skills for your General Contractor resume

  • Blueprint interpretation & AutoCAD 2023 (commercial & residential projects)
  • OSHA 30-Hour certification & site safety management
  • Project scheduling with Microsoft Project and Buildertrend
  • Cost estimation & material takeoffs (±8% accuracy on $2-5M projects)
  • Building code compliance (ICC/IBC) & permit acquisition
  • Subcontractor coordination & vendor relationship management
  • QuickBooks Enterprise for construction accounting
  • EPA Lead-Safe certification & hazardous material identification
  • Structural framing & concrete formwork inspection