Builders are professionals who manage, supervise, and work on construction projects. They may be specialists who know how to work on particular construction tasks like electricians, plumbers, or painters. They may also learn how to operate equipment and machinery. If you’re looking for help for your builder resume, read our guide below, created by our certified experts.
Let’s look at the three different types of resumes, to begin with:
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Job Duties of a Builder
The job of builders can be physically demanding. Expect hours of work on construction sites in varying weather conditions and times of the day. It is an active job that involves performing and completing the following tasks:
Renovating and maintaining existing structures by retrofitting electrical fixtures, plumbing, roofing, and repainting.
Operating heavy machinery like power lift trucks, forklifts, floor sweepers, and pallet jacks.
Using power tools like air compressors, alligator shears, angle grinders, core drills, nail guns, chisels, and marking gauges.
Unloading and assembling materials by hand or with the help of equipment.
Supervising contractors and subcontractors to ensure efficiency and good work.
Ensuring safety standards.
Being able to lift 50+ lbs. of materials at a time, ensuring projects adhere to federal, state, and local guidelines.
Interpreting construction designs and buildings according to the specifications.
Keeping track of inventory and finances while working to stay on budget.
Overseeing administrative tasks like payment, cost and budget estimation, and sourcing building materials and construction workers.
Coordinating with the team and crew members to work in tandem and deliver the project on time.
Builder Median Salaries
According to PayScale, the median hourly wage of builders in the U.S. in 2021 is $15.49 per hour or $64,117 per year.
Top Skills for Builders
A vital skill set is needed to perform the task of a builder. Builders consistently work with materials and equipment which require expertise and care to handle. Moreover, builders also require interpersonal skills to carry out responsibilities in a team setting.
The following list is top skills you need to possess as a builder:
- Thorough knowledge of site preparation: Site preparation requires testing to prepare it for construction work. It includes clearing vegetation, soil and sediment tests, and checking drainage systems in and around the area. Site preparation is vital since it guarantees that the structure will have a sound foundation and not hinder further construction operations. As a builder, you ensure personnel safety, leading to lowered insurance claims and reduced costs for clients.
- Expert construction supervision: Construction supervision is crucial to maintain efficiency and safety. Builders sometimes need to supervise construction work when work is sublet to contractors, ensuring the work is done as per the client’s specifications and adhering to all local legal guidelines. Also, construction work needs supervision when young and inexperienced workers are involved or when the project involves high-risk work like creating tall apartment buildings.
- Cost and budget administration: Staying on budget and reducing costs while being on the schedule are essential skills for builders. It is an uphill task to deliver the project without exceeding the budget and requires critical thinking and attention to detail. Builders need to analyze costs and budgets and usually use cost-estimation software like Smartsheet and Buildertrend.
- Team building and conflict resolution: Builders do not work in solitude. To finish any project successfully, you need a team of workers, contractors, construction managers, project managers, and various other professionals. In an environment with so many stakeholders, there’s bound to be friction. A good builder must know how to coordinate all parties to work as a team to complete a project on time, on budget, and per the instructions given. It is a good idea to have some team-building seminars or workshops on your resume, such as those offered by the Center for Management and Organization Effectiveness (CMOE).
- Assist clients with the design of build: Often, builders will work with customers to determine visual aspects of a project. This includes planning and guiding customers through selecting build materials such as flooring, roofing, cabinetry and appliances, and lighting fixtures. In some cases, a builder will coordinate with an architect, interior designer, or landscape designer to help bring a client’s vision to life.
- Scheduling and overseeing delivery and quality of material and equipment: Once a building plan is finalized, builders coordinate with crew and distributors to schedule the appropriate building materials and the required equipment to complete construction. Builders estimate material quantity and costs based on project guidelines and frequently shop to find the best price and most reliable distributors for the best-quality products.
Builders education and certifications
Most companies and employers prefer people with prior experience in the industry over fancy degrees. To get a job as a builder, you have to have worked as an apprentice or assistant to a builder to make up for the experience. An apprenticeship is also a great way of making some money while you gain the transferable skills needed to become a builder.
It is important to note that you are not required to obtain any licenses or certifications to become a builder. However, in certain states, such as Alabama, if a project does not have a general contractor, the builder must obtain a General Contractors License to proceed with the work. While builders do not need a license, it can be beneficial to get a general contractors license to work on a more extensive selection of projects.
Here are the educational requirements to become a builder:
Degree
As mentioned before, even a person with a high school diploma, a GED, or an equivalent can become a builder. What precedes education is on-the-job training as a builder’s assistant to gain the skills and learn the trade.
If you still want to pursue a degree, a Bachelor of Science in Building and Construction Management or a Bachelor of Science in Construction Technology can prove beneficial. For example, the College of Design, Georgia Institute of Technology offers the Bachelor of Science in Building Construction, and Michigan State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. These undergraduate degrees teach a combination of design, construction techniques, engineering technology, and management practices.Certification
If you want to learn about current trends in building, you can work toward a certificate. Several educational courses are available on the National Home Builders Association website for its members, like Universal Design Essentials. Marketing and Communicating with the Aging in Place Client (CAPS) and Basics of Building. The Basics of Building certificate course teaches students the steps in the residential construction process, the current trends, and the various stakeholders in the residential construction industry.
Builder Resume-Writing Tips
The last step to getting a job as a builder is an interview-winning resume. Follow the tips below to write a resume that magnifies your chances of getting the job.
- Choose the correct format. Using the ideal resume format that plays upon your strengths and does not create obstacles in your path to a job. For example, if you are just starting, you may want to choose the functional format. It’s a skills-based format that showcases abilities over work history.
- Add references. Getting a recommendation about the quality of your character and your reliability can help you get a job. Tell your references about the job you’re applying to beforehand, so they know exactly what to say to your prospective employer.
- Pay attention to the executive summary. Your professional summary is your introduction to the hiring manager; it is your chance to create a terrific first impression. Make sure you include as many skills as possible and your top work achievements. Many people apply for the same job, and you want to show the employer that you have all the requirements to fill the position.
FAQ
What are the types of builder classifications?
There are residential and commercial builders.
Residential builders construct buildings and make renovations on residential structures. Within this, you have custom and semi-custom home builders. Custom home builders work with homeowners to build their homes from start to finish. Semi-custom home builders build a house and work with homeowners to add some custom features. Production home builders are builders that work on large-volume housing as model homes without customization.
Commercial builders construct non-residential public buildings like schools, bridges, parks, and facilities for commercial and industrial purposes.
How do builders adhere to the time constraints on the delivery of buildings and other structures?
Building and construction is a time-sensitive field where delays and postponement lead to substantial financial loss and liability. Therefore, timeliness is a critical skill for builders. Coordinating with their team to plan their course of action can save time and eliminate delays. They also need to work well in high-pressure situations, considering the stressful nature of the job. Builders need to be adaptive construction projects that require frequent adjustments in often unfamiliar climates and locations.
As a builder, can you specialize in a particular area of construction?
Yes. Some builders also have specialized skills such as carpentry and drywalling and broad expertise in building and management. This does not mean that the builder is exempt from working on anything other than their specialization. They may provide these services and their general services as builders, do construction work, and manage and supervise the team.