How to Write a Standout Construction Manager CV: A Complete Guide

FIRST IMPRESSIONS BUILD CAREERS. Your CV is more than a summary of roles—it’s your professional blueprint. With recruiters sifting dozens of applications in minutes, a clear, achievement-focused Construction Manager CV will position you for larger projects, higher pay and leadership opportunities.

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1 | CHOOSE A FORMAT THAT WORKS

Keep your document to two pages, using a professional font such as Open Sans or Helvetica. Divide the content into these key sections:

• Professional Summary: One-line SMSTS certification and CSCS Card status, followed by a concise overview of your management expertise.
• Key Achievements: Quantified outcomes—budget savings, early completions, safety records.
• Experience: Reverse-chronological roles, emphasising leadership scope and project impact rather than duties alone.
• Skills: A mix of technical (MS Project, BIM coordination, RAMS authoring) and soft (stakeholder negotiation, crisis management).
• Certifications & Training: SMSTS, CSCS Black Card, CITB HS&E Managers Test, plus relevant CPDs.
• Education: Degrees, diplomas, functional skills if applicable.

2 | LEAD WITH ACHIEVEMENTS, NOT DUTIES

Bullet points should open with strong verbs and include metrics. For example, instead of “managed site budget,” write “oversaw a £5 million commercial build, reducing procurement spend by 12 % through supplier renegotiation.” Highlight:

• Budget sizes and percentage savings
• Programme milestones delivered ahead of schedule
• Accident-free man-hours under your leadership
• Team sizes managed and subcontractor coordination

3 | SHOWCASE MARQUEE PROJECTS & LEADERSHIP SCOPE

Dedicate a brief case study for 2–3 signature projects. Include:

• Project Value & Type: e.g. “£4.2 m mixed-use development.”
• Role & Duration: “Site Manager for 18 months, completed two weeks early.”
• Stakeholder Liaison: “Coordinated design team, client and regulators.”
• Risk Management: “Implemented CDM-aligned RAMS, resulting in zero reportable incidents.”

4 | BALANCE TECHNICAL & SOFT SKILLS

Technical Skills: MS Project or Primavera P6; BIM clash detection; temporary works supervision; CDM 2015 and COSHH compliance.

Soft Skills: Effective stakeholder negotiation; conflict resolution; mentoring and performance reviews; rapid problem-solving under pressure.

5 | LIST UP-TO-DATE CERTIFICATIONS

Citations of valid training build trust. Include:

• SMSTS – Site Management Safety Training Scheme
• CSCS Black Card – Management competence
• CITB HS&E Managers Test – current health & safety knowledge
• CPDs – Asbestos Awareness, Fire Marshal, Traffic Marshal, Working at Height, National Water Hygiene

6 | ADD MEMORABLE EXTRAS

• Authored a site induction manual adopted across the business
• Mentored five apprentices to NVQ Level 2 completion
• Introduced digital snagging system, reducing defects by 30 %
• Achieved 45/50 on Considerate Constructors Scheme assessment

7 | PROOFREAD & POLISH

Run spell-check, read aloud to catch awkward phrasing, and use a tool like Grammarly for grammar consistency. Export to PDF to preserve layout and ensure ATS compatibility.

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