You might think CVs are just for office jobs, but a good CV is essential even when you’re applying for trade or labour roles. Whether you’re a plumber, electrician, bricklayer, scaffolder, driver, or general labourer, your CV is your first chance to impress a potential employer or contractor. It shows them your skills, experience, and qualifications quickly and clearly. This guide will walk you through how to write a CV that gets you noticed in the trades sector.
Keep it Clear and Simple
When it comes to a trade CV, forget fancy designs or complicated layouts. Employers in this field value practical skills and clear information. They don’t have time to search through pages of dense text. Your CV needs to be easy to scan and understand. Using a simple CV template can be a great starting point; you can find many free examples online.
Contact Information First
This might seem obvious, but getting it right is crucial. At the very top of your CV, clearly list:
- Your Full Name: Make it bold and slightly larger than the rest of the text.
- Your Phone Number: Your mobile number is usually best. Make sure your voicemail message is professional.
- Your Email Address: Use a professional-sounding email address, ideally something like firstname.lastname@email.com. Avoid old, unprofessional addresses.
- Your Location: You don’t need your full address. Your town and postcode (e.g., Manchester, M1) are usually enough. This helps employers see if you’re local.
Double-check all these details for typos. A wrong phone number means they can’t contact you for an interview.
Personal Statement or Profile
Think of this as a short introduction, right below your contact details. It’s a few sentences (3-4 lines maximum) summarising who you are, your key skills, years of experience, and what you’re looking for. Tailor this to the specific job you’re applying for. For example:
“Highly motivated and reliable Plumber with 7+ years of experience in domestic and commercial installations and repairs. Holds relevant City & Guilds qualifications and a valid CSCS card. Seeking a challenging role with a reputable construction firm.”
Keep it punchy and focused on what you offer the employer.
Focus on Practical Skills and Experience
This is the most important section for a trade or labour CV. Employers want to know what you can do. List your work history in reverse chronological order (most recent job first). For each role, include:
- Job Title: (e.g., Site Carpenter, HGV Driver, General Labourer)
- Employer Name: (e.g., ABC Construction Ltd, Self-Employed)
- Dates of Employment: (e.g., March 2019 – Present)
- Key Responsibilities and Achievements: Use bullet points. Start each point with an action verb (e.g., Installed, Repaired, Operated, Constructed, Managed, Drove). Focus on practical tasks, tools used, machinery operated, and materials handled.
If you have specific skills not tied to one job, consider a separate ‘Skills’ section. This could list things like “Proficient in MIG and TIG welding,” “Experienced in operating 360 excavators,” or “Skilled in first and second fix carpentry.”
Include Relevant Qualifications and Tickets
Trade jobs often require specific licences and qualifications. Create a dedicated section for these. List:
- Trade Qualifications: NVQs (mention level), City & Guilds, apprenticeships. Include the awarding body and date completed.
- Safety Tickets/Cards: CSCS card (mention type and expiry date), PASMA (for mobile towers), IPAF (for powered access equipment), SMSTS/SSSTS (for site management/supervision), Gas Safe registration, etc. Always include expiry dates where relevant.
- Driving Licence: State that you have a full UK driving licence. If relevant (e.g., for driving roles), list categories you hold (e.g., C1, C+E) and mention if you have a clean licence and hold a valid CPC card.
Having the right tickets can be the deciding factor, so make sure this section is clear and up-to-date.
Don’t Forget Education (Briefly)
Unless you’re a recent school leaver or your academic results are directly relevant, keep this section brief. List your secondary school and any key qualifications like GCSEs (mentioning Maths and English is often useful). Focus primarily on your trade-specific training listed in the qualifications section.
References
You don’t need to list your referees’ contact details directly on your CV. Simply write: “References available on request.” Prepare a separate list of referees (usually two – ideally previous employers) that you can provide if an employer asks for them. Always ask your referees for permission before giving out their details.
Tailor Your CV
Finally, don’t just send the same CV out for every job. Read the job advert carefully. Note the key skills and requirements the employer is looking for. Adjust your CV, especially your personal statement and the bullet points under your work experience, to highlight how well you match what they need. If they need someone experienced in roofing, make sure your roofing experience is prominent. If it’s a labouring job needing a CSCS card and driving licence, ensure those are clearly visible.
By following these steps, you can create a clear, professional CV that highlights your practical skills and experience effectively. A strong CV is your first step towards landing that next trade or labour job. Good luck!
