Features

Top 10 Highly Desirable Construction Skills

Essential traits you need to get a construction job.

Updated on

January 29, 2024

Workers at a construction site. Photo/File

To find a good job in the construction industry, you need to develop certain skills that are considered essential for success in the building and construction sector.

This article discusses the construction skills that jobseekers must acquire if they hope to land a good job. We will also discuss how to list the skills on your resume.

1. Physical Skills

To succeed as a construction worker, you need to be physically fit, strong, and capable of withstanding the tough working conditions on site.

You need to understand and implement proper ergonomics such as observing safety guideline and correct lifting posture to avoid accidents, injuries, or death.

Basically, the physical skills required for construction workers include physical endurance, strength, and stamina; good hearing and eyesight; and proper use of protective gear.

Other skills include good posture; hand-eye coordination; dexterity, fine motor skills; first aid and CPR; balance, motor accuracy, and heavy lifting techniques.

2. Technology Skills

The construction industry is emerging as one of the sectors that are increasingly adopting modern technologies to transform operations of the sector.

As more companies adopt new technologies, it is important for prospective workers to acquaint themselves with these technologies if they hope to get jobs.

Some of the major technologies transforming the construction sector include virtual reality, augmented reality, BIM (building information modeling), drones, mobile apps, and modern construction software.

3. Design and Planning Skills

To succeed in construction, you need to have some knowledge in blueprints. In fact, you need to know how to read blueprints.

You also need to be familiar with design so as to identify problems that can occur (although very rare) in construction blueprints.

Design and planning skills required for construction workers include the ability to read and understand blueprints, project management, flexibility, estimating, identifying material costs, and reading construction reports.

Others include the ability to give and follow instructions, knowledge of construction reports, as well as a general understanding of design.

4. Familiarity with Building Codes

Construction workers are expected to comply with building codes, labor agreements, environmental rules, safety code, and green building codes.

Although entry-level workers are not required to enforce these regulations, many employers prefer to work with individuals who understand the protocols.

In addition, a construction worker is required to be a person of integrity, environmental conscious, problem solver, discerner, attentive to detail, a great negotiator, and a good adherer to safety measures.

5. Office Skills

Like other businesses, construction requires planning, record-keeping, budgeting, and marketing to remain commercially viable.

Although construction workers spend most of the time on site, it helps to be familiar with office-related skills such as desktop publishing, telephone etiquette, word-processing, working with spreadsheets, etc.

6. Management Skills

Although this is not a requirement for entry-level workers, having management skills can help you to advance in your career.

These skills help in managing construction sites, creating estimates, negotiating prices, executing quality control as well as engaging with clients.

Management skills include leadership, quality assurance, collaboration, project management, problem-solving, and the ability to give and follow instructions.

7. Teamwork

This is one of the requisite construction skills for anyone looking for a job in this sector. At the construction site, workers are required to operate as a team – with no room for unnecessary disagreements.

In addition to teamwork skills, you also need to have a high degree of emotional intelligence to avert or handle possible conflicts on the job site.

8. Communication Skills

The ability to communicate effectively with fellow workers and supervisors is a major requirement for prospective construction workers.

To succeed in this business, you need to be skilled at writing messages, delivering instructions, following instructions, customer service, and conflict resolution.

9. Cognitive Skills

Construction workers are required to have knowledge of mathematics and geography to estimate building materials, keep track of measurements, and determine necessary alterations on site.

Cognitive skills that are necessary in construction include reading, writing, algebra, critical thinking, memory, problem-solving, technical vocabulary, and trigonometry.

10. Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills

As a construction worker, you will be required to make quick decisions to address problems that arise on job sites.

The ability to think and decide fast ensures a project remains on track.

Construction Skills for Resume

Needless to say, it is important to put your major construction skills in your resume (curriculum vitae). This helps a potential employer to understand what you can bring to the table.

Here is how to add construction skills on a resume.

(i). List all your major construction skills.

(ii). Clearly describe your construction skills.

(iii). Explain how your skills will benefit the potential employer.

Be sure to match your skills to the requirements of the company you wish to work with. For example, you should explain how your problem-solving skills can help the company to avoid project delays.