Most tradespeople hate writing resumes. The good news? It does not need to be complicated. Here is how to write a trades resume that gets you noticed by recruiters and employers.
Keep It Short
One to two pages maximum. No one is reading a five-page resume. Recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds on an initial resume scan — make those seconds count.
The Must-Have Sections
1. Contact Details
Name, phone, email, suburb (not full address). Make sure your voicemail is set up and professional.
2. Trade Summary
Two to three lines at the top summarising who you are:
"Experienced formwork carpenter with 8 years in commercial and residential construction. Competent in all aspects of formwork from footings to high-rise. Available for immediate start."
3. Tickets and Licences
List every current ticket and licence you hold:
- White Card (include number)
- Trade qualification
- High Risk Work Licences (forklift, EWP, rigging, scaffolding, crane)
- State-specific licences
- Drivers licence class
- First Aid / CPR
- Working at Heights
This is the most important section for construction roles. Recruiters search for specific tickets.
4. Work History
List your last 3-5 roles with:
- Company name
- Dates (month/year)
- Your role/title
- 2-3 bullet points on what you did
Focus on specifics: "Installed 200m of Type F formwork on Level 12-18 of residential tower" is better than "Formwork duties as required".
5. Plant and Equipment
If you operate plant, list the machines you are experienced on with sizes.
What NOT to Include
- A photo (not required in Australia)
- Your date of birth
- Marital status or number of children
- Hobbies (unless directly relevant)
- References on the resume (just write "Available on request")
- Every job you have ever had
Pro Tips
- Save as PDF — Word documents can lose formatting
- Name the file properly — "John-Smith-Resume-2026.pdf" not "resume final final v2.docx"
- Update it regularly — Add new tickets and roles as you get them
- Tailor it — If applying for a specific role, put the relevant experience first
Let Us Help
When you register with HBG, our consultants can help you put together a resume that highlights your strengths. We know what employers are looking for because we talk to them every day.
Register at harrisonbarratt.com.au and let us help you find your next role.