Applying for construction jobs in Australia is competitive. Project timelines move fast, safety rules are tight, and hiring managers do rapid scans to shortlist people who can step on site without delay. A strong CV gets you through that first filter. A vague one ends up in limbo. This guide shows you exactly what to include, what to skip, and how to format your experience so construction recruiters and site supervisors put you forward for shifts.
Mobilize places skilled labour, trades and project teams across civil, industrial and infrastructure builds nationally. We screen thousands of CVs a year, so we know what wins interviews and what gets passed over. Use the structure below to tighten yours before you apply.
Why Construction Hiring Is Competitive (and Cyclical)
Construction demand spikes around funding approvals, weather windows and infrastructure rollouts. Civil roadworks, rail upgrades, energy transition projects and commercial builds each follow different cycles. Labour hire demand can jump when a project hits mobilisation then taper when works reach steady state. That means recruiters often need available, ticketed workers yesterday. If your CV clearly shows site readiness, location and licence status, you move straight to the call list.
See current project sectors on the Mining & Construction page.
Core Info Hiring Managers Scan First (Put This Above the Fold)
Most hiring managers and recruiters spend less than a minute on a first pass. Make sure the essentials sit high on page one.
Quick Details Block (recommended top section):
- Name | Phone | Email | Current location (suburb + state)
- Willing to travel? FIFO / DIDO / local only
- Available from: [Date]
- Tickets & licences summary (see list below)
- Key machinery / trade competencies
- Current employment status (working / finishing contract / immediately available)
Tip: Use a clean two-column header at the top of your CV so this data is visible without scrolling on mobile.
Tickets & Licences Snapshot
List these as short codes with expiry dates where relevant. Example:
- White Card (General Construction Induction) – current
- HR Licence (exp 2027)
- Forklift LF – current
- EWP >11m – current
- Working at Heights – refresher due Nov 2025
- Dogging DG – current
- Confined Space – current
Do not bury tickets on page two. Upfront saves calls and speeds placement.
Want eyes on your CV? Upload it and we will review for missing tickets.
Show Site Readiness: Safety, Licences and Medicals
Construction is safety critical. Employers need evidence you understand risk and site processes.
Include:
- General construction safety induction (White Card) number/state
- High Risk Work Licences (HRWL) with classes (DG, RB, RA, CN etc)
- Verification of Competency (VOC) dates for plant
- Recent medical or fitness for work clearance if available
- Incident-free hours or safety awards (if credible and documented)
If you are missing one key licence (eg no EWP) but hold others, note “EWP training booked” so a recruiter sees momentum rather than a gap.
Highlight Reliability: Roster History and Supervisor References
When projects run on tight schedules, reliable attendance is gold. Help employers trust you.
Add a brief line for each recent role:
Example Format
Skilled Labourer – ABC Civil – Sydney Metro West | Mar 2024 – Present
Bulk earthworks, trench prep, spotter, traffic control. Average 55 hrs/wk. Supervisor: M. Harris (contact on request). No lost time injuries.
Consider a bullet that shows roster discipline, eg “Completed 6-month night shift program with full attendance.”
Where union or EBA sites applied, note compliance familiarity.
Tailor for Civil vs Commercial vs Industrial Builds
Different construction environments value different evidence. Use subheadings or grouped experience to make fit obvious.
Civil & Infrastructure
- Plant competencies (excavator, roller, grader)
- Traffic management / stop-slow
- Trenching, pipelaying, drainage works
- Road, rail, bridge, utilities corridor exposure
Commercial & Fitout
- Interiors, cladding, scaffolds, working at heights
- Trade coordination, sequencing, finishing detail
- Hoist and materials lift operation
Industrial / Resources Adjacent Builds
- Heavy concrete, structural steel, pre-assembly yards
- Shutdown interface with plant sites
- Confined space tank work, permits systems
Group your past roles beneath whichever environment you are targeting now. Recruiters often filter quickly by project type.
Formatting Your Construction CV (Layout That Works on Phones)
A lot of CV screening happens on mobiles. Use a clean layout that renders well in PDF.
Recommended order:
- Quick Details Block (contact, location, availability, tickets summary)
- Short Personal Statement (2–3 lines: trade background, licences, project type focus)
- Key Tickets & Licences table
- Work History (reverse chronological; include labour hire agency and host site if relevant)
- Machinery / Tools & Systems
- Safety & Training
- References or “Available on Request”
Keep fonts readable (11–12pt), use bold for headings, bullet points for tasks, and white space. Avoid multi-column text blocks that collapse badly on mobile.
Common CV Mistakes That Cost You Interviews
| Mistake | Why It Hurts | Quick Fix |
| Missing location | Recruiters do not know if you are viable for local role | Add suburb + state top of page |
| No ticket list | Slows screening, you get skipped | Include snapshot with expiry dates |
| Duties copy-pasted from job ad | Signals low care, unclear skill depth | Use active, specific bullets |
| No dates / vague timelines | Hard to verify experience | Use month + year ranges |
| Wrong file type (Word from phone) | Formatting breaks | Save to PDF before sending |
How Mobilize Screens Construction CVs (And Helps You Improve Yours)
When you upload your CV, Mobilize recruiters check:
- Location vs project needs
- Ticket and licence currency
- Recent site types (civil, commercial, industrial)
- Roster reliability signals
- Pay level match vs award/enterprise rate bands
If we spot gaps that block placement, we flag training options or introduce short-term labour hire roles that build experience fast. Many workers start on temp crews through Mobilize then move into longer project or permanent roles once supervisors see performance.
See how we support both temp and long-term hiring on Permanent & Project Recruitment and Temporary Labour Hire service pages.
Sample Construction CV Template (Copy & Edit)
Downloadable Word/Google Doc available (offer gated lead magnet). Below is the structure.
Name Surname
Phone | Email | Suburb, State
Willing to travel: FIFO / DIDO / Local | Available from: ___
Key Tickets & Licences
White Card (NSW) | HR Licence | EWP >11m | Working at Heights | Confined Space | Dogging DG | Forklift LF | RII Excavator | First Aid
Personal Statement
Qualified plant operator with 4 years across civil road upgrades and bulk earthworks in NSW and QLD. Competent on excavator to 30t, roller and water cart. Current HR licence. Ready for interstate project work.
Recent Work History
Excavator / Labourer – ABC Civil – M12 Motorway, NSW | Nov 2024 – Present
Bulk cut/fill, trench dig, bedding, service location spotting. Avg 60 hrs/wk. Supervisor ref available.
Skilled Labourer – XYZ Build – Industrial Warehouse Expansion, QLD | Feb 2024 – Oct 2024
Steel erection support, spotter, EWP spotting, traffic marshalling.
(Repeat roles…)
Machinery & Competencies
Excavator to 30t | Roller | Water Cart | Skid Steer | Telehandler | EWP spotting | Traffic control stop-slow
Safety & Training
Take 5 / JSA participation | Permit to Work systems | Zero LTIs across last 18 months.
References
Available on request (supply when asked).
When to Use a One-Page CV vs Two Pages
- Entry level / limited history: One page is fine. Focus on tickets and availability.
- Experienced multi-trade operator: Two pages gives room for project detail and high risk licences.
- Supervisory / leading hand roles: Two pages minimum including crew sizes, cost value or stage metrics.
Stay concise. Recruiters will call for more detail if needed.
How to Submit Your CV to Mobilize
You can register interest even if you are still collecting tickets. Earlier is better: we line candidates up for project start dates, and some licences take weeks to book.
Before you upload:
- Save as PDF, file name: Firstname-Lastname-Construction-CV.pdf
- Double check contact details
- Add expiry dates to critical tickets
- Include availability date
FAQs: Construction CV & Job Applications
Do I need Australian experience?
Not always. If you hold recognised licences and can provide offshore references, we can assess transferability.
What if I do not have a White Card yet?
Get it. It is mandatory on most sites. We can direct you to approved providers.
Will Mobilize place me if I am only available weekends?
Weekend casual shifts are limited. Full or block availability places faster.
Should I list pay rates on my CV?
No. Leave pay discussions for screening. List skills and tickets.
Can Mobilize help me move from labour hire to a permanent job?
Yes. Many of our placements start as temp then move to project or permanent when the fit is right.
Final Word
Construction hiring in Australia is fast, safety driven and timing sensitive. A clear CV that puts your location, licences and project experience up front makes life easier for recruiters and gets you on site sooner. Whether you are moving from civil to commercial builds or chasing national infrastructure work, Mobilize can help you step into the right crew.
Have questions about which tickets to get first? Talk to Mobilize.
