Construction Resume Tips: How to Write a Trade Resume That Gets You Hired in Perth

Your resume is often the first thing a potential employer or recruiter sees. In construction, nobody wants to read a three-page essay — they want to quickly see your trade, your experience, and your tickets. A strong one-page resume can get you working within days.

Here’s how to write a construction resume that actually works.

Keep It to One Page

Construction employers and recruiters scan resumes in 30 seconds. Everything they need to know should fit on one page. If you’re writing more than that, you’re including too much detail.

What to Include

Contact Details

At the top of the page:

Full name
Phone number (mobile — and make sure you answer it)
Email address
Suburb (not your full home address — just the suburb so employers know your general location)

Trade and Licence Information

Immediately below your contact details, list:

Your trade qualification (e.g., Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician)
Licence type and number (e.g., Electrical Worker’s Licence WA — No. XXXXX)
Any endorsements or specialist certifications

Tickets and Certifications

List all your current tickets in a clear format:

White card (include card number)
First aid (include expiry date)
Working at heights (include expiry date)
Confined space (include expiry date)
EWP (include expiry date)
Forklift licence
Truck licence class (HR, HC, MC, MR)
Any other relevant tickets

Expired tickets should be left off. If a ticket is close to expiry, renew it before you start applying.

Work Experience

List your most recent roles in reverse chronological order. For each role, include:

Job title (e.g., Commercial Electrician, Framing Carpenter, Maintenance Plumber)
Employer name
Dates (month and year is fine — e.g., Mar 2023 – Present)
Brief description — 2 to 3 dot points covering the type of work, project types, and any standout responsibilities

Focus on the last 5 to 10 years. Older roles can be summarised in a single line unless they’re particularly relevant.

Key Skills

A short list of your core competencies. For example, an electrician might list:

Residential and commercial wiring
Switchboard installation
Solar PV installation (CEC accredited)
Testing, fault finding, and commissioning
Cable tray and conduit installation
Fire detection and alarm systems

Tailor this to the type of work you’re applying for.

What Not to Include

Personal Information You Don’t Need to Share

Leave out:

Date of birth or age
Marital status
Number of children
Religion or nationality
Photo (unless specifically requested)
Hobbies and interests (unless directly relevant — e.g., you restore classic cars and you’re applying for an auto electrician role)

A Long Personal Statement

Skip the “I am a highly motivated and dedicated professional with a passion for excellence” paragraph. It doesn’t help. If you want an opening line, keep it to one sentence:

“Qualified electrician with 8 years’ experience in residential and commercial construction across Perth.”

That tells the reader everything they need in one line.

Irrelevant Work History

If you’re a qualified plumber, your high school job at McDonald’s doesn’t need to be on your resume. Only include work experience that’s relevant to construction or demonstrates relevant skills.

References

“References available on request” is fine. Don’t list your referees on the resume — provide them when asked. Make sure your referees know they may be contacted and are willing to provide a positive reference.

Formatting Tips

Use a Clean Layout

Use clear headings and consistent formatting
Use dot points, not paragraphs
Use a standard, readable font (Arial, Calibri, or similar)
Keep font size readable — 10 to 12 point for body text
Use bold for headings and company names
Don’t use tables, columns, or complex formatting that may not display correctly on all devices

Make It Easy to Scan

A recruiter should be able to glance at your resume and within 10 seconds identify:

What trade you are
How many years of experience you have
What tickets you hold
What type of work you’ve been doing

If those four things aren’t immediately obvious, restructure your resume.

Save as PDF

Always save and send your resume as a PDF. Word documents can format differently on different computers. PDFs look the same everywhere.

Name the file clearly: “John_Smith_Electrician_Resume.pdf” — not “resume_final_v3.docx”.

Example Resume Structure

JOHN SMITH
Qualified Electrician | Electrical Worker's Licence WA No. 12345
0412 345 678 | john.smith@email.com | Baldivis, WA

TICKETS & CERTIFICATIONS
• White card – Card No. XXXXX
• First aid – Expires Mar 2028
• Working at heights – Expires Jun 2027
• Confined space – Expires Sep 2027
• EWP – Current
• MR truck licence

KEY SKILLS
• Residential and commercial electrical installation
• Switchboard installation and upgrades
• Solar PV systems (CEC accredited)
• Testing, fault finding, and commissioning
• Data and communications cabling
• Emergency and exit lighting

WORK EXPERIENCE

Commercial Electrician | ABC Electrical Services
Mar 2022 – Present
• Electrical installation on commercial office and retail fit-outs across Perth CBD
• Switchboard upgrades, distribution board installation, and power reticulation
• Supervised 2 apprentices and coordinated with other trades on site

Residential Electrician | XYZ Homes
Jan 2019 – Feb 2022
• Rough-in and fit-off electrical work for volume builder across Perth metro
• Installed solar PV systems on new residential builds
• Managed workload of 3-4 houses simultaneously

Electrical Apprentice | Smith & Co Electrical
Jan 2015 – Dec 2018
• Completed 4-year apprenticeship across residential and light commercial projects
• Obtained Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician

EDUCATION
Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician – South Metropolitan TAFE, 2018
CEC Solar Design & Install Accreditation – 2020

References available on request

Tailoring Your Resume

If you’re applying for a specific type of role, adjust the emphasis:

Applying for FIFO? Highlight any mining, industrial, or remote site experience. List mine-specific tickets prominently.
Applying for commercial work? Emphasise commercial project experience, EBA experience, and working with large teams.
Applying for a supervisor role? Highlight any leadership experience — supervising apprentices, managing a crew, coordinating trades.
Changing trades or sectors? Lead with transferable skills and explain in one sentence why you’re making the move.

Sending Your Resume to Perth Trades Recruitment

Perth Trades Recruitment reviews hundreds of trade resumes every month. The ones that stand out are:

Clear, one-page layout
Current tickets with expiry dates
Relevant experience clearly described
Easy to read and professionally presented

We work with construction companies, builders, and contractors across Perth and WA. Once we have your resume and tickets on file, we can match you with opportunities that fit your skills and preferences.

Send your resume to Perth Trades Recruitment today and let us find your next construction job.