General Laborer resume examples
This page has 11 one-page general laborer resume examples, from a general laborer, a shop helper and a mover to a skilled laborer, installers for cabinets, security systems, signs, windows and insulation, a pipe layer and a lead installer. Each one is checked against 8,511 US postings from 2,701 employers, and the note under each sample says which loads, counts, safety records and licenses it puts first.
General Laborer Resume Example
General laborer postings ask most for a valid driver's license, a high school diploma, the ability to lift 50 pounds and skill with hand tools and power tools, and each of those appears in the summary, education or bullets. The bullets turn the common duties of loading materials, keeping a clean site and following safety rules into counts a site supervisor can check.
Why this resume works:
- Receive and stage lumber, drywall and steel deliveries, averaging 12 trucks a week on a 40,000 sq ft retail build.
- Operate a forklift and pallet jack to move materials around the site, with zero damage claims in 18 months.
- Cut, drill and fasten with hand tools and power tools for the carpenters, setting more than 300 door frames.
Shop Helper Resume Example
Shop helper postings name a tape measure, basic hand tools, basic math skills, forklift use and mechanical aptitude most, and each one shows up in a bullet with a count behind it. The welding certificate and OSHA 10 card answer the schooling and safety questions before the interview.
Why this resume works:
- Cut angle, flat bar and tube on the band saw from cut lists, about 400 pieces a week within 1/16 inch.
- Grind, deburr and prime finished parts for the fabricators, keeping 3 weld bays supplied without waiting.
- Drive a forklift to load trailers and move steel bundles, logging each delivery in the inventory spreadsheet.
Mover Resume Example
Mover postings ask for customer service, a strong work ethic and the ability to lift 50 pounds with a team, and the summary answers them with a move count, a damage record and team lifts on stairs. The driver's license sits in its own section and the bullets show wrapping, loading and truck driving with numbers a moving company can check.
Why this resume works:
- Secure furniture in pads and wrap, then load 26-foot box trucks, finishing about 6 moves a week on a 3-person crew.
- Assemble and break down beds, desks and sectionals, with disassembly and reassembly hardware bagged by room.
- Review the inventory sheets with customers at pickup and delivery, earning a 4.9-star average on 180 jobs.
Skilled Laborer Resume Example
Skilled laborer postings ask for hand and power tools, material handling and attention to detail, and the bullets show each with a measured result such as square footage poured or slabs held to 1/4 inch. The trade diploma and OSHA 30 card cover the schooling and safety training employers look for at this level.
Why this resume works:
- Set and strip forms for footings and slabs, with about 15,000 sq ft of concrete forming poured this year.
- Build interior wall framing and handle drywall hanging from blueprint layouts on 2 tenant build-outs finished early.
- Operate a skid steer to grade pads and move stone, saving the crew roughly 10 labor hours a week.
Installer Resume Example
Installer postings ask most for working independently, attention to detail, hand and power tools and customer service skills, and the summary and bullets show each with install counts, callback rates and review scores. Excel and problem solving, also named often, are tied to real tasks instead of listed alone.
Why this resume works:
- Install cabinets, vanities and vinyl plank flooring in 3 homes a week, averaging under 1 callback a month.
- Measure and lay out each room with a laser level before install, catching out-of-square walls before cabinets go up.
- Cut and scribe crown, toe kick and trim carpentry on site with a miter saw and hand tools.
Installation Technician Resume Example
Installation technician postings ask for troubleshooting, customer service, hand and power tools and access control experience, and the bullets show door counts, first-visit fix rates and callback numbers for each. The electronics degree and alarm technician certificate answer the training question that security integrators screen for.
Why this resume works:
- Install access control on 40 doors a month, fitting card readers, maglocks, strikes and exit devices.
- Position and aim IP cameras and configure recorders for CCTV installation at offices and K-12 schools.
- Lead troubleshooting on failed readers and panels, closing 90% of service calls on the first visit.
Sign Installer Resume Example
Sign installer postings stress attention to detail, power tools, safety protocols and working independently, and the bullets back each with storefront counts, lift heights and a clean incident record. The MEWP card and Class B CDL are listed as certificates, since sign shops need installers who can run the bucket truck on their own.
Why this resume works:
- Install channel letters and lit cabinets on 8 to 10 storefronts a month, working up to 60 feet high.
- Operate a 60-foot bucket truck and set up traffic control, with zero incidents in more than 3 years.
- Connect LED modules and power supplies to the electrician's rough-in, passing every final inspection.
Window Installer Resume Example
Window installer postings name hand and power tools, carpentry, customer service skills and attention to detail most, and the resume shows each through daily install counts, a zero-leak warranty record and homeowner reviews. The EPA lead-safe certificate matters because replacement work in older Pittsburgh homes requires it.
Why this resume works:
- Install 10 to 14 replacement windows a day, including full-frame tear-outs in older brick and frame homes.
- Apply flashing tape, foam and caulk at each opening, with zero water-intrusion warranty claims in 2 years.
- Fabricate aluminum exterior trim wraps on a brake and finish interior casing with a miter saw.
Insulation Installer Resume Example
Insulation installer postings ask for attention to detail, a strong work ethic and hand tools, and the resume proves them with homes per week, R-values reached and a 97% first-pass inspection rate. The spray foam safety training and respirator fit test answer the health and safety questions that insulation contractors raise first.
Why this resume works:
- Install fiberglass batts in walls and ceilings for 4 to 5 new homes a week.
- Apply blown cellulose and loose-fill fiberglass in attics to R-49, checked against depth markers.
- Run the spray rig and heated hoses for open- and closed-cell foam in rim joists and crawlspaces.
Pipe Layer Resume Example
Pipe layer postings ask for underground utilities experience, teamwork, communication skills and attention to detail, and the bullets show feet of pipe laid, slope held and inspections passed. Trench safety training, OSHA 30 and a Class A CDL sit in their own section because utility contractors check them before anything else.
Why this resume works:
- Install 8- to 24-inch PVC and concrete storm sewer pipe on grade, averaging 300 feet a day on subdivision work.
- Set the pipe laser at each manhole and do grade checking on every joint, holding slope within 0.02 feet.
- Build ductile iron water main runs with fittings and hydrants that pass pressure and bacteria tests the first time.
Lead Installer Resume Example
Lead installer postings ask for leadership, technical drawings, customer service skills and attention to detail, and the bullets show crew size, systems per week, inspection pass rates and homeowner scores. The NABCEP certificate and fall protection training are listed up front because they are what solar companies check before handing someone a crew.
Why this resume works:
- Direct a 4-person crew installing 3 to 4 residential systems a week, averaging 8.5 kW each.
- Plan racking systems and roof attachments from technical drawings, flashing every penetration to manufacturer spec.
- Run final quality checks on torque, wire management and labels, passing 98% of city inspections first time.
What employers ask for in general laborer job postings
General Laborer job postings in the US, October 2026
- 8,511
- active US job postings
- 2,701
- employers hiring
- 1 yr
- median experience asked
- 60%
- ask for 1 year or less
Make sure your resume shows
- Valid driver's license (24% of employers)
- High school diploma or GED (27% of employers)
- Can lift and carry up to 50 pounds regularly (26% of employers)
- Good interpersonal and communication skills (19% of employers)
- Strong work ethic and attention to detail (16% of employers)
- Skilled with hand and power tools (11% of employers)
- Can do physical work outdoors in all weather (12% of employers)
- Can pass a drug screen, physical and background check (10% of employers)
Duties to build your bullet points around
What employers write most often under responsibilities. Show each one with a result (numbers, scale, outcome), not a copy of the duty.
- Keep the work area clean, safe and organized (20%)
- Follow company safety policies and procedures (20%)
- Load and unload materials, tools and equipment (15%)
- Run hand and power tools safely (7%)
The examples on this page, in job postings
| Example | US postings | Median years asked | Skills that set this role apart |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Laborer | 1,110 | 1 | – |
| Shop Helper | 84 | 2 | – |
| Mover | 90 | 1 | – |
| Skilled Laborer | 186 | 1 | – |
| Installer | 227 | 1 | problem-solving, detail-oriented |
| Installation Technician | 247 | 2 | – |
| Sign Installer | 117 | 3 | – |
| Window Installer | 61 | 2 | – |
| Insulation Installer | 92 | 1 | – |
| Pipe Layer | 67 | 2 | – |
| Lead Installer | 62 | 2 | – |
Which job title to put on your resume: the titles employers use most, so recruiters and applicant tracking systems search for them: General Laborer (478 employers), Laborer (362 employers), General Labor (349 employers), Construction Laborer (194 employers), Installer (112 employers).
Source: Owlapply analysis of active US job postings, October 2026. Requirements and duties are grouped by meaning from the postings' own bullet lists and counted once per employer.
Advertised pay, experience and the skills employers ask for: General Laborer pay and requirements.
Check your general laborer resume against a real job posting
- Paste a general laborer job posting into the job match score tool to see which of its skills your resume is missing.
- Upload your resume to the ATS resume checker to read the text an applicant tracking system gets from it.
General Laborer resume sample (text you can copy)
This is the text of the Skilled Laborer example above. Paste it into the resume builder and replace the details with your own.
Skilled Laborer resume sample
CODY RAMSEY
Skilled Laborer
Knoxville, TN · (865) 555-0118 · [email protected] · linkedin.com/in/codyramsey
SUMMARY
Skilled laborer with 4 years on residential and light commercial jobs around Knoxville, doing concrete forming, framing and drywall hanging alongside carpenters and masons. Reads blueprints, shoots grade with a laser level and runs a skid steer for material handling. Holds OSHA 30 and a clean safety record across 40 projects.
EXPERIENCE
Skilled Laborer, Smoky Ridge Construction, Knoxville, TN | 05/2024 - Present
- Set and strip forms for footings and slabs, with about 15,000 sq ft of concrete forming poured this year.
- Build interior wall framing and handle drywall hanging from blueprint layouts on 2 tenant build-outs finished early.
- Operate a skid steer to grade pads and move stone, saving the crew roughly 10 labor hours a week.
- Check form elevations with a laser level before each pour, holding slabs within 1/4 inch of grade.
Masonry Laborer, Volunteer State Masonry, Maryville, TN | 08/2022 - 04/2024
- Mixed mortar and staged block for 4 masons, keeping each one supplied with 600 block a day.
- Built and moved scaffolding up to 30 feet, passing every daily competent-person inspection.
- Cut block and brick to size with masonry saws, grinders and other hand and power tools.
- Hauled debris and kept walkways clear, part of a crew with zero lost-time injuries over 20 months.
EDUCATION
Diploma, Building Construction Technology, Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Knoxville, Knoxville, TN | 06/2022
SKILLS
Hand and Power Tools, Concrete Forming, Framing, Drywall Hanging, Blueprints, Laser Level, Skid Steer, Scaffolding, Material Handling, Attention to Detail
CERTIFICATIONS
OSHA 30-Hour Construction, OSHA Training Institute (03/2024)
First Aid/CPR/AED, American Red Cross (07/2025)
How to write a general laborer resume
Write a general laborer resume summary
- Start with your years and where you worked: construction sites, a warehouse, a fab shop, a moving crew or an install company.
- Name the equipment you can run, such as a forklift, pallet jack, skid steer, box truck or bucket truck.
- Put your driver's license, OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 card and how much you can lift in the summary; employers ask for these first.
- Add one record a supervisor trusts, such as months with no damage claims or no safety incidents.
General Laborer summary (entry level)
General laborer with 2 years on commercial construction and warehouse crews in central Ohio, covering material handling, loading and unloading, and daily site cleanup. Runs hand tools and power tools, operates a forklift and pallet jack, and follows safety procedures on every shift. Holds OSHA 10, a valid driver's license and lifts 50 pounds all day.
Skilled Laborer summary (mid level)
Skilled laborer with 4 years on residential and light commercial jobs around Knoxville, doing concrete forming, framing and drywall hanging alongside carpenters and masons. Reads blueprints, shoots grade with a laser level and runs a skid steer for material handling. Holds OSHA 30 and a clean safety record across 40 projects.
Lead Installer summary (lead level)
Lead installer with 8 years in solar PV installation along Colorado's Front Range, after 2 years of roofing, leading 4-person crews on more than 900 rooftop systems. Reads technical drawings and permit sets, plans racking layouts and runs quality checks before inspection. NABCEP PV Installation Professional with OSHA 30 and fall protection training.
Write general laborer experience bullets
- Count the work: trucks unloaded a week, pieces cut, moves finished, homes insulated, windows set or feet of pipe laid.
- Show safety with a record: months with no incidents, safety walk-throughs passed or trench and fall protection training used on the job.
- Show quality: callbacks, inspections passed the first time, slabs held to grade or zero water-intrusion claims.
- For install and moving jobs, add customer results such as star ratings or reviews that name you or your crew.
Skilled Laborer experience bullets
- Set and strip forms for footings and slabs, with about 15,000 sq ft of concrete forming poured this year.
- Build interior wall framing and handle drywall hanging from blueprint layouts on 2 tenant build-outs finished early.
- Operate a skid steer to grade pads and move stone, saving the crew roughly 10 labor hours a week.
- Check form elevations with a laser level before each pour, holding slabs within 1/4 inch of grade.
Pick the skills for a general laborer resume
- Employers name communication (about 15% of postings) and attention to detail (about 13%) most; show them through clean handoffs, measurements and inspection results.
- List hand and power tools (about 6%) by name, such as a miter saw, band saw, laser level or grinder, plus any machines you are certified on.
- Being dependable (about 8%) and a strong work ethic (about 9%) read best as proof, such as 18 months with no missed shifts or no damage claims.
Do's and don'ts
Do this
- List your driver's license and any CDL class in its own section; about 24% of employers ask for one.
- Say how much you can lift and that you can work outdoors in all weather.
- Put a count in every bullet: loads, pieces, homes, feet, moves or hours.
- List OSHA cards, forklift or lift certificates and trench or fall protection training.
Avoid this
- Don't write "hard worker" without a record to back it up.
- Don't list "general labor" as your only duty; say what you moved, built, cut or installed.
- Don't leave out short or seasonal jobs; they show the experience employers ask for.
- Don't hide equipment you can run; a skid steer or forklift can be what gets you hired.
Related resume examples
General Laborer resume questions
What should I put on a general laborer resume?
A short summary with your years, work sites and equipment, jobs with counts and safety records, a skills list with tools and machines, and your licenses and cards. About 27% of employers ask for a high school diploma or GED, about 26% for the ability to lift and carry 50 pounds, and about 24% for a valid driver's license. The duties named most are keeping the work area clean and safe and following safety rules.
Can I get a general laborer job with no experience?
Often, yes. Of the 1,123 postings that state experience, the median ask is 1 year, and about 60% ask for a year or less. Lead with your driver's license, how much you can lift, any OSHA card and any work where you moved or built things, even part-time or seasonal.
How do I write a skilled laborer resume?
Show the trades you can do alongside the crew, such as concrete forming, framing or drywall, the equipment you run and the results, such as square feet poured or slabs held to grade. Skilled laborer postings ask for hand and power tools, material handling and attention to detail. The skilled laborer example asks for about 1 year.
What goes on a mover resume?
Show moves finished per week, your crew size, how you wrap, load and assemble furniture, and your damage record. Add customer ratings and the team lifts you handle. List your driver's license and driving record if you drive the truck.
How do I write an installer or installation technician resume?
Name what you install, such as cabinets, flooring, access control, signs or windows, then give units a day or week, callbacks and inspection or first-visit fix rates. Installer postings ask for problem-solving, attention to detail, hand and power tools and customer service. Installer is used by 112 employers in this career and installation technician by 62.
What certifications help on a general laborer resume?
An OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 card, forklift or aerial lift certificates and a CDL help most, since they let a supervisor put you to work right away. Some jobs need trade training, such as trench safety for pipe layers, lead-safe certification for window replacement or respirator fit testing for spray foam. About 10% of employers also say you must pass a drug screen, physical and background check.