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General contractor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Irish Horsey Ph.D.,

Irish Horsey Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical general contractor skills. We ranked the top skills for general contractors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 17.5% of general contractor resumes contained plumbing as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a general contractor needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 general contractor skills for your resume and career

1. Plumbing

Here's how general contractors use plumbing:

Managed the repair/replacement of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and structural of primarily historical residences.
Helped increase overall company status and revenue through competitive plumbing estimates and excellent reduced material costs.

2. Safety Regulations

Here's how general contractors use safety regulations:

Cleaned and prepared commercial construction sites according to safety regulations.
Monitored and ensured adherence to safety regulations and project schedules.

3. Contract Negotiations

When a contract is negotiated, an agreement is reached on a series of legally binding terms before it is signed and made official. Two or more parties agree on the terms of their relationship. When negotiating a contract, the focus is usually on risk and return.

Here's how general contractors use contract negotiations:

Contract negotiations, sub-contractor negotiations and construction oversight.
Administered contract negotiations and client interfacing.

4. Drywall Installation

Here's how general contractors use drywall installation:

Repair drywall and cabinet repair flooring and drywall installation and general house repairs
Work closely on teams responsible for wood and metal framing, insulating, drywall installation/finishing, and acoustical ceiling tile installation.

5. Construction Projects

A construction project is an organized process of constructing, redeveloping, renovating, or otherwise improving a building, or structure. The project phase begins usually as a broad criterion that is then made with the help of a brief, feasibility analysis, funding, and planning. The majority of construction projects are one-time jobs.

Here's how general contractors use construction projects:

Project Management -Site and office administration of construction projects secure and retain employees and sub-contractors to ensure timely completion of projects.
Provide for conceptual development of construction projects and oversee organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation as independent contractor.

6. Payroll

Payroll is the sum of all the compensation that an organization has to pay to employees at a specified time. Payroll is managed by the finance or HR department while small business owners may handle it themselves. Payroll isn't fixed as it varies every month due to sick leaves, overtime, etc.

Here's how general contractors use payroll:

Demonstrated impressive versatility in overseeing accounting inclusive of taxes, budgets, payroll and purchasing.
Supervised contractors, also assisted in payroll responsibilities, scheduling, and coordinating of subcontractors.

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7. HVAC

Here's how general contractors use hvac:

Trouble shoot, test and repair HVAC system for remodeled homes and or replace entire system according to city codes.
Performed work on residential custom home building projects: Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical, Trim, Paint, Etc.

8. Masonry

Masonry refers to stonework, which can be a fairly simplistic process or one far more complex. Simple masonry work may involve brick laying, delivering stone for a pathway or wall, or smoothing out the brick mortar. More complicated masonry work would involve scaffolding or other elevated construction.

Here's how general contractors use masonry:

Received extensive training and Certificate of Completion from the International Masonry Institute.
Executed all phases of residential construction and remodeling involving carpentry and masonry.

9. Door Installation

Here's how general contractors use door installation:

Wall framing, sheet rocking, window and door installation and framing, painting.
General knowledge of the process that window/door installation entails.

10. Sheetrock

Sheetrock or, as it is otherwise more commonly known, drywall, plasterboard, or wallboard is a kind of board made primarily and sometimes almost exclusively of a soft mineral and packed between different materials. It is primarily used in the quick construction of interior walls and ceilings. The packaging around and sometimes within the sheetrock is usually made of special paper or fiberglass, and might have additional layers and additives within it which lower chances of fires and floods breaking out.

Here's how general contractors use sheetrock:

Home Improvement Contractor, (Sheetrock, plumber, electrical, cement, tile, carpet, painting etc.)
General Home Contracting, Roofing, Painting, Landscaping, Concrete, Sheetrock Installation etc.

11. Construction Sites

A piece of land where constructional activities are to be conducted is termed as a construction site.

Here's how general contractors use construction sites:

Collaborated with other contractors and subcontractors on busy construction sites to ensure project deadline.
Worked independently and creatively to project manage different construction sites and solve problems.

12. General Construction

General construction is a fundamental term that is used to describe the various kinds of construction projects like building, remodelling, and designing. While each of these requires some form of construction the difference arises based on the equipment and skill required for each. General construction may cover variables like estimation, project management, client communication, and sourcing materials or equipment.

Here's how general contractors use general construction:

Concrete Work* Oversee subcontractors* General construction* Building* Remodeling* Re-leveling* Assisting in the tear-down* Transport* Set-up of mobile homes
77338Provided general construction contracting in the home improvement/remodeling field and new construction of commercial projects.

13. Construction Management

Here's how general contractors use construction management:

Provide client with construction management and direct contractor oversight from construction commencement through, commissioning, validation and final project closeout.
Provided customers with full-service Construction Management expertise and services including identifying real estate and general contracting.

14. Window Installation

Here's how general contractors use window installation:

Subcontract was for all framing, roofing, window installation and all exterior and interior trim work.
Completed concrete work, dry walling, window installation, siding and roofing.

15. Real Estate

Real estate is land that has buildings on it. This kind of property consists of permanent improvements either natural or man-made, which include, houses, fences, bridges, water trees, and minerals. There are 4 types of real estate namely; residential real estate, commercial real estate, industrial real estate, and vacant land.

Here's how general contractors use real estate:

Applied in-depth knowledge of regional real estate market towards building agent relationships and highlighting unique attributes to prospective customers.
Position entails remodeling and maintaining foreclosed real estate assets as well as property management and general labor contracting.

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What skills help General Contractors find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on general contractor resumes?

Irish Horsey Ph.D.

Interim Chair of the Department of Construction Management and Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University

Construction Managers are problem solvers. Employers seek analytical, technical, and effective communication skills from potential employees for construction management positions. Whether building a skyscraper or single-family home, there are always groups of people performing numerous construction activities and tasks simultaneously on a construction site. Therefore, resumes that show time, cost, and, most importantly, safety management skills are most desired by employers.

What soft skills should all general contractors possess?

Irish Horsey Ph.D.

Interim Chair of the Department of Construction Management and Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University

Leadership and communication are among the most essential skills of a construction manager. Construction managers are responsible for ensuring that projects are built safely on schedule, within budget, and to the quality outlined in the drawings and specifications. To fulfill these responsibilities, construction managers must lead multiple teams, including primary, secondary, and third party players, on a construction project through effective oral and written communications.

What general contractor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Neil Opfer

Assoc. Professor - UNLV Civil & Environmental Engineering & Construction Department, Website

First off, know what competitive salaries are in your area of the country for the type of job you want as you never have to recover from a good start. Some companies, for instance, will offer salaries that are simply not competitive. As an example, a few years ago, we had one CM graduate starting at $70K per year at one firm (heavy-highway contractor) whereas another grad had been offered $42K per year for a commercial flooring contractor. That $42K was simply not competitive with the market whether that employer offering that salary knew it or not. Also, compare offers versus area living costs. Use cost-of-living calculators such as at bankrate.com If you, using this bankrate.com tool, were offered one job in Las Vegas NV at $80,000 per year versus another job opportunity in Los Angeles CA, you would need $122,000 per year as a comparable salary. Remember to measure yourself as to earning that salary on a regular basis. Don't take jobs where a bonus is promised to make up for a bad salary. Example here is taking a Superintendent Job where your Job ended up profitable but other jobs run by others overall didn't so taking that lower salary and not getting that bonus didn't work out so well. Again, benchmark yourself against what others in the industry in that same area are actually getting paid. If you truly feel you deserve a raise where you're at but can't get it you may need to change jobs to get to a higher salary scale. But that firm offering above-market salaries may be doing so because of internal problems (bad bosses, poor working conditions, insane hours, insane understaffing, etc.) so look before you leap. It's a given that to be successful as a working professional in construction, one cannot just work a 40-hour week. But you shouldn't be working 7-10s or more on a regular basis either. Again, through networking you perhaps can find out who are the 'bad employers.'

What type of skills will young general contractors need?

Steve Nellis

President / CEO, American Council for Construction Education

The primary skills that new graduates from ACCE programs will have are different for each level of degree that they complete. For an Associate Degree, here are the skills (we call them Student Learning Outcomes, or SLO) that they will possess:

1. Apply effective communication, both orally and in writing.
1. Apply quantity takeoff skills for bidding or budgeting purposes on a construction project.
2. Apply the aptitude to schedule a basic construction project.
3. Apply current technology related to the construction industry.
4. Apply the interpretation of construction documents (contracts, specifications, and drawings) used in managing a construction project.
5. Apply basic principles of construction accounting.
6. Apply basic surveying techniques used in building layout.
7. Understand basic principles of ethics in the construction industry.
8. Understand the fundamentals of contracts, codes, and regulations that govern a construction project.
9. Understand basic construction methods and materials.
10. Understand basic safety hazards on a construction site and standard prevention measures.
11. Understand the basic principles of structural design.
12. Understand the basic principles of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.

What technical skills for a general contractor stand out to employers?

Kristen Parrish Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Arizona State University

This is pretty dependent on the job that you're going for, but I think that one technical skill that employers in construction look for is the ability to communicate technical information clearly and concisely. This will be critical onsite and in the office -- you need to demonstrate an understanding of how a project comes together, and this requires the ability to communicate clearly. Beyond the communication, a technical understanding of material behavior (i.e., concrete curing, crane picks, etc.).

Do you want to know more?

List of general contractor skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a general contractor resume and required skills for a general contractor to have include:

Plumbing
Safety Regulations
Contract Negotiations
Drywall Installation
Construction Projects
Payroll
HVAC
Masonry
Door Installation
Sheetrock
Construction Sites
General Construction
Construction Management
Window Installation
Real Estate

Building Codes
General Maintenance
Cost Estimates
Commercial Buildings
Residential Homes
RFI
Property Management
General Carpentry
Exterior Painting
Construction Process
Renovation Projects
Tiling
AIA
Tenant Improvements
Building Permits

Business Development
Snow Removal
Customer Relations
Building Materials
Residential Properties
A/P
Residential Construction
QuickBooks
LLC
Timberline
Custom Homes
Shingles
Site Work
Room Additions

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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