If you work in the drainage sector, utilities industry or another trade, we understand that creating a CV might not be your top priority. Most people in these fields learn through hands-on experience, build practical abilities on the job and gain skills by working alongside site supervisors, engineers and other skilled tradespeople.

Even so, a CV has a real purpose. Hiring managers across the drainage and wider utilities sector still rely on CVs to understand your work history, relevant qualifications and the type of practical experience you can bring to a team. It’s not about having perfect spelling or formal education - it’s about giving employers a clear picture of your skills and experience.

A CV can also help you move through the application process more quickly. Instead of filling in the same details each time, you can use your document to apply for more roles, show relevant skills at a glance and give a brief description of your experience that lines up with the job description.
This guide, and our downloadable CV template, is designed to help all workers, including those new to the trades or the utilities sector, showcase their skills effectively, create a compelling work history and build a CV that gets results.

What makes a strong CV?

Here is a simple breakdown of what to include when creating your own CV.

1. Contact details

Place your contact details at the top of the page. Include your full name, phone number and email address. Adding your location and a brief description of the type of work you’re looking for can also help employers match you to roles.

2. Introduction / personal statement

Your personal statement should summarise your key skills, experience and the type of role you’re applying for. Keep it short and focused on your practical abilities rather than long descriptions.
Examples:

• Experienced worker: “Maintenance operative with extensive experience in equipment operation, quality control and high safety standards in challenging environments. Strong background in heavy materials handling.”
• Drainage role: “Drainage operative experienced in high-pressure water jetting, CCTV surveys and safety procedures. Skilled in assisting tradespeople and contributing to project efficiency through organised job sites and consistent safety compliance.”
• Entry-level: “Motivated and reliable individual with strong physical stamina and a positive work ethic. Keen to build practical experience in the drainage sector and learn new practical abilities.”

3. Core skills and knowledge

This section works best in bullet points and should highlight the abilities you have that match the job description and the practical demands of the role. You should also mention the soft skills you possess, such as time management, reliability and the ability to solve problems on your own.

If you have relevant certificates, such as first aid qualifications, or a Construction Skills Certification Scheme card, you should also mention them here.

4. Employment history

Your employment history (or work history) is one of the most important parts of your CV. List roles in reverse order, include your job title, employer and dates, then add bullet points explaining what you did.

Where possible, focus on achievements, for example:

• Operated hand tools and power tools to assist skilled tradespeople, contributing to structural integrity and high-quality workmanship.
• Managed inventory and transported materials safely, supporting project deadlines and maintaining a productive work environment.
• Followed health and safety regulations and safety knowledge gained through training, contributing to zero accidents over a 12-month period.
• If you’re unsure what to write, it can help to look at CV examples online to see how others describe similar work.

5. Education history

Keep this concise. Include any relevant qualifications, apprenticeships or specialist safety training. For many roles, practical experience carries just as much weight as formal education.

6. Hobbies and interests (optional)

This section is optional but can help highlight transferable skills. Activities that involve teamwork, physical stamina or practical experience - such as DIY projects, sports or volunteering - can all support your application.

How to format a CV that gets noticed

When you’re applying for roles in the drainage sector, a clear and simple layout can make a real difference. Hiring managers and applicant tracking systems both need to understand your experience quickly, so the way you present your CV for manual work is just as important as the information inside it.

Keep it clean

Use a straightforward layout with a clear font such as Arial or Calibri in size 10 or 11. Black text on a white background is easiest to read, especially when CVs are printed on site or shared between team members and site supervisors. Simple formatting also helps applicant tracking systems scan your document without missing important details about your practical skills or key skills.

Structure is key

A strong CV works best with clear headings and short bullet points. This makes your work history, core skills and relevant qualifications easy to find during a quick review. Most employers only need one to two pages, so place your most relevant skills and job site safety experience on the first page.
Construction Skills Certification SchemeEmma Louise O’Brien is Head of Career Coaching at Renovo, has been recognised by the Career Development Institute and previously awarded Career Coach of the Year. Mrs.O’Brien said: “The focus will always be on the first page of your CV, so make sure the most relevant and tailored information is written here. Anything you have included that isn’t related or as important to the job you’re applying for can be removed or moved on to another page.”

Proofread with care

Mistakes can make a CV look rushed, especially when applying for roles that involve safety procedures, maintaining safety standards or handling hazardous materials. Read through your CV slowly, or ask someone you trust to look over it. Even people with years of hands-on experience and practical abilities benefit from a second pair of eyes.

A final tip

Researching the job description and the company can help you include the right terms naturally - whether that’s heavy machinery operation, site preparation, operating tools, manual labour tasks or concrete pouring. The more clearly your CV reflects the role, the easier it is for hiring managers to match you to suitable jobs.

Download our free CV template for manual workers

To help you get started, we’ve created a free to download manual worker CV template. The document lays out how much room each section of the document should cover, provides examples of what to include, and is totally free of any Lanes branding, so you’re free to use it no matter where you’re applying for a job. 

Click here to download the template and start adding your details.

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