How to Write a Scaffolder CV That Gets You Hired
A scaffolding employer skims a CV in seconds, and the first thing they look for is your card level. Put that at the top, keep the rest short and concrete, and you will get more calls than a long, vague CV ever will. You are proving you can do the work and turn up, not writing an essay.
Here is what to put on a scaffolder CV, in the order that matters.
Lead with your CISRS level
Your CISRS card level is the most important line on the page, so do not bury it. State it plainly near the top: Labourer, Part 1, Part 2, Advanced or Supervisor. If you are not sure how the levels stack up, our guide to CISRS cards lays them out.
List your other tickets too: the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test, any system tickets, IPAF, asbestos awareness, first aid, a driving licence and CPC if you have them. Every relevant card is a reason to call you.
Make your experience concrete
Most scaffolding CVs are vague here. "Hard working and reliable" tells an employer nothing. What kind of scaffold have you actually built?
For each job, give the firm, the dates, and a couple of real specifics:
- The type of work: commercial, industrial, domestic, system or tube and fitting.
- The scale: heights, big jobs, notable sites or main contractors you worked under.
- Your role: labourer, on the boards, leading a small gang.
Two lines of real detail beat a paragraph of buzzwords.
Keep it short and easy to act on
One page is plenty. An employer wants to scan it on a phone on site. So:
- Put your phone number at the top and make sure it is right.
- List your location and how far you will travel. A lot of scaffolding work means travel and away jobs, so say if you are up for it.
- Mention your right to work status if it speeds things up.
No photo, no fancy template, no objective statement. Just card, tickets, experience and a contact number.
A quick checklist before you send it
- Card level and tickets near the top, all in date.
- Real, specific experience, not adjectives.
- Correct phone number and location.
- One page, easy to read on a phone.
Once your CV is sharp, the rest is just getting it in front of the right firms. If you are early in the trade, our guide on how to become a scaffolder covers the steps before the CV.
When it is ready, browse the latest scaffolding roles and apply directly to the companies hiring.