MightyRecruiterGeneral laborers are tasked with performing various types of manual labor on a worksite. They need to learn how to use a variety of hand and power tools as well as different pieces of machinery. General laborers are also the ones typically responsible for ensuring the worksite remains safe at all times by cleaning regularly.
Strength and stamina are arguably the most important qualities laborers need to have and that you need to state in your general laborer job description. They should be capable of spending hours at a time on their feet and lifting heavy items.
Mechanical skills are useful to have, and applicants who already know how to use the company’s tools will naturally have an advantage. However, most of the technical skills associated with this job can often be learned on site. Peruse through the general laborer job description template below to learn more.
General Laborer Job Summary
Are you interested in having a job where you can get your hands dirty while working as part of a fun team? Anyone who meets the physical requirements for this job is highly encouraged to apply to our company as our new general laborer. You will have an opportunity to learn how to use over 100 power tools and other equipment, so if you have always wanted to learn how to drive a forklift, then now is your chance. For anyone who already possesses that knowledge, that is all the better. This can be a rewarding career for the right person, with plenty of opportunity for upward mobility.
Job Responsibilities
- Clean the construction site before the general crew is supposed to arrive, eliminating any debris that could pose potential hazards
- Control traffic that might be around the construction site by posting signs indicating people are working and redirecting any vehicles to side roads
- Unload materials from trucks and place them at the proper location on the site; distribute materials to contractors
- Perform numerous types of manual labor, including digging trenches to lay down piping and mixing concrete inside a portable cement mixer
- Maintain all pieces of equipment by routinely inspecting machinery, conducting repairs and ordering replacements when necessary
- Provide any assistance to the contractors when asked
- Conduct inspections once a project is complete and walk through the premises of the construction site to ensure everything meets the desired specifications before showing it to the client
- Assist specialty craft workers, such as roofers and painters, with any tasks they might need
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- Ability to perform a variety of physical tasks
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
- Previous experience working on construction sites
- Understanding of and willingness to abide by all safety protocols
- Ability to pass a drug/background check
Preferred:
- High school education or equivalent
General Laborer Job Responsibilities
People do not want to apply for a job if they do not know what they are going to be doing. For this reason, the responsibilities section of your general laborer job description needs to be informative and the bulk of your description. This section lays out clearly what you expect from applicants, and it lets candidates know if they can perform the tasks asked of them.
While this section should be long, you do not want to overwhelm readers. The best practice is to list out between four and six common general laborer job responsibilities. Focus on the daily tasks of the job. If you only require a responsibility once a month, then there is no need to talk about it. If you personally are unsure of what tasks to list, then speak to people who work at your company who are currently general laborers. They can provide you with a better idea of the kinds of things they do regularly.
Here are a few responsibilities you would typically find on a general laborer job description.
- Clean construction sites to get them ready for contractors
- Measure layout areas to determine where contractors need to perform construction work
- Mix concrete and pour it out on surface area
- Lubricate machinery and perform routine maintenance to keep it in good working condition
General Laborer Job Specifications
Listing out general laborer job specifications is another way to narrow down your pool of applicants. While the section is relatively short compared to other parts of general laborer job description, it lets candidates know what they should already be coming in with before sending in a resume. You should focus on the bare minimum requirements you want to see in jobseekers.
While most general laborer jobs do not require any secondary education, you may still want to mention you want candidates who have a high school diploma or GED. While it is acceptable to mention that you will provide some on-site training, you should talk about skills job applicants should already have, such as working experience and physical lifting ability. This can vary from one company to the next. You want to keep the list to between four and six points. There may be more skills you would like to see, but for the purposes of the job listing, you need to stick with what is most valuable to your company.
A few good skills to put on a general laborer job description would include:
- One year experience working on construction sites
- Knowledge of basic tools, such as jackhammers, drills and cement finishing devices
- Ability to lift up to 80 pounds
- Ability to stand for hours on end
