Bricklayer CV Guide: Examples, Skills, Interview Questions & CSCS Tips

Are you a bricklayer looking for your next site or a hiring manager trying to separate reliable tradespeople from the rest? A clear, honest CV and a solid on-site trial make all the difference. Construction trade employers want to see that you can build to line and level, understand health and safety, and turn up with the right cards and tools.

This guide explains what to include on a bricklayer CV for building, construction and housing, how to present NVQs and CSCS, common practical interview tasks you will face, typical milestones from entry to journeyman, what raises red flags, and three quick ways to make your application and trial stand out.

What to put on your bricklayer CV

Your CV should be trade-focused, short and factual. Keep it to one or two pages. Recruiters and site managers scan for qualifications, recent sites, and demonstrable productivity. If you have photos of neat sample panels or projects, bring them to the interview rather than embedding large images in the CV.

Essential sections

Contact details: name, phone, email, and base location. If you are willing to travel, say how far or whether you have a CSCS card that covers national work.
Summary line: one sentence that says your trade level and key strengths. Example, "NVQ Level 2 bricklayer with 6 years new build and refurbishment experience, strong block work and cavity wall tying."
Qualifications and cards: list NVQ level, CSCS card type and expiry, PASMA, IPAF or SMSTS if held. Include certificate numbers where possible.
Employment history: employer, dates, role, and site type. For each role add a short bullet list of responsibilities and notable achievements: bricks per day targets achieved, types of masonry laid, any finishing or restoration work.
Skills and plant: mention gangs led, setting-out, use of laser level, ability with power saws, and any plant tickets such as CPCS if you operate a dumper or telehandler.
References: include at least one site contact and a company referee, with phone numbers and dates worked.

Presenting NVQs, CSCS and on-site experience

Make your certificates obvious and verifiable. Site managers do card checks before allowing operatives on site. If you cannot prove your qualifications, you will not get past the gate.

Key qualifications and cards to list

NVQ Level 1 or 2 in Trowel Occupations: Level 2 is expected for a competent bricklayer on most permanent roles.
NVQ Level 3 or City & Guilds: relevant for those supervising or wanting to move into lead roles.
CSCS card: name the exact card type, for example Skilled Worker (usually requires Level 2 NVQ plus CITB test). Temporary or labour-only workers may hold the Labourer card, but for bricklaying you will be expected to hold the Skilled Worker card or equivalent.
Site safety tickets: SMSTS or SSSTS for supervisors, CITB Health and Safety test, asbestos awareness for refurbishment, and any rail PTS for blue light rail works. If you aim to work on rail projects, make sure your PTS is current and mention it when applying. Link to our rail recruitment page for more on rail requirements.

How to show on-site experience

Recent sites: list the last three sites with dates and the type of work, for example new build housing, structural blockwork, or refurbishment involving flashings and damp proof courses. Link to our building and housing page when referring to that sector.
Productivity figures: be realistic. Many contractors track bricks per day, area of wall, or hours on completing particular details. If you regularly hit a required output, put the number on your CV.
Specialist experience: highlight facing brickwork, engineering bricks, radial walls, lintel details, damp-proofing, and concrete blockwork.

Practical interview and on-site tasks employers commonly use

Expect a two-stage assessment: a short interview to confirm CV details, then a practical test on-site or a short trial shift. Employers want to see basic competence, safe working, and a tidy finish.

Typical practical tasks

Build a 1m sample panel: stretcher bond to line and level, correct joint width, neat raking and tooling. This shows basic handling and attention to finish.
Blockwork and movement joints: laying a run of blockwork with correct mortar and locating movement joints where specified.
Pointing and repointing: cleaning out joints and pointing to a specified profile, or raking out and repointing on refurbishment work.
Setting-out exercise: take a simple plan and set out a corner or opening using a gauge rod and spirit level. Employers watch how you measure and transfer levels.
Mix a batch of mortar: produce the right consistency for the bricks and show safe handling of cement and sand. Employers look for neat mixing and correct water control.

These tasks usually take 30 to 90 minutes. If you are asked to complete a full day trial, focus on speed, consistency and leaving the area tidy at the end of your stint.

Typical entry and journeyman skill milestones

Entry level / labourer to trainee: understands PPE, can carry materials, mix mortar to simple guidance, and lay basic stretcher bond under supervision.
Apprentice / NVQ Level 2: can lay and finish a basic wall, set out simple corners and openings, and read a basic drawing for setting-out.
Competent bricklayer / journeyman: completes 1m sample panels to production speed, manages blockwork, ties into structures, and understands control joints and lintel details.
Advanced / site lead: reads complex drawings, leads a small gang, plans sequences, ensures quality across brick and block interfaces, and holds supervisory tickets such as SSSTS or NVQ Level 3.

Red flags employers look for

No valid CSCS or unverified NVQ: immediate fail on most commercial sites.
Poor attendance or unexplained gaps: frequent short stints across many small employers without references raises questions.
Shoddy finishing in a trial: uneven joints, poor line and level, or messy site behaviour suggests corners will be cut on production jobs.
Unsafe working: ignoring basic PPE, poor scaffold safety, or unsafe use of power tools is an instant red flag.
No references or unverifiable employment: employers will check with previous sites; be prepared with names and dates.

Three quick tips to make your application and on-site trial stand out

Tidy trade CV: one page that lists NVQ and CSCS details with certificate numbers, recent sites, bricks per day or similar productivity figures, and one referee. Make it easy for a recruiter to confirm you.
Bring your kit and proof: show up with basic hand tools in good order, your CSCS card, photocard ID and printed copies of certificates. Clean tools and a tidy appearance speak volumes.
Ask the right questions: about mortar strength, brick types, and tolerance expectations during the trial. Demonstrating you know how to follow a spec reassures supervisors you will fit into the team.

Call to action

If you are an employer looking to hire, talk to our construction team about your next bricklayer or gang, or register your vacancy on our employers page. If you are a bricklayer looking for work, browse current vacancies or register as a candidate. Call 01626 333105 or email info@harbronrecruit.co.uk to speak to a sector specialist.

For more information and guides in the building and construction sector, take a look at our articles below:

FAQs

What CSCS card does a bricklayer need? Most bricklayers will hold the CSCS Skilled Worker card, which is linked to an NVQ Level 2 in Trowel Occupations or equivalent, plus the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test.

Can I use photos instead of references on my CV? Photos can support your CV but never replace referees. Bring photos to interviews and provide at least one site-based reference with a phone number.

How long is a typical on-site trial? Short practical tasks take 30 to 90 minutes. Employers may ask for a half or full day trial for longer roles, especially when assessing speed and teamwork.

Do I need PASMA or IPAF as a bricklayer? They are not mandatory for basic bricklaying, but PASMA for tower use and IPAF for working from powered access are valuable additions, especially on refurbishment or multi-storey projects.