Recruiting in Building and Construction? Here's What to Look Our For

By Jacqui Martin

Struggling to hire top talent for your construction company? You’re not alone. Finding the right employees can often be more challenging than the toughest jobs on the work site.

But if you know what to look for in candidates, as well as how to properly present your company, your life becomes a lot easier.

From holding interviews to creating clear job descriptions, here are some simple recruiting strategies for construction to keep in mind.

Plan for tomorrow

What is your company’s vision? What kind of services are you planning to provide in the future? How many professionals do you need to hire? As your construction company expands, it’s important to recruit people who can fill in the gaps.

For example, will you need tradespeople with solid manual skills, such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters, or builders? Or will you need professionals with client-facing and technology skills, such as account managers or web developers?

The bigger your business gets, the more likely it is you’ll need a range of employees with different skill sets. So before you begin recruiting, decide what your business objectives are, and the type of construction projects you’re hoping to carry out. Thinking ahead will help you avoid falling head.

Create solid job descriptions

Once you know what type of roles you’re looking to fill, it’s time to make clear and concise job descriptions. Not only will this help you stay on top of your specific needs, it will help attract the right people for the job. When creating a job description, make sure to include:

• Any qualifications needed in building and construction courses
• An outline of exact skills needed
• Whether the position is contract, part-time, or permanent
• Duties and responsibilities
• Interpersonal skills required

Of course, the details will depend on the role you’re advertising. But to avoid attracting the wrong kind of talent, make sure to include the most important elements.

When it comes to advertising the roles, you could team up with career offices in local schools, colleges, and universities, place online ads on construction employment websites and social media channels, or chat with contacts you know within the industry.

Make your company attractive

Recruitment is a two-way street. While you want candidates to impress you, don’t forget they’re also sizing you up to see if you’re a good fit. So ask yourself – why should people really work for your construction company?

To help bring the right talent on board, you’ll need to talk up the company’s benefits and advantages. These might include:

 

• Great opportunities to progress
• Job training programs for new and current employees
• Compensation to study building and construction courses
• Attractive salary
• Equal opportunities
• Superior on-site working conditions
• Working with new technology and methods
• A great work culture

Have an interview process

Whether you’re hiring someone to work on-site or in the office, holding proper interviews will not only give you a better idea of your candidate's skills but also their personalities. Often, this is just as important.

While no two interviews are the same, there are some strategies you can use to ensure the process is smooth and productive. Here are some handy tips:

• Give them a few minutes to make them feel more at ease
• Ask open questions to get the conversation flowing
• Discuss honestly what kind of candidate you’re looking for
• Talk about what they can bring to the job
• Be open to answering any questions they might have
• Thank them for coming in for the interview and let them know next steps – whether this means getting back to them in a couple of days, offering them the job, or organising a second interview

Keep in mind that candidates are likely pursuing roles with several companies. To avoid missed opportunities, make sure the interviewing and hiring process is streamlined. Don’t draw things out unnecessarily, or delay your responses for too long. To key is to be efficient and assertive, making the most of your opportunities.

Start building your team

Hiring top-notch talent can be a challenge, often taking a huge amount of time, effort and intuition. While there are many recruiting strategies for construction to consider, start by focusing on these simple tips.

The industry is constantly evolving, with many exciting opportunities for people to carve out rewarding careers. If you can position your company in the right light, you’ll have an easier time of attracting the right people.

 

Author Bio

Jacqui Martin works for Builders Academy Australia, she is passionate providing learning opportunities for building and construction workers and students.

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