Are you a construction enquirer searching for some valuable tips to start implementing into your job success plan? Well, this article will give you some of the best and most important tips out there.
Tip #1 Get Qualified and Find Experience Opportunities
It’s really important that if you want to stand a chance of getting employed in a really great construction job, that you obtain some qualifications. This could be an HND, NVQ, Degree or many other options. This ensures that you can demonstrate to employers you have a high level of skill. It is equally, if not more important that you have experience. If you are just starting out in the construction industry, then the experience that you need may be some labourer work, perhaps you volunteered somewhere or you gained experience through a vocational course.
If you are more experienced, then gaining experience may be taking some additional responsibilities on site. This would potentially allow you to work your way up the career ladder. As for education, this still applies for experienced construction workers, as there are always more specialised areas to learn, that could help you with a promotion or job pathway change.
Tip #2 Join an Association
The second tip for construction enquirers in this article is to join a construction-related association. These are bodies that give memberships to a number of people in the same profession. Memberships can allow you to network with others. It can also increase your employability by meeting the standard required for the association and more.
For those in the construction industry, there are a few associations that will be valuable in your job success. Firstly, The Association of Planning Engineers (APE) is a fantastic association for those who have experience in planning.
Furthermore, RICS the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors is fantastic for those with surveying experience. The CIOB, Chartered Institute of Building is also great for those who have labouring and site management experience.
Chartered associations are particularly desirable to obtain membership from. This means that the body has achieved its own legal entity, and is recognised for its prestige. This means that employers prefer to employ those who have chartered membership status. This is because it indicates that the individual has a high level of skill and expertise.
Here is a list of some of the best associations for construction enquirers.
- CIOB, Chartered Institute of Building
- RICS, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
- APE, Association of Planning Engineers
- ICE, Institution of Civil Engineers
Tip #3 Make Connections
The third tip is a tip that will help you with your job success by finding new job opportunities. Platforms such as LinkedIn are designed for this. Connecting those with similar experiences or with those who are in more advanced job positions than you can be really helpful. This is because you are able to discover how these connections got where they are today, what qualifications and experience they have and more. Even starting conversations with fellow construction enquirers can be really helpful. This can either give you newfound confidence, or it can set you up to speaking to the right people, who are willing to give you a job.
Of course, LinkedIn is also good for job searchers and for employers, so even being on LinkedIn, showcasing all of your experiences and qualifications can help you to get job offers.
Tip #4 Take Opportunites in Other Countries
Getting opportunities to travel across the world to be involved in high-class construction projects might just be one of the best things for your job and career success. Of course, sometimes, this is not possible for some. Those who cannot move across the world to be involved in a long project as they have to be near their families. But for those that are either able to take their family with them or are currently being pretty independent, say yes to that project in a new country.
The reason that you should take these opportunities is that it gives you experience like no other. There are many countries that undertake construction processes differently. This means you learn lots more ways to undertake your usual tasks. Further, you’ll often get the opportunity to do something you have never done before. This looks fantastic on your CV or resume as it shows you have the flexibility. It also shows you have worked on a range of different projects.
Tip #5 Take Part in CPDs
Taking CPD hours, also known as continuing professional development, is essential for your success in the construction industry. This is because each learning opportunity ensures that your skills are continually being refreshed. The industry is currently changing and adapting and therefore, keeping up with these changes is really important when trying to get new jobs. CPD hours are often essential for staying with a chartered association as a member, and these organisations usually offer them too.
Furthermore, CPDs certificates should be provided as part of your professional profile, as this indicates which skills you have on top of your experience and main qualification such as a degree.
Tip #6 Get Fit
In the construction industry, part of job success is down to the ability you have to perform the tasks well. Now, this does not apply to all construction jobs, but all of those which require you to work very long hours labouring on a construction site. You need to be physically very fit, otherwise, an employer is unlikely to believe that you will be resilient on-site, with the ability to work long hours heavy lifting etc. On the other hand, if you are a designer working in an office for the construction team, or you are involved in claims and disputes this tip does not necessarily apply to improving your job success.
Tip #7 Have The Right Attitude
Sometimes, getting a job and having career success is significantly down to your attitude towards work. If you have a poor attitude, perhaps you do not turn up to work or you have conflicts with fellow workers, then you are less likely to have great career success.
However, there are a few different attitudes that are particularly desirable.
Resilience
Firstly, having resilience is really important. You must be able to carry on even when things get tough. Projects can take long periods of time, and there can be delays. If you are unable to deal with this process, you are not going to be great for the job.
Flexibility
Secondly, being flexible is essential. This is because you often need to bend your working practices, depending on the construction project you work on. Furthermore, you may have to travel great distances, which means working away from home. You may even have to move entirely, which means you could be moving every year. If you are a construction enquirer, wondering if this career is for you, consider if you are flexible.
Motivation
If you want a successful career, you must have motivation. If you are unmotivated, you will not be putting in the required effort. Furthermore, you will be less likely to achieve more in terms of your education and pushing your future goals. Motivation is also important when a project is long and sometimes feels like it will never be finished.
Patience
It can take a long time to learn your trade. Further, it can take many years working in small labouring positions before you see any chance of career development. However, construction is all about skill and experience. This means you will often have to obtain a number of years of experience in a job less desirable. Patience also relates to being patient on a construction project. Some tasks can be really competitive and mundane making being patient even harder.
However, the best construction workers are patient and know that once the project is finished, it would have been worth all the time.
Tip #8 Research Your Preferred Pathway
Along your career journey, you are going to want to figure out which area of work you are most interested in and would like to work in for the future. By figuring this out, you will be able to direct your training plans and CPD options for the future. For example, you do not want to be spending time and money on a pathway you aren’t interested in.
You can normally figure this out just by gaining experience and watching others work on site. However, it is always useful to research online what career options there are. You can then determine which qualifications and how much experience you need to enter that pathway. For example, perhaps you want to work in claims. This means you will need to gain more experience in contractor work and legal areas. This area also requires a great deal of experience in high up positions such as site manager or project manager.
Once you have decided where you want your career to go, it can be a lot easier to feel like your life has a timeline. You will then have consistent goals that you can work towards each day.
