By Peter DeLuca, CT/NY Manager       

The more you put in the more you get out. The direction and growth of your career depends on the actions you take every day. The construction industry has great opportunities for those who want to succeed. Having solid construction skills is a plus, but in order to take your construction career to the next level, you need to have a plan in place and follow it to the letter. Knowing your field in depth, sharpening your skills with every construction job, being flexible with your employment choices, expanding your network and working with career developers are some of the ways to grow your construction career. Below we elaborate on them.

Know the As Much As You Can
Contractors and construction companies are always looking for tradespeople who have strong construction skills that match an offered construction job. The more specialized a professional is, the more chances they have to get chosen. How much do you know about your field? Can you claim you are an expert in what you do? Are you familiar with change and new construction trends affecting your space? Are your certifications and licenses renewed? When a hiring manager or construction recruiter goes over your resume, they look for clues that prove your experience and meet their needs. Stay up-to-date with developments to become a pioneer and overcome competition.

Keep Sharpening Your Skills
Keep in mind that every construction project and every construction job is an opportunity to learn something new and sharpen your construction skills. Avoid making the mistake of mixing quantity with quality and work on the tasks that add real value to your expertise. Doing the same thing again and again is not going to get you far in your field. A great way to grow your construction career is to get out of your comfort zone and take on employment challenges that make you a better tradesman. Select projects that allow you to gain more experience and differentiate yourself from other candidates.

Show Your Value
Have you heard the expression that a picture is worth a thousand words? The same applies to the way you present yourself to the industry. Having years of experience as an electrician or a plumber is definitely a great thing, but it’s your accomplishments that are going to get you to the next level. How do you promote your professional value? Do you have a professional resume that lists all the recent projects you worked on? How about a “brag book” with photos which you share on your social media? Is your LinkedIn profile updated and professionally organized? Use every channel to promote your skillset and grow your construction career.

Invest in Networking
You work in an industry where networking is really important. Every time you get a construction job you have the opportunity to meet new people and build new relations. The more people you know, the more doors are opened for you. Avoid isolating yourself and get to know your coworkers and superintendent. Remember that expanding your network is going to prove your effort to grow your construction career. For example, get work references from people you worked =speaking to your construction skills… this is the best evidence of your capabilities.

Boost Your Efforts
What better way is there to take your construction career to the next level than working with those who know how to get you there? Reach out to a construction recruiter and let them do the rest. Construction recruiters help you stay current with industry change and guide you in making the right career decisions. They match your capabilities with opportunities that sharpen your construction skills and add experience to your resume. Being your career advocate, construction recruiters promote your value to their network of contacts and find you the construction job that allows you to develop professionally. Work with a construction staffing firm and grow your construction career.

Key Takeaways for Taking Your Construction Career to the Next Level:
1. Invest time and effort in staying up-to-date with your industry
2. Work on projects that sharpen your construction skills
3. Use multiple ways to promote and demonstrate your professional value
4. Always put effort in expanding your network of contacts
5. Reach out to a construction staffing firm to grow your construction career

About TradeSource
Founded in 1993, TradeSource is a construction labor solutions firm focused on delivering labor solutions to contractors throughout the United States. By supplying skilled tradespeople – where and when they’re needed – we help contractors grow their companies, without the associated costs and hassles of full-time hires. Likewise, we match qualified employees with rewarding and well-paying job opportunities in the construction industry. www.tradesource.com