By Jim Vernon, Account Manager   

Hey candidate! Are you ready for a construction job? Have you decided to take a new step in your construction career? Are you able to show that you have the skills and experience to outperform the other candidates? Hiring managers and construction recruiters need to be able to point out your qualifications quickly without having to dig deep into your professional background. Below we provide some helpful advice on how to better promote your construction skills and give a clear picture of the value that you bring to the table.

Build Your Resume
The best way to promote your construction skills is through your resume. If you do not have one, then it is time to create it. Separate yourself from the others and positively surprise your interviewer by listing your qualifications and experience in a well-formatted document that clearly tells your construction story. Save yourself crucial time and effort by putting an end to back and forth meetings and discussions that aim to shed light on your capabilities. Get the construction job by showing your potential employer how seriously you take your construction career with a well-built resume.

Narrow Down Your Audience
Unless you are a jack of all trades, a great way to promote your construction skills is by narrowing down the audience you address. Focus on the field where you have the most experience and apply for a construction job that you feel comfortable with. Explain to the hiring manager why you are the right choice and talk to how your construction career meets the requirements of the position. Give specific examples of past accomplishments with similar jobs that you held and describe how these feats make you the best fit.

Be Direct
A common problem that hiring managers and construction recruiters face is that they come across candidates who overstate and exaggerate their construction capabilities. When the moment comes for the candidates to put their skills to the test they fall short on expectations, causing frustration and disappointment for their employers. It goes without saying that this impacts their professional presence and construction career. To make sure that this doesn’t happen to you, it is important to clearly communicate your construction skills to your interviewer. Be direct about the areas where you excel and don’t overdo it with your abilities.

Hook Up with a Construction Recruiter
When you find a construction job that you like, you apply for it and you hope that you are going to get it. If all goes well, the hiring manager is going to select your construction skills over those of the other applicants. Unfortunately, you have no control during this process. How about changing the game by reaching out to a construction recruiter? They have in place an established network of contacts and strong relationships with clients that enable them to promote your construction skills and help you get the job. Take advantage of their industry knowledge and market presence in order to boost your construction career.

Improve Your Skills
Another great way to promote your qualifications and demonstrate that you are a qualified candidate is by keeping your skills up-to-date and staying current with the construction industry. Make sure that your certifications and licenses are valid and that you are familiar with any changes that take place in your field. A candidate with outdated capabilities and ignorance of the market trends is never a good choice for an employer. Step your game up and stay on top of your skills by attending training classes, certification programs, networking events and having an online presence to keep an eye on change.

Key Takeaways to Promoting Your Construction Skills:
1.  Create a resume that talks to your skills and construction career
2.  Focus on the field where you have the most experience
3.  Be straightforward and sincere about your qualifications
4.  Reach out to a construction recruiter and capitalize on their network and relationships
5.  Keep your skills up-to-date and stay current with your industry

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