By Jonathan Bobinski, Resource Coordinator

Let’s cut to the chase! Getting a job that fits your construction skills is a tough challenge. If you don’t want to end up being a square peg in a round hole, you need to take the steps that enable you to get where you want to be. Only then can you lay the foundation for a strong construction career. How do you maximize your chances of coming across the opportunities that match your qualifications? Have you done your part in making sure that you are qualified and ready to start working on the next project? Below we provide some advice on what you need to do to find a construction job.

Make Safety Second Nature
When it comes to the construction industry, safety is the top priority. Contractors want to employ tradespeople who understand and embrace safety guidelines and standards while working on the jobsite. A great way to demonstrate your commitment to safety is by obtaining OSHA certifications specific to your occupation and attending OSHA compliance training programs that keep you focused and up-to-date. This enables you to identify and eliminate onsite hazards and improve work site safety for you and your coworkers. Set yourself apart from other applicants by making safety the cornerstone of your construction career.

Own Your Field
Construction companies and contractors are always looking for tradespeople with solid construction skills to join their organizations and hopefully become an integral part of their operations. In order to build the skillset that draws the attention of potential employers, you need to become an expert in your field. This is not something that happens from one day to the other. You need to make sure that every job or project you work on adds more value to your qualifications. By making the decisions that grow your professional experience, you maximize the chances of finding a construction job that meets your expectations.

Present Yourself Properly
When you apply for a job, you make the case that you are the right candidate for the position. Until you meet with the superintendent or the hiring manager, it is your resume that paints a clear picture of your construction career. With that said, you need to make sure that of all the information that you share is accurate, up-to-date and well presented. For example, missing important dates on projects you worked on or listing previous positions without explaining the role you played, are some of the mistakes to avoid. Keep in mind that the way you present yourself gives a good impression of your professionalism.

Strengthen Your Network Ties
Even though the construction industry looks vast in the eyes of a professional, when it comes to word of mouth it becomes small. You decided to work or you already work in an industry in which the more relationships you build, the more opportunities you come across. With that said, it is very important for your construction career to grow your network of contacts. Who you know is going to prove really important when you try to find a construction job. Get to know the people you work with –both management and onsite crew, develop relationships with them and don’t hesitate to turn to them when you are ready for new projects.

Turn to the Experts
So, in order to find a construction job, you have to stay up-to-date with construction safety, work on projects that enable you to sharpen your construction skills, make sure you always have a professional presence and develop strong and healthy relationships. If you feel that this is not an easy project to carry out yourself, then you need to turn to the experts. Connect with a construction staffing firm and let them help you. The sooner you do this in your career, the stronger foundation you lay for success. Reaching out to a construction recruiter allows you to have someone on your side who is constantly focused on helping you develop.

Key Takeaways to How to Maximize the Chances of Getting a Construction Job:
1.  Stay current with construction safety throughout your career
2.  Work on jobs and projects that help you grow a specialty
3.  Make sure that you present yourself in a professional matter
4.  Always do your best to grow your network of contacts
5.  Work with a construction recruiter to come across the right opportunities

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