By Carl DeVito, Account Manager

Quiz time! How excited are you when you are working with a construction staffing firm? Do you receive the right construction candidates? Does your construction recruiter listen to you and understand your needs? Do they keep open channels of communication with you, or are they nowhere to be found when you need them? What does the construction staffing firm you work with do to build trust and a strong relationship with you? Take a look at the hints below on what to expect when you are working with a construction staffing firm.

Short on Mouth and Long on Ears
Locating the right construction skills for your open positions is a basic reason why you reach out to a construction staffing firm. You know that you have found the right partner when your construction recruiter strives to completely understand what you are looking for from your future employees. Do they sit down with you to go over the requirements of the job or do they just throw irrelevant candidates your way and ask you to do the sourcing? Before you decide to start working with a construction staffing firm, ask them how they go about identifying and addressing your needs.

Skilled with Construction
Trust between you and your construction staffing firm is built when your construction recruiter stays current with the industry in order to be ready to fulfill the needs of your company. Adaptability to change and strong expertise in the field are significant factors when you are starting to work with a construction staffing firm. Don’t partner with anyone who claims to be an expert. Look for a qualified staffing firm that has a proven record of understanding and assessing construction skills, and a goal of satisfying the clients’ demands. Avoid turning to generalists for your specific needs.

Constant Communication
When working with a construction staffing firm, do you receive construction candidates in a timely manner or are you given vague promises? Even if the right employee is sent to you, does your construction recruiter reach out to determine whether your expectations were met or are they nowhere to be found? A dedicated construction staffing firm maintains open channels of communication with the client to ensure that any concerns or challenges are handled immediately. They are upfront and honest about what they are able to do for you, which helps to build trust and credibility.

Common Objectives
It’s a no-brainer. Shared goals mean common effort. Many staffing firms fail to acknowledge that, and they distinguish between your goal of meeting the job requirements and their goal of making a match. Are you sharing the same goals with your construction recruiter? Do they see your success as their success? Are they forging a strong relationship with you by sending you candidates whose construction career is aligned with your organization’s prosperity? Don’t overlook this aspect when working with a construction staffing firm.

Robust Screening
Imagine that your construction recruiter sent you a construction candidate who you hired based on the expertise they listed on their resume. Further down the road you realize that the candidate lacks specific construction skills or certifications needed for the job. Would you trust your construction recruiter again? Before you answer, keep in mind that working with a construction staffing firm that cares about your success means that your partner has in place a robust screening process for the applicants they send you. From resume verification to references check, your construction recruiter must ensure that you get the best match for your need.

Key Takeaways to Building Trust and Strong Relationships:
1.  Make sure that your construction recruiter listens to you and understands your needs
2.  Join forces with a construction staffing firm that is an expert in your field
3.  Partner with organizations that maintain open channels of communication
4.  Your construction recruiter must share the same goals with you
5.  Work with a construction staffing firm that has a robust screening process

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