By John Staffier, Account Manager – Massachusetts    

Do yourself a favor! Quit ignoring the potential of social media! If you think that social media platforms have no place in your construction career, then you have to think again. It is time to take advantage of these online communication channels to follow up with the industry, share information about your experience, network with colleagues and promote your construction skills. Simply creating profiles on every social media channel however, is not the way to go. You must make sure that you use the platforms that work for you and help you reach your goals. Take a look at how to go about using social media in construction.

Lay a Strong Foundation
When it comes to using social media in construction, you need to keep in mind one basic rule. Creating accounts on multiple social media platforms without a plan to properly monitor them is going to work against you. Signing up for every online communication channel means that you have to keep up with each one of them, so make sure to choose wisely. Select your social media platforms based on the time you are able to spend in following up with them. Don’t commit to things that you are not able to live up to. Keep in mind that it is better to manage fewer platforms than giving the impression of apathy to hiring managers.

Be Active
Once you have selected the social media networks that best fit you and the ones you are able to maintain, you must make sure that you stay active. Avoid going idle for long periods of time and make an effort to interact on a regular basis. Remember that using social media in construction is a great way to show your connection with the industry. Build an online presence by joining industry groups and following industry leaders. Take advantage of a great means to promote your construction skills and showcase your construction career.

Stay Professional
Although there is a clear line between using social media for personal and professional purposes, candidates often tend to cross that line and give the wrong impression about their personality. Hiring managers and potential employers are interested in your construction career and how your construction skills fit with the position they offer. That said, using social media in construction requires that your profile is strictly professional and your updates are relevant to the industry. Updates, photos or views from your personal life have nothing to do with your professional background, so avoid mixing those up.

Show your Portfolio
Have you completed work or are you actively working on projects that you feel are great samples of your construction skills? Have you thought of sharing your work online to promote your expertise? How about including a link in your resume to your Instagram page, for instance, so hiring managers are able to see what you are capable of? This is just an example of how using social media in construction can benefit your construction career. Carefully choose which projects to post and make sure that your postings are regular.

Expand Your Network
If you are still asking yourself why you should bother using social media in construction, then networking is a great answer. No matter whether you are looking for a new opportunity or not, social media platforms allow you to connect with industry folks and find out more about organizations that you are interested in. Simply connect with other professionals or follow the pages of companies you are interested in to show that you are invested in excelling in your industry. Build your online social media presence while expanding your network of contacts.

Key Takeaways to Social Media for Your Construction Career:
1.  Avoid using platforms that you are not going to follow up with
2.  When using social media in construction, ensure you are active
3.  Draw a line between your personal and professional social media presence
4.  Use social networks to showcase your professional portfolio
5.  Expand your network of contacts through your social media

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