Job Hunting in the Construction Management Sector

Written by Lizzie Learn On 18th May 2017

’m sure you recognise the feeling of knowing that you need to change your job (or even your career!) but failing to work up the levels of motivation that you need to get started on your actual job search. Procrastination is a common plight for would-be job seekers and can lead to weeks, months and even years working in the same job, for the same company.

So why is it so difficult to muster up the strength to get started on your job hunt?

Of course, we all recognise the feelings of doubt and uncertainty that go hand in hand with taking a leap of faith into the unknown, or the “what ifs” that a new job more often than not entails. But often it’s more than that. Most of us just quite simply aren’t sure how to go about embarking on a successful job search – where to look for jobs, how to market ourselves well through our CVs, covering letters and application forms, what level role we should be aiming for and how to get through the all-important interview and selection process.

Just the thought of dipping your toe into the unknown water of the job hunt is enough to convince lots of us that one more week in our jobs won’t hurt and we will definitely start the search next week. And so it goes on…

Those of us who work in the construction sector have particular challenges to face in this regard. Often, our roles require us to deal in the technical, the concrete, the quantitative, the measurable. When it comes to selling ourselves on our CV or trawling through the internet or on job sites, we don’t always feel that we have the right skill set to succeed.

We are wrong!

Here are my top tips for achieving success in the construction recruitment market.

 Make sure your CV is up to scratch

Remember that the purpose of your CV is to showcase your experience, skills and qualifications in a succinct yet engaging way.

Generally speaking, a CV should be no more than two pages long so, if yours is longer than this, you ideally need to find areas to cut it down. Consider reducing the amount of detail that you write about roles that bear less relevance to the job that you are applying for.

The Managing Director of a building company will be much more interested in reading specific detail about your last role as a Construction Manager than they will about a role that you did five years ago in an accountancy firm.

Upskill yourself

Take every opportunity to broaden and deepen your skills and knowledge within the construction sector as this is sure to make you much more attractive as a candidate.

Formal qualifications alongside solid on-the-job experience are still the best ways to become an expert in your field and to keep yourself updated with the most up to date ways of working and theories within construction management.

On this note, don’t limit yourself to keeping abreast of developments just at work. Challenge yourself to join professional associations, sign up to your particular trade publication – you’ll gain a whole new perspective on what you do and upskill yourself at the same time.

Get specific

Don’t be afraid of embellishing your CV, application form and answers during an interview with specific, measurable achievements. Of course, you must make sure that the detail is in context and presented in an easy to follow way. But detail shows your ability to deliver results and is a great way to demonstrate your knowledge in a particular area.

What’s more, it can really help to get across your passion for what you do. Just make sure that you know your audience and, if your interview is with an HR Manager instead of a Construction Manager for example, make sure that you give a summary background to the situation and use clear language to explain your point.

Find opportunities to network

The old adage “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” has never been truer than when used about the job-hunting process.

Due to the varied and multi-disciplinary nature of the construction world, it is likely that you have contacts or working relationships with people across a number of different trades, organisations and disciplines. These people know you and know your skills and experience, so use their help!

Don’t be afraid to ask for their career guidance or ask them to be a mentor or coach to you if you want to broaden your experience in an area that they have experience in. Networking with new faces is just as important as maintaining relationships with existing contacts.

Take every opportunity to attend trade fairs, professional associations or even social events to get yourself known and meet new people who may be the stepping stone to that new role.