You’ve started thinking about your next construction career move and your inner voice is telling you it’s time to look at other opportunities. The trouble is contemplating and finally changing your workplace can be an emotional time filled with uncertainty about the next step in your career and the steps beyond that. Beyond your own contacts and mass market job boards, how can you get a handle on what jobs are out there and who is looking for individuals with your skill set and experience? Aside from looking at a company website, how can you tell whether that company is the kind of place you see yourself working and thriving?
One of the best ways to delve into the job market in construction is to partner with an employment advisor to help you navigate through the process and to present opportunities that will enhance your career for the long run. A good employment advisor will have well-developed relationships in local and national markets and will be able to connect you with potential employers about jobs that are rarely advertised.
In addition to knowing the market, a good employment advisor will get to know you and what your goals are. An employment advisor will take an honest appraisal of your goals, skills, experience and personality and match it to the needs of an employer. Think of it kind of like a match making service; the trick is knowing who will be compatible and not wasting your clients’ time with every single person that is looking.
Work With A Trusted Employment Advisor Who Knows the Construction Industry
Of course, knowing the players in the market is a great thing for a construction employment advisor but you also have to be careful your name doesn’t get out to those you don’t want to see it. An employment advisor worth their salt will keep your discussion strictly confidential and will enter into discussions with potential employers only with your approval.
With all this in mind, how do you find a good employment advisor? A good place to start is references. Ask colleagues, friends, former employers who they recommend because, like any business, the good ones are known. Another way is to call one up and talk to them (confidentially) about your goals and how they would work with you to help achieve them. Don’t hesitate to ask about other individuals they have worked with who are in a similar situation and how they went about making meaningful introductions. Remember, a good employment advisor bases their business on lasting relationships so it is in their best interest to match individuals and companies for a win-win to maintain those relationships. Put another way, if an employment advisor’s method is to “email out resumes and see where they stick”, or can’t be specific in addressing your career needs, you’re dealing with the wrong person.