1. Set your next-step career goals

2. Check your intentions – move for the right reasons

3. Be ready - update your CV

4. Have realistic expectations

5. Be open to opportunities

The Australian construction industry is expected to rebound in 2021 and has a projected annual growth rate of 2.5% in the next five years. The industry currently generates over $360 billion in revenue, producing around 9% of Australia’s Gross Domestic Product. With this in mind, more professionals are looking to secure a quality position in the well-paid construction industry.

The industry is fast-paced, so we have developed these 5 steps to help you accelerate your career, and be ‘job-ready’ when that opportunity presents itself:-

One question to be ready for when asked by recruiters and prospective employers is: “What are you looking for in your next role?”

In an ideal world, most would ask to be part of a great team, interesting and fulfilling projects, higher salary with more benefits, fewer hours, working closer to home. In reality, it is important to decide which of these goals are the most important to you and then map out potential companies that can offer the best mix of what you are looking for. 

It is worth taking the time to speak to a recruiter about your priorities. At Construction Recruitment we have existing relationships with multiple employers. As part of our engagement with clients, we undertake a detailed investigation and understanding of their culture, their expectations of employees, the benefits they offer and know how they are positioned. Then we get to know you. Your priorities, your values and your expectations, and are ideally placed to find your future employer to progress your construction career.

Before you undertake your job search, it’s ideal to have an idea of the following:-

• The role you are interested in;

• The size of business you want to work for

• Your ideal employer, and the areas they work in (residential, commercial or industrial);

• What type of work they specialise in, e.g. general construction

• The areas they work in.

There are many reasons people leave their jobs – financial benefit, travel time, dissatisfaction with their current employer or team, workplace conflict, no fulfilment, desire to move for family reasons, change in circumstances, or just had enough on the day – the list goes on.

Making the move for the wrong reason can have a long-lasting affect on your career and lifestyle. Regardless of what you say in the interview, when the inevitable question of the reason you are leaving your current role comes up, your intentions and/or reputation in the marketplace can reveal itself quickly.

It’s often worth finding alternative ways of persevering through a difficult project or working with different teams if your circumstances allow these compromises and the challenges can be seen as short-term. If however, the problems have been longstanding and your current employer is unwilling or unable to change your role or circumstances for the better, then maybe it’s time to move.

When you’ve done what you can to improve and make the most of a situation, but you’ve exhausted all of your options and you’re clear on your intention to move, your reputation is usually left intact.

First impressions matter when you’re competing for a job. A CV is your advertisement, so it needs to be eye-catching, factual, to the point and stand out from the crowd. After all, the content of your CB is what will help you land the interview.

The key thing to remember is the CV’s purpose: to increase the likelihood of securing an interview. At Construction Recruitment we will coach you in how to present yourself and create an effective resume and tailor it to the specific role or types of roles you are applying for.

Sometimes, we’re just saying, in our experience – a great job opportunity is worth taking even if it doesn’t mean a huge salary increase. Opportunities can present with other benefits like less travel time, closer to home, more interesting projects, training and further education opportunities and a clear pathway to further progression and remuneration.

Of course, aim to tick all the boxes of what you initially decide you were looking for, however, if a job offer comes along that ticks nearly all of them, it is worth giving some serious thought to the offer. And if you have worked out your next-step career goals and have your intentions clear, talking these through with us can mean we provide you with more context, or speak to the prospective employer and negotiate or find out answers for you.

It is worth keeping an open mind when it comes to prospective jobs. If there is a professional opportunity that is available, but it is with a company you have not heard of before, keep open to learning about them. If the salary isn’t as high as you would like, but your intuition is telling you it is the perfect job, perhaps take the role and negotiate a higher salary in a reasonable time after commencement. Stay focused on what you initially set as your career goals, but be careful about having a ‘fixed picture’ on what that looks like and remain flexible and open to opportunities. Employers these days are looking for collaboration – make yourself a valuable team member and look for that employer that creates opportunities and wants a brighter future for you, as much as themselves.

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