UK construction industry is a big part of the economy. It generates billions in revenue, accounting for a majority of the GDP. Given this, it’s not surprising that more and more professionals are leaving the white-collar sector for well-paying jobs in construction. How can you give yourself the best chance of success in your career, whether you’re just starting out or want to move up to a site manager or senior construction manager job. Here are five tips to help you get started on a career in construction.
Make sure you have the right reasons
People leave their jobs for a variety of reasons: money, commute time, not getting along with their boss, workplace conflict, not having enough to do or being bored, having a bad day, office politics, and so on. If you move for the wrong reason, it could hurt your career in the long run. No matter what you say in an interview, when the question of why you want to leave your current job inevitably comes up, your reputation in the market can show up quickly.
If you’ve been having problems for a long time or if your current employer isn’t willing or able to make things better, it might be time to move on. If your boss will let you, it’s often worth it to find different ways to keep going with a hard project or to work with different teams. But when you’ve tried everything and are sure it’s time to move on, your reputation is usually not hurt.
Set your next career goals
When you meet with construction recruitment agencies, one of the most common questions they will ask you is, “What are you looking for in your next job?” In a perfect world, the majority of us would like to have a job that is more convenient to our homes; pay that is better and comes with more benefits; require fewer hours of work each week; and be a part of a fantastic team that is responsible for exciting projects. When changing jobs, we may only be able to get two or three of these things.
Choose which of these goals is most important to you, and then make a list of possible companies that can give you the best mix of what you want. If you’ve only worked for one or two companies or are new to the construction market, you should take the time to research construction companies and do your homework. If you can, find out more about the people who work there so you can start to build a picture of your ideal future employer to advance your construction career.
Discuss your options with your recruiting consultant, who likely has connections at many companies and may help you learn more about the best available construction jobs in London.
Keep an open mind
It’s always a good idea to keep an open mind about possible jobs. Even if you’ve never heard of the company that has a construction job opening, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad job. If the pay isn’t great but you feel like it’s the right job for you, you might take it and try to negotiate a higher salary six to twelve months later. At first, stay focused on the goals you set for your career, but also be open-minded as you look for a job.
Considering your next step in your construction career? Browse the latest jobs in construction in UK or consult Link Force construction recruitment agency to learn about job openings in your industry.
Recent Comments