North America is in the midst of a widespread labour shortage. Yet even in these times, landing a construction job can be very competitive. Although this field requires a lot of hard work and dedication, it is filled with fantastic and experienced workers who are all striving to succeed in their careers. So what can you do to stand out? When everyone around you is putting in the same amount of work, it means you need to work harder, highlight your individual skills, and equip yourself with the resources to find work and continue to grow your construction career. Here are the skills top employers look for to hire the most qualified workers.
1. Communication And Teamwork
These are incredibly important skills in any job, but especially in the trades where safety is emphasized and you frequently work in teams. When you’re working in a field where everyone has to do their part to keep one another safe, communication and an understanding of responsibility to your team is key. The ability to effectively communicate also makes work efficient and effective and creates good relationships among team members. Demonstrating your ability to coordinate crew members, suppliers, machine operators, and other tradespeople will not only benefit your team, but will also show your leadership skills and help throughout your construction career
2. Strength
Construction requires lots of physical strength to keep up with work demands and to ensure everyone is working safely. If you’re not strong enough to complete a certain task you should have to have the ability to acknowledge that and ask for help to avoid hurting yourself or others. Not only do you need strength, but you also need stamina. A day in construction can be very long and tiring but your strength is needed throughout the day, even during your last hour. There are other jobs that don’t require sheer muscle, but strength is still an important skill to have and to continue to develop.
3. A Willingness To Learn
Experience is great but even workers who have been in construction for 30 years still need to be able to learn and keep up with changing technologies. Learning on the job is great, but continuing education and gaining new certifications will show your drive and willingness to adapt and progress. When you learn new skills, it makes you stand out to your supervisors and shows initiative. Keeping your mind open to new, more efficient ways to do tasks that you may already think you know how to do will also help you get ahead, as it will improve your overall workflow and show that you are adaptable.
4. Organization
When you’re careful about the placements of your tools, materials, and other equipment, you will not only help yourself to find what you need quickly, you will make the space less chaotic for others. Taking careful measurements and writing them down in a neat and orderly fashion will also improve workflow. Documenting any changes you’ve made will help ensure your team is all staying up to date and keeping organized in general will help everyone work better.
5. Problem Solving
You need to be able to think on your feet when you’re in a rapidly changing environment like a worksite. There will likely be times when projects are delayed, equipment is out of commission, or other issues occur. You need to think of a solution using problem-solving skills and communication with your crew members.
6. Trade-Specific Skills
Having a specialization makes you a more desirable worker who stands out from other candidates. The more specialized and experienced you are, the more you will earn and the more job opportunities will become open to you. Being specialized makes you a hot-ticket item in construction and it will give you a chance to put your carefully-honed skills to use so any extra training is always beneficial.
Having all of these skills will help you on the jobsite, look great on your resume, and can get you noticed for promotions and other opportunities. A qualified and experienced labour staffing agency can help you find a construction job that uses your skills. At Matrix Labour Leasing, we offer staffing solutions to multiple sectors of construction across Canada. With over 18 years of experience placing the industry’s top talent in lucrative construction opportunities, our recruitment agency matches the most skilled workers with the industry’s leading employers. If you’re ready to find a rewarding construction job, contact us by calling 1-866-666-9520 or by filling out our online contact form.
Q: Do applicants have to pay the recruiting agency?
A: No, they do not. Staffing agencies are hired and paid by charging the company in which the candidate has been successfully placed, not the candidate. If a staffing agency charges the applicants a fee, they are not a trustworthy staffing agency.
Q: What are some of the best paying construction jobs?
A: The best-paying construction jobs will be specialized, such as heavy-duty equipment technician or industrial electrician. For a list of the top-paying construction positions, their salaries, and their requirements, read 6 High Paying Construction Jobs.
Q: Where can I find construction jobs in Canada?
A: You can begin your job search at our in-house job board.
In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we work on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut'ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
