- Identify your needs first when hiring for a construction company.
- Look for individuals with a good attitude and a willingness to learn new skills.
- Conduct interviews with potential candidates and ask for references.
- Provide onboarding materials and orientation sessions.
- Offer competitive wages to attract quality talent.
When running a successful construction company, having the right people in place is essential. Not only do you need skilled workers, but you also need employees who have a strong work ethic, are reliable and trustworthy, and understand safety and regulations. Hiring the right employees can be a daunting task.
You’ll need to decide who to bring on board at some point in the process. To make sure that you’re choosing the right people for your business, it’s crucial to have an organized and well-thought-out hiring process.
Identify Your Needs First
Before looking for potential hires, take the time to evaluate your current team and identify areas where more help is needed. Do you need more skilled laborers? Are there specific roles that could benefit from additional staffing? Answering these questions will allow you to create job descriptions that are tailored to your specific needs. In general, here are the typical roles in a construction firm:
Project Managers
Project managers are essential to any building or construction project. They act as the liaison between contractors, suppliers, and all other parties involved in the project. Project managers must be able to manage their time effectively and delegate tasks appropriately while keeping an eye on the budget. The right person should have excellent communication skills and be able to coordinate multiple projects at once without compromising quality or safety standards.
Architects/Engineers
Architects are responsible for designing buildings or other structures, while engineers focus on engineering systems like plumbing and electricity. These professionals need to have an eye for detail and knowledge of specific building codes that must be followed when constructing a structure.
Architects also need strong problem-solving skills to create innovative solutions for complicated projects. Engineers also need good math skills as well as knowledge of physics and related subjects in order to design efficient systems for buildings.
Tradespeople
Tradespeople include carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters, masons, etc., who are responsible for carrying out specific tasks according to their trade. It’s important that these workers possess technical knowledge about their trade and safety training to work efficiently without compromising safety standards. Also, having experience working on construction sites is a plus since it allows them to hit the ground running without too much guidance from supervisors or project managers.
Laborers
Laborers provide manual labor and handle various tasks such as cleaning, loading/unloading materials, demolition work, etc. They need physical strength and endurance as they may be required to carry heavy loads or work long hours. Laborers should also have knowledge of construction safety regulations so that they can work safely. In fact, in the UK, they need to pass a CITB examination (which is a test of construction health, safety, and environmental knowledge) to be legally employed in construction.
Choose the Right Candidates
When searching for new staff members, resist the urge to hire based on credentials or experience alone. Instead, look for individuals with a good attitude and a willingness to learn new skills. If possible, conduct interviews with potential candidates to understand their personality and work ethic.
In addition, consider asking for references and contacting them to understand the candidate’s past experiences better. It’s also essential to assess their knowledge of safety regulations and construction best practices so that they can work safely on the job site.
Onboard New Employees Properly
Once you’ve hired someone, ensure they understand their role clearly from day one. Introduce them to other team members and provide them with all necessary training materials, so they can hit the ground running. The onboarding process should also include an orientation session where they can ask any questions about policies or procedures before starting their work duties. Finally, provide feedback throughout their first few weeks on the job, so they can quickly adjust as needed and become comfortable in their new position.
Offer Competitive Salary
Lastly, ensure that you’re offering competitive wages for their roles. Job candidates are more likely to choose your company if they believe they’ll be fairly compensated for the work they do. When considering salary, think about the cost of living in your area and what other companies may be offering to ensure your offer is attractive and competitive. This will help you attract the best talent and keep them with your company for a long time.
The Bottom Line
Hiring employees is a necessary process that shouldn’t be taken lightly—especially if your business involves construction work! Make sure you consider all the factors listed above when searching for new staff members so that you find qualified candidates who fit well with your team culture and are passionate about their work.
