Entry Level Recruitment Advice
You’re closing your final chapter at university and are actively looking for career advice and insights to guide you through to making it, into the ideal job. Will Walker provides sound, practical advice for consideration for your journey ahead.
How did you get into the construction industry?
I had some exposure to the industry in the UK, with many of my family in industry spanning from Carpenters, to owners of construction companies.I have also worked as an unskilled labourer in the UK and Australia on smaller building sites.
With my sales background I found it crucial in recruitment, as many of the skills are similar.I received the opportunity to join Hays’ construction team just over two years ago, where I now manage commercial builders who specialise in Apartments, Fit Out and Refurbishment projects engaging blue collar and white collar stakeholders.
I work with a variety of builders ranging from Tier 1 to small residential companies, placing people from graduates through to directors.
As a Senior Construction Consultant, what does a typical day look like?
My role is classified as a ‘360 degree’recruitment role, where I spend my day partnering with builders to assist them with their vacancies, utilising various strategies to provide candidates suited to their needs.
I work with people who are looking for a new job,after sitting down with them and identifying their drivers, I offer options which are aligned with their ambitions allowing me to connect them with the builders they are interested in.At Hays, we provide general career advice, guidance around applications, salary advice and interview tips.
How do you feel is the best way for an undergraduate student to enter the construction work force?
The first aspect to think about is why, you chose construction as a profession:
· Where do your passions lie?
· What are your strengths?
· Identify the areas of construction you enjoy
The second aspects to consider is:
· What are your long, medium and short term life/career ambitions?
· What are your commitments/passions outside of work? As some areas/roles in the construction industry require more work commitment than others.
My advice to any graduate - is that you shouldn’t feel you need to rush to get that project manager role. Your career is a marathon not a sprint (something I wish I learnt earlier).Your first few years are about absorbing as much knowledge as possible, immersing yourself in a company that will allow you to learn and progress.So, make sure you set yourself up appropriately with your long-term ambitions in mind.
Considering whether to go big or small?
Large builders (typically Tier 1 & 2)
PRO; Getting onto a graduate programme is probably the most obvious career route.The programmes are usually structured by rotating through a number of roles over a 2/3 year period. Companies with graduate programmes in this category are a great starting point as you are usually very well supported and have exposure to a large project team and environment. Big businesses generally work on the most iconic projects, with renowned contractors and you’re most likely to have some well-regarded senior leaders to learn from.
CON; Highly competitive and whilst not always the case, I have heard of graduates feeling like they are pigeonholed into small tasks and therefore, aren’t exposed to a wide range of responsibilities and learning. These companies also often have a greater workload expectation, so you can expect to be working long hours.
Smaller businesses (Tier 3 and below)
PRO; Smaller companies have less applicants approaching them therefore, opportunities are generally less competitive. These firms are however, more likely to expose you to a wide range of responsibilities, enabling you to learn more therefore progression is faster. As these businesses have a flat structure, you are more likely to be known, mentored and valued by senior leaders.Also, most owners of smaller builders have usually worked for larger organisations and decided to setup their own company aligning more with the values they see as important (i.e. better work life balance, family commitments and so forth).
CON; Some smaller businesses will have a less structured graduate programme.Where projects are of lesser value, project teams will be smaller which means you may not receive as much support compared to working for a bigger builder.Generally,the pay packages are lower to begin with as project budgets are smaller.
Don’t feel like you can’t join either big or small businesses? Big businesses consider candidates from smaller builders and vice versa.
What do employers look for in an undergraduate?
Here are some traits or skills in graduate roles I have recruited for, which are important qualities builders look for:
· Someone who is hungry to learn.They want someone who is eager to learn and be trained
· Someone who presents themselves well at the interview and are well prepared. Interviews are designed for you to showcase your best skills and attributes, make sure you set yourself up to create the right first impression (I have an interview preparation guide for anyone who is currently interviewing which I am willing to share)
· Someone who wants to commit long term to the business. Companies love loyalty.In your interview make sure you have prepared questions to ask the hiring manager that demonstrates you are looking to commit long term, for example, what will the next 5 years look like for the business?
· Someone who will positively impact the current team culture. Being a team player is essential in construction, make sure you display those qualities.
Given the competitive nature of the industry, what can students do in order to stand out? What do employers’ value in a candidate?
Gaining work experience whilst at university as it is a sure way to put yourself in the best position to land a full-time role;because you already have experience it means:
· you have more confidence in deciding the specific area you want to pursue
· you know what workload/hours are required
· you should understand how to deal with internal and external stakeholders
· it demonstrates to potential employees that you are proactive and driven.
If you are onsite labourer or working in an office administrator role, doors will open for you as your contact base grows and you have an opportunity to network with people working across the sector.
Ensure your resume is clear, concise and readable. Hiring managers read 100’s of resumes a week, so make sure your content is to the point by ensuring you have read the responsibilities of the role you are applying for and tailor your resume to showcase your ability to perform the role.Bullet point your responsibilities and ensure you include a project list with your application
What are some methods university students can take to increase their chances of employment?
· Visit career fairs at university to meet and build relationships with the numerous companies present. This will help you shape your decision, giving you more clarity on where you want to go with your career.
· Attend regular networking and upskilling workshops, this will give your resume more depth and an opportunity to grow your network.Many opportunities in construction come from who you know.
· LinkedIn is a great tool to find employment. Ensure that your LinkedIn information is up-to-date, and you are appropriately presenting yourself as this is usually the first step hiring managers look at.Ensure you are connected with all the relevant senior leaders, HR Managers and Recruiters in the industry.
· Ensure your other social media platforms are either private or respectable, as many hiring managers check these when running background checks.
Unless a recruiter is advertising a junior/graduate position, your best bet if you are just starting out in your career, is to approach companies directly as typically builders use recruitment agencies to fill roles that require years of full-time experience.
This piece was curated by Liam Feikema for The Construction Coach blog.
Will Walker, Senior Consultant
HAYS Recruitment
Will Walker is a Senior Consultant at HAYS Recruitment, he specialises in placing candidates in white-collar roles for commercial builders who specialise in Apartment, Fitout and Refurbishment contractors across all tiers of construction. Originally from the UK, Will has been working for HAYS in Melbourne over the last two years and has established himself as a preferred recruiter with many local construction businesses.