Landing Your First Construction Job

Considering the current labour shortage, landing a job in the construction industry may appear simple. More so, there are many ways one can go about finding a first job. However, be mindful of finding a job that reflects your interests and career ambitions. This article will help you explore the different avenues available to make it happen! These helpful tips can help propel your construction job search further and faster.

How to Land Your First Job in the Construction Industry

Word-of-Mouth

Not all jobs are advertised on the various job search platforms. Don't be afraid to ask those around you if there are any openings in your desired line of work. A post on your preferred social media platform can be enough to gauge your surroundings. And, if you personally know people who work in the construction industry, reach out to them directly!

Construction Industry Graduate? Talk to Your Teachers

When you’re completing your vocational degree, your teachers are often very prominent in their respective industries. Besides having the privilege of receiving top-quality training from skilled individuals, you have a potential way into the industry.

Your teachers are knowledgeable about the needs of the construction industry since they‘re working, hands-on, to train the next generation of labourers. If you ask them about which companies they think would be interested in hiring someone with your skills, it's highly likely that they'll be able to give you a clear roadmap to employment.

If you're still in touch with your instructors in some way or another and valued their guidance, ask them if they can refer you to certain companies.

The same goes for the friends you may have made along the way—they too can put in a good word for you!

If you have work experience that's considered out of scope and want to get credit for it, check out our article on the steps you may want to take. (French only)

Construction Sites: An Effective Way to Make a Name for Yourself

Construction worksites are bustling with activity and speaking directly to the contractors and professionals on site may seem like a strange thing to do. However, it's a good way to find out if there's a job for you. They, of all people, would know!

A construction company more often than not has a predefined number of jobs set for the year and it's likely that your application will be selected for a future job. Respect people's time on-site and get to the point: 

• Introduce yourself and state what you're seeking;

• Ask whether there are any job openings;

• Ask who you can contact regarding the opportunity to try your luck.

Some job sites will even go so far as to make it easy for you by putting up a "We're Hiring" sign, along with an email address, phone number, or QR code that you can scan with your smartphone. You can find all the information you need in a minute or two!

Job Banks

Job banks like Jobillico, Jobboom, Indeed, or Québec emploi are worthy resources to explore if you want to send your application to a lot of different companies.

The above-mentioned suggestions are heavily influenced by networking, but you may not have access to a network, and that's fine! Most construction companies have a "Careers" or "Jobs" tab on their website through which you can send your résumé.

Job banks are also a great way to check out the different job offers available and compare companies to narrow down the ones that offer the benefits you’re looking for.

Whether you’re looking for a specific schedule, amount of hours, or professional perks, take the time to choose a job that'll give you the best first-time construction experience possible. Keep a list of employers you've contacted and follow up with them after a few days should you not have heard back from them.

In a Nutshell: Broaden Your Job Search

Regardless of how you plan to go about it, note that you can stack the odds in your favour if you make good use of all the above-mentioned tips.

A first job can be, at times, hard to find due to a lack of experience or references. This is where motivation has to kick in! Show potential employers that you’re ready and willing to work for them. 

When you’re job searching, the human aspect is just as important as your skillset. Prove that you have the qualities they’re looking for to carry out the work and showcase your commitment to learning from certified professionals.