Pursuing White Collar Careers in the Industry
If you’re looking to kick-start your career in the construction industry, you might be surprised to find out that there’s a broad range of white-collar construction opportunities available – particularly for individuals who possess strong leadership, analytical and management skills.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the ins and outs of pursuing a job in construction and provide tips on how you can prepare.
Understand The White-Collar Construction Job Landscape
While most construction jobs for beginners are labourer and apprentice positions, it’s not all that the industry looks like, especially as you venture up.
The construction industry is not limited to working on-site with hard hats and heavy machinery (although these jobs continue to increase in demand in Australia and are one of the least replaceable jobs by automation and AI).
There are plenty of white-collar (and grey-collar) jobs in construction, such as:
- Operations Manager
- Construction Estimators
- Land Surveyor
- Site Supervisor
- Contract Administrator
- Site Engineer
- Site Foreman
- Architects
- Executive Assistant
- Business Development Manager
These roles typically require a strong skill set in communication, organisation, and problem-solving, and support labourers in designing, commissioning and executing construction projects. Depending on the role you are looking to step into, you may be required to complete a Bachelor’s degree, Masters Degree, Certificate IV or Diploma in construction or a related field to have the qualifications to work.
Before you commit to any role, do your own thorough research on the different types of jobs available to find out where your skills and interests best align.
Get Educated
Before you can find a job in construction, it’s essential that you have the foundational knowledge, skills and qualifications.
Many managerial or analyst roles in the field of Construction require a degree.
However, there are also some roles you can find in the construction industry where you don’t need to reskill but instead use your transferable skills. Some examples are office administrators, receptionists, and contract managers.
As someone moving into the field, however, it’s important to have some basic knowledge about the industry to do your best work.
You can look for shorter courses or programs that offer certifications in construction management, or related fields to give you a stronger foundation of knowledge and make you a more competitive candidate in the job market.
Get a White Card
Anyone working on a construction site in Australia needs a white card (in Queensland, this has been renamed as a ‘general construction induction training card’), and you must keep this with you whenever you are on-site.
You can find out more through your State Government’s safe work website.
Network with Experienced Professionals
As with many types of work, networking is also beneficial. Attend industry events, such as construction and property symposiums and expos, to network with professionals and learn about potential job opportunities. Building relationships with experienced construction professionals can be an invaluable asset in your job search, as they can help you gain insider knowledge about the industry, give you advice on job opportunities, and even refer you for potential roles.
Gain Hands-on Experience Where Possible
While pursuing a white-collar job in the construction industry may not involve heavy machinery, having hands-on experience can be advantageous. Gaining practical experience in construction will help you understand the industry more thoroughly and demonstrate your commitment to your career. To start, you can consider volunteering, internships or engaging in work experience programs to build on your construction knowledge.
Look for Temporary Staffing Opportunities
Temporary staffing can be a great way to get your foot in the door and gain valuable experience in the construction industry. Many companies use staffing agencies to fill temporary positions or to hire workers for short-term projects. This can be a great way to build your skills and make connections in the industry.
Prepare for Interviews and Assessment Centres
Preparing for a job in construction also means preparing for job interviews. Remember to practise common questions related to the industry, such as “What made you interested in pursuing a career in construction?” or “How do you handle stress in a high-pressure environment?” It’s important to remember that they are also looking to see what unique strengths you will bring to the company, and how well you will likely mesh with your colleagues. So while you want to be highlighting your skills and accomplishments, remember you also want to be yourself.
Some construction companies might use assessment centres to evaluate candidates, so you may also want to familiarise yourself with assessment centre processes and prepare for potential exercises and tests, such as group discussions or case study analysis.
Take Advantage of Job Search Resources
In addition to traditional job search methods such as online job boards and recruitment agencies, you can also consider signing up for Gough Recruitment’s job alerts to receive the latest construction and development job opportunities. With specialised expertise in white-collar construction roles, we can help you find a construction job to launch your career in this exciting industry.
Our blogs in construction, property and development, and real estate will also help keep you above the changing trends in and around these industries.
Contact us if you have any questions or ideas about how we can help.