When you’re a recent construction graduate or trainee, finding that initial first job can always be intimidating. Especially in an industry as competitive as civil construction, moving sideways or upwards into a new role can be a frustrating and lengthy process. 

Fortunately, it doesn’t always have to be a pain. At Zoom Recruitment, we understand that getting a job is just another problem to be solved, no more arduous or random than any of the issues you’ll be dealing with on a daily basis. To help you start looking in the right places and in the right way, we’ve put together this short article ticking off a few tips you can employ when you’re starting your hunt for a new position. Read on and be better prepared for your next search. 

Get your CV up to scratch

As civil work and construction is competitive by nature, you need to find ways to stand out from the other recent graduates. In addition to including your relevant job experience (whether it was an internship or paid work) and certificates of completion, consider submitting design projects from your coursework to demonstrate your skill set. Or ask for a letter of recommendation from your trainer and include it in your CV.

Change your mindset

Are you willing to relocate temporarily for a 12-month project? There are plenty of casual jobs out there in civil works and construction, but they may be in remote locations. If you’re applying for entry level roles as a steel fixer, crane operator or an electrical spotter, you have a higher chance of being selected for a project if you’re ready and willing to move for work. Then, you can leverage this experience when you want to go after some of the big player companies. This shows future employers that you are adaptable to any work space.

Earn extra certifications

As the needs of cities and society have become more complex, civil construction has evolved in new and interesting ways. The industry needs more than just good quality engineers - they increasingly need engineers with special skill sets. Fields such as acoustics, ecology and thermodynamics are in demand by the civil construction companies, opening up opportunities for specifically interested and gifted applicants to carve a niche for themselves. Marrying together uncommon combinations of skills can make you a unique and valuable addition to a company, so additional study in these areas could open up a huge number of opportunities for you. It could make all the difference between getting chosen or being overlooked for casual projects.

Network, network, network 

It almost goes without saying that like every role, who you know in civil construction is almost as important as what you know. Putting yourself out there and meeting industry figures can not only open doors to potential roles, it also gives you a sense of what the market is looking for in applicants – what skills it values, what experience it’s looking for, etc. Attending industry functions can be a great way to get your foot in the door.

Work with the right recruitment agency 

No matter where you are in your career, it’s important to remember that doing a job and getting a job are two very different sets of skills. You could be the most talented person in your field, but if no one knows it, you’re going to struggle to get the job offers you deserve. One way to get around this issue is partnering with the right recruitment agency. A quality agency can connect you with opportunities you would never have known to look for, allowing you to focus your efforts on getting the job done. 

With two decades of experience in Australian recruitment, no one understands the local employment landscape like we do. If you’re passionate about doing the best work you can on a project until it’s completed, sign up for Zoom Recruitment’s newsletter today and access exclusive content, industry updates and job alerts.