Changing Perceptions of Construction Careers

The construction industry is booming, and with that comes the need for top talent. Here are some practices that I’m actively utilizing to help in our recruiting efforts.   ☑ Use social media to your advantage. LinkedIn is a great platform for reaching potential candidates. I also use X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to share job postings, content, and to connect with others.   ☑ Speak with High-School CTE and Shop classes. We must be known by the next wave of workers. We need to reveal the truth about construction and how this career path can lead you to success.   ☑ Partner with trade schools and vocational programs. These programs are a great source of new people looking for a career in construction. They already have valuable skills to be effective on the job site immediately.   ☑ Attend job fairs and industry events. This is a great way to meet potential candidates in person and learn more about their skills and experience.   ☑ Offer competitive compensation and benefits. To attract top talent, we offer pay ranges that are competitive with the local markets. Benefits are another major factor for jobseekers. At Shoffner, we pay 100% of employee-only medical coverage.   ☑ Prioritize diversity and inclusion. The construction industry has historically lacked diversity, and that needs to change. By prioritizing diversity and inclusion, you can attract and retain people from all backgrounds and skill levels.   ☑ Make your company an employer of choice. This means creating a positive and safe environment that values its employees and provides opportunities for growth and development. We have an NCCER recognized apprenticeship program. 100% free to our employees.   By continuing to focus on these areas, we can make a difference in the construction industry. We need to change the view of trades people and how successful they can be. #construction #tradespeople #learning #careerdevelopment

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗲 𝗢𝗹𝗱 (𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗴𝗲...) 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀...? Inspired by Kahua's infamous Tech Evangelist - Nicholas Johnson, this is about your post, Sir! - I reflected on a lively BuiltWorlds 2023 panel that I participated in alongside seasoned vets: Jay Martin, Brianne Stewart, and Shelley Finnigan. 2 years later, the same topics are front of mind... as an industry (myself included), let's collectively aim to put our preaching into practice! 👷♀️ 🤝 💡 𝗠𝘆 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: ➡️ Rebrand construction as tech-forward using AI, robotics, and AR to attract digital-native Gen Z (article on attracting "Gen Z" talent - https://lnkd.in/ee2ca64a) ➡️ Tap into purpose-driven values by highlighting the industry's role in sustainability and climate solutions. ➡️ Integrate construction tech into education so students graduate with job-ready digital skills. ➡️ Promote apprenticeships over traditional degrees to offer faster, debt-free career paths. ➡️ Use social media and influencers to reshape perceptions and reach younger audiences where they are (i.e Fred Mills is the 🐐 at this IMO) ➡️ Design inclusive career pathways that reflect Gen Z’s demand for diversity and flexibility. ➡️ Leverage AR/remote tech to mentor at scale, bridging the experience gap from retiring professionals. ➡️ Automate repetitive tasks to let young workers focus on higher-impact, strategic work. ➡️ Offer visible career growth through structured training and certification tied to tech adoption. ➡️ Foster a startup-style culture within firms to mirror Gen Z’s expectations for innovation and autonomy. 𝗜'𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀/𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀/𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀/𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 👇 #FutureOfConstruction #ConTech #CrazyForConTech

When I was in school, I didn't appreciate the importance of this photograph from 1932. It came with a series of misconceptions about what the #construction industry looks like. The fact is, construction continues to have many misconceptions associated with it, such as: 🔇 Limited career opportunities 🔇 Dirty or gritty work only 🔇 Unsafe work environments 🔇 Low-tech industry 🔇 Low pay Don't get me wrong; #construction work IS challenging, and you can still get dirty more often than not. But the industry as a whole is becoming more inclusive, safe, and ripe with opportunities for upward mobility. I'd like to highlight one area in which innovation is driving the construction industry, and it's through this revolutionary tool called the M.U.L.E. by Construction Robotics. This tool can help solve: 📣 Labor shortages 📣 Safety concerns 📣 Shortening project timelines To learn more about the M.U.L.E., I was introduced to Matt Oklevitch at Construction Robotics and couldn't be more impressed by the dedication to assisting the construction industry. [Link to their website in the comments.] Another handy tool to assist the construction industry? Virtual reality (#VR) can help attract, train, and retain a qualified construction workforce. Whether assisting on projects or introducing and training the next generation to all that the construction industry has to offer, the construction industry is more than just innovative, safer, and a viable career option for students and job seekers. Construction pathways are in-demand and expected to grow with the conversion to renewable energy sources and the re-emergence of American #manufacturing.

From "Moving Dirt" to CFO: A Lesson in Construction's Image Problem This morning, I was out on the football field before practice watching this sunrise and I was reflecting on a past experience. For years, I ran Blount Contracting, often telling people, "I move dirt for a living." After selling my business, I unexpectedly became CFO at BuildWitt. My teenage daughter's reaction? "How did you go from moving dirt to the financial dude?" Her surprise was a wake-up call. Despite my success in construction, I had inadvertently downplayed my expertise—even to my own family. In trying to stay humble, I became part of our industry's image problem. This experience made me realize: We need to find a balance between modesty and showcasing the true value of construction work. How can we elevate the perception of our industry while remaining grateful for our contributions? It's time we in construction start owning our expertise. We're not just "moving dirt"—we're building the future, managing complex projects, making difficult leadership decisions, have financial acumen that rivals most other industry, and are driving economic growth. Let's change the narrative. How do you think we can better communicate the importance and sophistication of construction work? #ConstructionIndustry #ProfessionalGrowth #LeadershipLessons #betterdirtworld #AZSunrise