How To Hire Construction Staff
As with many industries, hiring a construction worker presents its own set of challenges. Construction industry workers must have an excellent understanding of health and safety and building regulations, work well in a team, and on occasion communicate with customers and clients, so even general labourers should be viewed as skilled workers.
To leverage recruitment solutions appropriate to your business and industry, you will need to complete a set of tasks, from writing a job description and job ad to screening and interviewing candidates, performing background checks, and making your job offer.
In this construction worker hiring guide, we lay out the steps to recruiting the best construction workers, including:
- Preparing To Recruit Construction Staff: Your Employer Brand & Company Careers Page
- Writing A Construction Worker Job Description & Job Advert
- How To Hire All Construction Staff
- Advertising Your Construction Workers Positions: Referral Schemes, Social Media, & Job Boards
- Reducing The Costs And Time Of Hiring Construction Workers: Recruitment Companies & ATS
- Screening Construction Industry Job Seekers & Conducting Interviews
- Presenting A Job Offer & Onboarding A New Construction Worker
Preparing To Recruit Construction Staff: Your Employer Brand & Company Careers Page
Before you think about advertising externally for a construction worker, you should review all your existing candidate touchpoints to ensure you are promoting a positive employer brand. You will ultimately only secure the best construction workers if you show that you are a highly desirable employer where the right candidates want to work.
It would help if you considered the big picture and how you portray your company culture, company values, and your business success, along with other elements such as supporting apprenticeship programs, further training opportunities, and career development. In our step by step guide; How To Hire, we explore deeper the topics of Why Should SMEs Build An Employer Brand and What Should Be On A Company Careers Page.
If your company operates in the construction sector, we have a dedicated market update for you. Read our latest blog, Labour’s Manifesto: Why Now Is The Time For Construction Firms To Ramp Up Recruitment.
Writing A Construction Worker Job Description & Job Advert
You can only write an accurate job description and job advert for your construction jobs if you speak to key decision makers in the hiring process, including the position’s line manager:
Construction Job Descriptions
Writing a job description for your roles will help your hiring manager speed up the recruiting process. The best practice is to have one on file for all company positions, which can be quickly updated and used to create the job posting whenever recruitment needs arise.
For SEO, it is a good practice to integrate keywords and key phrases that potential candidates might search for in a search engine or on a job site. The job profile should have a clear message to attract the most suitable candidates. It also helps to refrain from using excessive punctuation and too much industry jargon.
When writing a job description for construction workers, consider:
- Identifying and outlining typical company-wide requirements
- Collating today’s minimum technical and practical skills, trade schools qualifications, and construction site experience
- Reviewing what your competitors are saying in their job ads
- What a great hire should look like
- How you want your brand and company culture to be perceived
Our Job Description Templates can help you get started; we appreciate writing this content can be a challenge. You can discover the most popular Construction Job Descriptions here.
Further useful resources include How To Define What People Do In Their Jobs, Preparing Job Descriptions, and Key Roles And Responsibilities In Construction.
Construction Job Adverts
Your construction job descriptions form the basis of your new job ad. There are other things to add to attract the best workers with the required skills, so ensure your job post includes:
- An accurate job title – architect, carpenter, labourer, construction supervisor, electrician, associated general contractors, etc
- An opening statement – saying why great candidates will want to work for your company (company culture)
- The job’s description
- A list of responsibilities – coordinating schedules & materials, installing first-fix electrics, decorating, cutting & welding pipes, pouring concrete, etc
- Qualifications, personality traits, experience, and a must have list of hard and soft skills – self motivated, physical strength, proven track record, recent graduates, skilled workers with at least five years of experience, etc
- Job location – office-based or on the construction site
- Salary range, employee benefits, and health benefits – check the average salary here for all roles within construction firms
- Next steps – job seekers should email xxx or apply via our careers page
We recommend that large, medium, and small construction companies use a job advert template to get down the basics and then fill in more detail on the unique aspects of your company, team, jobs, and ideal candidate.
How To Hire All Construction Staff
HOW TO HIRE AN ARCHITECT
To hire an Architect for your construction company, start by stating your company’s mission and the types of projects. Duties attracting architects include meeting with clients and proposing designs, creating drafts, producing technical drawings, and defining budgets and building timelines.
To ensure a good candidate fit, include your must-haves, such as an architecture degree and expertise using AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Newforma, or similar design software.
Architect Job Description Example
HOW TO HIRE A LABOURER
To hire a Labourer, your job advertisement should define your typical construction projects and the make-up of your team. Responsibilities that may attract candidates include assisting plumbers, painters, and carpenters, cleaning machines and tools, moving materials, trench digging, and placing warning signage.
Critical, required skills will undoubtedly include physical strength and stamina, general practical know-how, good communication, and teamwork.
Labourer Job Description Example
HOW TO HIRE A CARPENTER
To hire a Carpenter, your job summary must define the type of carpentry and if work is conducted on-site or within a workshop. The compelling carpentry duties include taking accurate measurements, following architectural drawings, cutting and joining timber, and possibly working at height.
To ensure applicants are appropriate, list the qualifications or apprenticeship completion you prefer, along with soft skills, such as team-working, accuracy, and communication.
Carpenter Job Description Example
HOW TO HIRE A CIVIL ENGINEER
To hire a Civil Engineer, your construction company may need to leverage LinkedIn, general, and niche construction job posting sites. Attaining relevant applications means publishing your required qualifications, such as an ICE-recognised qualification or civil engineering degree.
Hiring a civil engineer will require a job text detailing duties such as tendering, scheduling, assessing project risks, investigating project feasibility, and ensuring proposed and actual work is within legal regulations and compliance.
Civil Engineer Job Description Example
HOW TO HIRE AN ELECTRICIAN
To hire an Electrician, you will need to describe your company, whether work is for residential or commercial construction, and the type of electrical systems to be installed, maintained, or repaired. Your must-have list of qualifications could include completion of an electrician’s apprenticeship or a relevant degree.
Tasks that might spark interest in job hunters include installing first and second-fit electrics, testing wires and electrical systems, and installing utilities such as air conditioning or heating.
Electrician Job Description Example
HOW TO HIRE AN INTERIOR DESIGNER
To hire an Interior Designer, you should briefly share your company culture and history, including the makeup of your current employees. Enticing job duties include designing plans for home and office interiors, sourcing construction materials and furniture, developing mood boards, and presenting concepts to clients.
Qualifications depend on the work’s focus, and you may want someone familiar with the software and applications you use, such as AutoCAD, SketchUp, or Illustrator.
Interior Designer Job Description Example
HOW TO HIRE A PLUMBER
To hire a Plumber, your job description should comprise an overview of your firm, and the system types to be installed, refurbished, or replaced. Requesting applications for good communicators and team players will help when working with other trade professionals and meeting clients.
Typical duties include installing gas supply, water, and sanitation systems in homes or offices. You can post your ad on general and construction worker job boards to reach a large audience.
Plumber Job Description Example
HOW TO HIRE A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGER
To hire a Construction Project Manager, define your building projects, locations, and typical clients. Excellent communication skills are needed for working with other construction professionals, and the person should be a good problem-solver with people management experience.
Responsibilities that encourage individuals to apply include overseeing construction workers, materials, equipment, and budgets. A construction project manager will also supervise progress and ensure worksite health and safety.
Construction Project Manager Job Description Example
Post A Construction Project Manager Job
HOW TO HIRE A HANDYMAN
To hire a Handyman, your job advert should say what type of construction and building work will be undertaken, if the role is inside or outside, and for residential or commercial customers.
General contractors visit regular job sites and construction job boards, making these a great place to drum up interest. To acquire relevant applications, include qualifications you require and a personal profile, including soft and hard skills.
Handyman Job Description Example
HOW TO HIRE A JOINER
To hire a Joiner, your job overview should include a company description and the range of joinery work that needs completing. Including a pay range will encourage appropriate candidates with experience, completed apprenticeships, or qualifications such as an NVQ.
Responsibilities include measuring, cutting, and constructing roof joists, windows, and door frames. A joiner may also install floorboards or make and erect custom cabinets.
Joiner Job Description Example
HOW TO HIRE AN ESTIMATOR
To hire an Estimator, write a compelling job description incorporating essential details such as company benefits, training, and pay. If your business uses particular estimation software, state so in your text, along with skills such as problem-solving and numeracy.
Tasks that will interest estimators and encourage them to apply for your vacancy include making cost and timeline calculations, preparing reports, securing prices and quotes, and vendor relationship building.
Estimator Job Description Example
HOW TO HIRE AN ENGINEER
To hire an Engineer, you need a detailed job description, which can also be used for screening and conducting interviews. The text may include duties such as conducting research, developing solutions, driving innovation, planning timelines and overseeing engineering projects.
The advertisement should also share your company culture, mission, and goals. A concise list of skills and educational requirements will help draw the attention of the right candidates.
Engineer Job Description Example
HOW TO HIRE A SITE MANAGER
To hire a Site Manager, describe what makes your company unique and why a site manager would want to work for your firm. Describe the nature of your building work and the size of the team to be managed.
A targeted strategy means using relevant keywords a job seeker may search for and duties such as supervising the worksite and workers, ensuring health and safety, and deploying resources where needed.
Site Manager Job Description Example
HOW TO HIRE A QUANTITY SURVEYOR
To hire a Quantity Surveyor, you may need to leverage advertising across niche job boards and engage with social media and LinkedIn prospects. A good job advert will list must-have skills, personal traits, certifications, and qualifications such as a Bachelor’s in quantity surveying.
The quantity surveyor’s responsibilities include reviewing construction drawings, preparing cost estimates, budget analysis, and developing money-saving strategies.
Quantity Surveyor Job Description Example
HOW TO HIRE A SURVEYOR
To hire a Surveyor, it can help to include a website link and your company’s LinkedIn profile so that qualified candidates can discover more about your business and its projects. Job elements that generate interest in prospective employees include creating project maps, measuring boundaries, preparing survey reports, supervising field staff, and reporting required defect repairs.
Potential candidates should have a civil engineering degree and experience using surveying equipment.
Surveyor Job Description Example
HOW TO HIRE A PRODUCTION OPERATOR
To hire a Production Operator, you can encourage job applications by describing the product, salary range, and career development opportunities. The traits of a good production operator include physical stamina, attention to detail, organisation, and multitasking.
Production operator duties include running production equipment, quality checking products and materials, calibrating machines, investigating stoppages, and working to strict schedules and deadlines.
Production Operator Job Description Example
Post A Production Operator Job
HOW TO HIRE A PRODUCTION MANAGER
To hire a Production Manager, your job ads should describe your company, team, product, and production platform. Relevant skills include good health and safety knowledge, leadership, organisation, and expertise with software systems like the ERP platform.
Enticing job duties include supervising and leading a team of production staff, resource and supply planning, ensuring production standards, working with product designers, managing costs, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Production Manager Job Description Example
Advertising Your Construction Workers Positions: Referral Schemes, Social Media, & Job Boards
With your job ad in hand, you are ready to find new employees. Your targeted strategy might include posting your advert:
Internally (Employee Referral Schemes)
A non-incentivised or incentivised employee referral scheme is extremely valuable when you want to hire great construction workers. You will turn your current employees into motivated recruiters, sharing that you are hiring new employees across their social and professional networks (LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter).
Employee referral schemes often bring in the top talent, with your team’s connections including like-minded professionals and industry contacts. To engage this recruitment strategy, share your job descriptions with your current employees and reward referrals.
You can discover a few tips on employee referral schemes by reading Introducing An Employee Referral Scheme.
On Social Media
Recruiting great workers through social media is effective, with free and paid advertising options. The best tips for success include ensuring your social media messaging is consistent with your employment brand and conveys a positive image. An active social media channel is helpful if you want to build a community of potential employees just waiting for an opportunity to join your business. Recommended activity includes posting news, expert opinions, updates, and industry insights.
Our tips and advice for implementing a successful social media recruitment strategy include:
- Marketing yourself first
- Joining industry networks and groups
- Engaging with respondents and nurturing discussions
- Using advanced search tools and Recruiter Lite on LinkedIn
- Using Twitter’s advanced search tool and direct messaging
- Building activity on your company’s Facebook page and encouraging engagement from existing employees, turning them into business advocates
We explore finding qualified employees through social media further in our articles Social Media Hiring Strategies For SMEs and Job Advertising On Social Media.
On Job Boards
Whether your new hire is your first hire or your hundredth, you should post your job ad on job boards if you want to find construction workers in an acceptable timeframe. You can post your job ad on one job board, or many of the top job boards using an Applicant Tracking System. Job board resellers help you advertise your construction jobs across multiple general, geographical, and niche job boards using their integrated ATS software, minimising the hassle and time it takes to find construction workers.
Leading General Job Boards:
Niche Construction Industry Job Posting Sites:
Aggregator Job Sites:
Geographical Job Sites:
You can advertise your job on these job boards today.
Reducing The Costs And Time Of Hiring Construction Workers: Recruitment Companies & ATS
Budgets, deadlines, and administration require careful consideration whenever you instigate the recruitment process. To get the best results, you may decide to work with a recruiting firm with a UK wide focus, a global recruitment partner, or a niche recruitment company.
We discuss agency fees and recruiters in these three articles; How To Avoid High Recruitment Agency Fees, The Pros And Cons Of Having A Recruiter On Retainer, and How Much Do Recruitment Agencies Charge?.
Fixed Cost Recruitment
Fixed-cost recruitment allows you to hire at a flat fee governed by the level of service and functionality you desire.
The success of fixed-cost recruitment depends on the company offering the service, the methodologies they deploy, and their expertise and knowledge of your industry or business sector. You will need to determine which actions you need assistance with to use flat-fee recruitment successfully.
Four steps to leveraging fixed cost recruitment to hire great construction workers:
- Place ads across leading job boards
- Search CV databases and social media channels
- Headhunt and shortlist new employee candidates
- Receive interviewed and qualified candidates
Useful resources:
- Posting On Job Boards And Leveraging Fixed Cost Recruitment
- Free Job Advertising Review
- Should I advertise My Job On More Than One Site?
Applicant Tracking Systems
Automatic Tracking Systems can significantly reduce the costs of recruitment by creating efficiency. Candidate, vacancy, and advert management fall within the software’s parameters.
Team access creates a unified place to work, helping you build a seamless hiring process and candidate experience.
Five steps to centralising recruitment with ATS:
- Find workers online
- Review candidate scores
- Distribute personalised messages to a large candidate pool
- Automate responses
- Direct candidates to application forms
To explore all the features and benefits of Automatic Tracking Systems, read Centralising Recruitment With ATS.
Screening Construction Industry Job Seekers & Conducting Interviews
Before you conduct interviews you need to shortlist applicants by reviewing their CVs or resumes. Indications that you have a construction worker worth interviewing include:
- Quantifiable evidence of past achievements and skills
- The individual has steady career progression
- The candidate is not job-hopping
- The CV is free from spelling and grammatical errors
- The candidate has the relevant business experience, knowledge of construction jobs, and skills to meet the job’s requirements
Decision-makers and hiring managers need to be prepared to deliver a consistent interview experience. It helps to ask the same interview questions to each prospect, to aid candidate scoring. Ensure anyone who has candidate contact is on the same page and understands the brand’s vision, values and opportunities. The interview process should be challenging, supportive, positive, and engaging.
Video interviews are an increasingly popular recruitment solution, saving on resources and speeding up the recruitment process. Video sharing, shortlisting, and feedback from hiring and line managers ultimately generate more successful outcomes. If your firm has not conducted a video interview before, read How To Conduct A Remote Interview.
Our article Defining Your Interview Process, discusses interview questions, avoiding unconscious bias, and interviewing tips.
Presenting A Job Offer & Onboarding A New Construction Worker
When you have finished interviewing candidates and believe you have the right person for your construction role, you will need to present a job offer and onboard the employee:
Making A Job Offer
The process of presenting the offer to a construction worker varies depending on what has occurred before. If you don’t already understand the individual’s current earnings, expectations are better managed over the phone. Phone offers should be confident but be prepared to make changes if the individual’s circumstances have changed. Reaffirm that the candidate is happy with the offer, clarify their acceptance, and proceed to a formal written offer, in the same way you would for any business employee.
A formal offer letter from your firm can be conditional (dependent on a background check, etc) or unconditional and should include:
- Job title
- Candidate name
- Your conditions – i.e., this offer is made subject to…
- Official start date, time, and location
- Probationary period
- Offer terms
- Candidate actions and acceptance instructions – i.e., signed copy of job offer
- Terms and conditions of employment (issued within two months of the start date)
You can read further on Presenting A Job Offer here.
Onboarding Construction Staff
The onboarding process should support the employee as they become part of your team.
Actions for onboarding construction workers might include:
- Creating an employee identification number
- Presenting the individual with an employee handbook
- An office or site tour, introducing the person to their manager, team, and senior executives
- Informing the person of the communication methods to use in the new role
- Presenting clear responsibilities and duties
- Defining new role expectations, standards, and performance indicators
- Gathering feedback from new hires
How To Hire Construction Workers FAQs
Here we answer your construction worker recruiting questions.
A construction industry recruiter serves as an agent between potential workers and employers. They help fill vacancies and can handle time-consuming tasks such as posting job ads, interview many contractors, and determining the best prospects.
You should ensure your recruiting strategy is inclusive of all demographics, such as baby boomers. Also, more women are taking construction jobs, so you might be overlooking a proportion of the best talent if you ignore their applications.
Many contractors and potential employees visit job fairs. However, online advertising on job boards remains the most effective and quickest way to recruit construction workers.
How To Hire Staff In Different Sectors
Find our recruitment guides for different sectors below:
- Recruit Accounting Staff
- Recruit Administration Staff
- Recruit Bar And Restaurant Staff
- Recruit Civil Service Staff
- Recruit Construction Staff
- Recruit Customer Services Staff
- Recruit Education Staff
- Recruit Finance Staff
- Recruit Healthcare Staff
- Recruit Hospitality Staff
- Recruit HR Staff
- Recruit IT Staff
- Recruit Management Staff
- Recruit Marketing Staff
- Recruit Professional Services Staff
- Recruit Retail Staff
- Recruit Sales Staff
- Recruit Transportation Staff
All Construction Job Descriptions
- Appliance Repair Technician Job Description
- Architect Job Description
- Architectural Engineer Job Description
- Asphalt Labourer Job Description
- Assistant Project Manager Job Description
- Assistant Site Manager Job Description
- Bricklayer Job Description
- Building Inspector Job Description
- Building Surveyor Job Description
- Cable Installer Job Description
- Cable Technician Job Description
- Carpenter Job Description
- CNC Programmer Job Description
- Commercial Construction Project Manager Job Description
- Concrete Finisher Job Description
- Concrete Foreman Job Description
- Concrete Labourer Job Description
- Construction Coordinator Job Description
- Construction Estimator Job Description
- Construction Inspector Job Description
- Construction Labourer Job Description
- Construction Manager Job Description
- Construction Project Manager Job Description
- Construction Superintendent Job Description
- Construction Supervisor Job Description
- Construction Worker Job Description
- Crane Operator Job Description
- Demolition Labourer Job Description
- Design Manager Job Description
- Draughtsman Job Description
- Electrical Engineer Job Description
- Electrical Technician Job Description
- Electrician Job Description
- Estimator Job Description
- Fence Erector Job Description
- Fence Installer Job Description
- Flagger Job Description
- Foreman Job Description
- Framing Carpenter Job Description
- Handyman Job Description
- Heavy Equipment Operator Job Description
- Interior Designer Job Description
- Joiner Job Description
- Junior Project Manager Job Description
- Kitchen Designer Job Description
- Labourer Job Description
- Land Surveyor Job Description
- Landscape Architect Job Description
- Landscaper Job Description
- Lead Carpenter Job Description
- Maintenance Planner Job Description
- Materials Engineer Job Description
- Metal Stud Framer Job Description
- Painter Job Description
- Pipefitter Job Description
- Pipelayer Job Description
- Plumber Job Description
- Property Manager Job Description
- Quantity Surveyor Job Description
- Roofer Job Description
- Senior Project Manager Job Description
- Sheet Metal Worker Job Description
- Site Manager Job Description
- Site Supervisor Job Description
- Stonemason Job Description
- Traffic Marshall Job Description
- Welder Fitter Job Description
Post All Construction Jobs
- Post An Appliance Repair Technician Job
- Post An Architect Job
- Post An Architectural Engineer Job
- Post An Asphalt Labourer Job
- Post An Assistant Project Manager Job
- Post An Assistant Site Manager Job
- Post A Bricklayer Job
- Post A Building Inspector Job
- Post A Building Surveyor Job
- Post A Cable Installer Job
- Post A Cable Technician Job
- Post A Carpenter Job
- Post A CNC Programmer Job
- Post A Commercial Construction Project Manager Job
- Post A Concrete Finisher Job
- Post A Concrete Foreman Job
- Post A Concrete Labourer Job
- Post A Construction Coordinator Job
- Post A Construction Estimator Job
- Post A Construction Inspector Job
- Post A Construction Labourer Job
- Post A Construction Manager Job
- Post A Construction Project Manager Job
- Post A Construction Superintendent Job
- Post A Construction Supervisor Job
- Post A Construction Worker Job
- Post A Crane Operator Job
- Post A Demolition Labourer Job
- Post A Design Manager Job
- Post A Draughtsman Job
- Post An Electrical Engineer Job
- Post An Electrical Technician Job
- Post An Electrician Job
- Post An Estimator Job
- Post A Fence Erector Job
- Post A Fence Installer Job
- Post A Flagger Job
- Post A Foreman Job
- Post A Framing Carpenter Job
- Post A Handyman Job
- Post A Heavy Equipment Operator Job
- Post An Interior Designer Job
- Post A Joiner Job
- Post A Junior Project Manager Job
- Post A Kitchen Designer Job
- Post A Labourer Job
- Post A Land Surveyor Job
- Post A Landscape Architect Job
- Post A Landscaper Job
- Post A Lead Carpenter Job
- Post A Maintenance Planner Job
- Post A Materials Engineer Job
- Post A Metal Stud Framer Job
- Post A Painter Job
- Post A Pipefitter Job
- Post A Pipelayer Job
- Post A Plumber Job
- Post A Property Manager Job
- Post A Quantity Surveyor Job
- Post A Roofer Job Description
- Post A Senior Project Manager Job
- Post A Sheet Metal Worker Job
- Post A Site Manager Job
- Post A Site Supervisor Job
- Post A Stonemason Job
- Post A Traffic Marshall Job
- Post A Welder Fitter Job
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