Shifting gears and looking for a new career later in life is never an easy prospect, but sometimes it’s got to be done.
Whether your current market is changing in ways you can no longer compete with, or you’re just bored and need a change, moving into a new market and a different type of role can be tough when you’re already established in a position.
Being stuck in a career you don’t enjoy can lead to reduced productivity, as well as issues with your mental wellbeing. So, if you need to move into a new niche, now’s the time to start thinking about it.
One sector that’s in dire need of new staff is construction, with a serious skills shortage threatening to make it even harder for the US to meet the infrastructure and housing needs of its citizens. Employers often pay highly for labor as a result of the shortages, and the market is very unique, particularly if you’re used to being stuck behind a desk all day. So, if you’re looking to make a move, entering construction could be ideal for you.
If you want to move into the construction market, but don’t know where to start, then this is the article for you. We’ve got a selection of practical tips and ideas to help you get started and find your new dream job in construction.
Consider The Specific Niche You Want To Enter
The construction market is split into a range of different niches and sub-sections, so there are various different paths you can take. Some of the main niches in the construction market include:
- Commercial property development
- Residential property development
- Commercial property management
- Residential property management
- Infrastructure construction
- Electrical engineering
- Plumbing
- Landscaping
- Construction supplies
- Interior design
Within these niches, there are various areas you can work in, such as:
- Administration
- Planning, design and development
- Technology
- Site management
- Project management
- Supervisory roles
- Craftsman jobs
Each of these roles is unique and requires specific training and experience, some more than others. So, knowing what you want to do is crucial before you start applying for new jobs in construction. Read case studies and blogs from people in the careers you’re considering, to see if they sound like the right fit for you. Also, consider the skills you’ll need and the temperament, so that you can find a role that suits your personality and the experience you’ve already gathered through your current career.
Read About The Tools You Might Use In This Sector
When you’re researching the niche you want to enter and the role you want, you need to consider the industry-specific knowledge you’ll need for this career path. That means learning about the specific tech you could use and the methods you could potentially implement. For example, if you want to enter into the infrastructure construction market in a specific niche, such as highway construction, then check out tools such as Kahua. Designed to make managing highway construction and other major infrastructure projects more streamlined, solutions like this are crucial to this niche, so you should learn about them when you’re doing your research.
Adjust Your CV Accordingly
With a niche in mind and some rudimentary research under your belt, you can start thinking about applying for new roles or even just getting some voluntary experience. To do so, you’ll need to adapt your CV to reflect your new passion and showcase the research you’ve undertaken so far. When talking about your past work in a previous industry, try to highlight the skills you’ve learned and how they could potentially be applied in the construction market. It might also be worth creating a cover letter or an introduction to your CV explaining why you want to move into a new profession within the construction landscape.
Follow Construction Sector Experts
Researching the construction industry is crucial, but it also takes time to find a job, and while that’s going on, the market will be changing. So, how do you stay up to date without laboriously researching every few days? The answer is simple: use the platforms you already enjoy. Whatever social media site you spend time on, make the most of it by following construction blogs and experts from your target niche. Many of these professionals in the construction market use social media to share their wisdom and generate leads, so you can learn from their posts and potentially build a network of like-minded individuals who could help you on your quest to enter the market.
Sign Up For Relevant Newsletters
Another simple way to get the latest construction industry updates without having to do loads of research all the time is to sign up for newsletters. Most of the influencers and experts you follow will have blogs or websites, so see if they offer an email newsletter as well as social media updates. Also, try to find the best construction news sites available online and sign up for any email updates and newsletters they offer. You’ll then be able to get access to all the information you need and stay informed about the construction market while you search for a role in it. You can get these updates sent directly to your inbox or, in some cases, as texts or messages on platforms like Whatsapp, so you will always be able to find them and get the insight you need, when you need it.
Find A Mentor To Help
Cracking into a new niche can be incredibly difficult, especially if you try to do it on your own. Finding someone who can guide you through the sector and offer you practical advice based on their first-hand experience can be invaluable. So, consider asking someone in the construction market already to be your mentor and support your new career goal. If you already have a friend or family member in the market, then you’re all set and can ask them or see if they can suggest someone else to mentor you. For those without any connections in the construction community, now’s the time to make them. You need to speak to others in the market and see what they can do to help you and what advice they have to give. While you could find a professional mentor and pay for their services, it’s often easier, cheaper and, frankly, more fun, to do it the old-fashioned way and find someone to mentor you through the goodness of their heart.
Apply For Fixed-Term Contracts And Entry-Level Roles
As difficult as it might seem to go backwards, you might find that you have to apply for entry-level roles to secure a job in a new sector. As you don’t have much experience in the niche, you might have to earn your way back up to your original rank in your previous market. If you’re struggling to get into the construction market and find an entry-level role, then consider exploring fixed-term contracts. These roles, which run for a specific length of time and are often used to cover specific events like maternity leave, are harder to fill than permanent jobs. As such, you might be more likely to get one and be able to earn some experience in the construction market.