Building Positive Team Culture as a Foreman

TradeManagement_August

TradeManagement_AugustYour role as a foreman includes setting the tone for your crew’s interactions. Because you need everyone to work together to stay on target, collaboration is necessary. One of the best ways to encourage teamwork is by creating a positive team culture. Your crew is more likely to perform their best when they feel like part of a united team.

Follow these guidelines to promote a positive team culture as a foreman.

1. Lead by Example

Demonstrate the attitudes and behaviors you would like to see from your crew. Your workers are likely to behave according to what they see you do. This is why you should openly commend your team members for their hard work, kind actions, and meeting or exceeding expectations.

2. Huddle Your Crew

Gather your workers at the start and end of each day. Talk about the day’s work efforts, safety reminders, and other work-related topics. Ask your crew to provide their ideas for completing the day’s tasks. Encourage them to talk about the challenges and shortcomings before they leave for the day. This shows your workers’ contributions are valued and respected.

3. Get To Know Your Team

Find out which work tasks each of your crew members likes and dislikes, how your workers adjust to others, which forms of learning are their favorites, and how they prefer to receive feedback. Use this information to personalize your requests and expectations for each crew member. You should benefit from enhanced relationships, increased motivation among your team, and greater performance.

4. Change up Partnerships

Regularly assigning different crew members to work together enhances teamwork and learning. Your workers get to know each other better and gain new perspectives on how to complete tasks. This encourages everyone to continuously improve their performance.

5. Provide Proper Tools and Equipment

Your crew needs tools and equipment to be in the best working condition to produce the desired results. Purchasing the necessary items and ensuring they are correctly handled and regularly inspected shows you want your workers to succeed and encourages them to respect the tools and equipment.

6. Express Appreciation

Regularly thank your crew members for their hard work. Show how their dedication added to the progress made each week. When a job is completed, point out specific ways each of your workers contributed to the finished product. Reward them with lunch, bonuses, raises, or promotions when appropriate.

Hire Skilled Workers

Add skilled workers to your team with help from Trade Management. Contact us today.

How Can Trade Management Help You Find the Right Skilled Trades Job – Faster?

Trade Management_Finding the Right Job Doesn't Have to Take Forever

Trade Management_Finding the Right Job Doesn't Have to Take Forever

Job search times today are the longest they have been since 2016. This is especially true for the skilled trade industry. If you are having trouble finding a role, reach out to us. We can help!

Discover some reasons why skilled trade jobs are hard to find and how Trade Management can help.

Increasing Job Search Length

The economic instability due to the pandemic caused companies in construction, manufacturing, and other skilled trades to close down. According to a survey conducted by global outplacement and business and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., the workers laid off in 2020 were among the job seekers who averaged 3.05 months to find a new role. This was up from 2.7 months in 2019 and 2.9 months in 2018. The average time it took to find a job last year was the highest since 2016 when job seekers took an average of 3.13 months to find a position.

Job Losses in Construction

According to material handling solutions company Conger Industries Inc., the construction industry lost $60.9 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) and 6.5 million jobs due to the pandemic. Industry revenue was expected to decline by 6.3% in 2020. Approximately one-third of construction companies furloughed or terminated employees because of the pandemic-related shutdowns. In 2021, 28% of construction firms are having trouble hiring project managers and supervisors. Fifty-two percent of companies cannot fill openings for laborers, carpenters, or equipment operators. Fifty-eight percent of building construction firms have unfilled craft positions.

Advantages of Skilled Labor Roles

Skilled labor positions offer excellent pay, benefits, and career paths. You may work on unique projects with innovative equipment and technology such as virtual reality (VR). The satisfaction you gain from completing a project can last a long time. Ongoing training lets you add to your skillset and contributions. If you can cross-train, you help improve your team’s efficiency and productivity. This may provide you with access to even more opportunities for growth and promotion.

Find a Skilled Trade Job

Partner with Trade Management to find your next skilled trade role. Register with us today!

How Can a Resume Cover Letter Help Me Land a Job?

Trade Management_How Can a Cover Letter Help Land A Job

Trade Management_How Can a Cover Letter Help Land A Job

Submitting a cover letter with your resume increases the odds of being contacted for an interview. Your cover is an introduction to the hiring manager and helps you to begin building a relationship. A good cover letter also clarifies how you are a fit for the position based on skills, experience, and personality. This makes you an attractive candidate who stands out from the competition.

Here are six ways including a cover letter with your resume can lead to an interview.

1. Make a Positive Impression

Because your cover letter serves as an introduction to a hiring manager, you want to make a solid first impression. Stand out from the crowd by grabbing the reader’s attention and keeping your words concise and compelling. Emphasize your most relevant skills and experience to sell your qualifications for the role.

2. Build a Relationship

Use your cover letter to establish a relationship with a hiring manager who can help you achieve your career goals. You can share facts about what you have accomplished and how you would do the same for them. Highlight your greatest achievements in line with the job description to show specific ways you can deliver results.

3. Clarify Your Fit

Your cover letter showcases how your background equips you for the position. Demonstrate specific ways your knowledge and abilities prepare you to carry out the key requirements in the job description, showing why you should be contacted for an interview.

4. Show Your Personality

Use the wording in your cover to express your personality. Ensure your tone blends with company culture, proving you would succeed within the organization. Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position and the value you would provide in it.

5. Explain Employment Gaps

If you spent a significant amount of time away from the workforce, use your cover letter to clarify why. You may have raised a family, been downsized, or let go because of differences with a manager. Share your reasons for returning to the workforce now. Detail the skills and experience you gained from time away that will benefit you in the new role.

6. Mention an Employee Referral

If an employee referred you, be sure to confirm the referral with the hiring manager. Because people typically spend time with others with similar personalities, you are likely to be a good fit with company culture. You may also have an understanding of the company and position because of your conversations with an employee. Plus, referrals tend to remain with the organization long-term because they know a co-worker from the start. This positions you as a strong candidate who should be contacted for an interview.

Talk With a Recruiter 

Land your next role with help from a recruiter at Trade Management. Submit your cover letter and resume today.

Wondering If You Got the Job? Leverage the Power of a Customized Thank-You Note

Wondering If You Got the Job Leverage the Power of a Customized Thank-You Note

Wondering If You Got the Job Leverage the Power of a Customized Thank-You Note

When you finish a final round of interviews, there is one more step you can take to increase your odds of receiving a job offer: write a thank-you note. Expressing appreciation for the interviewers’ time within 24 hours of your meeting leaves a positive impression. If the competition is narrowed down to you and another candidate, and they do not send a note, you are more likely to be offered the role. This could mean the difference between getting a position you truly enjoy or one that simply pays the bills.

Find out how to craft a thank-you note to increase your odds of landing a job.

Personalize Your Note

Begin your thank-you note with a clear, concise email subject line. For instance, “Thank you for the interview yesterday” or “[Company Name] seems like a great place to work.” Include in your email the interviewer’s proper title and first name. Express genuine gratitude for taking the time to talk with you. Repeat the process for each interviewer whose business card you received during the interview. Alternatively, you can ask the person who set up your interview for everyone’s contact information.

Make Yourself Stand Out

Jog the interviewer’s memory about something you mentioned you offer that no other candidate can. Perhaps you talked about a specific solution, experience, or skill the hiring manager is looking for that you have. Share how your ideas and contributions for prior employers can help you achieve success in the new position. Include additional information not mentioned during the interview that makes you the best-qualified candidate.

Express Interest in the Role

Restate the reasons you are passionate about working for the company. Reasons could include the challenging responsibilities, available training programs, or opportunities to advance. Encourage the interviewer to contact you if they have additional questions. Include your full name, email address, and phone number for easy follow–up.

Ask About the Next Steps

Find out when the interviewer plans to make a hiring decision. Use this as a guideline as you pursue other opportunities. If you end up not receiving a job offer, continue to move forward with your search.

Get Help With Your Job Search

Trade Management can help you find your next job. Visit our job board today.

5 Steps Every Foreman Needs to Take to Improve Their Communication Today

5 Steps Every Foreman Needs to Take to Improve Their Communication Today Trade Management

5 Steps Every Foreman Needs to Take to Improve Their Communication Today Trade Management

Communication is a key aspect of succeeding in your role as a construction foreman. Because you oversee multiple projects at a time, proper communication ensures the work is completed correctly, on time, and within budget. It also reduces the risk of injury and damage to equipment and property. You need to continuously improve your communication skills while on the job.

Implement these five steps to improve communication with your construction crew.

Prepare for a Bilingual Workforce

With a growing number of construction workers born outside the U.S., you and your crew must be able to share information in a way everyone understands. This might mean offering basic language training, especially in Spanish, and explaining processes in multiple languages to ensure everyone can do their job. Being able to communicate with crew members effectively increases safety, efficiencies, and productivity.

Use Terms Your Listeners Understand

If you have a conversation with a roofer and you mention ponding, they know what you mean. However, if you mention ponding during a conversation with an electrician, they may not picture water collecting on the roof. Using jargon with those who work in the construction industry increases understanding about the issue. This keeps everyone on the same page and maintains productivity.

Perform Quality Checks on Communication

Implement regular quality checks on your crews’ communications. Require each crew to properly document their communications. Schedule regular checks to make sure the processes are followed. Measure their communications by the frequency of meetings and accuracy of documentation.

Promote Training 

Make sure construction managers train their crew on new processes and equipment. Ensure managers regularly review equipment manuals to refresh their knowledge and stay current on new developments. Also, be sure construction managers undergo training to understand the details of what their teams are doing. Proper training increases safety and efficiency in the worksite.

Implement Technology 

Purchase construction technology to increase efficiency and reduce safety hazards. For instance, use drones for site mapping and project inspections. Implement building information modeling software to provide project updates for off-site stakeholders. Provide wearable artificial intelligence for geographically distant crew members to see a project site and help explain the project. By gathering data in the field, workers and stakeholders can sort and organize the information in real time. Maintaining a flow of information through one platform lets the appropriate parties access the information as needed.

Hire Construction Personnel

When you need construction personnel, leave the recruiting and administration to Trade Management. Our experienced recruiters use their extensive construction and safety training knowledge to source and screen candidates throughout the entire hiring process. Get started with us today

Proceed With Caution but Proceed Anyway – The Optimistic Outlook for 2021

Near the end of last year, construction industry experts predicted a slowdown in new construction starts in 2021. Fortunately, things are not turning out as expected, and the construction industry continues to move forward. However, the lack of skilled construction workers remains an issue. Because there are not enough experienced professionals taking the place of those who retire, many construction jobs remain unfilled. The good news is if you are looking for work in the industry, you should be able to secure a position.

Find out why the outlook for the construction industry is optimistic and how this can benefit you.

The Coronavirus Created Construction Opportunities

The spread of the coronavirus opened up many construction opportunities going into 2021. For instance, because people learned that the way they were occupying buildings often caused the virus to spread, leaders had to rethink how they wanted their workspaces organized. This created a need to remodel office buildings. Also, because millions of employees transitioned from working on-site to working from home, many homeowners realized they needed to separate their workspace from their living space. This created a need to remodel houses. Skilled construction workers are needed to fill these demands.

Construction Jobs Continue to Grow

The need for construction workers is on the rise. One reason is that historically low-interest rates have increased the demand for single-family homes. Because housing inventory is low in some areas and costs are increasing, many people are opting to build a home rather than buy a preexisting one. Also, many building owners have been modernizing their structures while employees work from home. Additionally, nonresidential construction remains stable because of the backlog going into the pandemic, and construction was declared an essential industry. These factors contribute to the increasing need for construction workers.

There Is a Construction Industry Labor Shortage

The number of trained professionals in construction fields continues to decrease. With a significant number of employees retiring after investing decades in the industry, not enough workers are taking their place. This is a huge problem in states that require licensing for specialty trades. The decreasing pool of skilled workers and increasing demand for construction and infrastructure repair and development create opportunities for you to secure a well-paying job right now.

Find a Construction Job

Work with a professional recruiter from Trade Management to find a construction job. We can match you with opportunities and help you start working in a short amount of time. Get started with us today 

Are You a Foreman? Here’s Why You Need a Self-Improvement Plan for 2021

As a foreman, part of your success plan for 2021 should include prioritization of management self-improvement. After all, your team members’ performance depends on your performance. The more engaged you are, the more engaged your team members will be. And, the more you practice self-development to improve, the more your employees will follow your example.

Discover four reasons why you need professional self-improvement and how it can benefit your team.

Enhance Your One-on-Ones

Maximize results through effective one-on-ones. Predetermine when and where you meet, how long your discussions are, and how often you have conversations. Prepare topics to cover and questions to ask to make the subjects actionable. Provide clear, constructive feedback so your employees can improve their performance. Plus, hold your team accountable for carrying out the activities they are assigned.

Cultivate Your Listening Skills

Learn to ask great questions and focus on the answers. Pay attention to what someone is saying and ask follow-up questions. Questions may include, “How do you feel your work-life balance is right now?”,  “What motivates you to perform your best each day?” or “In which parts of your work would you like me to provide more or less direction?” Reflection is one of the best ways to perceive answers. Reflection involves sharing what you believe the person is saying and seeing if they agree. You can either get clarification or move forward knowing you interpreted their words correctly.

Encourage Buy-In

Present an idea in a way that is exciting to team members. Bring up potential concerns and solutions in advance to overcome them. Then, ask your team members for input and suggestions for improvement. When team members feel they have a say, they are more likely to “buy into” the decision.

Maximize Productivity

Because your team’s productivity is critical, emphasize improving their collective results. For instance, teach your team members to find ways to increase productivity for themselves and their teammates. This may include finding ways to make team meetings more effective. Ask whether anyone feels that someone is not fully contributing to your team’s results. If so, ask whether a team member will provide the individual with constructive criticism or set up a time to privately discuss the matter with the employee.

Enhance Your Team’s Success

Enhance your team’s success by adding experienced construction and skilled trade talent from Trade Management to your workforce. Learn firsthand how we earned the 2020 Best of Staffing award for providing remarkable service to our clients. Get started with us today.

Here Are the Latest Jobs To Come Out of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Skilled trades are among the top jobs that thrived during the coronavirus pandemic. One reason is these jobs are essential in any economy. Even as the recession hit in early 2020, the need for electricians, plumbers, and other skilled workers remained in high demand. People still needed services to keep the lights on, water flowing, and more. The demand for skilled workers is expected to increase as baby boomers retire from the industry, further opening opportunities for employment.

Find out why skilled trades thrived during the coronavirus pandemic and what that may mean for your career.

Electrical

Electrical workers support the millions of people working and learning from home. Since people rely on essential utilities, like electricity, any issues that come up need to be resolved quickly.

Plumbers

Complex plumbing issues can arise when millions of people are working and learning from home. Skilled plumbers are needed to resolve any problems.

Manufacturing

A significant number of workers in the manufacturing industry are needed to fill consumer demands. For instance, pipefitters, welders, metal workers, ironworkers, and steelworkers work to create the tools and supplies needed for companies to provide food, personal care supplies, and personal protective equipment for their customers.

Warehouse, Logistics, and Transportation

Machine operators, line workers, and other production employees are needed to meet demands related to sharply increasing sales from e-commerce sites. Also, logistics and transportation workers are required to deliver these items.

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Trucks

Due to the increasing importance of the supply chain during the pandemic, truck drivers are in high demand – these workers transport goods and services from warehouses to retail stores. Since consumers have been stocking up on toilet paper, non-perishable food, medical supplies, and other items, they need these items available either at local stores or for fast delivery.

General Maintenance and Repair

When a recession hits, many people decide to save money by repairing what they own rather than buying new items. The same applies during a pandemic. As a result, maintenance and repair workers have substantial opportunities for work.

Discover Your Next Skilled Trade Job

Are you seeking one of these in-demand positions or another skilled trade position? We have access to opportunities you won’t find elsewhere. Visit our job board to start the next phase of your career today!

Happy New Year!

We’re officially 4 days into 2021. While it may still feel like the same winter we had only a week ago, we’ve entered into a new month, a new year, and a new opportunity to rebound from the impact 2020 had on all of us. If you haven’t already, now is the time to begin looking forward and letting the hardships of last year serve only as a reminder of what we can overcome.

Economic forecasts predict improvements in non-farm payroll employment of approximately 600,000 new jobs each month. By the fourth quarter of the year, household employment is projected to recover to 148 million. There are industries that are expected to continue to recover more slowly, such as food service and hospitality, but others including delivery and warehouses and those tied to e-commerce will continue to grow at a fast pace to meet the continuously increasing demand of online shopping and contactless purchasing. Additionally, if the vaccines work, we can expect the labor market to heal rapidly this year.

We all have optimistic hopes that this year will be vastly different from last. Some of the factors are well outside of our control, but plenty are still within. Go into the year with positivity and a spirit of accomplishment and tenacity and let’s all see a productive and economically strong 2021. Contact us at sales@peoplelinkgroup.com for all of your 2021 workforce needs!