The Power of Soft Skills in Skilled Trades

skilled tradespeople reviewing plans

According to research by Harvard University, 85% of job success comes from having well-honed soft skills, while only 15% is attributed to technical skills. Soft skills are key to thriving in the skilled trades. Let’s explore how strong soft skills form a firm foundation for growing a career in the skilled trades. 

Effective Communication

Clear and effective communication is essential in any trade. Tradespeople must often translate complex, technical details into terms their clients can understand. This skill is particularly important in industries where clients need to know the specifics of what they are paying for, what timelines look like, and what to expect from a project. When tradespeople can effectively communicate the value and scope of their work, it creates transparency and trust. 

Communication is also vital when working as part of a team. In larger projects, various tradespeople must work in sync to avoid conflicts and costly delays. Effective communication ensures everyone is on the same page and tasks are completed efficiently. 

Problem Solving Skills

In addition to effective communication skills, critical thinking skills are key to successful work in the skilled trades. Dealing with unforeseen circumstances and forging ahead on projects requires excellent problem-solving capability. Even the best-laid plans can go awry. A skilled tradesperson will often encounter unexpected issues, from unforeseen structural complications to supply shortages. Strong problem-solving skills enable them to think on their feet, quickly assess situations, and devise creative solutions. This adaptability ensures smoother project completion and builds a reputation for reliability and professionalism. 

Customer Service

Beyond transparent communication and flexibility in dealing with issues that arise, positive interaction with the customer is key to developing happy repeat customers. Customer service might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the trades, but it is a cornerstone of long-term success. A positive attitude, active listening, and a willingness to go the extra mile can turn a one-time client into a loyal one who then provides referrals and positive reviews. In trades, reputation is everything. Providing exceptional customer service elevates a tradesperson’s standing in the community and could lead to higher earnings and more stable work opportunities. 

Time Management

Even if you have the best customer service skills, it is unlikely you will enjoy explaining project delays to your customers. As the old saying goes, time is money. Nowhere is that truer than in the skilled trades. Time management is often synonymous with cost efficiency. Delays can not only ruin a schedule but also result in financial losses, dissatisfied customers, and damaged reputations. Tradespeople who prioritize time management can better juggle multiple projects, set realistic expectations for clients, and avoid burnout.  

Efficient time management is also a reflection of professionalism. Tradespeople who are punctual, prepared, and efficient show respect for their client’s time and budget, reinforcing trust and reliability. 

Attention to Detail

Are effective communication skills, problem-solving capability, and strong time management all you need to succeed in the skilled trades? No. In the skilled trades, even minor oversights can lead to significant consequences, from safety hazards to costly repairs. Attention to detail is essential for following industry regulations and building codes, which vary by location and can change frequently. Tradespeople with a keen eye for detail demonstrate commitment to quality, building stronger client relationships and a reputable name for themselves. 

Attention to detail goes beyond the project. Skilled tradespeople must pay attention to rapidly evolving technology and techniques, from smart home systems in electrical work to sustainable building materials in construction. Tradespeople who are adaptable and open to learning are equipped to keep up with industry changes. Those with a flexible mindset are more likely to embrace new methods and technologies, which can give them a competitive edge. Adaptability is not just about technical knowledge; it is a soft skill that enables tradespeople to thrive in an ever-changing industry. 

Strong Work Ethic

While all the soft skills we have detailed so far are important for success in the skilled trades, a strong work ethic is universally respected. Without a strong work ethic, soft skills fall flat. For those in the skilled trades, reliability, punctuality, and dedication often speak louder than any other skill. A tradesperson who consistently shows up on time, completes tasks efficiently, and takes pride in their work will naturally earn the respect and loyalty of their clients and peers. In an industry where word-of-mouth referrals are critical, a solid work ethic can set one apart and lead to lasting success. 

While technical skills are essential in trades, soft skills are the true differentiators between a good tradesperson and a great one. The ability to communicate effectively, solve problems, manage time, pay attention to details, adapt, and maintain a strong work ethic allows tradespeople to build lasting client relationships, foster team cooperation, and enhance their career stability and earnings. In today’s competitive and evolving job market, tradespeople who recognize the importance of soft skills and actively work on their development will succeed.  

Are you a skilled tradesperson looking for the next step in your career? Are you an employer looking for the best and brightest to build your workforce? Partner with Trade Management today! 

Construction Career Goals for the Upcoming Year

Setting your construction career goals helps you move forward in your professional path. Understanding the qualifications needed to land your next role helps you prepare accordingly.

Developing career goals is especially important for the construction sector. In this evolving and competitive industry, you must have clarity about where you are in your professional path and what you can do to advance.

Begin creating your construction career goals now for the new year. Taking action to improve the areas that need work provides a foundation to advance your career.

Follow these steps to create construction career goals for 2023.

List Your Professional Details

Write down your construction skills, work experience, strengths, accomplishments, values, and current projects and responsibilities. This information helps determine what you want to accomplish in the next 12 months. Clarifying your professional details helps identify logical next steps in your career path.

Determine Your Destination

Consider what your dream construction job is. Then, find out what your next role should be to move toward this position.

If there are many steps between your current job and your dream job, break down the steps into a realistic timeline. Then, determine the action you can take this year to move toward your dream job.

Perform a Gap Analysis

Compare your current performance level with the level you want to be at in the next 12 months. For instance, check job postings that match your skills, experience, and interests. Then, rate your competency in each of the job requirements.

Pay close attention to the areas you need to improve. Then, develop goals to boost your performance in these areas.

Developing your skills increases your job qualifications. The more skills you have, the greater your eligibility for the opportunities that interest you.

Set SMART Goals

Create specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timebound (SMART) goals to develop the areas that need improvement. For instance, if you need to learn construction software, consider taking a class to learn the technology.

Following the SMART goal-setting process clarifies each step you should take and when to take it to reach your goals. Relating your goals to your career development provides motivation to continue making progress.

Ready to Find Your New Job?

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Negotiating Construction Rates as a Job Seeker

If you are like most employees, you do not like negotiation. This can make it hard to negotiate your construction rate when securing a job.

However, it is up to you to negotiate the construction rate that fits your construction performance and personal needs. Otherwise, you likely will not increase your income or be happy with your job.

Implement these tips to negotiate the construction rates you desire.

Set a Foundation for Your Rate

Determine exactly why you should be paid the construction rate you desire. Have detailed reasons to support your request. For instance, you show up to work on time, put in your best effort, and stay as long as needed.

Offer a Range of Rates

Decide on a construction rate slightly above and one rate well above the rate you would like to earn. Then, offer the two higher numbers as a range for your construction rate. This gives you more leverage to potentially earn a higher rate than anticipated.

If you start negotiating with only one construction rate, it may be below the minimum rate the employer was willing to pay you. For instance, you might request 20% more than you usually earn, but the employer may be willing to pay you 30% more than you usually earn. This is why offering a range is more beneficial.

Point Out Your Value

Clarify what the employer gains by hiring you. For instance, you create quality work, finish projects on time, and regularly are recognized for your contributions.

Then, show what the employer may lose by not having you work for them. For instance, hiring another worker means they might be late or not show up. Also, they could cut corners while doing the work. Plus, the quality of the finished product may be poor. Any rework that needs to be done will take additional time and money.

Show How the Employer Benefits

Emphasize the value you provide for employers. The increased construction rate you desire is due to your skill level and years of experience. You are dedicated to completing quality work according to the timeline and within the budget.

Prepare for Objections

The employer likely will have reasons to pay you a lower construction rate than you desire. You need prepared responses to show why you deserve the rate you requested.

For instance, the employer may say the budget does not allow them to pay you the requested rate. You can assure them the quality of your work will be worth the extra amount. You might be able to finish your work early, which would save additional money in the budget.

Work with a Recruiter

A recruiter from Trade Management can negotiate construction rates on your behalf. Register to get started today.

How to Start a Career in Construction

start a career in construction

start a career in construction

If you’re a recent high school graduate, congratulations! Your hard work and dedication paid off.

If you are interested in starting your career, consider getting into the construction industry. The low barrier to entry, variety of job openings, and competitive pay rates make construction one of the best fields to enter.

Follow these guidelines to begin your career in construction today.

Create Your Resume

Your resume highlights your skills and experience that are relevant to the job you want. Because you don’t have formal construction experience, focus on your transferrable skills from other jobs or volunteer work that can benefit an employer. These may include reliability, communication, time management, problem-solving, and work ethic.

Use Your Network

Talk with the members of your network who have connections in the construction industry. Be sure to share your career goals so your connections know what you’re looking for. They may mention a job opening, introduce you to an employee, or refer you to a hiring manager.

Secure a Temporary Job

Work with a local staffing firm that specializes in construction to land a temporary job. This lets you work under the supervision of an experienced professional. You can gain the skills and experience required for either an apprenticeship or full-time employment. You also can decide which field of construction you want to focus on.

Consider an Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship helps provide the skills and experience needed to land a full-time construction job. It involves 2 to 4 years of classroom learning and hands-on training for your field. Because you typically get paid during your apprenticeship, you can learn while earning income.

Select a Field

Use your temporary job or apprenticeship to decide which construction field you want to pursue. Then, focus on finding a job in the specialty that interests you. This helps you gain the most relevant skills and experience for your career path. For instance, if you enjoy welding or working with metal, you may want to become a sheet metal engineer. Or, if you prefer planning, budgeting, and overseeing projects, you might want to become a project manager.

Land Your First Construction Job

Trade Management can place you with employers looking for entry-level construction workers. Register with us today.

 

Mental Health Safety Tips

May is Mental Health Month Awareness Month. Mental health is important for everyone. This is especially true for construction workers. The long hours, strenuous labor, potential for injuries, and seasonal layoffs are significant sources of stress.

Construction workers struggling with mental health concerns are more susceptible to on-the-job accidents than workers without these issues. As a construction worker, you need to pay attention to your mental health and take steps to improve it when needed.

Implement these tips to maintain your mental health while working in construction.

Talk with Your Manager About Job Stressors 

Think about which parts of your job cause the most stress. Find potential resolutions to these issues. Talk with your manager about your problems and potential solutions.

For instance, you may feel unsure about what your role is for a project. If so, you can ask your manager what your role is, what their expectations are, and who you should take onsite directions from.

You can use this discussion to create a basis for ongoing communication with your manager. Regular discussion of your concerns helps get your needs met. This can decrease your stress and increase your mental health.

Normalize Discussion of Mental Health Concerns 

Encourage your manager to regularly engage your team in open discussions about mental health concerns. This may involve your manager and you sharing your experiences with mental health concerns and how you handled them. Perhaps you implemented daily meditation, began eating healthier foods, or started weekly counseling sessions.

Ask your manager to host seminars with diverse guest speakers talking about mental health. They can serve as role models for your team members to relate to and potentially get help with their struggles.

Encourage your manager to hand out information on local and national resources to help with mental health. This may include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The national helpline provides referral routing services for individuals and families with mental health concerns and substance use disorders. Construction workers who do not want to talk about their mental health concerns may feel more comfortable getting help outside the workplace.

Looking for a Construction Job? 

Trade Management can match you with the construction jobs that fit your skills and interests. Register with us today.

How to Optimize Your Construction Workflow

A construction workflow is the coordination of tasks among people in an organization. This includes the passing of data and information to guide the appropriate action.

A construction workflow typically follows a hierarchy of approvals and privileges based on job description. Optimization of the workflow is designed to maximize the company’s profits. Examples include the processes for accounts payable, payroll processing, submittals, RFIs, and closeouts.

Most companies look for ways to improve these processes. There typically are methods to improve efficiency and work quality. The use of fewer resources to maintain customer satisfaction leads to greater profit.

Because improvements in your construction workflows take time, you want to get started on the process today. The sooner you begin, the sooner you can start to see results.

The following information can help you optimize your construction workflows.

Common Workflow Issues

The majority of construction workflow problems fall into one of three areas: 

  • Communication: Data and information must be efficiently transmitted and communicated in the field or back office. 
  • Data management: Data needs to be stored and accessed in a centralized location to provide the correct information needed to complete tasks.  
  • Visibility: Transparency in each workflow and the progression of events is needed to keep track of where an employee or team is in a process.

Methods to Improve Workflows 

You can use collaboration, automation, standardization, and elimination (CASE) to correct construction workflow issues. 

  • Collaboration: Employees need to work together to uncover and resolve siloes, inefficiencies, and redundancies in the workflows. Employees can complete more work in less time. 
  • Automation: A reduction in data entry, approval pathing, and general clerical tasks would increase the efficiency and accuracy of workflows. Responsibilities that take two employees may be completed by one employee.  
  • Standardization: The collection and storage of data in one platform increases employee access and ease of use. This reduces compartmentalization and the potential for error.  
  • Elimination: Get rid of redundancies, inefficiencies, compartmentalization, siloes, and human error as much as possible. These actions increase efficiency and accuracy throughout your organization.

Want Help with Hiring?  

Trade Management can provide you with the construction workers you need when you need them. Get in touch with us today.

Spring Construction Safety Tips

spring construction

spring construction

As Spring nears, so does construction season. The longer hours of daylight provide more time to work. However, the unpredictable weather conditions can lead to an increased risk of accidents on the jobsite. This is why you need to be increasingly aware of how to reduce the odds of injuries.

Implement the following tips to increase safety while working on a construction site this Spring.

Wear Personal Protective Equipment

Spring construction sites can be wet, muddy, and windy, making it easier to slip and fall.
Wear waterproof boots with good traction.
Wear a high-visibility raincoat and gloves with a slip-proof grip to increase awareness of your presence in areas with vehicle traffic.
If you wear a hood, turn your head to look for vehicles and people in your peripheral vision.
Use anti-fog spray on your safety glasses to keep your vision clear.

Wipe Away Mud

Before mounting the equipment, clear any mud from the steps, the rungs, and your boots.
Mud can make the equipment slippery, which can lead to injuries.
Slow your pace to reduce the odds of getting hurt.

Increase Safety with the Excavator

Implement safety measures to reduce of odds of injury while using an excavator.
Check the ground for stability before moving an excavator across it. Soft ground can cause the equipment to tip or roll over.
Wear a seat belt when operating an excavator.
Use in-vehicle video cameras, proximity detection devices, tag-based systems, or a spotter to detect whether someone is behind you when backing up.

Wear Fall Protection Equipment

Spring winds and rain can make working at heights more dangerous.
Know how to properly fit a body harness. Have a partner check to ensure that all parts are properly in place and working.
Know the safe anchor points for a personal fall arrest system.

Maintain Scaffold Safety

Scaffolds may be used only when the weather permits, not during rain or high winds.
Make sure you are properly trained to use the scaffold.
Wear personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, work gloves, safety shoes or boots, and fall protection.
Know the weight capacity of the scaffold.
Be aware of any coworkers above, below, or next to you.

Looking for a Construction Job?

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Explaining Electrical Apprenticeships & Different Career Paths

Working as an electrician provides many career opportunities. The ongoing reliance on electrical systems provides you with a high level of job security. One of the best ways to begin your career as an electrician is by securing an electrical apprenticeship. The skills and experience you gain can lead to your first full-time job.

Find out what an electrical apprenticeship involves and what some of your career options may be.

Education 

A high school diploma or GED is needed to gain an electrical apprenticeship. An emphasis on algebra, trigonometry, physics, shop, and mechanical drawing is important. When you secure an electrical apprenticeship, you typically have 4 weeks of classroom training per year for 4-5 years. This training should include electrical theory, current safety measures, and related information. Once you complete 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training, you graduate to a journeyman electrician. This additional experience provides you with greater earning potential. If you decide to become a master electrician, you typically need to work an average of 2 years, complete at least 4,000 documented hours as a journeyman electrician, take classes, and pass a test. Then, you can work unsupervised, pull permits, supervise other electricians, and train electrical apprentices. Reaching this level can further increase your earning power.

Job Duties

In an electrical apprenticeship, your tasks are determined by the journeyman electrician, who is your supervisor. Initially, you’ll learn to read schematics and gather tools and materials for the job. As you gain experience, you might install conduits or new wiring, replace old or damaged wiring, or install lighting, fire alarms, or security systems under close supervision. Other tasks may include mounting panel boards, switches, and other equipment or troubleshooting and repairing equipment.

Licenses and Certifications

Most states require electricians to pass a test and be licensed. Contact your local or state electrical licensing board to determine the requirements for licensure. You may need to work for several years as a journeyman electrician supervised by a master electrician.

Maintenance and Construction Careers

If you like working in different areas, then you may want a career in maintenance and construction. Typical duties include wiring and working on repairs for residential buildings. You can work with the construction team to bring electricity to the structure.

Industrial Establishment Careers

If you want to perform electrical work in different industries, you may choose a career in an industrial establishment. Most work involves installation, essential maintenance, and repairs for switchboard meters, industrial storage batteries, and hydraulic electrical control units. The more basic aspects include wiring, assembling fiber-optic cables, and installing and repairing light fixtures.

Network Cabling Careers

If you want to help set up communication systems, you may choose a career in network cabling. You may install and maintain data systems for internet providers, ensure proper video transmissions for telecommunications, or maintain the communication systems of educational institutions and industry offices.

Find an Electrical Apprenticeship

Work with Trade Management to secure an electrical apprenticeship. Register with us today.