Jobs in the construction property industry

Jobs in the construction property industry by Michael Cheary Ready to lay the foundations for a new career?If you’re a practical person and the idea of being stuck in an office all day brings you out in a cold sweat, a career in the construction industry could be your true calling. Not sure what role is right for you?Here are some roles you could consider, and some of our top tips to help you get to there:ArchitectWhat they do: Plan and design buildings. This could be coming up with ideas for new structures, supervising construction work, or even overseeing renovation and restoration projects. Architects can work with structures of all shapes and sizes, and could work for a specific employer or on a self-employed basis.What you need: You’ll need five years of training at graduate and post-graduate level. Creativity and excellent problem solving skills are also an absolute necessity. You’ll need to be good at keeping to strict deadlines, so the ability to stay calm under pressure will certainly be a useful commod ity.What you can earn: Typically around £20,000 for a trainee position, rising to somewhere around £40,000 once fully qualified and experienced. Salaries may be even higher for those working on premium projects.Perfect for: People who never let go of Lego.Our advice: Once you’ve completed your degree, register as an Architect with the Architects Registration Board and become a chartered member of the RIBA. Not only will it help keep you up-to-date with the latest developments in architecture, it will also look great on your CV and help you stand out from similar candidates.How to become an ArchitectView all Architect jobsBricklayerWhat they do: The clue is pretty much in the name with this one. Bricklayers build and restore walls, chimneys, walkways, and other forms of masonry. Basically anything you can think of which is built using bricks. Work includes measuring areas, cutting bricks to size, mixing mortar and layering structures correctly in order to adhere to strict health and safety standards.What you need: Being a Bricklayer is an extremely physical position, meaning that a good level of strength and personal fitness will be required. You’ll need to be a practical person, and methodical in your approach to work. If you have a penchant for ‘guesstimates’, you will not last long as a bricklayer. A degree is not necessary.What you can earn: £15,000 as an apprentice, rising to around £30,000 with experience.Perfect for: People who take a very literal interpretation of Pink Floyd songs.Our advice: Many Bricklayers start out in the construction industry as Labourers. These are generally more entry-level and attainable positions, and will provide the valuable site experience you need to embark on a career as a Trainee Bricklayer.How to become a BricklayerView all Bricklayer jobsCarpenterWhat they do: Build, repair and assemble structures using wood and other strong materials, such as concrete and steel. This could be for ‘construction’ purposes (working on outdoor construction sites) or for what’s known as ‘finishing’ (working inside homes and commercial buildings on things such as doors, cabinets, ceiling and staircases).What you need: You do not need any formal qualifications to become a carpenter. However, carpentry is a skilled trade, and being good with your hands and having a great eye for detail will be vital to progress in this industry. The ability to handle power tools without inflicting major damage will be similarly essential.What you can earn: Typically around £14,000 as an unqualified and inexperienced Carpenter, rising to the £30,000 mark with a few years under your (tool) belt.Perfect for: People who love playing with wood.Our advice: You do not need any formal qualifications to become a carpenter, although you may need some previous experience to get started. If you’re new to the industry, apprenticeship schemes can be a great way to get started, allowing you to practically learn in a profession al environment.View all Carpenter jobsProject ManagerWhat they do: Take responsibility for all aspects of a project, from its initial inception through to its conclusion. Project Managers work to a series of pre-determined goals and often to strict deadlines, and are necessary in ensuring constructions are completed to time, budget and quality requirements.What you need: Successful Project Managers will need exceptional organisational skills, and must be able to manage, motivate and delegate to your team for the good of the project. No formal qualifications are necessary, although specific qualifications relevant to the industry will certainly help you get started.What you can earn: Salaries will generally start out at around the £20,000 mark, although experienced Project Managers can easily earn double that, especially with a proven track record of success.Perfect for: People who are a little too protective of their planners.Our advice: If you’re finding it hard to break into pr oject management, a course could be the perfect way to kick-start your career. PRINCE2 ® courses are the industry standard when it comes to qualifications, and after completing an online foundation course you will be able to begin applying for positions right away.PRINCE2 ®: What you need to knowHow to become a Project ManagerView all Project Manager jobsQuantity SurveyorWhat they do: Compile estimates and carry out feasibility studies to calculate how much building work will cost. They may also draw up bids for contracts, and monitor projects to make sure all work meet the budget, as well ensuring that all health and safety regulations are met and buildings meet legal and quality standards.What you need: If you’re a mathematical person, becoming a Quantity Surveyor could be the perfect career move for you. You’ll need highly developed analytical skills, business awareness and an in-depth understanding of using complex data. A degree will be necessary to become a chartered surve yor.What you can earn: Trainee Estimator salaries will be around £18,000. Fully qualified Estimators should earn between £25,000 and £40,000, and Senior Surveyors could be paid double this amount.Perfect for: People who are very good at guessing making calculated decisions.Our advice: If you’re considering a surveying but aren’t sure whether or not you can commit to a degree, there are a few short-term options out there which may be more suitable for your situation. A foundation degree, for example, will only take a year to complete and is also incredibly flexible, allowing you to fit your studies around your current commitments.How to become a Quantity Surveyor  View all Quantity Surveyor jobsOther construction and property roles to consider: Facilities Manager, Painter Decorator, Plasterer, Steel Fixer, Welder.Top tipsHere are some of our top tips for finding a job in the construction property industry:Be positive â€" Many of these positions require previous experience. H owever, you needn’t be put off. Start out in entry-level or trainee roles, and gain work experience in the area wherever you can. Career progression can be relatively quick for fast learners.Be focused Where do you want your career to take you? Saying you want a job in construction will not give you the sense of direction you need to achieve. Think carefully about what sort of positon would suit you, and then find out how to get to where you want to go.Be hands-on â€" Some construction and property skills can be self-taught. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty, and grow your expertise through your own projects. Sometimes the best way to learn is to just get stuck in, and learn by doing.Be open to opportunities â€" If the area you want to work in can’t be self-taught, there will almost always be a course to help get you started. So whether it’s a PRINCE2 ® qualification for project management, or you’re thinking about taking a degree, don’t overlook an opportunity si mply down to your lack of current credentials.Be resilient â€" The construction property industry can be competitive, but don’t be disheartened. One of the most important things to remember is to remain resilient, and keep trying. With the right attitude and a willingness to learn, doors will soon start opening for you (N.B. please insert own joke about carpentry here).Ready to find your ideal position in the sales industry?  View all construction and property jobs now.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. What job suits me?

Which Career Does Your Horoscope Point To

Which Career Does Your Horoscope Point To We all regularly check the magazines and newspapers for our horoscopes, what will the next week or month bring? Horoscopes usually depict common personality traits and how we use this in life to get by in relationships, education and work life. So what career should you be in based on your horoscope? This infographic by Crystal Heart Psychics shows suggested careers for each zodiac sign and some of your strongest traits as a person. in both personal and professional life. Here are a few of themwhat career will you get? 1. Aquarius Most likely to have an unconventional job and they love to explore. A Scientist? 2. Pisces Creative and passionate mindset, and excel in traditional arts. Perhaps an Artist? 3. Aries Aries are strong, brave and are excellent promotors.  Maybe a  soldier! 4. Taurus They love stability, perhaps and Accountant or a Lawyer? 5. Gemini A gemini wants to travel and is very artistic. You should be  a Rescue Worker! Read the rest below! RELATED: 10 unusual careers that you will love

How to Beat the Stress of Hiring Remote Workers

How to Beat the Stress of Hiring Remote Workers The idea of hiring someone from the other side of the world to work for your company can be daunting. The thought of being unable to drop by their desk and see what they’re working on at any given moment can be enough to put someone off hiring virtual employees, period; but the benefits of hiring someone who isnt in your geographical vicinity far outweigh the potential downsides. Not being limited to just your town or city means that you can tap into the greatest hiring pool imaginable, the world. Being able to hire linux developers from London, customer service operators from Canada, and distribution managers from Delhi, means that you have the potential to hire the absolute best people for the job, rather than just the best people within a 20km radius of your office. What’s more, having employees spread out across the world means that your business can operate more cost efficiently. Remote workers can be managed as contractors, and require no 401ks, no employer contributed health insurance, and minimal overheads. But while you’re most likely aware of the benefits of hiring remote employees, there’s probably something holding you back from taking the leap and hiring your first one the thought, ‘are they really going to do the work?’. If that’s something that’s in the back of your mind, don’t worry, it’s a common thought. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to make sure that your first remote hire is a success. During the Hiring process: When you’re hiring employees who are hundreds, or thousands of miles away, it’s important to have a clear indication of exactly what skills and experience you’re looking for. Often, the times where remote work relationships don’t work out, the problem is that hiring managers or entrepreneurs are unclear of what they need from their employee. To avoid this, set clear guidelines for you to follow when you’re creating your job advert  and when you’re vetting applications. Make a list of the most important skills and qualifications that your employee needs to have, and use this list to shape your search and to separate out great candidates from the rest. 1) Research During the hiring process, look beyond a candidate’s resumé for indications that show that your potential employee actually matches your criteria look for blog posts or thought pieces about their area of expertise, look for memberships of industry groups, and evaluate their side projects to discover just how well they execute. Doing some extensive research into your potential candidates, beyond just reading their resumé and references, will help you to get a much better idea of what your potential remote employee is like as a worker. If you see that they consistently create small side projects that are well executed, then chances are, they will be able to work independently and execute well in your business. 2) Test Once you’ve highlighted which candidates most closely match your criteria, one way to be sure to remove any lingering anxiety, and ensure that your candidates are as good as you think they are, is to set them a short work-related test. Setting a test, whether it’s a live coding challenge, asking them to write a sample thought piece on a topic of your suggestion, or conducting a customer service role play, is a surefire way to let you know how your remote worker will perform if they are hired. Evidence suggests that almost 50% of job applicants embellish their qualifications in some way, so testing is a clear cut way of identifying which candidates are as great as they say they are. Not only that, but testing also helps to remove any lingering doubts from your mind about how, and whether, your remote employee will work. After the Hire: After youve made your assessments, analysed the test results, and made your offer to your top candidate, there are several things you can do to ensure that your remote employee works as well as you would like them to. We’ve spent the last 10 years managing teams of remote employees all over the world, and have found that there are several ways to ensure that you get the best results time after time; Clarity is key when setting projects, use the finest detail possible, and make sure to give your employee everything they need to complete the project successfully. Establish clear deadlines work with your employee to set clear, manageable, deadlines that offer enough time to complete the project. Always be available make it clear that you can be reached at any time to discuss the project. Being contactable will make it easier to avoid potential roadblocks or delays, and will make sure that the delivered project is exactly what you had in mind. Check in regularly keep up-to-date with your employee; this will help you to ensure that the project stays on course and within budget. Alongside this, using technology solutions like Basecamp, Asana, or Slack can help you to communicate with your remote worker as if they were at the other end of your office (rather than hundreds of miles away). Keeping clear channels of communication is crucial to ensuring that projects come off without a hitch. If you want the added peace of mind of being able to closely monitor what your remote employees are working on at any given moment, and to see the time they are spending on projects (and even on distracting apps like Spotify) consider investing in time tracking software like Hubstaff. These tools allow you to accurately view how much time is being spent working on a project, allow you to set time and budget limits (so that you can be sure that you don’t over spend), and make it possible for you to monitor your remote hire’s screen so that you can be sure that the hours they are billing you for are hours spent working productively. Feeling better? Fears about whether your new hire, who happens to be based on another continent, will actually work, are commonplace, and are probably similar to how you felt when you hired in-house employee #1; but rest assured that with a concerted effort to manage the hiring process carefully, and a commitment to being as clear and open as possible once you’ve hired, hiring remote employees becomes a painless process. Brief Intro Benefits of hiring remote workers the ultimate talent pool the World ?? reduced overheads (no need for office space etc.) ability to hire employees as contractors no need for employer contributions for health insurance, 401k etc. ability to hire in multiple timezones and have staff available at all times throughout the day Define Your Ideal Characteristics Clearly outline what you are looking for in your first remote worker this makes it easier, and less daunting, to find someone who is an ideal match for your company Sample characteristics Trustworthiness ability to keep sensitive information secret, be discreet etc. Highly Organized track record of meeting deadlines, working within tight schedules etc. Independence you want someone who can use their initiative and someone who won’t fill your inbox with hundreds of emails Use Your Network For your first hire, you’re probably looking for someone you can trust, and who is dependable. Reach out to members of your own professional network to ask for recommendations contact people who you believe have good judgement, and whose opinion you value… Sort Through Applicants Quickly Using your defined characteristics, sort through applicants quickly, and eliminate those who don’t meet the grade… Use grading criteria to rank candidates Invite high ranking candidates for Skype interviews Make judgements about culture fit etc. based on video interviews Conclusion Reinforce how if the process is managed properly, and expectations are clearly outlined, hiring a remote employee #1 doesn’t have to be a daunting experience. Stress the beneifts of reaching out to professional network for recommendations, and the merits of establishing clear criteria Author: Dave Nevogt is the co-founder of www.hubstaff.com, a time tracking  software  for remote teams. Dave has founded several multi-million dollar businesses and lives in Indianapolis. Hes built successful remote teams for 12+ years and writes a blog series that teaches everything he does to grow a 100% remote company. [Top Image Credit: Shutterstock]

5 Tips for a Perfect Elevator Pitch

5 Tips for a Perfect Elevator Pitch You are going about your day and you happen to run into someone who works for your dream employer. You have about 30-60 seconds to convince them that you could be an asset to their company. That’s where your elevator pitch comes in.You never know when you could run into the person who could help open the door to your dream job. You should always be prepared, just in case. An elevator pitch should be brief, persuasive and it should highlight your skills.1. Write It DownYour elevator pitch should be about 30-60 seconds long. Yes, that means you need to find a way to explain who you are, what skills you have and what value you bring, all in under a minute. Make a list, write it down on paper and find a way to make it sound interesting and brief. Then take that piece of paper and use it to practice until you know it by heart, you are comfortable saying it and can say it in a way that sounds natural. Try recording your pitch to make sure it sounds good and is within the time limit.2. Ch oose Your SkillsKnowing which skills to highlight in your pitch is vital. You want to make sure that the skills you choose apply to your dream position at your dream company. Try doing some research on your dream role and finding common skills that are required for the role. Then compare those skills to ones that you already possess and write them down. These are the transferable skills and qualifications that you will want to highlight in your Elevator Pitch.3. Use Index CardsTake a few index cards and write down one of these questions on each one. You should answer each question with approximately a two-sentence answer for each one. Using the lists that you made above, take each item and see which question they fit best under. It will help you to organize your thoughts.Who am I? What do I do? How do I do it? What value do I bring? Who do I do it for? What is my greatest accomplishment?4. Organize Your ThoughtsOrganize your cards in order from the what you think is the most importa nt to the least. You may not have much time to sell yourself, a couple of minutes at most. You want to make sure you leave the person with something worth remembering. What do you want them to remember when the conversation is over and you go your separate ways?5. Offer a Business CardYou should always carry a couple of business cards with you, everywhere you go. You never know when they will come in handy. Your business card should have your name visible as well as your phone number, email address, and place of business. That way anyone you give it to, will know exactly who you are.At the end of your elevator pitch, you should offer the person your business card and ask about following up with them at a later date. They may even give you a business card in return and you can offer to follow-up with them instead, taking a bit of the weight off their shoulders. You will be sure to remember to follow-up, whereas they may forget in the bustle of their busy day.By following these tips w hen crafting and executing your elevator pitch, you are sure to leave a great impression on the person you are speaking to. Remember to be confident and don’t forget to practice. Good luck! You might have just turned right on the road to your dream job. Now it’s just a matter of getting the doors.

High Performing Professionals are Focused

High Performing Professionals are Focused High performing people have one thing in common: they are extremely focussed in what they do and how they do it.One of the biggest issues that prevents effective performance is busyness, flitting here and there trying to achieve too many things and accomplishing little.evalMany believe that by firing enough bullets toward the target, the likelihood of a direct hit is increased. The problem with this shotgun method is that it squanders precious limited resources and it assumes the shooter has the correct target in their sights. In most practical situations neither assumption is true.What IS true, however, is that levels of performance are directly related to first, being clear on what you are trying to achieve, and second, concentrating on the FEW critical tasks or objectives that will get you 80% there.Find three things that will deliver 80% of what is expected and the brass ring is yours!How can you achieve focus?1. Clearly understand what you are trying to achieve. Not in general t erms â€" “Increased market share” â€" but in granular detail â€" “increase the share of wallet from the following 25 4. Communicate your plan to your leadership and ask for feedback to ensure you are on the right track from their perspective. Fine tune (or completely rewrite) your action plan based on their review and input.5. Once you are executing your action plan, beware of over-the-transom yummy incoming requests of your time that take you off your plan. Stay focused on what YOU intend to achieve; avoid if at all possible what OTHERS want you to do. In some cases this proves very difficult to do, but stay in the awareness. While you are chasing stuff your plan is in the sleep mode; nothing happens.6. Question changes in priorities that impact your plan; this could be disguised yummy. If a new priority is declared, reassess your action plan quickly and make appropriate adjustments. Then get going!High performers stay focussed on what NEEDS to be done; chasing POSSIBILITIES achieves little.

MBA Job-Seekers Congratulations, But Leave the Entitlement at Home

MBA Job-Seekers Congratulations, But Leave the Entitlement at Home MBA Job-Seekers: Congratulations, But Leave the Entitlement at Home True story: Recently, at a job search workshop for over 100 MBA soon-to-be-graduates, John introduced himself and told me that “after I graduate, I’m going to walk into my boss’ office and demand a promotion or I’ll leave.” After I withheld the laughter and astonishment, I asked John how long he had been there and what kind of company it was. He disclosed that it was a fast-growth technology company (which he liked), had room for promotion, and he got along well with everybody. For all the “Johns” out there, at any professional level and within any generation, you need to leave your ego and entitlement at home. Don’t get me wrong. I was one of the most ambitious, career-minded MBAs…and that ambition helped me throughout my 30 year career. But I made mistakes, too. There are good ways to show your skills, pride, strengths, confidence and fit for a new position either within your current company or outside. And there are really bad ways. The best way to check yourself is to prepare a short term career plan, script the answer to “tell me about yourself” and write down your interview answers RIGHT NOW. Yes, before you even apply to a job. You will be able to hear how you sound when you see it in words. Plus, rehearse with supporters such as friends, parents, career counselors, etc. If John had written out his plan, he would see and hear how words such as “after I graduate” or “demand” sound. What is magical about the day after you receive your diploma on graduation day? Did you transform into this super-human brainiac? NO! You are the same John who has shown good work ethic, smarts, follow-through and more while you have been working for your company. Will you be able to go out with your freshly-minted MBA and get a better job that pays 10-20% more, gives you management responsibility and “leverages” your new education? Probably not. So here is your checklist for early preparation. Put the following in writing: 1. Your next step career goal. This is not a 5 year plan. In that goal statement include 1. Timing 2. Function 3. Company 4. Industry 5. City (if other than your own) 6. Major difference or change from what you have today 2. Write out your answer to “Tell me about yourself.” Hint: 3 points then stop. Dana’s Career “Law of Threes”: 1. First sentence is about your education 2. Second sentence is about your recent professional career 3. Third is what you are looking for, if a change. If no change, elaborate more on your recent year in your career. 3. Write out your discussion with your boss, if you are “John”. Circle the number of times you use the word “I” vs. “You”. Circle how many times you talk about all of the skills you think you have versus what your company needs for their future or what your boss may need extra help with. There’s never enough time in these blogs, but my goal is to help you wear the shoes of a hiring manager. In doing so, I will always provide specific best practices to use, not only in your job search as job seekers, but in your career growth long term. Best of luck!

How to Make a Resume For Free - Using Free Resume Writing Sites

How to Make a Resume For Free - Using Free Resume Writing SitesIf you want to write a resume that you can use to land your dream job, you should know that there are many resume writing sites available online. There are free sites that will provide you with an outline for your career or education goals. You should make sure that your resume is one of the best that the company has to offer.If you do not know how to make a resume, you may want to look into the services of a professional resume writer. While there are many free resume writing sites online, you may be wasting your time with the free sites if you don't have the experience or training to write a good resume. While you may be able to get the basics down in a day, you need a professional to take it up a notch. That way, you will be prepared to land the dream job that you always wanted.Making a resume means putting all of your skills and experience together in a way that will benefit the company. The company needs to know that you are able to put your experience and skills to use when they need you. The hiring manager should be able to see that you have a strong foundation and have a number of skills that could help the company grow. In order to make sure that you get the job that you want, you should be able to put together a strong resume.If you want to learn how to make a resume for free, you will need to get to the point where you have a basic outline. This will help you see what information you need to include on your resume and how you should start the writing process. There are many different types of resumes that you will need to make.The first thing that you will need to include on your resume is your name and contact information. You should also be able to write down your educational background and experience. You may want to put some recommendations orskills that you have that will make the hiring manager wants to interview you. You should also be able to put in your education level, skills, a nd experience.When you have all of this information in front of you, you will be able to take advantage of career and skill development articles that will help you develop skills and knowledge that you will need for future job openings. This is the most important part of making a resume. The important thing is that you have learned something valuable that can help you in your job search.After you have learned all of the information that you need to include on your resume, you will need to make sure that it is professional looking. It should be clean and sharp and easy to read. The most important part of making a resume is making sure that it will stand out from the rest of the other resumes that are being submitted.By using free resume writing sites, you will be able to get an outline of what you need to include in your resume. This is the best place to start because it will let you know exactly what you will need to get a job and where you should start in your career. Make sure tha t your resume is professional looking and that you know where to begin in your career. Once you know how to make a resume for free, you will be well on your way to landing the dream job that you always wanted.