Skilled labourers: 4 handy ways to market yourself.

​Tradesmen in New Zealand are likely well aware that the country is currently in the midst of a massive skill shortage. Though this might be bad news for employers, it's great news for job-seekers. Construction and engineering firms throughout the country are on the lookout for skilled workers, so it's the perfect time to start applying for labour jobs.

When putting yourself out there for job openings in construction or another trade, it can be tough to know how to properly market yourself as a construction worker. Many people in this industry might assume that 'marketing' yourself is something only white-collar workers need to worry about – not necessarily.

Your chances of getting a job go up if you know how to market yourself.

Even if you aren't using LinkedIn the way an office worker would, your chances of getting a job go up if you know how to market yourself. Here are some helpful tips from our team of recruiters at Tradestaff.

Build a killer CV

The first step towards becoming fully job-ready is updating your CV to make sure it reflects your most recent experience. There are many tools available online that can either give you a template or help you decide what to include – just make sure your most recent (or most significant) experience is closest to the top.

It might seem like CVs are something unique to office environments, but it's still important for construction companies to be able to look at a concrete summary of what you would bring to the table. Keeping your CV updated is a great way to stay prepared in case a job comes up that you think you'd be well-suited for.

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Having a solid CV is a great way to be prepared for unexpected job openings.

Have references and business cards ready

More so than many other industries, trade jobs are about in-person networking. For that reason, it's great to have business cards with you at all times. Printing out a few dozen nice-looking cards is an inexpensive and easy way to make sure you're able to network on the spot, even with companies or opportunities you might not have considered before.

You can direct a new contact to someone who can vouch for your experience, talents and good character.

Additionally, it's helpful to have references on-hand – this just means you've asked a previous employer or colleague if they're happy being contacted by one of your potential employers. By doing this, you'll be comfortable knowing that you can direct a new contact to someone who can vouch for your experience, talents and good character.

Know your strengths

If you've made it to an interview, try to bring two to three concrete examples of times you were integral to the construction team, or of things you are proud of achieving during your industry experience. As construction is (literally) a hands-on industry, companies that are looking for new workers will expect to hear tangible examples of what you've done well in the past.

This alone is one of the best ways of marketing yourself as a skilled labourer in NZ – rather than just show them your CV and talk about the experience you've gained over the years, describe things you've achieved in the past, and explain how you'll do the same for them if they hire you.

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Networking with other workers in the industry is helpful if you have the right tools.

Use a recruiting company

In many cases, skilled tradesmen looking for industrial employment aren't particularly eager to become great 'marketers', even if it's for themselves. If that's the case, it might be a good idea to seek the help of a recruiting company – these agencies are designed to help set up construction companies with the best possible candidates on the market, including yourself.

These agencies are designed to help set up construction companies with the best possible candidates on the market.

With staff who know all about 'self-marketing', engineering recruitment agencies are well-equipped to help you get your CV out there in front of potential employers. Not only that, they're great at highlighting your skills and building a strong case for why their clients should hire you specifically.

How can Tradestaff help?

Tradestaff is an industrial employment solutions company that has over two decades of experience in setting qualified candidates up with organisations in need of skilled tradesmen. We're always on the lookout for engineers and construction workers who are looking for some help marketing themselves to potential employers.

This process is completely free for candidates – whether you're looking for temporary or permanent work, we are in the business of making sure you get the job you are best suited for. For more information about Tradestaff, or to speak to a representative about marketing yourself as a skilled labourer, reach out to our team today.