Flick of a switch

There are countless reasons why someone might wish to pursue a new career path. Redundancy may force them into looking elsewhere; they might be transitioning from military to civilian life; they could be a retired sportsperson; or they could be bored, stuck in a rut and longing for a role offering better job satisfaction or work-life balance.

The concern for many is the risk of leaving an established career behind to pursue one in which they have little experience or few sector-specific skills. Despite the uncertainty, particularly with the financial implications of “starting again”, many industries now highlight the array of transferable skills that are desirable in a new hire from outside the sector – and construction is no different.

GoConstruct.org, a site funded by the CITB that offers careers advice to people looking to enter the industry, points to skill sets from several different industries, such as oil and gas, engineering and logistics and manufacturing, centred around workplaces that hold health and safety, procurement and project management skills in high regard. IT skills and experience with CAD and BIM systems are also on the wanted list.

Furthermore, the industry views soft skills, such as leadership and team management skills, problem solving and the ability to react quickly and efficiently, as desirable. 

Richard Gelder, director of the construction and property arm at recruitment firm Hays, says the construction sector’s pull factor is the diverse selection of opportunities it can offer. 

He explains: “With a variety of job roles available in sectors as diverse as project management, engineering, architecture and building services, the construction world is an inviting and prosperous industry to be part of. 

“However, those thinking of doing so need to be aware that some roles in the industry do require a number of years of either training or qualifications – so it’s advisable to conduct thorough research.”

Different routes

Apprenticeships are an opportunity to fill gaps in practical knowledge and experience, with the government’s apprenticeship standard for a variety of roles offering qualifications up to degree level, gained alongside practical work experience. 

Employers understand that recruiting from outside the construction circle can result in the benefits of a fresh approach to a project, says John Spottiswood, director of Heathrow Logistics Integration at Wilson James, who came into the industry from an armed forces background.

“When I joined Wilson James in my current role, the partnership was being renewed, and Wilson James wanted to offer the client something different. My background was lean management, so I could bring in some of the lessons of things like continuous improvement. 

“My armed forces background was in the Royal Logistics Corps, which meant I was able to deploy my knowledge in my civilian career.”

Discussing why he believes he has managed to climb the career ladder in construction – and why he has since hired individuals from an armed forces background himself – Spottiswood explains employers are looking for an “all-round package”.

“The military tends to produce individuals who are personable, understand good leadership, are mentally alert and have some ambition.

“But that is what employers are generally looking for – if those without military experience can demonstrate their personality and their softer skill set, then employers will listen. The individual needs to learn how to convert that general experience into what an employer is looking for.”

Gelder’s view is that while a significant portion of roles will always need previous experience within construction, skills shortages remain and firms are looking for an edge over their competitors.

“Competition for talent is fierce, so employers are starting to becoming more open-minded when it comes to recruiting talent from outside of construction in order to increase their talent pool for certain skills and roles.

“For roles such as project management, there is more opportunity for those outside the industry. We’ve seen an increase in consultancies hiring applicants from a professional consultancy background, like qualified accountants, who have excellent transferable project management skills.”

The following three case studies show the diverse employment backgrounds of people who have entered the construction sector.

Construction professionals from other industries: benefits and challenges