You have been working in the construction industry for a few years, or maybe even a bit longer. You are good at your job. You are a fast learner, and you enjoy what you do. Slowly you are climbing up the ladder and with time, experience and perseverance you will go on to become a leader of your own right in the industry.
But you are also impatient. You do not want to wait and serve time to gain traction. And although there are some good opportunities for you at work, you want to become part of the wider conversation. To become part of the movement that is making the construction industry better. You want to gain different perspectives and to meet new people. To get involved in conversations that challenge you, outside your area of expertise.
Well first of all, good for you! That desire that you have for learning and improvement is admirable, and we desperately need people like you in the construction industry who are passionate and want to make a difference.
Join the professional bodies
Luckily there are many ways that you can make your mark. You could join one of the industry’s amazing professional bodies so that you can attend events and talks. You could work toward widely recognised industry charterships such as The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Association for Project Management (APM), RICS, RIBA , Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) (ICE) or Royal Town Planning Institute (RPTI). And you could join likeminded professionals in other amazing initiatives that support groups in the industry such as National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Mates in Mind or BPIC Network.
These routes will expand your horizons, develop your network and create all kinds of opportunities. You could end up sitting on industry boards, feeding into roundtable discussions and speaking at conferences. You could attend industry events, judge professional awards or mentor other people making their way up the career ladder. You could end up organising your own CPD events, facilitating site walks or just simply grabbing a coffee with a likeminded connection.
Find upskilling opportunities
To accelerate your career you could also find upskilling opportunities. Professional development is an easy way to expand your knowledge, develop new skills and meet new people. Try experimenting with different courses. Take one in an area that you know you are weak in. Take courses that are on subject matters outside the scope of your day job. Try CPD that not only teaches technical skills, but also helps to develop you as an rounded individual and leader. You could enrol BuiltWell Project Management, on my high impact Project Management and Wellbeing course that teaches you how to lead with confidence, become more efficient and accelerate your success.
Become a subject matter expert
And finally, to really accelerate your career you should consider becoming a subject matter expert. Go back to the drawing board and ask yourself what it is that you love about the industry. What was it that made you join construction specifically and what are the topics that you find fascinating? Find the option that most grabs your attention and decide to become an expert in that area.
Research it. Enrol in CPD. Follow experts on LinkedIn. Reach out to leaders in the field to ask for their advice. Find a mentor. Go to events that focus on this area. Find any way you can to develop your knowledge to the best of your ability. And then once you are confident and rounded in that subject matter, share your knowledge and passion with the world.
The industry needs you to
For the construction industry to keep up with the global rate of change we need you. We need your passion, your commitment and your enthusiasm. We need you to decide to take initiative, step up and do something different.
So if you want to accelerate your career, become a rounded knowledgeable industry professional, develop your network and have a platform for your voice, try popping your head above the parapet using one of the tips above. All it takes is for you to be bold, inquisitive and brave. So what is stopping you?!