Monthly Archives: May 2015

ConstructEfforts

Where to construct your efforts in 2015: Employment outlook for the Building and Construction industry

“You cannot build a dream on a foundation of sand.”

― T.F. Hodge

The future of Australia’s construction industry may seem doom and gloom amid mining fall-backs, declining investment levels, and rising pressures on resource-related project activity, however calamity is not upon us. Knowing where to invest your employment efforts, and in which sector more precisely, is key to maintaining and increasing your job prospects within the building and construction industry in 2015.

THE BLOOMING LOT: RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION

The value of residential building work is set to rise from $46.2 billion in 2012/13 to 60.9 billion in 2015/16. Of the 183,000 projects expected during this period, the apartment building sector is likely to witness the highest level of growth, with a 6.3% increase in projects.

THE SECURE LOT: COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

Rising at a rate of 3.2%, sustained growth is anticipated within the commercial construction industry. Majority of this growth is expected to occur through private building efforts, including offices, retail premises, and recreational buildings.

THE PROMISING LOT: INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION

Despite experiencing declining activity in electricity, sewerage, drainage, water supply, and pipelines, the future for infrastructure construction looks favourable, with an expected growth rate of 5%. Following an increase in investment, primarily from the NBN network, the telecommunications sector seems most hopeful (8.2%), while the Federal and State infrastructure plans for road and rail are expected to witness a revenue lift by 6%. This is followed closely behind by civil projects (5.2%), including port expansion.

THE STATE OF DEVELOPMENT

If you’re a job seeker looking to invest your efforts in solid soil, then knowing where all the activity is happening proves crucial. Fortunately for New South Wales natives, their resident state will be home to a large portion of building and construction activity. This is followed moderately by South East Queensland, and Victoria, and understandably so. States not as exposed to declining mining-related construction, such as NSW and VIC, have greater opportunities.

THE EMPLOYMENT LOT: JOB OUTLOOK FOR 2015

As one of the 16 industries expected to experience increased job offerings between 2015 and 2018, employment within the construction industry is set to grow by 137,900 jobs (13%). While outlooks for heavy and civil engineering construction are projected to suffer marginally, small home builders and occupations with greater exposure to the detached housing and apartment buildings sector, such as bricklaying, plastering, tiling, residential landscaping, and site management, appear to have the most to gain. Of these sectors, the greatest opportunities exist for off-site and sub-contract work.

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS IN 2015

1. Invest in the booming sectors

There’s no logic behind placing structures in sinking soil. Instead, you should focus your labour on burgeoning sectors. These include residential (apartment buildings), commercial (offices, retail, recreational buildings), and infrastructure construction (telecommunications, road and rail, and civil) industries.

2. Consider off-site and subcontract work

With demand for off-site and subcontract tradesmen eclipsing that of on-site work, it seems more beneficial to take on jobs under these arrangements. While such agreements may not work for you, they might be worth looking into.

3. Up your qualifications and get your trades license

It’s a tough and competitive world out there, and to secure a lot for future employment, you need a solid foundation on which to build. Having all the required qualifications and trades licenses to meet industry requirements and one-up your competition, can increase your chances of getting a job substantially, especially if you’ve got a superior line of skills locked in your tool-kit.
If you can’t afford to take any time off work, then you’ll be happy to know that you no longer have to. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) has made it easier than ever to turn your existing skills, knowledge and experience into Nationally Recognised Qualifications which may then be used to acquire your trades license. For more information about licensing requirements, click here.

If you’ve already got a qualification, it might be useful to consider merging into a more burgeoning sector of your industry by obtaining a qualification within that area too, especially if you’ve already got all the skills required to prove your competence. The following qualifications might help you increase your chances of landing a job in 2015.

Diploma Of Building And Construction (Building)
Certificate IV In Building And Construction (Site Management)
Certificate IV In Building And Construction (Building)
Certificate III in Bricklaying
Certificate III in Solid Plastering
Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling

SOURCE:
Australian Industry Group, 2014, Construction Outlook

Still-fit-for-work

Still fit for work? How to stay in employable shape with age!

Walk, run or jog all you want, sometimes it seems as though the “youngsters” are getting the upper hand in most things these days. Not only have their faces not yet experienced the harsh realities of wrinkledom, but it’s starting to seem like they are better equipped than most to land the majority of jobs available within the Australian labour market, especially with the recent rise in technological developments which have demanded the acquisition of new work skills.

Being an older worker in a constantly evolving workforce is never easy, but never has it seemed as imperative as now to pump up those skills and increase one’s employability. The growing pressure of the aging population on economic growth has extended the participation age of older Australians, with the latest Treasury Intergeneration Report pointing to an increase in the eligibility age for the means-tested age pension from 65 to 67.

Yet despite pushing for longer workforce attachment, current workforce trends appear to be anything but “age friendly”. Work intensification strategies characterised by excessive hours, unrealistic benchmarks, family unfriendly arrangements, and high levels of competitiveness are slowly emerging, and such conditions are set to hinder the ability of workers to maintain employment well into their late 60s.

This is particularly true for older Australians who have expressed having a harder time regaining jobs once they are lost, with the average duration of unemployment for Australians aged 45 years and over being 62 weeks, compared to the 34 weeks for Aussies under 45, and 24 weeks for those under 25.

While workers higher up the hierarchical ladder are more likely to experience employment stability, those either lower down the company chain or currently in unemployment, are most likely to undergo difficulty in getting a job. If workers are to remain employable well into their 60s, then it is crucial they apply strategies which will make them more job-fit than their younger-gen competitors.

How to stay job fit and outweigh younger job-hunters

1. Keep up with your industry

They often say that knowledge is power, and to keep up with the various changes happening in your industry, you need to stay informed. Be sure to monitor developments, such as technological and regulatory advances, and identify any new skills required to efficiently perform your daily tasks.

It might be the case that your industry requires qualifications which weren’t a prerequisite back when you first got your foot in the door. To rise above younger generations already equipped with the required licenses and qualifications, add a qualification to your trophy stand, and situate it right beside your experience.

If you feel that you simply don’t have the time or energy to take on board new study, there are always other options available like Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) which allows you to trade in your existing skills and experience for a qualification.

2. Take time to build yourself and your capabilities

With ongoing developments, you need to take the time to improve and build upon your capabilities. Start by exploring your options, understanding your current value, identifying where you want to be, and then determining what gaps exist between the role you are currently in or hope to attain, and your existing skill sets.

Having your skills assessed against industry benchmarks might be a useful way of highlighting these shortcomings, and can often be done in a highly cost-effective manner. A Free Skills Review is a useful tool for efficiently identifying the skills, knowledge and experience you currently have, and those which you might need to attain to stay abreast with your industry.

3. Have a strong social media presence

As it stands, your digital footprint is starting to become just as important as your physical one. With more than half of all Australians using Facebook and LinkedIn, social media has transformed the way companies operate their recruitment endeavours. Of all these, LinkedIn has emerged as the dominant favourite for recruiters and job seekers alike, followed by Facebook.

In response, professional networks such as LinkedIn are becoming instrumental catalysts in bringing about a new era of recruitment that is optimised for both employer and employee. This makes having a strong social media presence of prime importance so as to effectively cater to the ongoing technological changes that give you that competitive advantage over your competitors. Learn more about optimising your social media resume here.

Always remember that you are never too old to do what you love. Learn to adapt to current workforce trends and industry requirements so as to either keep your job, obtain a new one, or simply remain in tip-top employable shape for years to come.

Social media might be an alternative to the more traditional resume form, however knowing how to apply the correct principles to the non-social counterpart, can go a long way in making your job application stand out, and help you score that interview you’ve been waiting for.

THE JOB SCORING FORMULA: KNOW WHAT TO DO

As with all efforts, you want your resume to:

a) Be selected by the hiring manager for an interview, and
b) Deliver a captivating image of who you are, whilst highlighting your professional value to the company in an honest and compelling way.

To do this, it’s useful to apply the following principles of effective resume writing.

1. DO tailor your resume

There is nothing worse than sending out a resume that is not catered to essential criteria. The hiring manager wants to know how you’ll be able to help the company grow by applying the skills necessary to carry out tasks, so make sure that your resume is targeted to the position you seek. Carefully observe criteria. If the role requires certain skills and qualifications, then make sure that you’re a good fit and that your resume is a good reflection of this.

2. DO make your skills shine

It’s always important to have the right skill sets to work in your industry, and knowing how to highlight these within your resume can either make or break your chances of being considered for an interview. Begin by examining the job criteria, and then tailoring each of your specialities accordingly. When delving into your skills, state what each one is, and then proceed by providing examples which demonstrate your application of the skill, and evaluating your performance. Conducting an inventory of your skills is never easy, but there are useful tools available which can ease the process. A Free Skills Review might be beneficial to help you evaluate your more functional skills, whilst determining your suitability for your career.

3. DO give your qualifications prime space

Your qualifications are the first indication of the skills and achievements that you possess. Simply stating your skills will have no effect, if you don’t have qualifications with which to underpin your claims, so give them prime space within your resume to increase your chances of being considered for an interview.

You’d be surprised by how many qualifications you’re actually eligible for, and just how great of an effect upping your qualifications at the Certificate, Diploma and/or Advanced Diploma levels can have on giving your career ultimate boost. Skills Recognition and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) have made it possible for people to use their existing skills, knowledge and experience to receive qualifications in as little as weeks. This means you could be upping your qualifications from the comfort of your home or office without undertaking any courses or classroom study, and all in time for that job.

4. DO use data and examples to illustrate your points

Using examples which quantify the impact you had on a company, illustrate your skills and experience by proving there is sizzle to the steak. Any accomplishment can be quantified, and using bullet points, facts and figures can help you demonstrate your skills more successfully.

5. DO pay attention to design

If you thought your content was the only thing warranting attention, then think again. You should be paying just as much attention to design. After all, if your words are not properly structured, there is little chance the hiring manager will give the content a second, interview-scoring glance. For most creative industries, a portfolio-based resume is the standard, however even professional resumes need to follow some simple guidelines, such as using bullet points and horizontal lines to separate different sections of your resume. A carefully thought out arrangement is better than an unstructured mess!

THE JOB SCORING FORMULA: KNOW WHAT NOT TO DO

1. DON’T make things up.

Remember, honesty is the best policy. It’s one thing to demonstrate that you are a good fit by tailoring your resume to job criteria, but it’s another thing entirely to make false claims, such as possessing qualities you don’t have. The truth always has a habit of coming out.

If you find yourself lacking the skills required to take on a new job, and are looking to increase your job performance, begin by updating your knowledge bank.
Consider taking your current and more functional skill sets, and giving them the ‘training treatment’. This can be achieved by attending seminars, workshops, undergoing workplace training or taking an online course. Various Registered Training Organisations in Australia offer simple, yet effective courses that can help reinvigorate your career and improve your skills. If you’re in the Business and Management industry, Get Qualified Australia Institute has some useful courses which can help you brush up on your business skills.

2. DON’T include outdated or irrelevant experience

Nothing will set you below the interview-consideration line like outdated experience irrelevant to the role you’re applying for. Give your recent experience the most weight, and only include positions which demonstrates your suitability to the role. While it’s useful to include volunteer experience in your resume, it’s hardly likely that employers will be swayed by that check-out role you held 15 years ago at a local supermarket, if you’re applying for a nursing position. It doesn’t demonstrate your suitability to the role at hand.

3. DON’T fall victim to information overload.

Your resume is not an autobiography – it’s your personal ad. To sell yourself as effectively as possible, you need to consider the quality of your words above their quantity. Remove fluff and make every word count, giving each bullet point no more than one to two lines of text. Focus on your key accomplishments and address the company’s needs. Also avoid using personal pronouns such as “I” or “my”. The Hiring Manager doesn’t care about your life story. He or she cares about your professional worth.

4. DON’T provide personal data

Personal data, such as your marital status, gender, age, religion and other non-work-related data can be incorrectly, and at time unconsciously, used to discriminate against applicants. Avoid placing this information in your resume, especially when it does not add anything of value.

Apply this job-winning, interview-scoring formula and watch your career prospects grow!