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Networking in Construction – Top 3 Ways to Network

Networking in Construction Top 3 Ways to Network

When it comes to finding reliable and skilled help, it can be easier said than done. With the number of skilled tradesmen steadily decreasing since the early 2000’s, as 35% of firms citing that they are unable to find skilled labor, building a network of subcontractors can be a differentiating factor for your business. Using various and innovative ways to attract and retain top talent, even when work may be slow can be a balancing act that even the most established businesses struggle to manage. Here are the top 3 ways that interior construction and remodeling experts recommend using for networking in construction.

  • Attend trade shows. These public events are great in terms of getting your company’s name out there for potential work, but they can also be effective ways to network with subcontractors looking for work. From the employee’s perspective, a company that can commit time and resources to attend trade shows may also offer competitive benefits and intangible perks that make it a top place to work. Even if you are not actively looking for subcontractors to fulfill an immediate need, having marketing collateral and team-specific information handy that you can pass out to interested attendees is an effective way to draw in skilled contractors.
  • Continuously post job advertising. Though this approach can be time-consuming to sort through resumes and proposals, it helps you to instantly build an internal database to pull from when you or the subcontractor needs help. Whether you utilize low-cost sites like CraigsList or local Chamber of Commerce job boards, having a running ad that you change every month (to keep updated) can be one of the best ways to build a robust pool of potential partners.
  • Ask internally for recommendations. Your current employees are often the most underutilized asset companies have. Perhaps your project manager knows of others in the industry looking for work, or a skilled carpenter may be able to give you a few names of reputable companies that you can outsource work to or establish a subcontracting agreement. The more you can get personal recommendations and referrals from employees you trust, the faster you can build a treasure trove of reliable and vetted people to work with.

These are just a small sampling of options you can leverage to grow your network. Other options include leveraging customer referrals, using social media platforms such as LinkedIn, or soliciting the local Chamber of Commerce for a list of contractors in your area of work. Either way, expanding your network of talent, organically over time can help you also grow your business and capabilities as well as the subcontractors business.

If you are looking for a skilled general contractor, who is licensed in every state, reach out to the award-winning Beam Team. We would be happy to schedule a no-strings-attached consultation to review the details of your next project.