The skills shortage in the Scottish construction sector is well documented. As a young construction professionals making your first job move, you may garner an overwhelming level of interest from multiple employers, often making those early career moves a gut-wrenching process. Working with the right recruiter can, however, ease the process, helping you consider your options in-depth and make the right choice for you.
Reflecting on my first year at Contract Scotland, it was evident very quickly that recruitment is about so much more than vacancy fulfilment. Taking the time to understand the needs of our clients while delving into the motivations of our candidates has been paramount to finding success.
As a non-commission-based recruitment agency, consultants at Contract Scotland are awarded the time to truly understand the aspirations of the individuals we work with, allowing us to provide honest, unbiased appraisals of their suitability to our clients. We don’t have monthly commission targets to meet, so there is no incentive to push the first job offer that comes along. We actively encourage people to consider what they believe is going to be important to them long-term, providing a balanced view of the opportunities available to them in the hope of landing with the right employer and enjoying lasting job satisfaction.
So what are the factors to consider?
Firstly, it is crucial to understand and evaluate your ambitions. Is it a desire for career development? The prospect of a salary increase? A more favourable location? Or maybe a working environment that aligns better with your personality and personal values? We want to know what motivates you!
If, for example, career progression and development are key, we work to guide you toward positions that offer continuous growth and training opportunities. We also appreciate that to thrive in the workplace it is essential to be in an environment that aligns with your values and work ethic. Therefore understanding who you are as an individual is key to long-term success.
Appreciating the importance of a healthy work-life balance is essential in such a fast-paced and demanding industry. Balance can be different for everyone, though, from flexible hours and remote working to manageable workloads and time to switch off. As such, taking a more holistic view of your needs allows us to strive for better job satisfaction and greater staff retention for our clients.
Of course, the material things are important and there will be employers who will pay highly competitive salaries to entice you on board. However, we often encourage people to transcend the focus on higher salaries and think more deeply about their motivations, goals and values as we believe these factors have a genuine and lasting impact on job satisfaction and durability.
So if you are considering a job move but are uncertain as to where to begin, a discreet chat with the team here at Contract Scotland may be the right place to start. We’d love to hear from you. In addition to framing your motivations, we can provide up-to-date advice on the job market, giving you a sense of place and the opportunities available to you.
