HOW TO STAND OUT TO A CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYER

Standing, out


RESEARCH the company and design your resume/cover letter for that employer. Employers are impressed by someone who's genuinely interested in and excited about the position. Show them you did your research and know your stuff.

INCLUDE A COVER LETTER *For the professional applying to construction sector
A cover letter is important for the professional positions including accountants, estimators etc. (Note: For most trade positions, a cover letter is not necessary as employers are more interested in the resume content.) If you’re looking for information about cover letter expectations in Canada, this government resource is a good starting point.

SUBMIT A CLEAR 1-2 PAGE RESUME *For the tradesperson
The resume is your time to shine. Remember, you can shine on paper without stuffing in descriptive fluff. Take the time to write about your past experience and stick to highlighting the key details. 

We have materials to help you build your construction resume. Take a look at this video and read this guide.

Also, our Skills Assessor is able to review your resume to ensure it showcases your skills and meets BC construction employer expectations. Get in touch with Matthew and the team today. 

In the interview

ARRIVE EARLY
It's best practice to arrive 5 - 10 minutes early.

DRESS PROFESSIONALLY 

SMILE 
Body language matters and be aware of your posture. You want to be natural but not too relaxed that you appear disinterested or bored. Don’t be afraid to engage in casual conversation when it’s appropriate.

MAKE EYE CONTACT with the interviewer.

RESPOND TO QUESTIONS confidently, truthfully and completely.
Avoid talking about your personal or financial problems.

PROVIDE PAST WORK EXAMPLES 
Highlight a problem at your previous job, the action you took to resolve that problem, and the successful result of your action. (An employer will evaluate how you answer these and other questions to determine how well you work with others, how well you solve problems on your own and how well you work under supervision.)

LISTEN closely and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you need clarity.

DON’T LINGER
When the interview ends, shake the interviewer’s hand and thank them for the interview.

Post-interview

SEND A THANK YOU LETTER/EMAIL
Unless the employer asks you to contact them, the only contact you should make after the interview is to send a thank you letter. You can send your thank you via email. Your letter should state that you are interested in the position and that you appreciate the employer’s time.

More post-interview tips available here. 


Previous posts: 

Newcomers Networking in Canada
Five Work Site Essentials for BC Construction 

Get in touch with us


If you’re a newcomer to Canada, BCCA-IN could help you too! Contact Natalie and the team today by emailing newcomers@bccassn.com.

If you're looking to apply to the BCCA-IN program, please click below to fill out the Application form. 

Apply Now 

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