Project Delays? Here Are 5 Tips To Effectively Manage Them!

Construction project delays can result in missed deadlines and overextended budgets. Increasing the time and money required to complete projects reduces revenue and the bottom line.

Project delays may occur for several reasons. Team members with limited experience may need more time to finish tasks. Customers might alter the project plans or withhold funding due to dissatisfaction with the project’s progress. Third parties who do not understand the details of the project plans, goals, or milestones may cause delays. Unforeseen circumstances can extend the time needed to finish a project.

As a project manager, understanding common causes of project delays helps you effectively manage them.

Implement These Five Tips to Effectively Manage Construction Project Delays

1.    Thoroughly Plan The Project

Proper planning is your strongest defense against project delays. Having a well-developed plan decreases the uncertainty and risks involved in project completion.

Use a project management system to create and manage tasks and deadlines, visualize the steps and details, and track progress. By using a project management system, you can proactively solve problems and effectively manage project delays.

2.    Gather Accurate Project Data

Collect comprehensive estimates of timing and task duration. Use this data to prepare your initial project schedule.

Ask questions to evaluate the accuracy and relevance of the data. Determine whether current issues and challenges may need to be addressed when creating your project schedule.

3.    Set Realistic Deadlines

Use data from similar projects and previous experience to set appropriate deadlines. Having realistic deadlines encourages your team to create quality work in the given timeframe, minimizing project delays.

4.    Clarify Task Dependencies

Determine how the project tasks and milestones are connected. If a delay with one task occurs, you can change the schedule and have your team work on another task. When the issue is resolved, you can modify the schedule to complete the original task. Shifting tasks in the event of a delay reduces the impact of the delay on the project as a whole.

5.    Regularly Meet With Your Team

Meet with your team to set goals, milestones, and timelines for the project. Ensure each member understands their role in the project’s execution. Address questions and concerns.

Continue meeting regularly to discuss progress, answer questions, and resolve issues. This helps effectively manage project delays.

Need To Hire Construction Workers?

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Is Trade School Right For You?

Are you interested in limiting the time and money needed to earn a professional certificate, license, or degree? Have you thought about learning a skilled trade to build a well-paying, long-term career? If so, trade school may be right for you.

Trade school provides specialized training for specific career paths. You might become a plumber, electrician, construction manager, or heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) technician. This type of training often requires less time and money than attending a four-year college.

Earning a certificate, license, or degree from a trade school can help you create the career and lifestyle you want. Completing a relevant apprenticeship or vocational program and starting your first job can provide a foundation for long-term success.

Consider the following information to determine whether trade school is right for you.

Admission Process

Trade schools have a straightforward admission process. You must show you earned a high school diploma or GED, sign up for the appropriate program, and provide payment. Unlike four-year colleges, trade school admission does not entail competition with other potential students for acceptance.

Affordability

Trade school tends to be much less expensive than a four-year college. The average cost of a four-year college is at least $100,000 more than a trade program.

Time Investment

On average, full-time students can complete a Trade School program in 2 years or less, allowing them to enter the workforce sooner.

Job Security

Because trade schools are tailored to specific professions, they have excellent career placement programs and ties to local companies in the industry. Performing well in your program and securing a certificate, license, or diploma will help you land a job. This sets the foundation for long-term career growth.

Tips To Select A Trade School

  1. Look for a program in an in-demand field. You want to establish a career with numerous job openings and long-term growth potential. Reviewing the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics can help.
  2. Determine the complete program cost. Plan how you will pay for it.
  3. Look for online courses. This is especially important if you have a busy schedule or limited local options.
  4. Consider the program’s job placement opportunities, including whether local businesses typically hire from the program and what the placement rates are.
  5. Talk with the program’s career experts or previous graduates to see whether the process meets your expectations. Proceed accordingly.

Ready To Land Your First Job?

Partner with Trade Management to secure your first skilled trade job. Use this link to register with us.

Important Things To Know When Becoming An Electrician

Electricity is an essential part of virtually every area of life. As a result, electricians always are in demand.

Becoming an electrician sets the foundation for a rewarding career. The ongoing need for electricity, especially in construction, provides seemingly endless professional opportunities.

The following are important things to know when becoming an electrician.

Becoming An Electrician Requires Years Of Training And Experience

Becoming an electrician starts with being an electrical apprentice. This involves going to school and learning from a master electrician for four years.

You need approximately 2,000 hours of hands-on training to become an electrician. Then, you can begin working independently.

You Likely Need to Become Licensed

Many states require licensing to work as an electrician. This means enrolling in a class, gaining on-the-job training, and taking an exam to earn a license.

You Must Choose An Area Of Expertise

The focus of your electrical apprenticeship may be on commercial or residential work. A commercial electrician works in offices or buildings. A residential electrician works in home construction and maintenance.

You may become an industrial technician or a lineman. An industrial technician works in factories, data centers, or other large facilities. A lineman brings electricity from the electrical plant’s public lines to the outside contact of the home or building.

Working As An Electrician Can Be Dangerous

Being an electrician involves working with high-power electrical equipment. As a result, shock hazards and arc flash hazards create risks of burns or electrocution.

Other common hazards from working in elevated locations include:

  • Slips
  • Trips
  • Falls
  • Lacerations from sharp edges or tools
  • Pinch and nip points from rotating equipment

You must be ready to work in the rain, snow, heat, or cold. Dressing in personal protective equipment (PPE) that is appropriate for the weather and work conditions is essential.

Examples of PPE include:

  • Nonconductive hardhat
  • Arc-rated hood
  • Balaclava
  • Face shield
  • Nonconductive safety glasses or goggles
  • Arc-rated, natural fiber long-sleeve shirts, pants, jackets, coats, overalls, or coveralls
  • Hearing-protective inserts
  • Rubber-insulated gloves
  • Leather-protected sleeves
  • Leather electrical hazard-rated footwear

You Can Earn a Competitive Income

Engaging in an electrical apprenticeship involves earning an hourly wage for your training as you go to school. After you complete your apprenticeship, you can secure a full-time job with higher wages or salary.

An electrician’s income depends on skills, experience, location, area of expertise, and other factors. Your income can increase as you gain experience. Becoming a master electrician also helps grow your income.

Ready To Begin Working As An Electrician?

Partner with Trade Management to land your first job as an electrician. Apply to our current openings!

How To Effectively Manage Employees Who Have More Tenure Than You

Effectively managing employees who have more tenure than you can be challenging. They may be more focused on your limited experience with the organization than how you can help them achieve their goals.

The employees you manage might have preconceived notions about your competence or ability to lead. This impacts the level of trust between you and your team.

As a result, you must demonstrate your ability to coach your team, provide guidance, and navigate forward. The following suggestions can help.

Implement these tips to effectively manage employees who have more tenure than you.

Talk With Your Employees

Schedule time to talk with each employee about their daily routine, challenges, and feedback on the department. Show you want to collaborate with your team to make decisions.

Employees who have more tenure than you typically know things about the company that you do not. Therefore, asking for their input helps effectively manage them.

Your employees have different skills and more experience with the organization than you do. Use these advantages to work together to reach company goals.

Confidently Make Decisions

Express confidence in making business decisions. This shows your team you are highly competent in your role.

Include your employees in as many discussions as possible. Show that their knowledge and input are valued and appreciated. This promotes feelings of authority and respect.

Promote Learning

Encourage your employees to prioritize learning. This helps them advance within the organization. Your employees will appreciate your support for moving forward in their careers.

Accept Responsibility

Admit when you make a mistake. Determine what went wrong. Learn how to do better next time.

Leading by example sets the standard for your employees. It models the behaviors you want to see from them.

Support Your Employees’ Success

Clarify your expectations for your employees. Provide the resources needed to perform the work. Hold your team accountable for their results.

Acknowledge your employees’ knowledge and abilities. Ask how you can help your team better perform their work. Respond accordingly.

Publicly acknowledge your employees’ successes. Privately provide constructive feedback to improve performance.

Looking For Help Hiring?

Find the best construction or skilled trade workers by including Trade Management in your hiring process. Learn more today.

TRADE MANAGEMENT WINS CLEARLYRATED’S 2023 BEST OF STAFFING CLIENT AWARD

SOUTH BEND, IN – FEBRUARY 14, 2023 – Trade Management, a leading staffing agency, announced today that they have won the Best of Staffing Client Award for providing superior service to their clients. Presented in partnership with presenting sponsor Indeed and gold sponsor Talent.com, ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing® Award winners have proven to be industry leaders in service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients. On average, clients of winning agencies are 70% more likely to be completely satisfied with the services provided compared to those working with non-winning agencies. Trade Management received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10 from 65.7% of their clients, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 46%.

“I’m beyond grateful for our Trade Management team and their repeat recognition for this Best of Staffing award,” said COO Tara Burns.  Our Trade Management team is the epitome of resilience, and they continually strive to go above and beyond to meet the skilled needs of our clients – who are the foundation of our success.  I appreciate our client’s continued trust and confidence and their choice of Trade Management as their go-to valued staffing partner.

“I am pleased to introduce the 2023 Best of Staffing winners alongside their validated service ratings on ClearlyRated.com,” said ClearlyRated’s CEO, Eric Gregg. “These firms have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to delivering amazing experiences, despite another year of upheaval and macroeconomic uncertainty. Hats off to these service leaders – it’s truly an honor to recognize and celebrate their achievements.”

About Trade Management

Trade Management opened in 2005 with a simple yet effective strategy: Focus on finding skilled and dependable employees, and the clients will come. Staying true to that simple philosophy has grown Trade Management from our small, one-man office to a growing business with 9 offices nationwide. We source quality electricians, carpenters, plumbers, millwrights, pipefitters, welders, painters, and a variety of other skilled labor professionals for small and large jobs alike. Trade Management is a two-time Best of Staffing winner operating as the skilled trades staffing division of the Peoplelink Group. Peoplelink Group has ranked 6 separate times on the Inc. 5000 list since its inception. In addition to Inc. 5000, Peoplelink ranks in at #106 on Staffing Industry Analysts’ list of Largest Staffing Firms in the US, as the 32nd largest industrial staffing firm in the US and has recently been named one of the Top 100 Staffing Firms to Work For in 2023.

About ClearlyRated

Rooted in satisfaction research for professional service firms, ClearlyRated utilizes a Net Promoter® Score survey program to help professional service firms measure their service experience, build online reputation, and differentiate on service quality. Learn more at https://www.clearlyrated.com/solutions/.

About Best of Staffing
ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing® Award is the only award in the U.S. and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients, placed talent, and internal employees. Award winners are showcased by city and area of expertise on ClearlyRated.com—an online business directory that helps buyers of professional services find service leaders and vet prospective firms with the help of validated client ratings and testimonials.

Alternative Procurement’s Benefits

Alternative procurement is becoming more common in creating infrastructure. These collaborative delivery practices are different from traditional low-bid or hard-bid contracting.

The contractor is involved in both the planning and design phases of a project using alternative procurement. This allows more effective management of costs and risks.

Alternative procurement lets the client choose the best team for a project. This type of input builds stakeholder trust.

One example of alternative procurement is the construction manager/general contractor (CM/GC) project delivery method. After the owner awards a pre-construction services contract, the owner, designer, and contractor collaborate on the direction of the project. The stakeholders develop the scope, optimize the design, improve the quality, manage the costs, and share the risks. These actions optimize the quality and efficiency of the project.

Optimizing the products, services, and business processes involved in design development improves project delivery and addresses sustainability issues. These actions increase the project’s success.

Discover how alternative procurement can benefit your company.

Hiring Based on Qualifications

The owner uses a qualifications-based selection (QBS) method to decide who works on the project. This minimizes the issues faced when hiring solely on cost.

  • The owner selects the designer and contractor based on resume, experience, and references.
  • The contractor can use experienced workers for each part of project delivery.

Greater Trust Among Stakeholders

Increasing trust among the owner, designer, contractor, and community increases the project’s success.

  • Alternative procurement methods let the team more effectively address community feedback about the project.
  • Listening to community feedback helps minimize opposition to the project.

Improved Delivery

Optimizing the products, services, and business processes involved with the project improves delivery.

  • The contractor gives comprehensive advice about schedule, innovation, constructability, risk mitigation, and cost at each design milestone.
  • The owner and designer can reassess and change the plan as needed.

Diverse Perspectives

The owner, designer, and contractor share their perspectives on a project.

  • Multiple points of view help develop effective methods to meet community needs.
  • The infrastructure provides diverse community benefits.

Source Workers for Projects

Trade Management has the skilled trade professionals needed to complete your construction projects. Learn more today.

Construction Career Goals for the Upcoming Year

Setting your construction career goals helps you move forward in your professional path. Understanding the qualifications needed to land your next role helps you prepare accordingly.

Developing career goals is especially important for the construction sector. In this evolving and competitive industry, you must have clarity about where you are in your professional path and what you can do to advance.

Begin creating your construction career goals now for the new year. Taking action to improve the areas that need work provides a foundation to advance your career.

Follow these steps to create construction career goals for 2023.

List Your Professional Details

Write down your construction skills, work experience, strengths, accomplishments, values, and current projects and responsibilities. This information helps determine what you want to accomplish in the next 12 months. Clarifying your professional details helps identify logical next steps in your career path.

Determine Your Destination

Consider what your dream construction job is. Then, find out what your next role should be to move toward this position.

If there are many steps between your current job and your dream job, break down the steps into a realistic timeline. Then, determine the action you can take this year to move toward your dream job.

Perform a Gap Analysis

Compare your current performance level with the level you want to be at in the next 12 months. For instance, check job postings that match your skills, experience, and interests. Then, rate your competency in each of the job requirements.

Pay close attention to the areas you need to improve. Then, develop goals to boost your performance in these areas.

Developing your skills increases your job qualifications. The more skills you have, the greater your eligibility for the opportunities that interest you.

Set SMART Goals

Create specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timebound (SMART) goals to develop the areas that need improvement. For instance, if you need to learn construction software, consider taking a class to learn the technology.

Following the SMART goal-setting process clarifies each step you should take and when to take it to reach your goals. Relating your goals to your career development provides motivation to continue making progress.

Ready to Find Your New Job?

Let Trade Management help you find a new job for the new year. Register with us today.

3 Mindset Shifts and Strategies to Overcome Resignation Challenges

Most construction companies are struggling to retain employees during The Great Resignation. According to Hinge Research Institute’s 2022 report Navigating the Mid-Career Talent Crisis, much of these resignation challenges have to do with a culture clash between mid-career employees and the leaders running the company.

The report showed that in 2021, employees between the ages of 30 and 45 were more likely to leave their jobs than other employees. Approximately 30% of employees in this demographic quit their jobs. Thirty-three percent of these employees did not have another job lined up.

Hinge Research Institute’s 2022 report Culture Clash: The Employee Experience Problem and How to Fix It showed that 80% of employees were dissatisfied or on the fence about their workplace culture. Mid-career employees tended to be the most dissatisfied. Conversely, seasoned leadership and owners tended to be most satisfied with their workplace culture. These trends significantly contributed to employee resignation challenges.

Due to a lack of employees to complete onsite work, many construction companies are turning down contracts. Also, many employers are uncertain whether anyone will take over when they retire.

Fortunately, adopting mindset shifts and strategies can overcome this culture clash. Then, companies can reduce their resignation challenges and maintain their competitive edge.

Prioritize the following three mindset shifts and strategies to overcome your construction company’s resignation challenges.

Understand That Your Company Has a Great Deal to Offer Its Workforce

Know that your small or medium construction firm can compete with the more competitive salaries, benefits, and advancement opportunities that large firms offer. The reality is that larger organizations have more resignation challenges than smaller organizations.

Bigger companies have bigger gaps and less communication between management and mid-level employees. As a result, the bigger the company, the bigger the culture clash. Conversely, the smaller the company, the smaller the culture clash. This means smaller organizations can resolve the clash more easily than larger organizations.

Hire Graduates with Technological Skills

Although employees typically want to use the latest technology, most construction companies use older technology. As a result, most employers lack the tech skills to train employees when implementing modern technology.

You can resolve this issue by hiring recent graduates who excel in using technology. These new hires can maximize their skills by training experienced industry professionals to use the technology. In return, these professionals can share their knowledge, skills, and experience with the new hires.

Recruit High School Graduates

Decreasing college enrollment means fewer high school graduates are engaging in post-secondary education. This provides additional opportunities to recruit these graduates into the construction industry.

For instance, point out to recent high school graduates the competitive pay, benefits, and job security the construction industry offers. Also, mention that employers do not require a college degree to enter the field. Additionally, emphasize the ability to land apprenticeships, develop knowledge and skills, and potentially take over a business when the owner retires.

Need Help Adding to Your Team?

Trade Management has the skilled trade professionals needed to complete your construction projects. Get in touch with us today.

The Best Ways to Improve Your Construction Skills

Construction skills are key to completing onsite projects. Examples of these skills include machine operation, masonry, carpentry, and project management.

Proficiency in math, the ability to use common tools, and adherence to safety rules are important to construction employers. Demonstrating your construction skills can help you land the job that is right for you.

Follow these guidelines to improve your construction skills.

Stay Physically Fit

Maintaining your physical fitness increases your construction work performance. This also minimizes your risk of injuries. You can reach these objectives by eating healthy foods, exercising daily, and performing tasks that require dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

Embrace Technology

Staying current on construction technology promotes professional development. One example is reality capture, where you gather real-time information about project sites through drones, laser scanners, or other technology. Construction professionals use the information gathered to make decisions and determine their course of action.

You can regularly read professional websites and publications to learn about the latest developments in construction technology. You also can spend time using mobile apps, drones, and other emerging technology relevant to your work.

Learn New Construction Techniques

Methods to perform construction tasks like pipe fitting and drywall finishing continue to improve. Newer skills include working with modular construction practices, construction robotics, and offsite manufacturing strategies. These modern methods of construction minimize labor costs and improve construction quality, as well as reducing the time to complete projects.

Updating your construction techniques increases your on-the-job efficiency. You can develop your methods by reading industry publications, watching professional videos, or working with experienced construction professionals.

Participate in Classes

By remaining current on building materials, tools and equipment, and processes, you add value to construction projects. Consider engaging in continuing education through online classes, community colleges, or trade schools. You may want to take a heavy equipment operation class through a construction equipment manufacturer.

Engage in Safety Courses

Prioritizing safety is important for construction work. You may regularly read regulatory websites or publications, take safety classes, or earn safety certifications. OSHA offers free, and low-cost courses focused on important safety protocols.

Develop Your Soft Skills

Strong interpersonal skills are increasingly important as automation becomes more common. Your ability to interact professionally with others enhances your work performance.

For instance, displaying effective verbal, nonverbal, and written communication minimizes accidents, injuries, errors, and delays in completing projects. Also, through critical thinking, you can quickly adapt to project changes. Additionally, conflict management minimizes disruptions that could delay project completion.

You can develop your soft skills by reading about best practices in industry publications. Then, you can implement what you learned while on the job.

Looking for a Construction Job?

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Root Causes of Construction Company Failures

Running a successful construction business can be challenging. The high number of industry risks often causes companies to fail.

Multiple issues cause most construction company failures. Understanding the most common issues helps you avoid them.

Pay attention to these five root causes of construction company failures to increase your odds of success.

Insufficient Capital

Running a construction company requires a significant amount of capital. Tools, heavy equipment, vehicles, and other fixed assets require substantial amounts of capital.

Insufficient capital poses a substantial risk for a construction company. For instance, overleveraging, tying up funds in ongoing projects, and overinvesting in underutilized fixed assets may cause the company to access reserve capital. If the company leadership depletes the reserve capital, the business will be unable to manage unexpected events or get through lean times.

Improper Cash Flow

The amount of cash coming into and going out of the construction company must be effectively managed. This includes efficiently managing project budgets, billing for projects, and collecting invoices.

Responsibly managing cash flow allows the company to pay its expenses and debts, reinvest in the business, and maintain emergency reserves. Having more money going out than coming in can result in company failure.

Inadequate Workforce

A construction company is as good as its workers. This includes everyone from the executive leadership team down.

Having the right workers in place means they are engaged and productive. These workers perform efficiently, finishing the work both on time and within budget.

Offering competitive income and benefits, providing on-the-job training, and promoting from within create a culture that attracts and retains quality workers. Failure to fulfill these needs encourages workers to find employment elsewhere. The lack of a qualified workforce leads to company failure.

Subpar Project Performance

The projects a construction company takes on must be profitable. Determining which projects are the right fit for the business is important.

For instance, completing due diligence when estimating and job costing helps the company take on profitable work. Also, planning the work to complete the project on time and within budget increase the likelihood of making money. Additionally, having the right leadership, workers, and equipment help a project be profitable.

Failure to effectively manage projects may result in thin margins or substantial losses. Repetitive losses can result in the company’s failure.

Rapid Business Growth

A construction company’s expansion requires the proper knowledge, resources, and workforce. This growth may include taking on additional or larger projects, entering new geographic areas, or constructing new types of buildings.

Making incremental changes tends to be the most effective for company expansion. Conversely, a lack of research and planning can result in complications and company failure.

Need Help Adding to Your Team?

Trade Management has the skilled trade professionals needed to complete your construction projects. Learn more today.