The architecture, engineering and construction industry is fairly cyclical. Not only is it impacted by economic conditions, but also by factors such as the changing seasons. Fortunately, influences such as these are at least relatively predictable. A few examples include, increased:

• Design billings throughout the fall and winter months, due to the need for companies to plan for the upcoming year’s projects.
• Construction starts during the spring, a result of builders wanting to take advantage of the warmer weather and longer days.
• Production during autumn, spurred by companies striving to wrap up their work before the weather turns and the year ends.

With autumn around the corner, are you confident that your team is on track? If there is any doubt, there is no time to waste. Problems can quickly compound on the job site if they are not addressed in a timely and intelligent manner. Before long, they could jeopardize the success of the project(s) and the business’ strategic goals.

THREE TIPS TO BUILD UP YOUR TEAM FOR PEAK PRODUCTION THIS FALL SEASON

Optimizing your team during the busy autumn season is essential in the construction industry. In ideal situations, proper planning enables companies to anticipate their needs to create an adequate team for the tasks at hand. Unfortunately, mistakes happen, unforeseen issues arise and the best laid plans can fail. When uncertainty grows, it’s imperative to determine your risks and evaluate your options. The following two tips can help you increase your chances of success this autumn season.

Optimizing your team during the busy autumn season is essential in the construction industry. In ideal situations, proper planning enables companies to anticipate their needs to create an adequate team for the tasks at hand. Unfortunately, mistakes happen, unforeseen issues arise and the best laid plans can fail. When uncertainty grows, it’s imperative to determine your risks and evaluate your options. The following two tips can help you increase your chances of success this autumn season.

1. EVALUATE THE SITUATION

If you’re questioning whether your team will meet its quarterly or yearly goals, evaluate their current and foreseeable workload. Are they behind schedule? How far behind schedule are they? Are they over budget?

Once you understand the problem(s), dig deeper. What is keeping them from being successful? Is it the amount of work or the type of work that is challenging? Are your team members missing essential skills or tools needed to do their job effectively?

2. CREATE A PLAN

To establish a plan, evaluate and conclude what is needed to fill the gaps. Consider questions such as:

• Does your team need particular skills training or a different tool? Keep in mind that while this is fairly straightforward, it might take time to teach current employees something new, potentially putting your project(s) even further behind schedule.
• If you authorize overtime, would that enable your current workforce to get the job done and make up for lost time? Possibly, but it’s important to consider your employees’ well-being. Too much overtime could risk employee burnout, poor performance and high turnover.
• If you hired someone new, would it enable your team to achieve success? While it is often a great solution, it is also important to remember factors such as the cost of a long time-to-fill, the additional expenses associated with a new employee and general new hire risks (such as poor cultural fit and misrepresented skills and abilities).
• Does it make more sense to focus on your primary job and enlist help from an experienced workforce solutions provider? When you are already questioning whether your team will be able to wrap up a project on time and under budget, it often makes more sense to outsource the solution.

Essentially, you want to determine the most efficient and cost-effective way to ensure the project’s success without compromising the quality of work and your employees’ job satisfaction.

3. TURN TO THE PROFESSIONALS

In situations where companies have an unexpected need for talent, they often reach out to professional resources. However, the key to success is often finding the right partner. After all, these businesses are in need of highly qualified, skilled individuals, in a short amount of time. They don’t have time to wait through a long sourcing process, sift through inexperienced and unqualified applicants or interview potential candidates. They need the right person, right then.

A seasoned and specialized workforce solutions company, such as RealStreet, has the experience, proven processes and resources available to quickly match candidates to the job at hand. This saves clients an immense amount of upfront time and money. RealStreet also offers talent management solutions, enabling companies to hire employees for temporary or contract assignments, reducing the risk of bringing on a permanent employee. Without the added burden of new Human Resources and administrative tasks and expenses, our clients can focus on what is important to them, getting projects done on time and under budget.

Do You Need to Right-Size Your Team to Ensure Peak Productivity This Fall?

At RealStreet, we strive to be reliable architecture, engineering, and construction industry hiring experts at all times. We are completely dedicated to locating top-quality construction talent for every company that partners with us, aiming to put the “source” in human resources by providing support for your recruitment and hiring needs. If you are in need of qualified professionals to help you maintain peak productivity this fall, experience the RealStreet difference first-hand today. Contact us to see how our comprehensive and flexible services can assist you in locating your ideal construction candidates faster and more efficiently than ever before.