The construction industry is a sector where there’s huge demand and the growth is only going to continue to rise in the coming years. For this reason, employability is essential and many schools, colleges and global businesses are developing a range of initiatives to encourage people to either train for this industry or to retain employees already in the sector. Career counselling is one way of achieving this, helping people to manage the stresses of the job, achieve a fulfilling career and gain practical advice when they face challenges.
What does career counselling offer?
Life coaches and career counsellors are trained to use specialist techniques to help you with all aspects of your personal or professional life, from building your confidence at work to improving your work-life balance and helping you to forge better relationships with your colleagues.
Whether you’re new to the workforce and trying to navigate job applications with minimal experience or you’re an established professional with many years of work experience, speaking to a trained counsellor can help you feel less bewildered by the industry and more supported when making decisions about your career. Just as you can gain clarity and overcome roadblocks in your personal life through counselling, a career counsellor can help you break down your larger goals into manageable steps and adopt strategies to tackle any problems you might face.
Understand your options
There are many roles you can take on within the construction industry, and it can make developing your career difficult if you’re unsure which trajectory to take. When you seek out career coaching with a professional, you’re able to discuss the various options available to you to help you come to the best decision based on your experience, skill set and interests. With your coach, you’ll be able to understand which influencing factors might be swaying your decision and whether you need additional education or training to pursue your career goals. The need to gain qualifications or practical work experience can be a daunting prospect for some, so having a clear outline of what’s required can help minimise the worry and stress around this.
Determine your strengths and weaknesses
Speaking to a career counsellor or life coach can help you determine what your strengths and weaknesses are, and this is essential in developing a career that is rewarding and utilises your skills to the best of your abilities. Even if your career is on the right track, there are likely to be areas where you want or need to improve, and speaking to a counsellor can help you identify these areas and help you learn how to improve. The right counsellor will help to broaden your perspective and build confidence, so you can strategize more effectively and achieve your career goals faster.
Better mental health and balance
Mental health issues are highly prevalent in the construction industry, with many widespread concerns such as anxiety, substance abuse and depression. It’s only recently that this topic has begun to gain momentum with less stigma. As a male-dominated industry, along with the stressors and rigours of the sector, mental health problems are common. In fact, 40% of absences within this industry are due to poor mental health. This is one area of the industry that career counselling can help alleviate and reduce, from helping workers build self-confidence to perform better at work to learning how to deal with stress, improving the ability to manage teams more efficiently and helping employees to find balance between their professional and personal lives.
Final thoughts
The construction industry is an area that many countries around the world are investing more money into in order to encourage people to join the sector and to help fill the huge quantity of vacancies that the construction industry has. Over the coming years, this demand is only going to increase and the industry will continue to grow.
But for those considering a career change, those currently in training for a construction role or professionals already in the industry, speaking to a career counsellor about their role, whether current or prospective, can be enormously beneficial. It’s always helpful to discuss issues you’re facing, but in talking to a professional who has experience in handling such topics, you can gain an objective perspective and additional knowledge to help you make the right choices.
