Company Culture and how to recognise it in the Construction Industry

When looking for a job in Construction, the salary, location, seniority and company reputation will undoubtedly top the list of priorities in a search. But here, I want to consider the often-overlooked factor of company culture, and its clear correspondence with job satisfaction, longevity, career and promotion potential within a role.

What does Company Culture mean?

Company culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that characterise an organisation and guide its practices. In the context of careers in construction, this encompasses how team members interact, the standards for professional conduct, the emphasis on safety, the approach to problem-solving, and the overall work environment. It's the invisible force that influences how decisions are made, how employees are treated, and how work gets done.

Know what you are looking for

Start off by establishing what gives you, the employee, job satisfaction and well-being and consider how you can make these a reality in your workplace. For example, if you are committed to environmental and climate change issues, would you want to choose to opt for a company more committed to sustainability?

Or with the new arrival of AI causing upheaval for many sectors including construction, how would you feel about working alongside this emerging technology, and what sort of boundaries and guidance would you expect from a potential employer about its use?

Even more basic considerations, like your collaborative preferences, play a part. Are you a leader or team player or do you prefer working alone?  All of this has a bearing on what kind of company culture would be most appropriate for you.

Once you have identified the causes or priorities you are committed to, you can use your CV to express not only what you stand for but how you have turned words into actions and demonstrate your deployment of your values within your working day.

The Maxim Recruitment team endeavor to match candidate to client employer, and if you present yourself in a sincere way, this will undoubtedly aid our ability to match your character with a suitable employer with similar values. Having said this, avoid cliches or platitudes regarding values if you are unable to back them up with evidence of action to back them up.

A LinkedIn profile is a great place to display how your values and career align. LinkedIn can also offer the opportunity to gain an initial insight into a company’s culture. Companies will often make posts on social  channels so a window into their primary ethical practices and priorities.

Gauging Company Culture pre-interview

Having progressed to the shortlist of appropriate candidates, the preparation for an interview can be a perfect opportunity to assess company culture. Online material and familiarity with the company will give you a taste for the company and an opportunity to show you have done research and are committed to them as an employer.

During the Interview

The interview process is for an employer to gauge your suitability and ambition to secure and undertake the role, but they should also shed light on their company values and practice. By asking them questions about company culture and ethics, you not only demonstrate an active interest in company life but you will gain firsthand information that will help you if you progress past the interview stage, hopefully to job offer stage.

Why does it matter?

With all of this in mind, the utility of looking beyond salary and location is self-evident, to find a company aligned with your beliefs will create a symbiotic, complimentary relationship, with benefits to both organisation and individual. Company culture is certainly a concept to consider in a job search, but it also comes hand in hand with what the best candidates bring:

• An honest and lucid presentation of values and experience in the application.
• Thorough preparation and research prior to interview.
• The demonstration of interest through questioning.
• And in the end, the promise of becoming a valued member of the company.

If you manage to secure the right job role, collaboration with your employer will be greatly enhanced through connection and shared values, and thus, the capacity for promotion and pay rise negotiation will be much greater. Read how to negotiate a pay rise.  

So be a better candidate and get more out of your future role by considering company culture as an aspect of your career in construction.

Steve Thomas
Construction Recruitment Director, UK & Canada
Maxim Recruitment
LinkedIn

Steve is responsible for Maxim Recruitment in the UK and Canada. He is based in the Maxim head office in Leicester, UK and the Toronto office in Canada. He regularly travels to meet employers and job seekers and attend construction industry networking events in the UK, Canada and worldwide. Steve has over 25 years of experience in construction and property recruitment and enjoys working with many repeat clients. He manages dedicated search and headhunting assignments for a range of premium UK, Canadian and international clients.