Good Morning!
Happy Saturday to the Laying Foundations community!
Last week Walker shared his perspective on how to attract employees. The systems outlined can help you internally as a company. This week I want to focus on how to broadcast your message externally.
Today’s issue takes about 5 minutes to read and was written for you by Davis Hambrick.
Enjoy!
Quote Of The Week
Choose Your Hard – Dr. John Delony
How do you stand out as a company in today’s working climate?
I don’t believe I can answer that question fully in one newsletter, but there are things your company or business can be doing right now to attract entry-level employees.
Before we get there, let’s talk about how the construction industry has done a terrible job marketing itself to people who are not in our industry. Today’s construction companies are competing against the likes of Apple, Amazon, & Tesla… talk about disheartening.
Every person in the world has an iPhone (sorry, Android users). Every person has bought something from Amazon, and it is delivered to their doorstep in two days. And everyone knows who Elon Musk is and what his plethora of companies are each respectively doing.
You might be thinking, “Davis, you are comparing apples to oranges – the construction industry is nowhere similar to Apple, Amazon, or Tesla.” I would completely agree with you, but that doesn’t change the reality of how every kid in America will grow up knowing those companies.
The question you should be asking is will they know about your company?
Now that I have painted the picture, let’s talk about three steps that will help you broadcast your message and attract new employees.
1. Host A Podcast
If you don’t already know by now, Walker Lott and I have the privilege of hosting a construction podcast whose mission is “to equip the next generation of builders.” Walker and I both are extremely biased in this step, but we believe it is a game changer.
Hosting a podcast can be used for multiple reasons. Personally, it has helped me grow relationally like anything before. Professionally it has helped get rid of my fear of public speaking and meeting new people.
At the company level, it can be used to share internally and externally. You can create podcasts based on your company’s values and mission and share stories of the history of your people.
You can have people on from your company but also invite people you have relationships with outside of your company that can be interviewed and talk about what it was like doing business with your respective company.
The cool thing about this step is that it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to start and develop – all it takes is someone who has grit and will show up consistently. By having a podcast, you are putting long-form information about your company that could spark their interest in what you do.
2. Create A YouTube Channel
Every construction company that has the resources available should have a YouTube Channel. You arguably have one of the greatest assets in the world, where people can go to learn anything and whenever they want. Now imagine a high school student who wanted to enter construction because he or she saw amazing content on YouTube.
You have access to job sites where you can go film people doing amazing work; you can interview people on the job site and share why they entered the construction industry. You can capture heavy equipment and tower cranes moving around the job. The sky’s the limit on how creative you can get.
During COVID, the DIY/Construction section of YouTube shot up tremendously. People are fascinated with others that can create and build with their bare hands. Give the people what they want and attract them into our industry by creating outstanding content.
Lastly, Aaron Witt has created a movement in the dirt world of the construction industry. His team has an outstanding YouTube Channel; go check it out and tell me you wish your company didn’t have something like that to gravitate people towards.
3. Use Social Media
Everyone is tapped into their phone, and we all have social media channels. For me, it is flooded with awesome creators, construction professionals, and people who give me a tremendous ability to learn.
For your respective company, you should be posting social media content at a minimum of 3x a week. The important thing is not to worry about Hollywood-level content but to get started and post regularly.
You can post when you start a new project or won a new bid, or have an awesome employee that deserves recognition.
You have to go where the next generation is – their phones. If we have any shot at attracting the next generation, I believe these three steps can help.
Quality of the Week: Growth mindset – people believe their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work – Carol Dweck
20-Year-Old Self Advice: Learning from failure leads to success.
I know this newsletter is a little different than our normal leadership lessons, but it is important to attract the next generation. We believe we are creating content to help equip the next generation. Now the next step is attracting them. If you need help with any of the steps listed above, reach out to us at contact@laying-foundations.com, we would love to help you in any way we can.
Check out episode 117 on The Laying Foundations Podcast!
Join us for a conversation with the CEO of Mobilization Funding, Scott Peper. Scott started his construction journey working for his dad as a part-time glazer during the summers between school. During that time, Scott saw his dad’s balance sheet – a cardboard box. Now, Scott & his team help contractors get funding before the work starts and teaches them about cash flow.
