Across the industry, construction hiring is on the rise, and HBW is on trend! We hire strategically, forecasting by as much as six months and prioritizing the right fit. Take a look at careers in construction with HBW.
The construction industry is growing. Here at HBW Construction, we’ve recovered from the pandemic slowdown, pivoted to address our area's niche construction needs, and are winning projects that signal economic expansion, increasing population, and urbanization trends in the DC Metro area.
Despite our growth, finding candidates organically is an ongoing challenge. We are lucky that most candidates come to us by word of mouth, employee referral, or other close connections. Our employees have gotten really good at recognizing the HBW mindset in others, which helps us when hiring for critical positions like superintendents.
As our pipeline solidifies, we’re looking ahead to projects starting in the first quarter of next year and assessing our needs. Hiring someone now gives us time to bring them on board, show them the ropes, have them work on current projects, and get ready for new ones.
We post our job openings on our website and inform our teams of any current openings so they can look for good candidates.
There’s always a need for superintendents, our boots-on-the-ground folks who coordinate all the people and activities on the job site. So, we continuously look for quality candidates. We don't want to miss an opportunity if the right person is available.
Current HBW job openings include:
Commercial Carpenter
Commercial Electrical Maintenance Technician
Property Management / Payroll Accountant
Service Division Project Manager
Superintendents - Commercial Construction
We know that others in the construction job market are hiring, too. Our industry can be competitive. We’re not just looking for people who check the box with qualifications; what we’re looking for can’t be seen on a job application or a resume. To join HBW, candidates need to fit into our culture. We can teach people new skills and mentor them through new projects, but we can’t teach values, beliefs, and attitudes.
How do we identify the “right” candidates? When we find someone who is a good fit on paper, we bring them in for an interview. These interviews often last several hours because the candidates will meet different people with whom they would work in their roles. We each have a different approach and different questions that we ask to get to know the candidate and determine if that person will do well at HBW. It often comes down to trusting your gut.
I remember a candidate who walked in without an interview soon after I had joined HBW. He had been laid off and had heard good things about HBW. I was near the front desk and greeted him, listening to his story. Something told me this chance encounter would be a golden opportunity for HBW. We interviewed him and eventually hired him as a superintendent, where he worked for many years before retiring—all based on that initial feeling.
Getting the right people in the door might be challenging, but ensuring everyone on staff can reach their potential is more of a daily goal. We encourage employees to find skill development classes, join professional groups, and seek other learning opportunities for their development and growth. I took advantage of an HBW professional development benefit – tuition reimbursement – to earn my business degree while I worked.
As a company, we anticipate future needs and encourage our employees to do the same. If someone has their sights set on career growth, we’ll give them opportunities to develop the skills they need. Some positions have a clear path. Project coordinators become assistant project managers and then project managers. In the field, on-the-job opportunities can be combined with building trades training, and those who prove themselves with consistently good performance are given more responsibility and new opportunities.
We value initiative, so we like to see employees leading the charge and stepping up to ask for more. Our Vice President, Andre Chin Wing, started at HBW as a superintendent working in the field. He moved over to the office and then moved up. Seeing that movement within HBW can be inspiring for others. We like to promote from within; as the company grows, there are limitless opportunities.
HBW Vice President, Andre Chin Wing, pictured third (L to R)
Professional development at HBW is about being your best on the job. Our culture supports mentorship rather organically. We help each other out, lend a hand or an ear, and collaborate for solutions, so getting advice from a colleague or manager doesn’t have to be a formal thing; it just happens.
Construction is an incredible industry because it involves so many skills and diverse pathways. There are different opportunities in retail construction than there are in healthcare. Trades may be involved in a dozen different projects in just a month. The business side of construction can be dynamic and creative. It really is an industry with unlimited potential for career growth.
Perhaps it is the many opportunities within the construction job market that make HBW stand out. On the surface, we do what others do – commercial construction. But dig deeper, and you’ll quickly find that HBW is unique. Our approach is grounded in integrity, direct communication, and a commitment to quality craftsmanship. We build meaningful relationships with our clients. And we sweat the details of projects as much as we stress safety and professionalism. Our approach has led to a high satisfaction rate among our clients. And a very low employee turnover rate.
At HBW, we aim to provide careers filled with meaningful work and opportunities to learn and grow in an environment where everyone feels respected and valued. Learn more on our Careers page at https://hbwconstruction.com/.
Melissa Jones is HBW’s Vice President of Office Operations and Talent Management. She has been with the company since 2015 and is always looking for great candidates.
Today, our employees are among the 10 million people who work in the construction industry in the U.S. Though construction was hit hard by the pandemic, the industry is once again on a growth trajectory, expected to grow at a robust rate of 4.8% annually for the…
Learn more