AMBASSADOR UPDATES
TJ’s advice on the challenges and market changes relevant to SME construction companies searching for talent on the West Coast.
Frequency: every month or two.
Seattle Construction employment in the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metro area was 118,000 in January 2025, down 3.7 percent from a year earlier Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Seattle area CPI-U advanced 2.5 percent over the 12 months ending February 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics. Portland Construction employment in the Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro metro area stood at 77,900 in January […]
Introduction: Why Your Recruiting Model Matters More Than You Think Many hiring authorities have had bad experiences with contingent recruiters—and rightfully so. ❌ They were frustrated by low commitment and inconsistent effort.❌ They saw recruiters disappear as soon as the search got hard.❌ They received a flood of unvetted resumes instead of carefully selected candidates. […]
Introduction: Why Some Leaders Think Recruiting Is Expensive—And Others See It as an Investment Hiring great people is one of the most critical functions of leadership, yet some leaders view recruiting fees as an unnecessary expense, while others see them as a high-value investment in their company’s success. So, what separates the two mindsets? 🚧 […]
Introduction: The Recruiter Hate Phenomenon Every now and then, I come across a construction leader who proudly declares that they “hate recruiters.” They usually say things like:❌ “Recruiters just waste my time.”❌ “They send me garbage candidates.”❌ “I don’t need some outsider telling me how to hire.”❌ “They’re too expensive.” Now, let’s be honest—not all […]
It’s not the market. Not the labor shortage. Not “kids these days.” It’s leaders who think being good at building means they’re automatically good at hiring. So they: That’s not leadership. That’s ego. Hiring is the most leveraged decision you make. It deserves the same discipline you bring to estimating, scheduling, and safety. 🛠️ You […]
It might seem strange. I’ve never poured concrete.I’ve never run a jobsite.I’ve never worn a hard hat outside of a photo op. But I’ve seen inside well over 100 construction companies—from the boardroom to the breakroom. And from that unique vantage point, patterns start to emerge.The kind you can’t always see when you’re deep in […]
Introduction: “Too Busy to Interview Properly”—A Dangerous Mindset Some construction leaders treat hiring like speed dating. They rush through interviews, barely engage with candidates, and make snap judgments—all because they’re “too busy.” 🚧 They believe their time is too valuable to slow down and properly assess candidates.🚧 They assume they’ll be able to “figure people […]
🚧 Stop Relying on Luck—Build a Hiring System That Works Most construction companies struggle with hiring because they don’t have a repeatable process. They rely on gut instinct, rushed decisions, and outdated job postings—and then wonder why they keep hiring the wrong people. A high-impact hiring process attracts top talent, reduces turnover, and ensures the […]
And why it might be time to gut-renovate your approach Most construction leaders have no idea what their hiring process actually looks like until it’s not working. I’ve had a front-row seat to over 130 construction companies across the U.S.—from family-run firms to fast-growing GCs. And here’s the truth: the hiring “foundation” is cracked in […]
Introduction: The Paradox of Hiring Through a Recruiter Many construction leaders engage a recruiter because they want to save time. They know that:✅ Hiring takes too long.✅ Sorting through resumes is exhausting.✅ The right candidates aren’t actively applying—they have to be found. So, they turn to recruiters to streamline the process and bring them the […]
