Hiring the Best Team for Your Next Healthcare Construction Project

A healthcare construction project has a lot of moving parts. From the right materials to a reasonable schedule and an organized foreperson, every piece is critical. But in looking at the big picture, it can be easy to overlook the importance of the actual workers on the construction team. When you are in a hurry to hire, you can make devastating mistakes and end up with the wrong crew, putting you behind schedule and even putting your workers at risk.

Keep reading for tips on hiring the right workers for your next project that will do the work and do it well.

Rely on Referrals

In most cases, there is not a shortage of applicants for construction jobs. In many positions, the work does not require an advanced degree and uses skills that are readily taught. In the hiring process, this can make it difficult to choose among seemingly qualified applicants. Checking references and relying on fellow healthcare contractors to find great candidates can be the best course of action. When you can stay active in professional organizations, you are much more likely to know someone who can recommend high-quality workers for your next project.

Focus on Expertise

Wherever possible, it is best to work with those individuals who have been able to work in healthcare construction before, provided they have done so successfully. These workers will have the best understanding of the special requirements of a healthcare project, including patient safety and comfort and dust containment. The fact is that healthcare and hospital construction does have its nuances and if you can find people that are already familiar with them, you can save yourself some time.

Be Flexible in Skill Levels

While expertise is always great, on a construction site where the deadlines are important and the work is difficult, specific skills are not always the most important thing to consider. When a worker has the right attitude, it can make all the difference. There is an adage that says “Hire for attitude, train for skill” and this can be especially true for a construction project. When a worker is eager to learn, shows up on time, and always gets the job done, the specialty skills required can be taught. This is an adage that has worked for companies as varied as Southwest Airlines and ING Direct, and it can work for construction, too.

Never Discount Safety

If a worker has a reputation for playing fast and loose with safety protocol, your healthcare construction project is not the right place for him or her. Maintaining the safety of your entire team is critical, so it is important to emphasize safety during the interviewing, hiring, and orientation process and throughout a worker’s employment with you.

Hiring is not an easy process in any profession and that’s because the people you choose can have such a major impact on how your project goes. But when you have the right attitude and seek out like-minded people, you can be sure your project will go smoothly and your business will grow.