Written by Alexandra Mather, Partner in Building Materials at DMC Recruitment Group.
New Grads – Have you considered the Building Materials Industry?
As a career recruiter, I have been fortunate to gain knowledge and experience working across a wide range of industries, but it wasn’t until I started working in the building materials sector in 2013 that I truly understood how large, interesting, and rewarding this industry really is. Once I got in, I’ve never looked back and we have since built our entire business at DMC to cater to this vast, valuable, and stable – yet often underserved sector.
For new graduates, choosing a career path can be both exciting and daunting – exciting if you know what you want to do, scary if you don’t. When I graduated high school and even University, I had no idea what I wanted to do for my “professional career”. All I did know is that I like working with people, so a career in a customer-facing position or sales was something I would hopefully be good at, and something I would like (RIP Art History Degree).
While many industries seem glamorous and can vie for your attention as a new grad hitting the working world – think CPG, Beer, Pharma, and tech, one substantial yet often overlooked sector holds a wealth of opportunities: the Building Materials industry. Globally, this sector offers huge long-term career potential and is crucial to shaping our communities, cities, and countries. How can we promote and sing its praises more widely? I don’t know, but collectively, we need to do more and much more actively to attract up-and-coming talent that are desperately needed to bolster the workforce up and down the sector.
For new Grads or those open to entering into or switching industries – These are some of the things you should know about the Building Materials industry if you haven’t considered it before;
It is Resilient and Growing
The Building Materials industry plays a crucial role in the construction of homes, commercial buildings, shared spaces, and major infrastructure projects. With housing shortages across North America, the demand for new homes remains strong. During economic downturns, governments often stimulate construction to keep the economy running, ensuring consistent demand for building materials. This resilience means that even if one segment of the industry, such as single-family residential construction, experiences a slowdown, others, like commercial and industrial construction, often see increased investment. No industry is immune to the ups and downs of the economy entirely, but there is no other industry I would have preferred to work in over the past decade, including the Covid era!
Career Paths to Suit Every Skillset
Similar to other product-based industries, Building Materials offers a wide variety of career opportunities that are required to keep the lights on, and the doors open. This industry offers roles in; marketing, operations, manufacturing, finance and accounting, human resources, IT, logistics & transportation, just to name a few. Whether you’re a numbers person, a people person, or a tech whiz, there’s a place for you in this industry. Importantly, the Building Materials sector allows you to see the tangible results of your work. Few industries offer the satisfaction of standing back and looking at a completed building project, knowing that you contributed in some part to its creation. Not all industries can give you that same satisfaction!
Good people work in Building Materials
What truly sets the building materials industry apart is the people. As a broad generalization, but one I find to be true the longer I work in the sector, the Building Materials industry is filled with individuals who are humble, down to earth and possess integrity and a genuine passion for their work. They are eager to invest-in and support those who are committed to learning, achieving, and growing alongside them over time. This supportive environment is ideal for new graduates looking to identify and develop their skills and build a successful career in the industry. We spend a lot of time at work – we should do it in an environment where our colleagues can also be our friends and mentors.
Opportunities and Growth
The Building Materials industry is facing an unprecedented wave of retirements. I personally like a phrase that one of my clients coined – the “Silver Tsunami.” As seasoned professionals start to retire, a large number of opportunities need to open up for those looking to move in or up within the industry. This creates an excellent landscape for career advancement and professional growth. Companies are increasingly looking for individuals with strong transferable skills who can bring fresh perspectives and new energy to the industry and their businesses. That is good news because individuals with the right drive, curiosity, dedication, and willingness to learn can become familiar with any product – the employer just needs to be willing to invest the time and think “outside the box” when it comes to the transferability of skill set.
What about AI?
As a mum of three, I often think about what the career landscape will look like in 10, 15, or 20 years when my kids enter the workforce to start their careers. While AI will undoubtedly reshape work and careers in ways we can’t fully predict, I believe the building materials industry will be less affected than others. People will always buy from people, products will still need to be made, moved, and installed, transactions will continue to rely on strong professional relationships, and human attention to detail and people-centric problem solving won’t be replaced easily.
I know I’m biased toward the industry I’ve dedicated my career and business to supporting, but I genuinely love it and will certainly present it as a wonderful career option to my own children. They will, of course, choose their own paths, but they will definitely have a broad understanding of the benefits and how rewarding working in the building materials industry can be.
That being said – Does anyone have a summer job for a 10-year-old? (asking for a friend)…
Alex is a partner at DMC Recruitment and is always happy to connect with professionals in the industry. Whether you’re seeking opportunities, looking for career advice, or just want to network, you can reach her at:
📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Phone: 1 (647) 933 5439
