Advice for New Grads from AEC Leaders in the Carolinas
GroundBreak Carolinas reached out to a cross section of construction industry leaders in North Carolina and South Carolina to see what advice they might have for new college graduates entering our industry. Check out their “words of wisdom!”
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“Always do the right thing. It doesn’t matter if you are just starting your career or leading a billion-dollar company, it’s equally important.”
– Brian King, Founder and CEO, A M King, Charlotte, NC
“Dedicate yourself to putting in the time and the hard work now. Sometimes it seems like the rewards from this hard work take a long time to bear fruit when you are in your twenties. But this experience and time is extremely valuable and the results from hard work come in time.”
– Casey Schwager, President, King Asphalt, Inc., Liberty, SC
“Support and back your colleagues regardless of gender or other differences. This allows individuals to give their best and all of us to enjoy even more success together!”
– Kate Dotten-Holder, PE, Regional Director, Harper General Contractors, Charlotte, NC
“As you enter the business world, invest in building genuine personal relationships – face to-face interactions, not simply transactional ones. Also, work on your communication skills if they are not already polished. Contrary to what you may think, to be successful in our industry, you must be able to write well and clearly convey your thoughts verbally. Finally, embrace being a new grad! Find mentors, seek advice, and ask lots of questions.”
– Chris Moore, President, CarolinaPower, Greenville, SC
“Your college degree provides you with a solid foundation, but there’s so much more to learn in the field. Be adaptable as construction projects rarely go as planned; the ability to be flexible and problem-solving skills will serve you well. Construction projects leave lasting impacts on the communities where they are built, so take pride in the projects you build and strive for excellence in everything you do.”
– Mark Coleman, VP of Preconstruction/Estimating, SPC Mechanical, Charlotte, NC
“As you enter into the workforce, you will have to make a personal decision that best benefits your situation as it relates to starting your career with the right employer. However, I hope this choice results in choosing an employer that is willing to invest in your future by providing you the resources and mentorship that will allow your career to thrive. Also, if you become very knowledgeable and skillful over your career in your chosen profession, you will be perceived as an industry expert/leader, which should result in a steady increase in your salary along with promotions.”
– Melvin Williams, F.SAME, FACEC, Vice President/Senior Client Development Manager, Terracon, South East Division, Charleston, SC
“Our company relies heavily on our internship program to identify and hire young professional graduates. I advise our new college graduates to focus on 2 major aspects: (1) Communication – It is important to learn how to communicate effectively with diverse personalities and teams in both the office and field environment. (2) Practical Experience – We believe the best way a recent graduate can gain experience is to spend time on the jobsite as an active participant in day-to-day operations and hands-on learning. Entering the construction field can be both exciting and intimidating. We have found that graduates who focus on communication and take advantage of field exposure are quicker to advance positions and gain respect from co-workers.”
– Derrick Morgan, Vice President/Project Manager, State Utility Contractors, Monroe, NC
“First, network and build relationships; you will leverage these for years to come. Next, set a high bar for yourself. This industry will take you anywhere you want to go. Be ambitious enough to take a challenging and daring opportunity. Don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable – stay open-minded and go for it! Above all, soak up knowledge from those around you. There’s a large contingent of ‘aging experts’ who genuinely want you to succeed.”
– Jason Arnold, Senior Vice President, T.A. Loving Company, Goldsboro, NC
