Jordan Foster Construction Hires People Strategy Executive
Erica Wolff has joined Jordan Foster Construction as its new executive director of people strategy. In this role, she will oversee workforce planning and talent development, signaling an increased corporate focus on training and employee growth at the firm.
- The increasing focus on people strategy in construction is a response to a significant talent shortage and a rapidly aging workforce, with the industry needing to add hundreds of thousands of new workers annually to meet demand. - Erica Wolff's background includes senior HR and people-focused roles at companies like Fringe Benefit Group, Easter Seals Central Texas, and The Driskill Hotel, showcasing experience in talent development and employee engagement. - For business students, a common entry path into construction management is through internships that focus on business development, estimating, and field operations, like the one offered by Jordan Foster Construction for students within a year of graduation. - Transferable skills from a business degree that are highly valued in construction management include project planning, financial management, communication, and risk management. - When interviewing for construction management roles without direct experience, it's crucial to emphasize soft skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and a strong work ethic, providing specific examples of how these have been applied in past experiences. - In construction B2B sales, a key strategy is to focus on offering solutions to a client's specific problems, such as reducing operational costs or increasing efficiency, rather than just selling product features. - The construction industry is increasingly adopting technology, so familiarity with project management software and data analytics tools can be a significant advantage for new graduates. - A successful interview strategy involves researching the company's projects and culture, and preparing to answer behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure responses.
