The best type of career development happens organically – where you discover an area of interest and seek to expand your knowledge in it. Indeed, there are industry trends that highlight where opportunities exist. Such as in renewable energy, infrastructure resilience and modern methods of construction. Still, regardless of which sector you choose to focus on, there are skills that will serve you well, no matter your specific career path.

Communication

At any point in your career, the ability to communicate effectively will serve you well. The foundations of good communication lie in respect and the ability to listen to another point of view. Too often people get defensive when other’s opinions differ from theirs. But actually, there is immense value in this. Different perspectives are the foundation of learning. As the saying goes: “You don’t know what you don’t know.” If you close yourself off to differing opinions, you’re shutting the door on learning opportunities. The foundation of learning to communication well is the ability to hear the opinion of others.

Collaboration

Building on communication skills is the ability to collaborate with peers. This means respecting other opinions and respecting the way that they contribute to projects.  The best teams are made up of a variety of experts who have different skillsets. In this way each person contributes in a unique way, based on their expertise. This builds the collective knowledge of the team.

Insight

Insight is a skill that helps to develop leadership abilities. It’s about being able to look beyond the basic facts and delve deeper into a situation to uncover the real issue. Insight is about being able to put yourself in another’s shoes and see their perspective. It helps to explore different solutions and identify alternate ways of doing things. In a modern world where innovation is pivotal, insight is the key to unlocking that.

Tech application

There are numerous technologies that are offering advantages to construction and infrastructure. They key is understanding how they can be applied to generate efficiencies. A combined knowledge of the industry and technology is hugely beneficial. Technology has much to offer, but they come at a price. Knowing how to apply them is what creates efficiencies that drive business value. There’s an opportunity for those that can create the link between what business needs and what technology has to offer construction and infrastructure.