Why Mentorship Matters More Than Ever in Construction

By: Hollie Roucco, CMKBD, Care Endowment Vice Chair and Kitchen and Bath Designer, Creative Kitchen Designs

Life is full of cycles. Some are bountiful, like the lifecycle of Alaska’s salmon. They run up the river to spawn. Eggs hatch in the river. The smolt travel to the ocean and eventually return to the river as salmon ready to spawn. This cycle keeps runs strong and fishermen and wildlife fed. However, other cycles need to be broken. 

While many complicated factors contribute to Anchorage’s housing crisis, the workforce shortage is a crippling cycle that needs to be addressed. Without skilled workers, it’s impossible to keep up with Anchorage’s housing demand. When it comes to building a skilled workforce, mentorship within the residential construction industry is one of the keys to breaking the chains and creating a more robust pool. 

Take on Interns

Internships create meaningful value for students and businesses by providing real-world experiences. For students pursuing careers in the construction field, internships provide hands-on lessons in areas like project planning, site supervision, safety compliance and collaboration across trades. Interns gain important insight into what life is like in that career field. 

At the same time, construction companies benefit by developing a pipeline of emerging talent. Interns often contribute to increased productivity while allowing companies to evaluate potential long-term hires in a low-risk setting. Internships are a great way to strengthen workforce development and ensure the long-term sustainability of the construction industry.

Speak with Students 

The Anchorage School District Academies of Anchorage and Career and Technical Education programs are always looking for industry professionals to speak with students. These programs focus on teaching 

students real-world skills in an effort to create students who are college and career-ready. By speaking in classrooms or attending events, you can help inspire students to take a look at your trade. 

Share the Wealth 

If you’re closer to retirement than job entry, you hold a wealth of knowledge. Don’t keep it to yourself. Sharing your knowledge with entry-level employees is not only generous it elevates the entire profession. Senior-level employees play a pivotal role in shaping the future of any organization. Mentoring new team members is one of the most impactful ways to leave a lasting legacy. By sharing your insights and hard-earned lessons, you help accelerate learning curves, strengthen team culture and build confidence. Mentorship not only empowers new employees to perform at their best, but it also sharpens your leadership skills.

The homebuilding industry is a fantastic way to make a living. You get to see the tangible results of your hard work as you build homes and communities. It provides career stability, diverse opportunities and the chance to develop valuable skills. Our industry provides stable, high-paying jobs that benefit our neighbors. By welcoming and teaching new talent, we can strengthen our profession and community.  

Find out more about AHBA's workforce development work at ahba.net.