How to Hire a Construction Estimator?

According to the statistics, there are 190634 construction estimators currently working in the United States. And do you know what the most striking fact is? According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 18,000 job openings for cost estimators each year. 

You probably wonder why there are ten thousand job openings when a huge number of construction cost estimators are available. Why don’t recruiters hire estimators to fill these positions? There may be various reasons for not hiring, like estimators that are not up to the recruiter’s requirements, low salary offerings, and more. 

Whatever the reason, the main thing is that construction estimators are essential for any construction project. Being a construction business owner or contractor you can’t rise to the occasion in your business. 

Want to know how to hire a construction estimator? But first, get to know what an estimator does. So, let’s start.

What Does an Estimator Do?

Each construction project has unique requirements, so the cost estimation method is varied accordingly. As the project becomes more complex, its cost calculations get complicated. 

As the construction industry is the most thriving in the United States, with a value of $1.8 trillion in 2023, there is no chance of any mistake. That’s where a construction budget estimator comes into play.

An estimator is the person who determines the overall cost associated with the construction project.  

The JDs of construction cost estimators include the following:

• Calculate the estimated cost for a construction project
• Get quotes for prices for the contractors and subcontractors
• Prepare bids for work
• Check the clients’ requirements
• Prepare an accurate price list
• Ensure that the project’s cost stays within the forecast cost
• Consider risk assessment

Now, you know the actual JDs of construction contractors. Next, you have to identify your hiring needs.

Identify Your Hiring Needs

Before going to the hiring process, it is crucial to identify your hiring needs. This strategy not only saves you time but also helps you in finding the right candidate for your job posting. Assess whether you need a full-time estimator or on contract-based one. This assessment will help your project’s efficiency and budget.

Also, at the time to create a hiring strategy, make sure you add the point to check the estimator’s background and experience in your checklist. Sometimes an estimator has qualifications as per your requirements, but he has no experience regarding your business niche. 

So, it is essential to get your head straight about whom to consider for your job at the initial stage of the hiring process.

Select the Budget Earlier

At the initial stage, specifying your budget for the construction estimators position is essential. The estimator’s salary varies according to different factors such as your company location, estimator experience, qualifications, education, or certifications. Including the salary range in your estimator job description is crucial to get more potential applications.

In the United States, each state has its own estimator salary range, so you have to set your salary range accordingly. Below, we have given the salary range in some states.

Hence, offer a competitive salary so potential and experienced estimators will apply for your job post and you can find the best fit. 

Process to Hire a Candidate

No matter what type of business, the hiring process is always like a funnel structure. Suppose, your current employee wants to resign and you need to hire someone for this position, You will open a post, and 40 candidates will apply for this position. You shortlist 10 of them and then finally select 1 who is suitable for that role.

Likewise, to hire an construction estimator, you need to follow the same steps. Have a look at the detailed process of hiring the candidate:

• Application
• Screening & Pre-screening
• Conduct Interviews
• Do Assessment
• Check References
• Make Decision

Step1: Application

First, make an application advertisement and post this job posting on your online platform or circulate it in your industry. The application phase may be passive for you as you have to sit and wait for the candidates to respond to your job ad. 

Moreover, you can use the application as a selection tool by asking questions to sort candidates based on whether they are qualified or not. For instance, if you are preparing your job posting via software, you can add some questions regarding your field or the candidates’ qualifications. 

Aside from this, a job application can make or break your hiring strategy. According to the survey, 60% of the candidates stopped applying for a job because they found the application submission process long and weird. So, make sure your application process is as simple as possible.

Step2: Screening & Pre-screening

Once the submission phase of the job applications is wrapped up, the next step is the initial screening of the job applications. This step helps you to shortlist candidates from a large pool so that you can easily interview 5–10 potential candidates. 

When screening the resumes of potential construction estimators, consider their skills and experience related to your field, such as their past job designation, work ethics, project management, customer service, experience in construction projects, and more.

Step3: Conduct Interviews

Conducting interviews is the most crucial step of the hiring process. At this stage, you evaluate the candidate’s expertise and decide whether they are the best fit for your business or not. 

Considering their estimating experience and asking questions can help you assess whether they are the best fit or not. You can ask the following questions;

• Why do you consider yourself the best fit for this position?
• Why do you want to work with us?
• What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
• Can you tell us about your estimation process?
• How do you prepare your takeoff reports?
• How do you ensure accuracy in your prepared estimates?
• Which estimating software are you pro?
• What information do you need to prepare a quote?

All these questions help you hire the best candidate for your company.

Step4: Do Assessment

Although, you have carried out the initial assessment at the screening stage,. But after interviewing the candidates, you have to assess them on an interview basis. Sometimes a resume portrays an image that is opposite to the candidate’s actual potential and experience. 

After the interview, you meet with the estimator personally and talk about his experience and his way of preparing estimates, so you know whether he is suitable for the position or not.

Step5: Check References

If you have doubts about the competency or skills of a construction estimator, then checking references is the best way to clear it. Talk with their past employers or supervisors, and ask them about candidate reliability, working styles, or strengths or weaknesses. 

Ask the following questions of past employers of the candidate to check his credibility:

• Is he good at estimation?
• What are his weaknesses?
• Is he a trustworthy employee?
• Has this candidate worked professionally at your firm?
• Would you recommend this candidate? Why?

This step provides you with valuable information that influences your hiring decision.

Step6: Make Decision

After conducting interviews, take a notepad and write down some key points that are relevant to estimating business. Like

• Estimating ability
• Software proficiency
• Technical familiarity
• Professional behavior
• Leadership experience

It will help you to make a scorecard and pick up that construction estimator who will stack up with it. This is the best way to choose a suitable candidate who matches your working style and company culture.

Bottom Line

Construction estimators are crucial for the construction business’s success, as they help to win more bids by providing accurate cost estimates. That’s why every construction firm is looking to hire experienced construction estimators for the growth of their business.

Hiring a construction estimator is a challenging and crucial process. Follow the steps and strategies that we have mentioned in this blog to find the right person for this critical role.