Local firm hopes labor pool grows through video B.J. Fairchild-Newman Staff Writer Monday, November 13, 2006 Runnebohm Construction Co. Inc. recently was invited to participate in a video about construction careers produced by the National Center for Construction Education and Research. "Build Your Future 2006" will be viewed by an estimated 2 million students. Shown are Runnebohm workers Rocky Garner (left) and Tom Jones, who were preparing to place siding at the Knauf Insulation expansion project. It is not just the military that is looking for a few good men and women. The construction industry also is in a perpetual search for good candidates to fill a wide variety of jobs, industry officials say. Runnebohm Construction Co. Inc., 144 E. Rampart Road, recently participated in a national recruiting video that is aimed at high school students. "Construction careers are a great choice for a lot of young people," said Jim Biggerman, director of human resources at Runnebohm Construction, "but sometimes they don't realize all the opportunities that are available." Runnebohm Construction was asked to take part in the video by the National Center for Construction Education and Research. The organization has produced a "Build Your Future" video for the last nine years, and it is estimated that 2 million students watch it each year. NCCER distributes more than 10,000 copies throughout the country. Build Your Future 2006 (or BYF 2006) features interviews with craft professionals, construction managers, company owners and students enrolled in construction training programs across the country. The video highlights topics such as earning potential and the pride that workers feel when they are "part of building America." The 23-minute video shows various segments of the construction industry, including commercial, industrial, pipeline, highway and residential, as well as covering various types of construction jobs. The video makes a point of showing that the construction industry depends on teamwork with everyone working together and making an important contribution- from the bricklayers and carpenters to the civil engineers and architects. Biggerman was especially pleased to see Shelbyville's Runnebohm in the same video with some of the major construction firms in the nation. "We are small compared to many of the large companies," Biggerman said, "but the fact that NCCER chose to use us shows the respect that we have from others in the industry. Our reputation is excellent; this video really threw us in with the big boys." The videos are funded each year by contributions from contractor associations, individual contractors and monster.com, the online career resource center. Biggerman said that local students who are interested in careers in construction should take the building-trades class at the Blue River Career Center if at all possible, but he stressed that companies are usually glad to train a promising applicant. "When someone applies to work here, I am most interested in finding a candidate who will show up for work each day, who is trainable and will respect the safety regulations," Biggerman said. He emphasized that Runnebohm prefers that applicants have at least a high school diploma, but a GED is acceptable. "A growing company like Runnebohm," Biggerman said, "is constantly looking for good employees. I like to see someone come in with the mind-set that he is going to work hard and be ready to learn. We will even pay for people to go on to school." He admitted that sometimes applicants think a career in construction sounds interesting until they understand what is involved. "Oh, sometimes you work in a nice, comfortable, inside environment," Biggerman said, "but often construction workers are outside in the heat or wading through snow. Some people just can't take it physically; construction is a job that you really have to want to do - you have to take the good with the bad. This kind of work is not for everybody." Biggerman said that young people who are wanting to pursue a career in construction need to choose carefully when deciding where to take a job. He encourages them to ask questions about whether the work is seasonal and how many hours they can expect to work each week. He said that a reputable company will provide benefits and not try to pay workers with cash under the table. "We have some workers at Runnebohm who have worked here for more than 30 years," Biggerman said. "The right companies treat their workers well; young people looking for a good job should consider a career in construction."