In the construction industry, skill gets a lot of the spotlight, and for good reason. You need people who can read plans, run equipment, and keep a jobsite humming without burning the place down. But here’s the truth that doesn’t make it into most recruiting ads: skills can be taught. Character? That’s built long before someone walks through your door.

Over the years, I’ve learned that a resume might tell me what a person can do, but their character tells me what they will do, especially when the day goes sideways. And in this line of work, days go sideways more often than not.

Why Skills Alone Fall Short

Don’t get me wrong. A certified welder or seasoned project manager is a beautiful thing. But skill without integrity is a time bomb. A person who knows how to frame a wall but cuts corners when no one is looking is a liability in steel-toe boots. You can send them to more training, but you can’t train someone to care.

Character Makes the Culture

Construction is not just about pouring concrete and hanging curtain walls, it’s about building a culture that survives the storms, both literal and figurative. The kind of culture where team members look out for each other’s safety, take pride in doing the job right, and own their mistakes instead of hiding them under a coat of paint.

When you hire for character first, you protect that culture. You’re bringing in people who align with your moral compass, who fit the rhythm of your crew, and who will still be standing next to you when the weather turns or the schedule slips.

Training Is the Easy Part

I’d rather take someone green with grit and a willingness to learn than a veteran with a bad attitude and a habit of cutting corners. In our shop, we’ve trained twenty-somethings who didn’t know a flashing from a fascia into top-tier technicians because they had the right foundation: curiosity, humility, and work ethic.

And here’s the kicker, those folks often outperform the “ready-made” hires within a year. Why? Because their skills were shaped alongside the company’s standards from day one. They weren’t unlearning bad habits; they were learning the right way from the start.

The Ripple Effect of a Character-First Team

When your crew is built on character, cross-training becomes natural. People step into different roles without drama. They share knowledge without hoarding it. They pick up slack when a project stalls because they see the big picture, not just their own task list.

This kind of team resilience is what gets you through backlog hiccups, supply delays, and all the other plot twists the construction world loves to throw our way. It’s the difference between surviving and thriving.

How to Spot It in an Interview

Hiring for character means asking different questions. Instead of “Tell me about your last project,” try “Tell me about a time you made a mistake and how you handled it.” Listen for ownership, problem-solving, and honesty.

Watch how they talk about former coworkers and supervisors. If every story is someone else’s fault, that’s a red flag. If they can talk about challenges without bitterness, that’s a sign you’re looking at someone who can handle the ups and downs of the jobsite.

The Bottom Line

Skills can get you in the door. Character keeps you there. In an industry that lives and dies on trust, deadlines, and doing it right the first time, you want people whose compass points true north even when the clouds roll in.

So hire the right people, then teach them the craft. You can give a person tools and training. You can’t give them integrity.