This is a dilemma often faced by high school and college graduates. The job they are looking for is open, but experience is required. Yet how can one gain experience if they don’t do the job. This is where a new scheme recently launched by the highly respected luxury builder of Naples, BCB Homes, comes in.
BCB Homes has spearheaded a beneficial community outreach program that ushers in a new generation of skilled labor in an aging workforce. The company’s Career Pathway program, also known as “Career-in-a-Year”, does just that.
“We are looking for hard-working, energetic people who want to learn more about the construction industry,” said Jon Bremseth, director of education and training at BCB Homes. “We want to be able to show them different aspects of the custom home building business, with the goal of finding out where their passion lies.”
The company’s Career-in-a-Year program is equivalent to a one-year career experience divided into segments ranging from six to fifteen weeks.
“The program will teach participants the fundamentals of the construction industry and help them gain experience in key aspects of construction,” noted Bremseth.
As for the program itself, once participants are selected, BCB Homes pays them a competitive hourly wage and offers full-time employees a benefits package from day one of the program.
Participants must do the following:
- Work a full week or meet program requirements depending on the current program section and format.
- Attend scheduled meetings with construction professionals, including BCB Leadership, to track progress and review participant learning and reflections.
Upon completion of the Career Pathway program, BCB Homes may offer participants the opportunity to obtain a full-time position based on their experience, preferences and professional fit with the company.
“We believe this innovative program is an excellent foundation and career launch platform that will excite and motivate participants to become the next generation of builders for BCB Homes,” concludes Bremseth.
The inaugural session on June 1 included four participants:
Eduardo Diego-Marroquin is a part-time BCB Homes Window Installation Technician and an Architectural Design and Construction student at Florida Southwestern State College.
Gabriel Mcnab is the Site Logistics Foreman at BCB Homes and has been with the company for seven months.
Michael Perretta graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in May with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Kaidin Soars is taking an accelerated construction management program at the University of the Everglades in Miami.
The opportunity to experience the various aspects of the construction industry was one of the main reasons the four young men applied to the program.
“Exposing daily tasks will help me gain knowledge and experience in each department,” said Diego-Marroquin, whose hometown is Immokalee. “I am extremely grateful to BCB Homes for giving me the opportunity to be part of this unique program.”
“No other company offers new hires the ability to travel from every department to see where they might be best suited,” added Perretta, a native of Shamong, New Jersey. “That being said, I get to see every department of this company, which will make me a better employee and give me a better understanding of the company and the great products it makes.”
Soars, a resident of Naples, said: “I am extremely excited to have this opportunity and look forward to where in the construction industry my services and skills will be most useful. »
“I applied to the program so that I could further my knowledge in the field of construction,” added Mcnab, a native of Tampa. “The program is really a great way to launch my career.”
Participants all indicated that they liked the program for a wide range of reasons.
“After completing this program, my goal is to know where I belong in the building process and have a skill level to further assist those around me while being able to provide a distinctive level of comfort to those around me. customers,” Soars noted. “I develop a level of attention to detail that is invaluable. My ultimate goal is to keep working hard so that I can eventually be a valued employee of this company. »
“I appreciate the exposure I get from being part of this career program,” said Diego-Marroquin. “The training and resources provided by BCB Homes make the program amazing.”
“Having the privilege of working for such a reputable company as BCB Homes could not have been a better launch pad for me to begin my career in the construction industry,” Perretta revealed. “They stay true to their core values and make you feel like family before you even start.”
“The fact that I’m learning and gaining experience in the industry that I’ve always wanted to be a part of feels kind of surreal to me,” Mcnab commented. “I’m so thrilled that my journey in the construction world is now underway and I’m so grateful because I believe I started my career with the best and most respected construction company in Southwest Florida. – BCB Homes.”
For more information on potential participation in the BCB Homes Career Pathway Program, call 239-643-1004 or visit BCBHomes.com, click About Us and scroll down to Career Pathway Program.
