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The Building Talks Podcast
A fortnightly podcast where we meet and talk to professionals in the Construction, Property Development, Engineering, Architecture and Consulting sectors across Australia's Built Environment. During our building talks, we discuss topics and issues faced across the industry and specialist sectors within it, discuss the careers and experiences of guests, whilst getting to know the people behind the projects, and the construction and development projects they have been a part of.
Our guests span the built environment - so includes leaders from architects, engineers, builders, consulting Project Managers or Quantity surveyors, industry researchers, HR and business experts - all people 'in the know' who work within the build environment and have some insights and deep understanding of the industry.
The Building Talks Podcast
Talking with Ciara Ritchie about Breaking Barriers: A Young Woman's Journey in the Construction Industry
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Hey, Legends! Welcome to this episode of The Building Talks Podcast! This week we chat with Ciara Ritchie, a young construction professional in the early stages of her career in the industry. We often hear of the challenges younger professionals face early in their career, and we all recognise the shortage of female participation (and retention) within the Construction space, so this week, Ciara provided some insights, from her perspective.
In this episode, she opens up about her journey into construction, how the industry was presented to her as a career option, and what it’s been like working alongside more experienced (and often male) professionals. We dive into what she’s learned so far, her expectations, and her aspirations. For those of you keen to get a fresh perspective from someone at the beginning of their construction journey, this one’s for you.
We also discuss what it's like being a young woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, and how the industry can evolve to better support diversity and inclusion. If you’re a more established male professional in the industry, this episode might give you some valuable insights into how to mentor and guide the next generation.
Tune in for an interesting and insightful conversation with Ciara—this one’s got something for everyone, whether you’re just starting out in construction or have been around for decades!
Key Takeaways:
- Limited exposure to construction careers during school
- Challenges for women in the industry, including safety concerns and gender-related issues
- Concerns about salary gaps and the need for more diversity in senior roles
- Finding mentors and building strong workplace relationships is key
- Addressing industry language and communication styles is important
- Listening to feedback from all levels helps create a positive environment for women in construction
- Resilience is vital, but it’s also important to recognise when the workplace culture isn’t right
- Companies promoting diversity and offering good benefits are more likely to attract and retain women
- More women are needed in the industry to bring fresh perspectives and mentor future generations
Hope you enjoy the podcast!
The Building Talks Podcast is brought to you by Building Environs Recruitment - providing recruitment solutions to the property, construction, and related industries, here in Melbourne and Southeast Queensland. For an overview of our service, visit:
www.buildingenvirons.com.au
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The views and information shared in this podcast are for general purposes only and do not constitute legal or professional advice. Neither the host nor guests are providing specific guidance. Please seek professional advice before taking any action based on the content of this podcast.
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