Building a personal brand can help you stand out in the built environment industry, where there is lots of competition for skilled roles. Your personal brand showcases your expertise, values, and professionalism to potential employers and peers. Here’s how you can start to develop a consistent and strong personal brand:

1. Define Your Brand

Start by identifying what makes you different – think about your skills, values, and career goals. Are you a specialist in geotechnical engineering? A P6 Planner? Or do you excel in managing multi-disciplinary teams?

Being clear on what you offer helps you craft a consistent image across platforms and by clearly understanding your strengths, you can present a cohesive message about who you are and what you bring to the table – everything from your CV to your LinkedIn profile should reflect this.

A well-defined brand ensures that employers and collaborators know exactly what to expect from you.

Top 5 In-Demand Engineering Skills 2025

2. Build a Strong Your Online Presence

Most employers and clients will check your online profiles, so they must reflect your professionalism – your digital footprint is often the first impression you make.

  • LinkedIn: Keep your profile updated with a professional photo, clear headline, and tailored summaries highlighting your expertise and achievements.
  • Portfolio: If your work involves design or technical projects, create an online portfolio showcasing your best work.
  • Engage: Post updates about relevant industry trends, comment thoughtfully on others’ posts, and join professional groups to build visibility.

LinkedIn tips & tricks to help you find your next role  – Advance TRS

3. Network Strategically

Networking and relationships are key in the built environment. Many roles are filled through recommendations and personal connections.

  • Attend industry events, seminars, or webinars to meet key players.
  • Follow companies, recruiters, and influencers in your niche to stay informed.
  • When networking, focus on building genuine connections rather than asking for jobs immediately.

Leveraging Online Platforms for Digital Networking – Advance TRS

4. Work with a Specialist Recruiter

Specialist recruiters, like us at Advance TRS, can boost your personal brand. We can help tailor your CV, highlight your key skills, position you for the roles you want and present you to top employers in the best light possible.

Candidates can expect exceptional recruitment service from Advance TRS

5. Stay Consistent

Consistency is essential to a strong personal brand. Use the same name, professional photo, and messaging across your CV, LinkedIn, and email signature. Align everything you say and share with your career goals. A clear and consistent brand makes you more memorable and trustworthy.

6. Keep Learning

Keep up with certifications, training, and industry trends to show you’re adaptable and forward-thinking – the built environment is constantly changing, and continuous learning demonstrates your commitment to professional growth and keeps your brand relevant.

5 Ways to Stay in the Loop with Industry Trends  – Advance TRS

By defining your strengths, being visible online, building genuine connections, and remaining consistent, you can create a personal brand that sets you in the industry you’re in.

For tailored support in finding your next opportunity, reach out to Advance TRS and explore our current jobs available, here.

Staying on top of industry trends is essential, especially in fast-paced fields like construction, rail, energy, and environmental engineering. Knowing what’s coming next can give you a competitive edge, keep your skills relevant, and help you adapt to new opportunities. Here are five practical ways to keep up to date with the latest developments in your sector. 

1. Engage with Professional Networks and Organisations 

Networking is not just for job-hunting; it’s a powerful way to stay informed. Joining professional organisations and attending industry events can provide direct access to the latest trends and developments. Organisations like the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) frequently share insights, host webinars, and hold events where experts discuss emerging practices. Engaging with these networks keeps you connected and informed. 

Leveraging Online Platforms for Digital Networking – Advance TRS

2. Keep Up with Industry News and Publications 

Reading industry publications and subscribing to newsletters is one of the simplest ways to stay informed. Whether it’s Construction News, Rail Technology Magazine, or The Engineer, many publications focus on the latest news and trends in specific sectors. Many also offer newsletters, which bring curated updates directly to your inbox, making it easy to stay in the know, even if you have a busy schedule – us included, you can sign up, here!

3. Leverage Online Learning and Certifications 

New skills and certifications can set you apart in a competitive field, and online platforms make it easier than ever to stay updated. Websites like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and Udemy offer courses on everything from project management to sustainable building practices. Not only do these courses keep your skills sharp, but they also allow you to explore new areas that might be gaining traction and keep up to date with any industry regulations. 

4. Follow Industry Leaders and Influencers on Social Media 

Social media platforms – particularly LinkedIn – are excellent for real-time updates on industry trends. Following influential figures and leading companies can give you insights into emerging developments and best practices. Additionally, LinkedIn groups and discussions around hashtags like #RailIndustry allow you to participate in conversations with other professionals and stay aware of current trends without searching for individual news articles. 

5. Listen to Podcasts and Attend Webinars 

Podcasts and webinars provide a flexible way to stay informed and learn from experts, especially if you’re short on time. Industry podcasts often cover the latest topics and allow you to hear directly from thought leaders. Webinars, often hosted by professional organisations or leading companies, offer insights into specific areas of interest and give you a chance to ask questions in real time. 

Staying Ahead 

Staying in the loop with industry trends is a proactive effort that can significantly impact your career. Whether it’s through networking, online learning, or keeping up with industry news, making these activities part of your routine will keep your skills relevant and your knowledge current. 

Exploring new roles in the industry? Check out our available positions, here

Friday 4th September 2020 marked the opening of Advance TRS’ new Port Solent office.

The business first opened an office in the South Coast in 2018, headed up by Water & Infrastructure Director Rob Kelly. Since then the team has gone from strength to strength and the new office will accommodate the growing Port Solent team. Rob added two new members during the last few months and is looking for more talented and driven recruitment professionals to join them.

The new office space has more than doubled the marina front offices of the team, including the addition of a dedicated breakout room, boardroom and meeting room. Not only does this support staff to stay socially distanced working safely throughout COVID, but also allows plenty of room for further team growth in the coming years.

Leader of the South Coast team, Rob Kelly explains:

“The new offices have given the team the right setting to deliver our planned growth trajectory. The new space is fully branded and has a really exciting atmosphere, proving just how far the team has come in 2 years.”

The pandemic has been an unprecedented and tough time, however, it has not put a stop to Advance TRS’ expansion plans. The business is looking for more seasoned recruiters to join the Guildford and South Coast offices and expand into further markets, while also being interested in mergers and acquisitions. Advance TRS provide quality recruitment solutions across the built environment and plan to further continue geographic expansion into the South West, Midlands and the North.

“We are going through an exciting process of strategic talent acquisition, looking for entrepreneurial individuals, established recruitment teams and small businesses with a shared vision to join the Advance TRS team”, explains Advance TRS Non-Executive Advisor and CEO, Paul Metcalfe.

Paul is responsible for leading the business’ strategic talent acquisition, joining the team in 2017, with a proven track record of delivering business growth for industry giants including AndersElite and Fusion People.

Contact Paul Metcalfe, Advance TRS CEO for a discreet conversation on 07793 554 413 or email pme@advance-trs.com.

Searching for a job can be a daunting prospect; understanding your worth on the job market, navigating job boards, recruiters and social networks can all present barriers to finding the perfect role. However, new technology and algorithms on established platforms are geared to help you find your next role with minimum effort. Plus, using social media for your job search could prove an important aid.

So how do you find a job in the technological age?

Here are 3 simple tips to help speed up your job search.

Update your Virtual CV

Your social media profile can act as a virtual CV, it’s there 24/7 as your personal advert to the job market. Create a LinkedIn profile or update your existing profile by detailing your relevant skills and experience to maximise your online presence. Share your profile edits to draw attention to your refreshed profile among your followers.

Register for Job Alerts

Save time with your search by registering for job alerts. By registering with relevant job boards and setting up job alerts, you can receive notifications of new opportunities straight to your inbox. You can be as specific as you want to be, narrowing it down to location, salary, job title or industry. Targeting industry-specific job sites can be a good way of narrowing down the number of jobs sent to you.

Utilise Recruiters

Good recruiters will have a comprehensive understanding of your market and current opportunities. Engaging recruiters is a quick way of tapping into this knowledge to help you in your search. Even better, they already have a relationship with the hiring managers and can guide you through the process, from interviews and salary negotiation to offer and onboarding.

A great social media tool for your job search comes from LinkedIn. You can now choose to show recruiters and hiring managers, who are searching for potential candidates, that you are ‘open to opportunities’. This will not be visible to your current company but will alert hiring managers and recruiters that you are open to approaches!

Looking for your next career?

Advance TRS is a niche recruitment consultancy specialising in the provision of highly-skilled technical professionals. Since establishing, Advance TRS has grown rapidly and now provides permanent, contract and temporary recruitment solutions to both candidates and clients across a number of key technical sectors, including Rail, Property, Construction, Water and Utilities.

For the latest opportunities visit www.advance-trs.com or speak to one of our team on 01483 361061.