When you think of the construction industry, you might picture the high-rise buildings that sketch out a city’s skyline and the people in hard hats who built them. Or maybe it’s the bridge project that’s slowing your daily commute. Or perhaps you remember the big cranes that were on-site when your hometown hockey team’s arena was under construction.

These structures don’t just represent the work of tradespeople on-site. Behind every project is a team of professionals — estimators, lawyers, accountants, writers, technology professionals and a host of others required to run a construction company of PCL’s size.

The end product of construction is often highly visible, but the path to a completed project goes largely unseen. Perhaps that’s why there are so many myths or misconceptions that may deter some from considering a career in construction.

“We often see these misconceptions based on outdated depictions of the construction industry in movies, TV and other media,” says PCL Human Resources Director Jaime McGavin. “It’s important that we challenge those assumptions and share the authentic experiences of our employees in many different roles across North America and Australia.”

It takes thousands of people from a broad spectrum of specialties to run a business the size of PCL Construction. In fact, the industry offers more than 50 career tracks, many of which are non-trade roles. Those include business technology, data sciences, accounting, legal, human resources, video production and drone operator roles. 

Amanda Hufnagl is a senior digital designer on PCL’s corporate marketing and communications Team. She has been with the company for five years. When it comes to design, she does it all.

“I help improve user experience with some of our software applications, which is a real passion for me,” she says. “I also work on marketing materials like digital, interactive brochures, emails and newsletters. I support the business, so the professionals on the construction side can focus on what they do best.”

She says people are sometimes confused when she tells them she works for PCL, assuming she’s an engineer or tradesperson.

“I have to explain, no, I don’t touch buildings at all,” she says. “And honestly, I like being able to work within this world that has not always been my world. I don’t always understand every advanced detail on the construction side, but I love learning about it and seeing how my skill set as a designer can help them tell their stories and communicate their messages visually. It’s a fun challenge.” 

“Construction is all about teamwork,” says McGavin. “The people who work on job sites are supported by an entire family of colleagues working together to build a better future.”

Another misconception is that construction is a dead-end job. Leslie Szorcsik begs to differ.

“I think people who aren’t familiar with the industry don’t realize you can excel and move into new and different positions within construction,” she says.

While finishing college in 2021, she started as an administrative assistant in Orlando, with a goal of becoming a field engineer. 

“There was definitely help along the way,” she says. “I noticed PCL’s solar team was hiring so I applied and got the job.”

From field engineer, she moved up to her current role as a project engineer, overseeing quality control, running meetings with subcontractors and helping train field crews. Last year alone, she moved three times — from Florida to Ohio to Washington State — taking advantage of PCL’s centralized relocation services to immerse herself in new projects and new challenges.

“My peers, my leaders and my mentors have all helped me learn along the way. I feel a lot of pride, looking at completed solar projects and knowing I was an important part of making them a reality.”

Career progression is important at PCL. The company prioritizes professional development, mentoring and career building for each employee to shape their careers based on their skills, passions and ambitions. 

“Construction offers so many directions and career paths,” explains McGavin. “Over our 120-year history, our success has been a result of thousands of employees developing their skills, stepping into new roles and embracing new opportunities. There’s a reason our average tenure is so long: people are always challenged and given opportunities to keep growing.”

PCL is known for building some of North America’s most spectacular arenas and stadiums, high-rise buildings and luxury hotels, and the energy and heavy industrial projects that power cities and ignite local economies, so naturally, some people assume that’s all PCL does.

In fact, PCL has teams in its offices across North America dedicated to what are known as “special projects.” The team offers small-contractor services in buildings and civil infrastructure, typically under $15 million.

“When you’re working on a special project, with a smaller team, each person really is the face of the project,” explains PCL Superintendent Steve Carterette, who works out of the Seattle office. “So we all take a lot of pride in these projects.”

They may not be the biggest builds  — but to the owners and communities who use them, they’re just as important.

Carterette recalls building the Trücup Bistro in downtown Seattle in 2019.

“I remember people constantly walking by, seeing all these colors and asking what was going on in there. They were so excited to see it once it was open,” he remembers.

“On some of our special projects, we have more interaction with the community. It’s not a huge, fenced-off site. You’re right there, in the middle of people’s daily lives, building something new and exciting in their neighborhoods.” 

“Projects of all sizes strengthen the connections we have with the communities where we work and live and help support the economies of those communities,” adds McGavin.

So the next time you walk by a construction site — whether it’s a large or small project — think about the many people it took to make it happen, from marketing, HR, legal and accounting professionals, to the people on-site, bringing a project to life.

Think about your strengths, your skills and your passion for your community and ask yourself if there just might be a role for you in construction, after all — maybe even at PCL.