CSI’s membership network is unique in the industry – no where else will you find this cross-disciplinary mix of construction professionals. Through CSI, owners, facility managers, architects, engineers, specifiers, contractors, sub-contractors, product reps and manufacturers come together.

That’s good news if you’re looking for a job.

Below are some ideas for using CSI if you’re looking for a job, or think you might need to start looking in the next few months. CSI members with other ideas are urged to post them in CSI’s forums.

Conducting a job hunt?

1. Visit CSI’s Career Center. You can post a resume and read job postings from across the country for free. Visit the Career Center. 
2. Join a CSI chapter and go to the meetings. Your local CSI chapter is plugged in to construction in your area. Spend time with people who know which firms are hiring, and who could recommend you. Find a chapter.

Improve Your Resume

1. Get your CDT, or advanced certification. Show potential employers that you are an expert, and set yourself apart from the competition. CSI chapters offer preparation courses and mentoring for exam candidates – another opportunity for you to expand your network. Learn more about CSI Certification.
2. Write a technical article for Construction Specifier magazine. Contact the Specifier with your article idea at editor@constructionspecifier.com.
3. Participate in CSI. Potential employers are likely to Google your name while considering you. Give them something worth finding:
   1. Expert responses to questions in CSI’s forums. (Log in before you post a response to have your name appear with your response.) 
   2. Your membership in a CSI committee or task team. (See the list of committees and task teams.)
   3. Join CSI’s LinkedIn group www.linkedin.com. (Create a free profile on LinkedIn, then search for “CSI” under groups.)
   4. Blog for CSI. CSI is looking for members who are interested in writing technically focused entries for CSI’s blog. Whether you’re interested in writing about the entire construction industry, or just the ins-and-outs of a particular division, CSI is a great way to share your technical knowledge and show potential employers your wisdom. Contact CSI Web Content Manager Joy Davis at jdavis@csinet.org if you'd like to start blogging.

Your CSI membership can be a valuable tool in your job hunt! Good luck!

"Three of the jobs I've applied for have required some form of familiarity with CSI information sources -- the National CAD Standard, MasterFormat, that type of thing. I'm very encouraged."
- Alphonse A. Gavila, CSI

Lee Orosco, FCSI, CCS, was hired in 2008 by Carollo Engineers of Arizona. The company had posted its job opening in CSI's Career Center in hopes of finding a CCS.

"Their practice is based on CSI principles and formats," Orosco said. "They only advertised their position through CSI because they decided that was the best place to find a CCS."

"I had decided that if I wanted to capitalize on my CCS credential, I should look at the CSI Career Center for jobs.  I had several opportunities to choose from across the country."

"CSI was a matchmaker! They brought us together!"