Why Construction Hiring Feels So Hard (And What You Can Do About It)

If you’ve ever said, “There’s just no one good to hire,” this episode is your wake-up call.

Ryan Hogan, Navy veteran and CEO of Talent Harbor, joins Ron Nussbaum on the Construction Champions Podcast to dismantle the myths around recruiting in the construction industry. The truth? It’s not a talent shortage, it’s a strategy shortage.

The Real Problem Behind Bad Hires

Most construction companies treat hiring like gambling. There’s no system, no structure, and no accountability.

Ryan makes it clear: gut-instinct hiring is killing your business.

He reveals the costly truth behind:

• Bad hires that burn out teams and hurt culture

• Generic job ads that attract the wrong people

• Last-minute, desperate decisions that sabotage success

And the worst part? Business owners usually blame the market or the applicants instead of owning the broken process.

EOS: The Secret Weapon for Recruiting Success

If you’re running your business on EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), you already know the power of systems and accountability. But most contractors fail to apply those same principles to hiring.

Ryan walks through how to:

• Align recruiting with your EOS scorecard

• Create a consistent process from job posting to onboarding

• Use structured interviews to make data-driven hiring decisions

This isn’t theory, it’s the same playbook Ryan uses with companies scaling fast in home services and construction.

Stop Searching. Start Attracting.

One of the biggest mindset shifts in this episode: the best hires don’t come from job boards, they come from targeted outreach.

Top talent is often already working somewhere else. Ryan shares exactly how to:

• Poach competitors' A-players ethically

• Build an employer brand people want to work for

• Create a referral flywheel with your existing team

If you're waiting for great people to walk through the door, you're already behind.

Finding Sales Talent That Actually Closes

Hiring for construction sales is a whole different ballgame and Ryan breaks down how to win it.

From understanding what drives great closers, to building comp plans that reward performance, you’ll learn:

• Why salespeople often fail in contracting businesses

• How to spot real sales ability in interviews

• How to build a sales team that scales with you

Whether you're hiring your first salesperson or rebuilding a burned-out team, this section of the episode is gold.

Burn the Excuses. Build the System.

Ron and Ryan don’t sugarcoat it: hiring in construction is hard, but it’s fixable.

If you want to:

• Stop the revolving door of bad hires

• Build a team that buys into your mission

• Stop losing time, energy, and money on poor decisions

  
  

...then it’s time to stop winging it.

Ryan gives you the blueprint to:

• Fix the messaging in your job ads

• Develop a pipeline of talent, not just applicants

• Lead with clarity so your team can follow with confidence

Hiring Doesn’t Have to Be Hell

The companies winning right now aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets. They’re the ones with the best people.

And the best people follow great leadership and great systems.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start growing, this episode is a must-listen.

Listen to the Full Episode: 

Learn more about Ryan Hogan & Talent Harbor: https://www.talentharbor.com

Email Ryan: ryan@talentharbor.com

Connect on LinkedIn: Ryan Hogan

Host: Ron Nussbaum

Website: www.ron-nussbaum.com

LinkedIn: Ron on LinkedIn

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Why Construction Hiring Feels So Hard (And What You Can Do About It)