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The recession is grinding on. Some have been unemployed for over a year. This is truly a once-in-a-generation event. The unemployment rate is clearly higher than the “official” one. Difficult lessons are being relearned, especially if lives have been conducted without cushions. The unparalleled affluence of the last 10 years has lulled the industry into complacency. Those with some miles on their tires are perhaps sharing stories around the dinner table about how the ’30s were managed. The young people of today will be telling their stories to the next generations.

But there are some things that can be done.

Advocate for projects. Attend public meetings and insist that the mayor, Metro or whichever bureaucrat is in charge make decisions that move projects forward. Projects such as the Columbia River Crossing and liquefied natural gas plants are stuck in neutral with no end in sight. These meetings are all advertised. Come and testify. Stand in the back of the room and push the limits of decorum. Insist on timelines. Counterbalance the obstructionistic influences. It may be your livelihood that is being negotiated. Come to the table. Write letters. Call representatives. Be tenacious.

Agencies in charge of projects should look at their rules closely and see how they can be managed to move projects out the door. Supervisors and managers should again review their organizations and delegate decision making to the lowest possible level so that projects can move as quickly as possible.

Take related jobs even if they are only for the short term, and demand a reasonable rate of pay. The exposure will ensure that you are on the inside when the next opportunity arises.

Be flexible with regard to preferred job duties and types of work. You may not get to exercise your strengths, but you will learn new things. Be flexible with location. Look for nontraditional opportunities to demonstrate your strengths.

Employers should be flexible with regard to candidates’ qualifications. Consider a candidate’s overall qualifications rather than demanding a specialist with a long resume. In this age of increasing specialization employers are neglecting to look at the general work characteristics that are so essential to completing a successful project. Attitude, enthusiasm, ethics, energy, skill potential, balance and creativity are crucial. Look to building a team for the next wave.

Consulting firms should look hard at their rate structure. Does a client really believe a construction manager is worth $175 per hour? Those rates hail from the high-flying days of 2007. Contractors should look at their profits and cut to the minimum to keep going. When things rebound, lost ground will be made up.

Remain optimistic. Stick with your profession. This too will pass, and the industry will recover. The nation will need infrastructure for transportation and energy needs, water systems and wastewater-treatment systems, and solid waste disposal facilities. Be persistent. Look for face-to-face contact opportunities to set you apart from Web surfers.

Use volunteer opportunities to showcase your capabilities, whether you are a firm or an individual looking for work. Professional associations are always looking for committee members. Social service agencies need helping hands. Good deeds are remembered. Volunteer work gets you in circulation.

Those at the lower end of the experience level are feeling the brunt of this recession. They are also the core of the future of our industry. If they are not engaged, the potential exists for an exodus that will hamstring the next expansion. Those able to provide employment should look at creative avenues. Those who benefit will someday ascend to positions of responsibility and remember how they got there.

Christian Steinbrecher is the president of Ukiah Engineering Inc. and a senior consultant at Capital Project Consultants. Contact him at [email protected].