Jaynes Employee Spotlight: USCG Veteran Jimmy Beck Credits Military Experience To Recruiting Success at Jaynes

A Career in Construction: Meet Recruiter Jimmy Beck

Jaynes has a long and successful history of recruiting Veterans who have become major contributors and leaders. A recent example of this is Jimmy Beck. Jimmy joined Jaynes in 2023 after lengthy stints in senior recruitment roles at the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions and, earlier, the United States Coast Guard. In Jaynes, Jimmy mentions he’s found a “ … perfect fit for his professional goals, motivation, and military experience.”

Military Veterans bring an incredible combination of life experience, education, and training to the corporate world. Values and skills learned in the military include perseverance, dedication, and adaptability. Soft but valuable skills typical of Veterans include leadership and a sense of teamwork. Of the many Veterans at Jaynes, Jimmy is possibly the best example of carrying his military education directly into a similar role in the business world. His recruiting education and training in the USCG prepped him well for the recruiting challenges at Jaynes.

A native New Mexican who graduated from Moriarty High School (Go Pintos!), he attended UNLV. After examining what he wanted from a college education, he thought he needed more life experience with travel and continuing the family tradition of military service. After some research, he found the Coast Guard was an excellent choice for him. Jimmy joined and went to basic training in Cape May, NJ. After this, he was assigned to the Coast Guard cutter Hamilton, a 378-foot cutter that had seen service in the Vietnam War. Drug interdiction, maritime safety, and national security missions were typical for the Hamilton. Assignments followed in San Diego and then for his “A School” training in Petaluma, California. After receiving his rating in Human Resources & Personnel, he relocated to Portland, Maine, as a full-fledged Coast Guard recruiter. After three years there, he met the stringent requirements for prestigious assignments in Providence and Boston.

In roles as a Coast Guard recruiter, and at Jaynes, Jimmy mentions that the responsibilities of both are very similar. He mentions, “Both involve proactively seeking out potential candidates, attending recruiting events, using social media and professional networks to identify individuals who can contribute to my organization’s continued growth. In the USCG, I was trained to assess candidates’ qualifications, skills, and potential fit. I do that every day today.” As a Coast Guard recruiter, Jimmy highlighted the benefits of service, education, travel, and a sense of purpose. Today, he emphasizes job perks like the Jaynes Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), career growth, healthcare benefits, and a positive work culture.

In both career phases, Jimmy states that “success means understanding the organization’s needs, finding candidates who align with those needs, and facilitating a smooth entry into the role. I enjoyed doing those things in the USCG and enjoy this even more today.”

The role of a recruiter in commercial construction has been extremely difficult lately. A long-standing skilled labor shortage and the subsequent extreme competition for talent in construction require that any recruiter in commercial construction be highly motivated and organized in filling open positions. Jimmy stresses that,

“ … at Jaynes, our employees gain valuable experience across different types of interesting construction projects, increasing their skills and marketability. Professionals in construction today have choices. So, I want to be clear about why Jaynes is different. This is a message I constantly mention to job seekers.”

Jimmy says that Jaynes has competitive advantages for workers entering the workforce and experienced construction professionals. New Mexico’s economy is increasingly diversified, with several key industries driving growth and contributing to its resilience. The state’s economy, once primarily dependent on oil, gas, and government jobs, now includes a fast-growing array of sectors, such as renewable and solar energy, aerospace and defense (Kirtland Air Force Base, White Sands Missile Range, and the Spaceport America are all in growth modes), and technology startups and innovation hubs, with segments like cybersecurity, data science, and software development booming in the region. Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories draw elite researchers worldwide yearly and help fuel New Mexico’s economic growth. Even Hollywood has seen the benefits of establishing bases in the Southwest, with Netflix, NBCUniversal, and dozens of smaller production companies building facilities around Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos.

Another benefit Jaynes employees enjoy is the natural beauty of New Mexico. Sportspeople and recreational athletes enjoy the incredible landscapes, temperate climate, and over 300 days of sunshine annually.

With a favorable cost of living and high quality of life, citizens of the region agree it’s an attractive destination for both young people starting their careers and lives and experienced professionals looking for a great work culture and a high quality of life. Albuquerque offers a favorable housing market, 38.3% lower than Miami and 52.3% lower than Denver (Source: Best Places at https://www.bestplaces.net/cost-of-living/denver-co/albuquerque-nm/40000).

Jimmy mentions, “Jaynes is always seeking skilled professionals for leadership and project management roles. I have my hands full recruiting Union positions and Estimators, Project Engineers, Project Managers, and Superintendents. We offer construction opportunities for career advancement, leadership training, and specialization in key sectors like healthcare and government.”

Jaynes’ commitment to Veterans is strong. “Directly transferable skills, a cultural fit, similar values, career growth opportunities, commitment to community, and a strong benefits package featuring our employee ownership program are all part of my discussion with Veterans about joining Jaynes. As an Ex-Service member, I’ve experienced all these things and sincerely mention them as incredible benefits of joining our team,” says Jimmy.  

Are you interested in developing your career in construction or working on more interesting and challenging projects? Contact Jimmy via LinkedIn.