Talking with Joey Hidalgo about Estimating, Offshoring, and the Power of Starting from Zero

Got a question about the show? Click here & Send us a text!Welcome back to The Building Talks Podcast, wrapping up Season 4 with a story that perfectly captures grit, growth, and what’s possible in construction when mindset meets opportunity.In this finale, I’m joined by Joey Hidalgo, founder of the TMC Academy and host of The Profitable Estimator Podcast. Joey moved from the Philippines to Australia with just $700, sending out 50 resumes a day before breaking into estimating and launching his own Estimating business. He shares how he built his career, the underestimated power of estimators, and why systems and mentorship matter more than ever. We also discuss how offshoring can solve skills shortages when done right and why Australia’s hiring mindset needs a serious rethink.Takeaways:✅ Building a career from scratch in a new country✅ Estimating as a critical (and overlooked) skill✅ Joey’s WPR framework: Win, Profit, Repeat✅ The offshoring debate: cheap labour or opportunity bridge?✅ Fixing the hiring mindset to focus on training, not perfectionChapters:05:23  Cultural Representation in Construction08:20  National Pride and Historical Context14:14  Career Path and Opportunities in Engineering17:03  Transitioning to Estimating in Australia23:54  Innovations in Estimating Processes29:57  Reflections on Diversity in Construction39:25  From Estimator to Entrepreneur42:55  Identifying the Skills Gap in Estimating45:40  The Challenge of Estimating in Construction51:39  Building a BPO for Estimators55:34  The Importance of Fair Compensation58:22  The SOT Framework for Successful Offshoring01:01:11  Building Trust and Communication in Remote Teams01:08:43  Developing Talent in the Construction Industry01:17:19  Finding the Right Fit: Training vs. Hiring01:27:43  Perceptions of the Australian Construction IndustryTune in for an inspiring, no-fluff chat about building a career from scratch, unlocking offshore potential, and why estimating deserves way more respect.Hope you enjoy the podcast!#ConstructionCareers #EstimatingMatters #TheBuildingTalksPodcast #TMCacademy #ProfitableEstimator #OffshoringInConstruction #SkilledMigration #MentorshipInConstruction #ConstructionLeadership #DiversityInConstruction The Building Talks Podcast is brought to you by Building Environs Recruitment - providing recruitment solutions to the property, construction, and related industries, here in Melbourne and Southeast Queensland.  For an overview of our service, visit:www.buildingenvirons.com.auProud to partner with Housing All Australians (HAA). Check out their website, and join the movement! www.housingallaustralians.org.auThe views and information shared in this podcast are for general purposes only and do not constitute legal or professional advice. Neither the host nor guests are providing specific guidance. Please seek professional advice before taking any action based on the content of this podcast.Contact The Building Talks PodcastFollow us on Linkedin, Facebook, and InstagramVisit us on our websiteEmail us at [email protected]