Published 23 Dec 2025
S4. Ep 22. Talking with Joey Hidalgo about Estimating, Offshoring, and the Power of Starting from Zero
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 perfection
Chapters:
- 05:23 - Cultural Representation in Construction
- 08:20 - National Pride and Historical Context
- 14:14 - Career Path and Opportunities in Engineering
- 17:03 - Transitioning to Estimating in Australia
- 23:54 - Innovations in Estimating Processes
- 29:57 - Reflections on Diversity in Construction
- 39:25 - From Estimator to Entrepreneur
- 42:55 - Identifying the Skills Gap in Estimating
- 45:40 - The Challenge of Estimating in Construction
- 51:39 - Building a BPO for Estimators
- 55:34 - The Importance of Fair Compensation
- 58:22 - The SOT Framework for Successful Offshoring
- 01:01:11 - Building Trust and Communication in Remote Teams
- 01:08:43 - Developing Talent in the Construction Industry
- 01:17:19 - Finding the Right Fit: Training vs. Hiring
- 01:27:43 - Perceptions of the Australian Construction Industry
Tune 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.au
Proud to partner with Housing All Australians (HAA). Check out their website, and join the movement!
www.housingallaustralians.org.au
The 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.
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Talking to professionals in construction, property development, architecture, and beyond.
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