GETTING STARTED IN CONSTRUCTION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

If you like working outdoors and don’t mind manual labor, a job in construction may be just the thing. With the economy starting to pick up projects will be coming online that need all types of construction employees from laborers to engineers.

CONSTRUCTION JOB TITLES
Construction Laborer

Becoming a laborer can be the best way to start in construction. Laborers help the skilled workers complete their parts of the project, help move materials around, and keep the site clean. The big plus to this position is that it gives you a chance to see what the other types of workers do. It’s also a chance to find a mentor or simply to learn more about construction as whole. A high school diploma or GED is all you need.

Construction Contractor or Manager

This is the person who oversees the project from excavation to completion. The construction contractor is responsible for payroll, finances, job delegation, and prioritization. This person may be managing multiple projects and can own his or her own contracting business.

Engineer

The engineer is one of the most highly skilled and educated individuals of the construction trade. The engineer draws plans, oversees the construction, and examines the structure as it is erected.

Excavation Manager

This is the one who gets to play with all those big toys…bulldozers, back hoes, cranes, and more. The excavation manager oversees the preparation of the site for construction.

Carpenters, Brick Masons, Cement Masons, and Glaziers

These are more specialized skilled labor that works with wood, bricks, concrete, and glass. Carpenters often work on the interior of the project building and installing cabinets, wood work, doors, and beams. The brick mason constructs, maintains, and repairs brick walls and other structures while cement masons mix, pour, and shape various types of concrete. The glazier is responsible for installing windows and other glass panels.

Demolition

This isn’t as complicated as construction and it can be more dangerous, but if you like blowing things up, this is the position for you. In demolition you must carefully calculate how much dynamite to use and where to place it for a building to safely implode. Plus, you would get to run over things with a bulldozer. How cool is that?

DO YOU WANT TO BE A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR?
A construction contractor is, as noted above, the manager of the project who plans the scheduling, deals with payroll, finances, and all the business-type activity involved in construction. A contractor may be supervising more than one construction project, so a little travel could be involved although it should all be local.

Getting hired as a construction contractor generally requires at least an Associate’s degree in construction management or construction technology with a Bachelor’s degree increasing your hiring potential. Some states and municipalities also require licensure or other credentialing. Plus you need at least 3 years of construction experience.

Starting as a laborer to gain experience while taking classes for your associate’s or bachelor’s degree can be the best way to go. You will see your new knowledge being applied in the real world while you earn money to pay for school.

LOOKING FOR WORK
Your Resume

Keywords are key in any resume. When hiring managers look on Monster or LinkedIn they are plugging in job titles, specific skills, the names of tools and equipment, and other typical keywords to find potential employees.

You must tailor your resume to every position you apply for, using the keywords from the job listing or of the position you hope to find. We are beyond the days of a single, all-purpose resume.

Your Interview

Be prepared for your interview. You will be asked to talk about your experience, share drawings and documents, and relate relevant stories including times you made a mistake. Be honest. If you position your mistakes correctly they turn into learning opportunities and you can assure the hiring manager that you won’t make the same ones again.

Be prepared to ask questions of your own. It shows you are interested in the job. Be sure to ask about safety, the type of project, and the expectations of the position. DO NOT talk about salary at this time; wait until an offer is made. You may be asked about your requirements; look into sites such as Salary.com to determine a fair range you can offer and indicate you are willing to negotiate.

A FINAL WORD
The availability of construction work can wax and wane according to the economic climate. However, a good construction worker or manager is always in demand. Get experience, earn a degree, and you are on your way.


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