The construction sector has some of the most stable career options in the building industry. From being a plumber to an electrician to a civil engineer, just about anyone can find a job they love in construction. Plus, you can join this vibrant workforce with just a little bit of training.
How to Train and Work in the Construction Sector
Starting a career in the construction sector isn’t too difficult, but it can be hard to choose the correct path. Here’s how you can train and work in the construction industry really quickly.
1. Choose a Construction Career Discipline
In the United States, you have to train under a journeyperson to become an expert in your field. If you want to train to become an electrician, but the only available journeyperson in your company is a plumber, you either have to find another journeyperson or become a plumber.
You can’t even switch over the hours you spent training under a plumber to learn a different trade, so you have to be absolutely sure what you want to do before starting an apprenticeship.
These prerequisites only apply to jobs that require an apprenticeship. It’s way easier to switch out of your declared major in your first or second year if you change your mind.
2. Find a Training Program That Won’t Take Too Long
If you don’t want to take the college or university route, check out this list of construction training programs. In 20 days, you can earn the credentials you need to get hired in the construction industry. You’ll even meet your future employer and possibly land a job during training.
Although these programs are a good start, you’ll still need to become an apprentice to get certified. Think of trade school as a fast-track institution that helps you get into the industry.
3. Go to College or University (Required for Some Jobs)
The construction industry has a high projected growth rate over the next decade, meaning degrees in construction management will keep you competitive. However, you aren’t just limited to a construction-specific degree if you want to explore your options further.
For example, civil engineers require a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, and a wind turbine technician may require an architecture degree. Most employers have dropped degree requirements for plenty of other jobs in construction to attract more high school students.
While the vast majority of construction careers don’t require a bachelor’s degree, you may want to get one anyway to transition into a managerial or project management position faster.
4. Create a Construction Career-Ready Resume
A good construction worker’s resume can make the difference between getting a job in the industry and being overlooked. If you’re applying right out of high school, include your relevant work experience, skills, high school diploma or GED, trade certificate, and volunteer work.
If you’re applying out of college and you’ve already interned, include that experience as well as your degree. Either way, you may need to search for jobs that say no experience is required.
5. Start Applying for Construction Jobs
It’s really common for construction workers to get a job without any experience. If you’re lucky, you’ll train under a journeyperson immediately, which cuts down on the time it takes to become certified. However, you may just get hired as a general laborer, and that’s okay too.
If you’re having a hard time finding a job, take your resume to a professional resume writer. Even something as simple as a spelling error can disqualify you from the job pool, so be careful.
Attend a job fair if you’re a recent college graduate or graduating soon, or contact a temp agency to find positions that aren’t advertised online. If possible, try to network within the construction industry before you start applying for jobs to make the process easier.
