Blog Post: Construction jobs?! We won't take just anyone - do YOU have what it takes?

What do you visualize when you hear the term ‘construction jobs’?  Do you have the perception that most construction related jobs require unskilled, uneducated, hammer swinging, hard hat wearing high school drop outs?  Nothing is farther from the truth!

Lots of workers have college degrees, technical trade degrees, on the job training, or have completed an apprenticeship program.  More on the subject, “In praise of Apprenticeship Programs” coming soon in my next blog.

The construction field is a highly skilled and evolving professional craft industry with many opportunities. The range is enormous from heavy equipment operators to carpenters to electricians to project engineers and architects. Forget all those things you think you know about that poor guy working a construction job.  First of all, most aren’t guys at all – women hold many jobs in the construction field – with many more opportunities everyday.  Are you looking for a stable career instead of just a job?  Read on!

So, what does it take to be successful?  This industry demands high quality, determined, talented, ambitious people.  You must want to take pride in your work.  Consider the fact the things you build may last centuries.  Imagine taking your great grandchildren to see a bridge you helped construct.  Must be like what the builders of the Empire State Building or Mt. Rushmore experienced when they shared those experiences with their family!  You must like variety – no day or job is ever the same.  You must enjoy working with tools and new technology.  Have you seen a piece of construction equipment lately?  Talk about interactive video games!  Like not being cooped up in an office at a desk all day?  Consider construction:  it’s a great physical activity in the outdoors.  If you can work without supervision and be a problem solver, we’ve got a great job for you!  You’ve got to like learning new things and being a team player.  Mt. Rushmore wasn’t built by one person.  Lastly, you must have strong work ethic skills.  You need to show up on time and ready to work all the time – safety is paramount and lives depend on it.

According to the Brookings Institute, “residential and commercial development in the next quarter century will eclipse anything seen in previous generations.”  Wow.  Sounds like some great careers are in this field!  In the end, everything you build is leaving a legacy for future generations.  Don’t rule out the construction industry to help you meet your goals for a great career!  Do you have what it takes?