How do i get into the construction industry?
Asked by HG
Im 23 yrs old and im looking to get into construction i have entry level skills with heavy equipment, do I visit local job sites and apply as a laborer?

Best Answer:
do you want to stay with heavy equipment or do you want to check out other trades? The advantage of being a laborer is your starting pay is high. The more specialized skills you have like cutting with oxy acetylene, welding, etc. can give you better employability. your ability to coexist and fit in well with your co-workers helps. It helps if you are very strong and do not mind being dirty and sweaty because your job is to fill the dumpsters with the accumulated debris of busy active construction sites, keep the jobsite clean and free of debris so that the other trades can do their work of installing various systems. Laborers are there from the beginning of the jobs to the end of the jobs. If they like you, you can make a lot of money in overtime. You may be asked to come in early because that may be when dumpster removal is scheduled or it may be scheduled for afterwork hours. Down side: This can be very dangerous backbreaking work. I don't know any laborers who have not had several serious injuries. There is danger of maiming, crippling or even death 1) think about what kind of construction trade you think you might like to explore. Think about the materials they work with. Would you like working with that material? 2) contact experienced tradeswomen from different trades to talk to about their specific trades so that you can narrow down your choices. ask her how to get into her union. this research may take some time and effort from you. 3) contact NEW (non traditional employment for women). Ask when they are having their next tradeswomen panel discussion. Ask if you can attend. Ask if they have openings in their next class for pre-apprenticeship. this will increase your success rate in surviving an apprenticeship. You can learn what to expect. 4) Talk to tradeswomen in your chosen career to get firsthand knowledge about that trade and her specific union. There may be many locals for that trade like the carpenters that cover specific geographic locales or there could be one local that covers the entire 5 boroughs of NYC like the electricians. Each tradeswoman has her own opinion, style and strategy for success and survival in the building trades. Talk to as many as you can. You should be able to find someone whose style could be helpful for you. 5) Construction is not for the faint of heart. You must be determined because many obstacles may arise throughout your apprenticeship and subsequent career. This is a very dangerous industry. get additional supplemental gap insurance like AFLAC. Injuries abound. Workers comp is no fun at all. just a lot of pain in many many ways. Frustration may be your frequent companion if you have low tolerence for bullshit. 6) contact the local union that has jurisdiction over that trade and geographic location. Ask to speak to the apprentice director to find out specifically how to get into that particular apprenticeship program and what will be required of you to complete that apprenticeship program. Do not forget that he or she is an authority figure and will play a very important role throughout your apprenticeship and probably has influence in your union. Therefore do not ask dopey questions. Until you really know who is who and what is what, treat unknown people as if they have the potential to get you fired. You never know if that guy is the boss's brother in-law and everything you just said will get right back to him via cell phone express. Although, this could also work to your benefit if you know how to use this correctly. One of the tradeswomen may be a better person to ask. Don't forget, some of the tradeswomen may also have connections you are unaware of like her boyfriend may be a powerful shop steward. Her best friend may be the fiance of the business agent. She may be the loose lips that will sink your ship. She may have ambitions that involve stepping on your neck to get ahead. She may have lots of family in the business and she throws you under the bus so that she can look good to the boys. 7) Most importantly this has also been the most fun and rewarding job and career for me. I love the nature of the materials I work with, copper, steel, aluminum, fiber optics etc. At the end of the day I know I have done something useful. I am proud of my skill, my craft and my abilities. I created something that wasn't there before. I proudly point out some of the buildings I helped to build over my 30 year career as a union construction electrician. Good luck.

That's one way. You would probably do better to apply at the offices of construction companies. There are also schools that offer training in operating heavy equipment and in construction management. Anyone can swing a hammer, but someone who can accurately estimate time and costs when bidding a job is worth their weight in contracts.
Answered by Ralfcoder