If you decide that you need a job and you need it pretty quickly, you might decide that working in the construction field is the right call for you and your needs. However, true construction is a lot harder than the simple DIY repairs you might have made in your house or backyard, and you might need a more complex set of skills than you realize.
That’s what is article is for, so read on and you’ll discover what type of skills and personality you need to don a hard hat and get on the job site.
You Need To Have Strength, Stamina, and Resistance
For starters, construction work isn’t for the faint of heart or the weak of body. Being able to carry heavy loads, use tools, and perform the same task for perhaps hours on end takes a toll on a body, so you need to be prepared to work hard and long until the job is done. You will need to be able to lift, climb, and have an awareness of your surroundings.
Additionally, you will need to be able to work in less than ideal conditions. Even if the rain is falling or it is extremely cold or hot outside, the job still needs to be done. So being able to put aside your own personal complaints for the sake of the team is a very good skill to have.
Now, if you aren’t physically or mentally tough just yet, don’t freak out. You can still work up to having those skills and you can build them as you work on the job site, but know that construction work is not for the faint of heart and it will be very hard work.
General Construction Workers Need Practical Knowledge More Than Traditional Education
If you don’t have a formal education, that won’t hinder you from becoming a construction worker. Many employers won’t have any formal education requirements, and for the most part, the highest certificate any employer will ask for is a high school diploma or a GED certificate. Now, if you decide you want to go into a more specialized field of construction such as plumbing or roof repair, you might need to complete a few courses in that field, but general construction is pretty basic on the formal knowledge front.
However, even if you don’t have any formal knowledge, you will need to have knowledge of the project and mechanical knowledge. Knowing how to use power tools, what some common lingo around the construction site is, and knowing how to read and interpret a blueprint are all things that will come in very handy around a job site.
So studying up on some practical knowledge and asking questions of your superiors is a great idea, and it will only help you get ahead.
Get Some Certificates
Now, if you really want to stand out to employers and make construction a full time career for you, then you might want to grab some certifications. These certifications can show your employers that you have at least some knowledge related to this position, and in getting your certificates you will gain some knowledge and skills.
The best certificate you can get if you only have the time for one is the OSHA Safety Certificate, which takes a minimum of seven courses to get and it trains you in some of the occupational health and safety hazards of the construction site. You just pick what courses you want to take, and once you complete the program you have a certificate that shows you know what you are doing around a construction site.
What If You Have A Criminal Record?
If you have a criminal record and want to become a construction worker, then you will find plenty of advancement here. It is pretty common for those with a criminal record to enter the construction workforce, and many jobs actually don’t require a record check unless you are working on government contracts or with heavy machinery.
If you have a criminal record and meet the state specific requirements for expungement, then you can try to get your record expunged with the help of an expungement attorney. Expungement attornies are able to work with you to clear your criminal record through the expungement process.
They are able to review your criminal record and compare it to the state law, and then they can let you know if you even have a case. But once you do, they will walk you through every single step, from the paperwork to the court hearing you will need to attend.
You need to file a petition to have your record expunged, and then will need to appear at a hearing where a court will determine the strength of your case. If your request for expungement was granted, then your record will be cleaned from all agencies. Once the process is done you can get back to looking for a job with a squeaky clean slate!
How To Advance In The Construction Industry
Once you have a good construction job, then the next thing you need to do is start working your way up. You could decide to specialize in one type of industry, continue to work your way up the ladder of the job site until you become the foreman of the operation, or branch out and start your own construction company.
Depending on the type of person you are and what you hope to achieve, you can go down several different avenues and reach the same successful result whenever it comes to construction.
There are a lot of ways to have advancement in the world of construction, and all you really need to do to move up is to work hard and gain even more knowledge about the jobs you are completing. Then just seize some opportunities whenever they come for you, and you will find yourself at the top of your field in no time at al
