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As you work towards your future, you may wonder which career is right for you. Students have the world in front of them and if you’ve ever considered construction as a profession, you might wonder if it’s a good choice. Here’s what to know about choosing a career in the industry and how you can join it.
From design and planning to building and maintenance, there are a lot of components that go into a construction project. Three of the key areas of construction are the skilled crafts, architecture, and engineering:
Throughout these areas, many jobs fit different capabilities and experience levels. Anyone can enter construction if they find where they’re best suited. You might want to be a supervisor, designer, manager, machine operator, welder or painter. Some construction jobs you may not know about are the following:
There are many career opportunities with plenty of external and internal growth opportunities.
Now is an excellent time to begin planning your construction career. There are many advantages to entering the industry.
As long as the world needs structures, construction workers will have jobs. Whether there’s something new to build or something that needs repairing, chances are you will have job opportunities.
The United States has the highest number of construction vacancies recorded, reaching nearly 700,000. There are many suspected reasons for this, including an aging workforce and a stigma against the sector portrayed to young minds during a push for a college-educated generation.
Though there are still stereotypes about the industry, today’s workers are challenging it daily. More women are in the workforce than ever, and technological advances allow for more creativity and ingenuity to create impressive infrastructure, advancing essential sectors worldwide.
You can enter the industry at any skill level, whether out of high school, in a GED program or after years of college education. What you can do in each area depends on your chosen career and how the company decides to hire you.
Many jobs you could get without a degree could have you earning significant income in no time. You can begin as a laborer and work your way up the ranks. Find out about opportunities online, or by contacting educators and businesses with roles you’d be interested in. Like any career, marketing yourself can help you get your foot in the door.
Research other job postings to see what can benefit you in your desired position and location. As you apply for jobs, you could get a head start on training programs and certifications that make you an attractive candidate. Some federal programs support training that can help you get ahead for free.
Construction can be an extremely lucrative career with six-figure earning potential, including roles in plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, avionics, management and electrical. The amount you start at depends on your education, prior experience, and ability to catch onto skills and perform your duties well. You can take many paths — many of which allow you to earn a living wage right off the bat.
Careers in elevator repair or civil engineering could start you at more than $80,000, while you could begin with more than $60,000 in some inspecting, electrical and boilermaker positions. With such high demand, you’re likely to get an entry-level job at a higher rate and the chance to advance sooner.
Construction is a gratifying career where you can instantly see the results and take pride. While other career paths can take weeks or years to see the impact of hard work, you’ll often know how things went as soon as you do them. Whether it’s coming up with a floor plan, completing a tricky installation or engineering parts to fit together perfectly, you can go home after each shift knowing you’re directly contributing to something that will better the area you’re working in.
No matter which construction area you join, there’s always something new to learn and experience. Every project differs and requires you to use your expertise with new skills and creativity to manufacture the best possible product for the client. Even when the job means doing the same tasks you’ve previously completed, each project adds something new to society that will influence the lives of the residents or workers who use it.
Like any industry, you may encounter obstacles when entering construction. Here are some of the most common and how the industry is overcoming them.
The lack of filled positions opens up a competitive job market but can put a strain on companies that need to complete projects to stay afloat. The good news is safety personnel are very aware of the adverse effects of overworking construction employees, and work to eliminate unethical working hours or conditions.
Another challenge the sector faces is a need for more communication between teams, which can lead to delays and confusion on a site. Modern technology eliminates these issues — virtual navigation and cloud communication can instantly notify groups of any changes.
While it isn’t a deficit to have older adults working in the industry, research shows adopting new technology solutions is easier for younger adults who grew up with it. The Internet of Things (IoT) connects communication, safety technology and virtual reality builds that improve all teams’ processes.
That’s where you can help. Growing up with the internet, computers and smart devices give the industry a necessary advantage. As Millennials and Generation Z can aid older adults, they can return the favor by sharing their expertise for many years.
If you have a passion for using your hands, coming up with creative solutions and positively impacting the world, you might have a place in the construction industry. You can find a rewarding career wherever you choose to work in the industry.
CareerStarter is a free, comprehensive online platform that leads students and job seekers beyond career exploration to direct connections with employers, educators, local training programs, and job opportunities. It’s a connection hub designed to get people started on a career pathway in construction that aligns with their interests.
