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What would be a good path to go into construction?

I am 17 years old, I go to school at Day Spring Christian School, I am enrolled into OTC in construction for cabinet making and trim, I have been building stuff from a very young age, and I am really good at making things detailed.

#construction #building #career-path

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Julie’s Answer

Most employers require construction workers to have a high school diploma. They can improve their skills by taking classes in welding, woodshop and mathematics while still in high school. There is no further education needed, as employers train these professionals on the job. Most employers train construction workers once they begin the job. New hires often work under supervision by an experienced team leader or manager who teaches them how to use the equipment and complete necessary tasks. They also learn safety procedures and practice general handiness skills necessary for the job.

Some people choose to complete apprenticeships to further their education and develop more specialized skills. Apprenticeships are often two to four years long and combine classroom instruction with on-the-job experience. Students learn a variety of topics, including how to follow safety protocols, the correct ways to use tools and how to read blueprints. These programs are often necessary for those who want to work in building construction, highway construction and environmental remediation and can better prepare a candidate to feel comfortable with minimal supervision when they begin working.

Julie recommends the following next steps:

Some employers may require employees to pass an industry-specific certification to show their general understanding of the field. Some of these certifications may include the following: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Construction Certificate: This certification is hosted by national safety organization OSHA and assesses a candidate’s knowledge of hazard recognition, how and when to file a complaint and nationally mandated safety protocols. Entry-level construction workers can take a 10-hour course, while those with more experience can take a 30-hour course.
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Mary’s Answer

Carter,
With your interests, I would steer you to a cabinet/casework company or a general contracting company as what is called a finish Carpenter. Finish carpenters focus on trim work. You would most the likely come in as a helper on the carpentry crew and work your way up. This can happen very quickly depending on the quality of your work and your work ethic.

If you go to work for a cabinet maker or a small general contractor that does high end residential work, you'd be able to put your cabinet making skills to work. Those may actually have apprentice type programs or a mentorship with somebody who already works there to show you the ins and outs.

Mary recommends the following next steps:

See if the AGC has a local office in your area. They are the association of general contractors and you can join as a student and go to some of their meetings and meet a lot of people.
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April’s Answer

Anything you can do to get involved on summer jobs or trades with new construction. Learn about the process of construction and that will help to understand when the trades come in. Project Management is huge right now and construction is a great baseline for that and all industries have one. Anytime you can talk to a General Contractor (GC) or and Electrical Contractor (EC) it will help you understand the steps in construction, permits, punch lists etc. If your school has some classes about wood, shop, or construction, get in it to learn about tools, how to use them, safety and it will make you a candidate for summer jobs.
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