Looking To Get In To Construction.

Chippie

Hi,

I'm 20 and thinking of getting into some form of consruction however I am not sure which just yet. What would you recommend for someone who has very little experience in construction?

For any of the construction trades is it necessary for me to attend any schooling or can I get around that type of thing? I don't want to attend schooling as it is just not for me I prefer working outside with my hands and learning as I work.

How would I go about getting started in any of the trades? It seems as though most places want experienced people which makes it difficult for me to get any experience.

Thanks.

Cole

Well, where are you from to start off?

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Chippie

Western New York.

If there's any other info you're gonna need just let me know.

Thanks

joasis

Nothing like having a little direction. If you want general construction, look for a contractor that will hire you on as a laborer....and yes, that is where you start....if you make it past carrying boards, then you get to us a hammer, and so on. You want to be a plumber or electrician, find a guy that will hire you as an apprentice......by the way, starting at the bottom means not much in the paycheck, but you can always call it education.

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KentWhitten

Sounds like a framer/sider/roofer/foundation/heavy equipment kind of guy. You wouldn't necessarily need any vocational schooling, but it doesn't hurt. You need to start at the beginning like joasis said. If you're looking to do your own business someday, then you might need to try a few specialties and see which one you like.

I'm obviously going to be biased for framing, but there's alot of knowledge needed for framing and you will be at it for at least 5 years before you really should try it for yourself. If you find the right guy, no matter what trade, you had BETTER listen to him and respect him, because he will be your mentor. You will remember him for the rest of your life.

20 years from now, you will appreciate what this person taught you.

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JustaFramer

My advise to you is to go down to the local labor temple. Talk to the different trades. I did it when I was 18 except I wanted to be a carpenter. At that time commercial was slow so I went scab residential. At the time I could get a job paying close to what the union was paying and steady. Steady being a plus. Now in most places union scale blows non-union out of the water and work is steady for now.
Right now I am framing and getting paid double and even triple what I was getting paid 4 years ago.
Will I start a business again probably will I have enough to buy lots and finance the project with out the bank. Probably. When the time is right of course.

daArch

Chippie,

I could write the next "All American Novel" answering your question based on experience, hearsay, and rumor. But I'll try to be brief - not easy for me.

What joasis and framerman says is spot on (sorry JustaFramer, I'm not rah rah rah Union - nothing personal).

I wasn't school material either, although I know I gots the brains - just never the motivation (can you say A.D.D. ) Always loved buildings and working with hands. Fell into a number of summer jobs with Contractors - meaning I was low man for framers, roofers, ditch diggers, painters, etc. Leraned a lot. I even spent time with Tree and Landscape companies. Finally in about '71, with funds and parents' patience running thin on my college "experiment" I started working with another guy my age painting houses - we were all self taught and learning on the job. The only thing that kept us employed was that we GAVE A S*HIT. We may not have known what we were doing, so we did more than we needed. And we got real good. ANYWAY, painting lead to wallpaper. Painting also lead to lead poisoning and solvent intolerance, so wallpaper was where I finally landed, and now I am quite happily succesful. I've also done lots of other stuff building orientated like Architectural School, surveying, cabinet making, and even helped an electrician friend for a week.

Point? (oh, that's right I'm giving advice ) Call everyone and be willing to do ANYTHING. LEARN, be DEPENDABLE, be FLEXIBLE, have PRIDE, be HUMBLE, and GIVE A S*HIT. You know which general direction you want to go right now, if you give yourself a wide base of experience, you will refine your path later. And what you learn now, will ONLY benefit you in the future.

I gotta believe someone is willing to hire a hard worker and let them learn like they did for me back in '67 (JESUS, 40 F'ing years in the trades, and I still think of myself as a young snot)

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newguy07

I just got into an electrician apprenticeship program. I found it from a local apprenticeship school

Although, I am going to be going to school at night.

IHateJoeCool

Why don't you go out and get your CDL & hire out with an excavating or road building contractor, do some labor, get your hands dirty, then eventually they will put you in the drivers seat, then to heavy equipment, and 20 years later & 100 pounds heavier your "sittin pretty" Prevailing wages, union benes, your in NY, big union state. Oh it'll be so great. Who wants to swing a hammer forever?
Whatever you do,
Be Safe,
JAY

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JustaFramer

don't be I worked resi for 10 years. It's a dead end street. Especially right now there are a 100's of out of work contractors viaing for jobs and probably twice as many guys looking for employment. The supply and the demand isn't there anymore for everbody. Hell last summer there were 3 resi jobs in the paper. A significant drop from the last 4 years.

Then again I have met more ex non-union guys in the last year filling positions in the next big boom. But then again it's a exclusive club and non union contractors are rarely invited.
Yeah having all your eggs in one baskets does suck. Don't you want a piece of the 100 plus million dollars jobs?

Chippie

thanks for your help it's appreciated.

I have a few other questions for you all.

How do interviews for a construction job normally go? I know I would be a hard worker and I learn fast. I know that I can be dependable and flexible and all of the traits that have been mentioned above. I think that construction could be something that I could do well if I had the chance however I have trouble speaking with people that I don't know face to face. I'm worried that this will hold me back. I am working on it and think that getting a job would play a large part in helping me move forward with this I just don't know if I can convince someone that I could do the job. Do you have any tips or anything that I could take with me to an interview that might help me get my point across even without saying as much as most other people might?

If you're an employer would this turn you off employing me? What else do you look for in a person during an interview?

Thanks.

Chippie

Can anyone shed some lieght on these last few questions?

joasis

I generally hire guys with no experience so I don't have to fight the "we always did it this way, not your way" mentality.....I like guys to want to learn...warm bodies don't do a thing for productivity. I want guys who can listen, follow instructions, and accept when I say 7 am, that means 7 am, not 8 or 9.......whiners don't need to apply.

A positive attitude works wonders, and just be flat out honest....say you don't know anything, but you want to learn. You may be surprised...and if you get the job, do this: Keep your mouth shut unless asked, and ears open at all times......I know others will agree, and I hate repeating myself. A lot of stupid questions can be avoided by just listening....and yes, there is some truth to the idea there is no stupid questions....and ask, but there will come a point, if a guy has to lead you by the nose and answer questions continuously, they will tire of teaching you, and look to get rid of you. Watching how others work is key also.....it is called paying attention.

Talk to your friends who may know someone who works in the field...and see if you can get a hookup. Those of us who work in the trades often know who is shorthanded.

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JumboJack

The person that I learned the most from taught me to learn to anticipate what the person you where working with needed.Have the nail gun ready for him before he asks,hand the next stud to be nailed before he has to ask ect.
Like others have said,don't be afraid to ask questions.
Good luck...

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in texas with framing and cornish people will do it for 3.00 a foot. What do yall think about that? Just laber