How to Start a Career in Construction
A career in construction can be highly rewarding for the right individual, with a renowned, friendly work environment and each day offering a different challenge, many flourish in a construction career path.
In 2015, builders saw the highest pay rise than any other sector, netting an average of a whopping 10.2% salary growth, so as well as an exciting and challenging role, there’s a fantastic pay packet to be earned within the construction industry too.
With all the benefits of the industry coming to light, it comes as no surprise that interest in the field is increasing. Luckily, no matter your age or experience levels, there are many ways to get started in a career in construction – read on to find out more about how you can get your foot in the door.
Apprenticeships
If you’re between the age of 16-24, an apprenticeship could be your easiest way to crack the industry. Alongside paid work, where you will gain insight and experience into all aspects of the industry, your college courses and other relevant accreditations and learning will be paid for, ensuring that at the end of your apprenticeship you are a fully-fledged construction worker qualified for any number of jobs on the market.
If you are above the age of 24, you can still undertake an apprenticeship, however funding is much more limited for adult apprenticeships so it is possible you will have to fund your own learning. Ask around at your local colleges for more information on this.
Further education
Whether it’s carrying on your apprenticeship to a university level or simply taking the next step after your A levels, a degree can really boost your career path within the construction industry. There are many construction related degrees that will allow you to adapt your skills to fulfil roles such as a construction manager, giving you more responsibilities and a higher earning potential.
Even a non-construction degree can be utilised to your advantage, with marketing, business or IT all being useful degrees that can help you in a construction path, but you may also need to take a construction conversion degree to help make your step into construction easier.
Accreditations
If you’ve already had some experience with construction in the past, you could make yourself more employable by getting accredited for any skills you have. Whether you can drive a construction plant or are adept at putting up scaffolding safely, if you’ve had training, you can become accredited. The Construction Skills Certification Scheme or Construction Industry Training Board can give you awards and accreditations for your skills that will show employers that you are competent at what you do.
If you haven’t had any previous experience, you can still undergo these training courses and get some certifications – whether you fund it yourself or look for bursaries or schemes to help you cover the costs, having industry tested skills will certainly help you land your first job and open the career path up.
Experience
Finally, volunteering or doing work experience is a good option for getting some insight into the industry and learning some of the basic skills – be warned, however, that without the relevant training and health and safety awareness, there will be a limit on how involved you can be.
Gaining experience will look good on your CV, and it is possible that you may impress your employer so much that they offer you a job, apprenticeship or another way into the industry.
Hitchcock & King have been a leading supplier of high quality builders’ supplies for over 40 years, and are a leading timber merchant to the entirety of London. We have eight operational branches covering the city, so for more information on any of our stock, get in contact with your local branch today and one of our friendly and knowledgeable team members will be happy to help.