High School Graduates
If college isn't in your plans, what about on-the-job training for a career that offers variety and a sense of accomplishment, not to mention the opportunity to work in the Rocky Mountain Region? The chart shows the career path that is possible by working through the construction trades. Incidentally, a Laborer trainee (at least 18 years of age) starts at $12.00 per hour.
Preparing for a Successful Career in Construction
How can high school students prepare for a successful construction career?
- Advanced Technology: Like many industries that have been greatly affected by the advances in technology over the years, the construction business has been in constant change. The physical construction of a building is very different today than a generation ago. Nearly every other aspect of the building process has changed as well, from schedules to drawings to material, methods and systems. Where almost all accounting, estimating and job management used to be done by hand, it is now generated on computers. In addition, employees on site often work with a variety of computer-operated equipment.
- Communication Skills: Written and verbal communication skills are as important to a construction employee as they are in any other industry. The construction industry is focusing on "Partnering" concepts to help manage major projects. Employees must be able to work together in a partnership with owners, architects, engineers and subcontractors. Internally, employees must be able to participate as part of a team. This requires strong communication and negotiating skills as well as the ability to work toward a common goal.
- Math Skills: Computer spreadsheets have taken over many of the math-intensive aspects of construction, but there will always be the need for field calculations. Whether it is necessary to calculate the number of yards of concrete necessary to pour a set of stairs or the angle necessary to layout a wall, strong math skills are a must.
- Bi-lingual Skills: With the diversity of the construction workforce, language skills are becoming especially valuable. While Spanish is currently the focus for the construction industry in Colorado, there is an increasing need for knowledge in other languages.
