The construction industry can provide so many different fantastic career paths, from the physical labour through to customer service and engineering. If you’re struggling to decide on a career path, hopefully we can help to guide you in the right direction!
Consider Engineering
First up, you could take the route of engineering. This is all about designing, delivering, repairing and maintaining machinery and infrastructure. Also known as civil engineering, your options are endless when you take this route in the construction business. If you have a passion for maths and physics, then this can be a great option for you.
You will likely need a civil engineering degree or a relevant degree in order to enter this field, then make sure you also gain work experience. You could also look into civil engineering apprenticeships, which may take more time, but you can make money whilst you’re training. This is a career that provides a strong salary, it’s in demand and you have a lot of freedom in terms of the path you go.
Physical Labour
Next, you could also consider physical labour. There is a high demand for being a labourer in the construction industry, so if you’re physically fit and strong, don’t mind heights, can follow instructions well, work well as a team and have a good attention to detail, then this could be right for you. When you start out as a labourer, you know that it pays well, there are great opportunities for career progression and you could work your way up to management positions, you will constantly learn new skills and you’ll keep fit. If you’re potentially wanting to work for yourself one day and have the freedom that comes with that, then being a labourer is a great way to do it.
It is worth bearing in mind that there are workplace safety risks involved, although the regulations are much stricter now and as long as you follow the right procedures, you should be safe. Poor weather could result in projects being put off and labourers may also sustain injuries that have long term effects, like vibration white finger or carpal tunnel syndrome. However, it’s safer than ever now to be a labourer as the regulations are so strict.
Project Management
Another great route to follow is to look into project management. If you’re a strong communicator, are organised, can easily adapt, have good critical thinking skills and you are confident with scheduling and budgets, then project management in construction could be great for you. There are so many different options with this as well, for example you could work for a plant hire company and arrange the hire plans for people, you could work for a large construction company and manage communication between different providers, or you could specialise in health and safety and manage that for different projects.
You don’t need a degree for this path and can work your way up, so if you’re interested in the construction industry but don’t have a specific degree like civil engineering, then give this a go!
