How to stand out on a construction site
March 23, 2021

The time is now to make a career in the skilled trades. Seventy percent of U.S. construction companies can’t find enough workers to fill their positions. The pay is good. You have the opportunity to build things that will last.


Why not you?


If you decide to build a career in construction, here are some tips to get ahead:


Be a problem solver

A colorful rubik 's cube is sitting on a wooden table

It’s a given that the project is probably not going to proceed as drawn up. Something unexpected is going to arise. Wrong materials. Wrong personnel. It’s raining sideways. It’s the nature of construction. “If you’re an excavator, you might run into concrete—but you’ve got to learn your way around that,” says Jimmy Green, president of Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan. “You have to be a problem solver. Otherwise, nothing ever gets done.”


Diversify your skill set

A bunch of pens are sitting on top of a newspaper on a table.

“At ABC, we encourage people to think like college students—have a major and a minor,” says Jimmy. “If a carpenter is an electrician or an electrician is a welder or a welder is a pipe fitter, at the end of the day, they’ll stay on the site longer. That translates into being indispensable, but even more importantly, it translates into earning more money.”



Be dedicated to safety

A man wearing a helmet and safety harness is working on a white wall.

The trouble is, best practices are not always the most common practices. Stand out. Always do the right thing when it comes to safety. If you need ideas, here are the five health risks you should watch out for on a construction site:


  • Slips, trips, and falls
  • Repetitive motion injuries
  • Handling heavy equipment
  • Electrical shock
  • Exposure to hazardous materials


Give a full day’s work

The sun is setting over a foggy field with trees in the foreground.

The start time is the time you start work—not the time you show up. If you have to get there 15 minutes early to have your PPE on, have your tool bags on, and be in the right place, that’s part of the gig.


Be a good communicator

A young boy is singing into a microphone in a black and white photo.

It might not be as obvious as skills like drywall installation or equipment operation, but interpersonal communication is an absolutely necessary skill for all crew members to have and continuously practice.

Having effective communication in construction is just as crucial to a team as having the right construction equipment. Both are required to get the job done and make sure the worksite is safe, productive, and efficient.

“Construction is the greatest team sport in the world,” says Jimmy. “It’s all about hand-offs.”


Stay busy

A man wearing a mask is sweeping the sidewalk with a broom.

If you finish the thing you were doing, grab a broom. Clean construction sites are safer and build character. The time for checking your social media, texts, and emails is during breaks and lunches. Unless it’s work related, ignore the notifications!


Be a good listener

A man is laying on top of a grassy hill next to a cliff.

We’ve all experienced it. You’re talking to someone about something important—at least, it’s important to you—but the other person, the one who is supposed to be listening to you, you can tell they’re not really listening. Doesn’t that drive you crazy?


Don’t be that person.


Instead, practice active listening. That’s the process of listening attentively while someone else speaks, paraphrasing and reflecting back what is said and withholding judgment and advice. If the speaker agrees that what you heard is what they intended to say, you can move on. If not, the speaker needs to reword their statement until the listener really does understand.


Do your part to create an inclusive worksite

A bunch of colorful pens are sitting on a table.

The truth is, most skilled tradespeople are white males—most nearing retirement. For example, women make up 51 percent of the workforce but only 3 percent of the crafts. We’ve all heard about the skills gap. We’re not going to fill that gap with just white males. “It’s up to us to create an environment where everyone’s welcome,” says Brian Turmail, vice president of public affairs and strategic initiatives with Associated General Contractors of America.


Embrace technology

A man wearing a virtual reality headset is playing a video game.

Technology is going to be the future of this industry,” says Brian. “Drones. Robots. A hard-case iPad strapped to your tool belt.” If you want to stand out, be the person who knows what Building Information Modeling is, who knows what Lean Construction means. That means you’ve got to stay informed. It means you have to network with other people who are trying to stay current. It means you use technology as part of your own life.


Why not start a construction career today?

The construction industry is one of the largest in the U.S. The need to build homes and commercial buildings and roads and other infrastructure isn’t going away. As your experience grows, you can build a stairway to success, advancing into higher management positions, such as foreman, superintendent, supervisor, project manager, and construction manager. Contractors are always looking for enthusiastic, hardworking problem solvers and team players. Why not you?

 

What’s next? Consider these posts:


Everything you need to know to become a welder


Everything you need to know to become a plumber


Everything you need to know to become an electrician



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A group of construction workers wearing hard hats and safety vests are smiling.

Overcoming Common Challenges in Urban Commercial Construction

March 27, 2024
Urban commercial construction brings a whole set of challenges that contractors in the suburbs and rural areas never have to consider. But revitalization is extremely important for urban cores to survive and thrive, so these projects can be quite lucrative. Here are some common difficulties, along with tips to overcome them and remain on good terms with the neighbors. Tight Spaces In urban areas, there simply isn’t as much space to move around. You might have difficulty getting some of your heavy machinery to fit, or your subcontractors could be trying to paint an apartment the size of an average broom closet. Rise to the challenge by thinking outside the box. Carefully survey the entire space before you get started, and develop a detailed project plan in advance. Be sure to include entry and egress routes, alternative ways of getting things done, and even subcontractor schedules that minimize the number of people working in the same space at the same time. Local Regulations Many urban areas have byzantine construction regulations that are confusing and hard to follow. Take the time to research these regulations and understand what you need to do. Then, boil it all down into a simple, easy-to-read document that you distribute to everyone involved. Get to know the local authorities and find someone whom you can call whenever you have questions or concerns. Make sure your team members are ready to pivot if you find out that you missed or misinterpreted something significant. Always have a backup plan. Community Engagement Transparency can go a long way toward getting the local community on your side. Let people know what you’re working on and how it will benefit them. Explain why the project is happening, how long it will take, and whether it will impact their costs (such as taxes). If you’re redeveloping a historic building, be especially sensitive to the concerns of preservationists and meet with them separately to explain your plans. Noise Control You won’t endear yourself to the local community if you’re making a lot of noise when residents are trying to sleep. And remember, even if you’re working on an office building, there could be luxury apartments right next door. Use sound baffling measures to reduce noise. Whenever possible, work during daylight hours. Minimizing Disruptions No matter how careful you are, urban commercial construction projects are inherently disruptive to the neighborhood. But you can mitigate this with careful planning. Try not to block streets during morning or evening rush hours. Be considerate of any upcoming local events. Do your best not to interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic patterns. When you do need to create a blockage, be sure to put up signage and work as quickly as you can without compromising safety. Need a Skilled Trade Professional? At Great Lakes Skilled Trades, we specialize in connecting contractors with professionals in the skilled trades throughout the Great Lakes region. If you need a skilled tradesperson, learn more about our services, and then contact us today!
A construction worker wearing a hard hat is working on bricks.

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A group of construction workers wearing hard hats and safety vests are smiling.

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