Have you ever marveled at a stunning brick building, intricate stone pathway, or strong concrete structure and wondered how much time, skill, and expertise it took to build and whose job it was to build it - structures like Philadelphia City Hall, the world’s largest free-standing masonry building, Fort Jefferson, the largest brick structure in the Americas, or The Washington Monument, the tallest freestanding masonry structure in the world? Have you ever wondered who is responsible for these masterpieces and what a day in the life of these expert craftworkers might be like?
The founding of America was built on principles of hard work, innovation, and a commitment to building a better future. These same principles are at the heart of the construction trades.
How important is it to be “happy” at work? And how much does your work impact your “happiness”? Very and a lot, according to many recent studies.
If you’ve been paying attention to the news over the last few years, you’ve likely heard that the construction field is ripe with opportunity, as are careers in the building trades. Both are undeniably true! Construction is booming, and skilled trades are in extremely high demand.
Mothers play an incredibly important role in our society. They’re often the backbone of their families, working hard to love, nurture, and provide for their children to ensure they have the best possible future. The value they bring not only to their families, but to the workforce and world around them, is undeniable.
Traditionally, women have gravitated towards careers in healthcare, education, and other service industries. But there is a growing movement of mothers who are pursuing careers in the construction trades. And they’re thriving.
There’s a common misconception that anyone off the street can pick up a few tools and get to work in construction - even if they have little to no experience or training. But that couldn’t be further from the truth! Just because you don’t need a four-year college degree to work in the building trades, doesn’t mean that you don’t need any skills, education, or specialized training. In fact, you need a LOT.
Construction work has the reputation of being physically demanding and hard on your body. While some jobs in the building trades can be physically intense, there are many that don’t require brute strength or really much strength at all. It’s one of the biggest myths of construction work!
In fact, many people choose a career in the building trades because of the physical aspects. In the trades, work is active and engaging. No sitting in one place behind a desk for countless hours on end. In the trades, you’re up, moving, and working with your hands to build something meaningful and lasting. It is physical work, though, and physical work does require different abilities and skills than that of your average desk job.
Thinking of joining the construction trades, and wondering if you have what it takes to be successful?
Being a successful tradesperson requires much more skill than simply being able to swing a hammer or weld a pipe. A master tradesperson has unique talents and meticulously honed skills developed over many years of training and hard work.
Similar to any job, it’s not just the hard skills and know-how that matter in the building trades; the soft skills matter, too. In fact, soft skills might matter more! Many of the most successful tradespeople entered their careers with little to no prior knowledge or experience in their field, but their soft skills are what have made them successful. So, what are those qualities and skills?
Thinking about a new career? Looking for work that you can not only be proud of and fulfilled by, but a career that is built on real, lasting skills that is secure and can’t be outsourced or automated? Look no further than a career in the building trades!
April 18 was National Lineman Appreciation Day and this post is meant to shower our nation’s lineworkers with a whole lot of love.
So just what is a line worker, anyway?
Outside Line Workers ensure that electrical power gets from power plants to our homes, offices, schools, hospitals, factories, and all other types of buildings and facilities. Linemen do a huge variety of jobs, including:
