12 essential skills for construction workers
Construction work can be a rewarding career. It's also a field that's likely to grow significantly over the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means that, despite the massive advancements in tech over the past decades, we're still far from being able to replace jobs, such as construction workers, that require both physical and mental skills.
If you'd like to pursue a career as a construction worker, ensuring you have the right skills to succeed is critical. Here are 12 essential skills that can help you get a construction worker job and be good at it.
Physical strength
The most important skill to have as a construction worker is physical strength, and getting in shape is the first step to gaining the strength you need to succeed. When working on a construction site, you'll probably spend a significant amount of time lifting heavy objects and operating large machinery. You need the strength to operate them effectively and safely, plus the stamina to keep doing it throughout the workday.
Dexterity
Besides strength, construction workers also need to have good coordination and precision in their actions. This can help you perform the job well and can also keep you safe, as doing your work can quickly become dangerous if you're not in full control.
Building knowledge
There are some construction roles for unqualified workers, but most require specific technical knowledge. Ideally, you should have some familiarity with construction services, such as masonry, carpentry, ironwork, plumbing, framing, roofing, working with power tools, and surveying. You'll improve your job prospects if you have specific knowledge of at least a few of these.
Teamwork
Most construction work is a team effort. Relying on your coworkers and being a reliable coworker yourself are indispensable parts of achieving success in this field. A good team player also knows how to quickly get past minor disagreements and put the team first.
"If you'd like to pursue a career as a construction worker, ensuring you have the right skills to succeed is critical."
Communication
On-site work is all about teamwork and cooperation, and these require strong communication skills. You need to be able to express your ideas clearly and listen to and process what others are telling you. Written communication skills are also vital, as you may have to write and read various documents, reports, and emails. Virtually no aspect of construction work is a one-person job, so communicating well with others is essential.
Problem-solving
No matter how well-designed a set of construction plans is, you're going to run into a million unforeseen issues throughout its execution. Being mentally prepared for these situations and quickly coming up with realistic and viable solutions can help you succeed as a construction worker. Getting better at this comes with experience, but you need to start out with a problem-solving mindset and not let setbacks affect you mentally.
Decision-making
Problem-solving skills and decision-making skills usually go hand in hand. After identifying something that's not part of the original plan, you must be able to make the right decision for the good of the entire project. These two skills can also help you advance in your career later, as they're vital for administrative and managerial construction roles.
A learning mindset
Construction work is a general term. There are various types of structures and multiple ways to build them, so there's always something new to learn. Also, construction-related technology and techniques are constantly evolving. New information shouldn't discourage you. Instead, you should train your mind to see it as an opportunity to get better. If you have a learning-oriented mindset, you'll be able to adapt to new ways of doing things.
Time management
A construction project involves many different tasks and subtasks. While you'll probably have construction supervisors and team coordinators helping you prioritize your work, they don't have the time to micromanage all your actions. You'll need to develop time management skills and organize your schedule in a way that gives you enough time for the most important tasks.
Leadership
If you're planning on having a long and fruitful career in construction, being able to motivate and inspire others can be a major skill. Teams usually need a leader, and if you can take that role when called upon, you're likely to have plenty of career advancement opportunities. You can start displaying leadership skills even if you don't have an official leadership position. Try to hold everyone around you to high standards, and set an example.
Customer service
The people who pay for your construction work are likely to be interested in how things are progressing. Being able to communicate clearly and persuasively can be crucial. This involves the ability to manage customers' questions, objections, and concerns in ways that give them the confidence that their money is well spent and the project is on the right track.
Regulation knowledge
One of the top priorities when working on a construction project is to make sure every part of it is safe for everyone involved and for the environment. This is why having a good understanding of building safety codes, labor rules, and environmental norms can help you be a successful construction worker.
Construction work isn't easy, but it certainly has its rewards. If you want to pursue a career in this field, these 12 skills will give you the platform to succeed. As you gain more experience and build on these skills, you'll also be more likely to get various opportunities to advance in your construction career. A good resume also helps, and you can upload it on CareerBuilder so employers can find you.
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