Construction Career Advice

Construction careers provide opportunities to work on projects across the UK and around the world. Jobs include working on projects of all sizes, from building housing estates to minor repairs. Construction jobs can cover various roles, including working in engineering and architecture to project management and surveying. A construction career is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a varied career path with many options.

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How to Work in the Construction sector

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to get a job in Construction

Should you wish to work in Construction you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Construction Job

  • 2 or fewer GCSEs (construction labourer)
  • Level 1 Certificate in Construction Skills (construction labourer)
  • Level 3 Certificate in Construction Operations (construction labourer)
  • 1 or 2A levels (construction contracts manager)
  • Level 3 and 4 Diploma in Construction Site Supervision (construction site supervisor)

Core Construction Skills

You should possess excellent organisational skills if you are working in construction management as there will be a lot of people coming and going. A practical skill will be ideal if you want to go into a trade and a relevant degree will be required for any of the design or construction engineering roles.

If you are looking for a career that will be different with every project, then you will find it with a career in construction.

Key Responsibilities for a Construction Job

  • Collating documents for project including plans and technical drawings
  • Meeting with clients to understand project scope
  • Analysing project to determine resources required
  • Collecting quotes for services and materials
  • Negotiating service contracts for construction
  • Detailing work plan with the building team
  • Carrying out site risk assessments
  • Calculating project timescales
  • Updating project coordinator on project progress
  • Meeting with clients on project completion for sign-off

What to expect in a Construction Job

Starting in construction can involve doing an apprenticeship and learning the trade as you work. You can study and gain further qualifications as you work, or complete a training course before getting your first job. Depending on the job role you choose, you may work on a construction site as part of the building team or in an office working on projects' design or engineering aspects.

Recommended Construction Jobs

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How to get Construction Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Construction job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Construction application. If you have not held a Construction position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Construction role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Construction CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Construction application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Construction in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Construction 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Construction and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Construction experience.

How to get Construction Experience

What does it take to be a Construction? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Construction jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Construction through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Construction Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Construction part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Construction or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Construction freelance work

If you have impressive Construction qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.