Construction

[E30_Pare]

So I got a offer to work construction. Mostly city contracts, building roads that whole type ofdeal. Starting is around 25 and a good chance of getting up to 40$ in a few months. Thing is you only work when there is work. Anyways the money sounds good & I could always use some new skills, but anyone got advice in this field? Ive got no experience in any type of construction, but I have a good mentor if I do take the job.

[mrsleeve]

I assume this is going to be a laborers position???

Got news for you, your not likely to be making 40 bucks an hour in a few months. A few years maybe, depending on what and where your working.

TRUST ME there is a A LOT more to learning the trade than you think. I was a laborer for many many years on a water/sewer/road crew, and in reality to learn all you need to know how to do is going to take a couple of years. While I have trained noobs in about 3-5 days to do 1 of the more complex aspects of the job, or 20 mins to do something simple but in reality it takes much longer than that to actually learn enough to be able to just say go do this, or go do that. Hell it takes a while to learn how to run a simple shovel correctly....

Can you be a little more specific about what they are hiring you to do, I might be able to help ya out a little more, Having a older/experienced hand take you under their wing is going be a BIG HELP,

here this is me in the brown Carharts about 8 years ago

[roznic]

So I got a offer to work construction. Mostly city contracts, building roads that whole type ofdeal. Starting is around 25 and a good chance of getting up to 40$ in a few months. Thing is you only work when there is work. Anyways the money sounds good & I could always use some new skills, but anyone got advice in this field? Ive got no experience in any type of construction, but I have a good mentor if I do take the job.

Don't do it man, construction is slavery!!! ;-) ....just sayinnnn

[Kevinl]

What do you do now?

[mrsleeve]

Don't do it man, construction is slavery!!! ;-) ....just sayinnnn

Ummm NO, You can do very very well in construction once you find the Niche that works for you. I work 8-10 months a year, have a full benefits even when off, and make make enough that I dont really worry too much about money anymore. Thats kinda the OPPOSITE OF SLAVERY. But it did take me nearly 15 years of hardship and BUSTING MY ASS doing all the crappy shit to get to this point though. But yes construction is Boom and bust and I could be looking for something else in 3 years.

[F34R]

Don't do it man, construction is slavery!!! ;-) ....just sayinnnn

As someone who has been doing construction for the last 15 years...that is a big load if shit. I love what I do.

[roznic]

Ummm NO, You can do very very well in construction once you find the Niche that works for you. I work 8-10 months a year, have a full benefits even when off, and make make enough that I dont really worry too much about money anymore. Thats kinda the OPPOSITE OF SLAVERY. But it did take me nearly 15 years of hardship and BUSTING MY ASS doing all the crappy shit to get to this point though. But yes construction is Boom and bust and I could be looking for something else in 3 years.

but thats exactly my point, it took you about 15 precious yrs of slavery..

[Kevinl]

It's not so bad and keeps you somewhat in shape I would be a fat f*** if I sat at a desk because I eat whatever I want which is probably 5000 calories of junk a day

[mrsleeve]

Nothing worth anything comes easy or with out hard work........ You have to earn the privilege to have the big boy job. I am not in the road construction biz any more found something in the heavy construction trades that suits me a little bit better and it has paid off in spades, though it does not come with out its down sides.


The hard work for those 15 years leaves me 35 years of much easier and higher paying and more comfortable living till I retire. You have to learn to walk before you can run.

how is my experience working my way form the bottom any different than anyone else with a high responsibility job like a lawyer, doc, engineer, or anything else putting all the hours as interns, jr Lawyers to make partner, or anything similar????? You have to work to get to the top, just like anything else.

[roznic]

Guys, guys, guuuuuuuyyyyys!!!
I know construction quite well, I do tile, granite fab, sales and installation!!! I know it pays good, WHEN THEY PAY. It sure pays my bills for the last 20 yrs or so, and love the beauty of being my own boss and all, but if someone just getting into it, my subjective advise not to get in to construction, that's all...unless thats the only option..

[2761377]

as Sleeve intimates, "construction" is not a job. it is an amalgamation of skilled and unskilled trades accomplishing a building task.

the more skilled the trade you select, the more time you put into your apprenticeship. the construction trades are a good example of the utility of private unions. a formalized apprenticeship for a skilled trade in a union is the best way to avoid "slavery".

having said that, all construction trades involve manual labor. even survey, the trade I practice, is not above getting your ass kicked frequently. I have come across many lazy apprentices who can't handle even the mild labor involved in surveying. a person considering "construction" needs to understand that.

today, at the jobsite I work at, the paving crew was bringing up manhole covers to finished surface grade. these are dedicated manhole crews. some of those monkeys spend all frikking day on a jack hammer.

good luck.

[e30m3s54turbo]

I ben working construction for 27 years. I was a labor for a year. Then I had the opportunity to to run heavy equipment. Construction is not for every body.

[mrsleeve]

The thing is though so many kids and people have NOT GONE INTO IT, on the advice like that, there is a shortage of smart, ambitious, and hard working younger people getting into the trades. On the advice and brain washing from everyone from parents, guidance counselors, teachers, govt, and media. That THE ONLY WAY to make it in life is to get a college degree. I and many others are 100% proof to the contrary of that.

Working with your hands is something that is being lost, and a skill set that will be worth a pile of money if your good at it and smart about it.

[ak-]

Wear gloves!

[mrsleeve]

as Sleeve intimates, "construction" is not a job. it is an amalgamation of skilled and unskilled trades accomplishing a building task.

the professional heavy construction laborer is the epitome of this for sure. There really is a lot to know to go with all of it when you are a all purpose guy. You have to have a good working knowledge of many of the trades from carpentry to electricity to general survey, to masonry, to concrete pours. The list can be nearly endless, I used to work like I said water/sewer/roads but we did lots of specialty dirt work on building trades jobs, environmental and reclamation work. There is a lot to know and have to have the ability to think on the fly to get shit accomplished sometimes

the more skilled the trade you select, the more time you put into your apprenticeship. the construction trades are a good example of the utility of private unions. a formalized apprenticeship for a skilled trade in a union is the best way to avoid "slavery".

Yes totally this is why I moved up the latter and went into a much more focused in demand trade. I firimly belive we need to be training more people for careers with apprenticeships than college degrees

having said that, all construction trades involve manual labor. even survey, the trade I practice, is not above getting your ass kicked frequently. I have come across many lazy apprentices who can't handle even the mild labor involved in surveying. a person considering "construction" needs to understand that.

Agreed totally I dont work nearly as hard as I used too, but it can still whip your ass, ( I am heading to WV on sunday for 2 months and I have not been on a hill crew since last may) and have had simialr cases of helpers that cant cut even the mild actual labor involved with our trade.

today, at the jobsite I work at, the paving crew was bringing up manhole covers to finished surface grade. these are dedicated manhole crews. some of those monkeys spend all frikking day on a jack hammer.

good luck.

Been there done that, to the tune of 48 in a 10 hour shift (mostly we would average 25-35 in a day for the 2 of us) from start to Finnish, my self and buddy of mine in July in MI when it was 95 fucking degrees. You talk about an ass kicking raise about 15 of those things when your outta shape............. I went home and showered and passed out in bed that night no dinner even.