If you say ‘construction’ to people, they tend to immediately think of building, because that’s the most obvious form of construction. But there’s much more to it than that – construction entails architects, building surveyors, facilities managers, town planners, painters and decorators, welders, foremen, joiners and more. You can see just from the list the potential wealth of jobs available to you and the creativity and importance of the industry.
When you’re looking for construction jobs, you need to think carefully about what you really want. Do you want a skilled job, like an architect, that requires extensive training? Or would you prefer something that you can do without a degree? You also need to decide whether you want to be on the planning side of construction or the building side.
No matter what you choose to do, as with any other industry, it’s always a good idea to get relevant qualifications and experience if you can, as this will improve your chances of being successful when you go for that dream job. Even if you’ve never worked in the construction industry before, think about any past jobs you might have had that could help you land a role in construction. Have you ever had to supervise other staff before? This could be something that helps you if you decide to go for a managerial role. Think over your past experiences and use them to support any applications you make – often employers like to see evidence of adaptability, so tell them how your skills meet their requirements.
Even if you don’t have any professional experience, what about your personal skills? For example, if you decide you would like to work as a painter or decorator, are there any domestic decorating projects you could cite as evidence of experience? Think creatively and be confident, and you never know what you might get out of it.
When you’re after jobs in Bristol or the rest of the UK within the construction sector, it’s often a good idea to keep your skills up to date, especially if you’re going for a job that requires training. See if there are any courses you could go on or professional organisations you could join to demonstrate your commitment and keep your knowledge fresh. Construction is also a great industry to get into if you want to learn a trade, so why not have a look for any apprenticeships that might be available? This can be a great way of getting that first step on the ladder and learning valuable skills at the same time.
Above all, don’t give up. Be focused in your job search – decide what you want to do, what you need to do to get it, and then go and do it. Construction is vital; society couldn’t function without the skills of the people who work in the industry. If you think you have the necessary skills and determination, then it could well be the right industry for you.
