Let’s Rebuild Your Understanding Of What We Do: Debunking Common Misconceptions About Construction Workers
The construction industry is made up of a broad colourful spectrum of individuals and North Canadian Construction wants to ensure that not all skilled trades people are painted with the same brush. In order to renovate bathrooms, upgrade kitchens and build homes the industry requires people who are skilled and hard-working. Let’s rebuild an understanding of what we actually do and debunk some common misconceptions around the construction industry.
“Trades and Construction Workers are Uneducated.”
To qualify to be an entry-level labourer you need to be good at math, especially fractions because reading a blue-print is integral to what we do. Many may not have excelled in English but Calculus, Physics, Drafting and Technical Design are all subjects in which skills are applied to trades positions. Even if you didn’t complete secondary school that doesn’t mean you cannot excel in this field, regardless of the role you take up – electrician, plumbing, tin-basher, finisher, etc. – you need to be able to learn and the faster you learn the faster you develop your skills. There are several trades schools and levels of certified training done only through schooling, so many trades and construction workers have health and safety training in addition to the apprenticeship or journeyman certifications.
“Construction and The Trades Are For The Unemployable.”
Construction workers do require a specific skill set or learning abilities so the idea that people enter this industry because they aren’t good at anything else is silly, construction and the trades are not rebound jobs. Many of the individuals we have hired at NCC Group have chosen this career path and enjoy what they do each day. Not only is the pay an incentive but the hours and overtime, not to mention there is a sense of satisfaction achieved by building something and having feeling gratification from seeing the fruition of your labour. We don’t believe there is such thing as “The Unemployable” but construction is not for everyone. For the right individuals who want to be in trades, this industry can allow them to do very well for themselves.
“There Is No Room For Career Advancement and Promotion.”
Within construction, there is transparency and clearly defined certification courses required for advancement. Successful careers in construction typically require a certain amount of time contributed to learning hands-on before you can even qualify for the training needed to advance. Education and training are easily accessible in the trades making advancement and promotions outlined based on skill level.
Everyone in construction has to start out a labourer and has to put the time in to hone their craft, this isn’t the kind of industry where you graduate university and enter the field with only scholastic preparation.
“The Work In Construction Is Dirty and Dangerous.”
Speaking of preparation, it has been said that the trades are dangerous, however, Occupational Health And Safety (OHS) has outlined legislature requiring certain safety tickets and permits to be held for certain positions to be held. Painters and roofers need their Fall Protection ticket. Jobs in the trades are only dangerous when companies and workers don’t adhere to the health and safety legislation, of course, some jobs are more dangerous than others but they require additional training. Any position is dangerous for employees who aren’t trained and prepared and every position has its dirty jobs, so a little bit of drywall mud or sawdust is just part of the territory. Remember all jobs are going to have an area in which they are dirty, you can work in a high fashion clothing store but someone still has to clean the bathroom.
To get a job in the construction field you’ll need a hard hat, drill and steel-toe boots but to really excel bring your eager attitude and willingness to learn the trade. Don’t be scared to make mistakes, have patience while you learn because at the end of the day you’ll gain a sense of satisfaction knowing you did honest hard work to earn your living.
Building Communities Together. North Canadian Construction.