Entry-level Construction Jobs
With the current labor shortage in the U.S. construction industry, there’s no better time to enter the construction industry than now.
If you’re looking to switch careers or are just starting out in construction work, you may worry that you lack the experience required to land a job in the construction industry. While most construction jobs require that you have certain qualifications and experience on the job, there are still some that require little to no experience.
Here are some of the best entry-level construction jobs you can get now with little to no experience.
1. Traffic Controller or Flagger
Working in traffic control is a great way to break into the construction industry. Flaggers guide traffic around construction sites. They set up safety traffic cones, wave cars through, or direct them to stop. They assist drivers on the site to adhere to the traffic regulations and record the license plate numbers of defaulting motorists.
As a flagger, you should be alert while keeping watch over the building site. You may also have to stand for extended periods of time. To direct drivers safely around your work site, you also need the ability to learn traffic flagging signals and protocols. For this entry-level role, experience is typically not necessary, although various certification programs exist. Most times, new employees learn on the job, but if special training is required, the employer typically arranges it.
2. General Laborer
A general laborer performs physical chores on a construction site and typically participates in the project’s actual construction. Laborer roles often require some level of physical stamina and agility. You’ll also need to have a fundamental knowledge of physics concepts and tools of the trade.
As a general construction laborer, you might be required to perform a wide range of tasks, such as prepping the site for construction, simple carpentry tasks, hanging drywall, installing fixtures and appliances, and mixing concrete.
Laborers unload and organize building supplies, drill and blast through materials to fasten or make room for other buildings, mix concrete, and clean up their area of the job site. This position will give you the opportunity to develop new skills since you get to work on different projects.
3. Cleaning Crew
Joining the cleaning crew at a construction site is another way to get your foot in the door. Construction sites are generally untidy due to the nature of the work. For each construction project, cleanup must be done safely and effectively.
Construction firms may use their own cleanup crews or outsource the work. In each case, the labor entails more than simple housekeeping. Along with clearing the area of garbage, you’ll be in charge of washing windows, scrubbing or waxing floors, vacuuming carpets, and removing smudges or scuffs from all surfaces.
4. Helper
Different parts of the construction industry may refer to this role by different names, but the role itself is largely unskilled. This makes it appropriate for entry-level workers who want to work in the construction sector while learning useful skills. A construction helper supports skilled tradespeople, such as carpenters, electricians, and plumbers.
They may help with tasks like measuring and cutting materials, carrying tools, and cleaning up the worksite. Keep in mind that the salary paid for this position is typically lower than that of trained tradesmen.
5. Driver
In the field of construction, drivers are also required, and these are occasionally specialized duties. For larger projects, a laborer or helper may also be assigned driving chores from job locations or within job sites.
Driving jobs within construction sites frequently require little to no experience – save for driving, of course – but those involving the transportation of fragile or dangerous items or special equipment such as a forklift or crane typically require some sort of commercial driver’s license (CDL).
6. Safety Officer
Some construction sites hire entry-level safety officers to monitor the job site for safety hazards and ensure that workers are following safety protocols. A safety officer works under a safety manager and helps to oversee the activities of employees and visitors on a site.
Construction safety officers help to ensure that everyone on the site knows and adheres to the established safety standards, as well as the company guidelines. Safety officers also provide safety training, implement programs, and investigate accidents that take place on job sites.
7. Landscape Laborer
While construction relates to renovating or building, landscapers are concerned with any activity that changes the outward features of a piece of land. These may include the living elements, such as flora and fauna, or gardening, which relates to the art and craft of growing plants.
A landscape laborer monitors the entire landscape or designated area of a property. It is their responsibility to keep the landscape thriving, healthy, and effectively designed. The duties of a landscaper range from fertilizer application, upholding the integrity of the landscape design by eliminating weeds or dead plants from the site to taking care of the flowers on the property.
8. Painter
An entry-level painter assists the more experienced team members while painting interior and exterior walls, furniture, decorative elements, and other items. When you first begin, you will probably assist with lower-level manual tasks, such as mixing paint, preparing and cleaning the worksite, or applying a primer. After that, you’ll proceed to painting or staining with subsequent applications. Other than having a steady hand and the ability to stoop and stand, there are typically no significant job qualifications to land this role on most job sites. You’ll spend a lot of time on ladders, which helps if you don’t mind heights.
In addition to removing outdated paints or wallpapers, painters prepare the surface they’ll be painting to have a clean surface to work on. They cover nearby areas to prevent spills and use tape to guide their painting work along borders. Painters often combine colors to obtain the ideal shade or consistency for clients. This may require that you understand the science of color.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a high school graduate looking for a job that doesn’t require a college degree or you’re in the middle of a career switch and are looking for an easy transition into the construction industry, an entry-level job gives you a soft landing. However, regardless of your level of education or experience, job-hunting is generally challenging.
Let Tradelink Solutions take that burden off your shoulders. We evaluate the options that are available on the market and help you find the job that is best suited to your skill set and experience level. We also provide helpful resources to help you make informed career decisions. Search for open roles that you can apply to immediately. You can even customize your search based on your location and current job interests to get personalized results.
Contact us now to begin your construction career journey.
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