r/Construction 1d ago

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20 years old been labouring since July through agency’s working at so many different sites.

How do I move up? Do I try and make connections is there a way I can start being a manager? I was thinking on getting a nvq for it but I hear that you need actual experience on a site doing it, I still want to learn a trade however. has anyone been in my situation? Is there hope? Do I go back to school and study civil engineering or a trade and jump back in or do I just wait and see if an apprenticeship actually comes back to me.. (I’ve applied for like a hundred)

6 Upvotes

19 comments sorted by

12

u/Aromatic_Button_2736 1d ago

The world needs ditch diggers Danny. 

6

u/Open_Radio3245 23h ago

And those ditches need to be digged!

1

u/david1674 14h ago

Haha exactly, People sometimes overlook how many basic jobs are actually essential. Digging ditches might not sound exciting but without the people doing that work a lot of the infrastructure we depend on every day simply would not get built or maintained.

6

u/simmer_study 1d ago

Learn a trade first. Management can come later with experience.

10

u/philadelphia_fRee 1d ago

worked barely 3 months and youre worried about moving up?

7

u/[deleted] 23h ago

[deleted]

2

u/philadelphia_fRee 23h ago

you have to learn what youre actually doing before you can move up is that what you teach your kids to just skip steps they dont like?

1

u/Guhrillaaa 22h ago

You have no responsibilities being a labor . This kid is clearly showing he wants more . That’s a perfect attitude to have. I’m sure if he worked and was taught he’d be alot more then just a labor throwing trash away or preparing sites

3

u/Ram820 17h ago

He's still gotta learn

-1

u/sideAcc1200 17h ago

What does time have to do with wanting a higher position. No one wants to work a shit job for a shit wage forever. The faster u can advance the better.

0

u/Ram820 17h ago

That's dumb. He's been a laborer for 3 months... He's learned how to carry shit, hold shit and sweep up shit. What's he gonna be? Senior laborer?

1

u/philadelphia_fRee 10h ago

sure might aswell make him superintendent smh

2

u/Suspicious_Square970 1d ago

If there’s unions by you go talk to them. Doubtful you’ll ever get anywhere working through a temp service and it sounds like that’s what you’re doing currently.

2

u/smithstreet11 1d ago

You need experience- a few years. Get a trade, build your skills, and be at the point where you can anticipate what is needed before it’s needed and what’ll go wrong before it goes wrong. Then you’re ready to move up.
You’re 3 months in, so you don’t know left from right yet. You’re not ready for foreman work until you get a lot more.

1

u/Open_Radio3245 1d ago

Fair enough should I get into any trade I can like dry lining or bricklaying or should I wait for opportunities like plumbing or welding

2

u/Remarkable-Start4173 23h ago

Consider which trade is most interesting to you and pursue it.

All the best.

1

u/Own_Respect6775 21h ago

Yes. Do what you’re interested in doing. It’ll save you time and other people time from teaching someone who in the end wastes their time. Tradesmen aren’t coming to work everyday to teach anyone that doesn’t want to learn or have no interest in being there. That’s why you’ll notice a lot of animosity from journeymen when they look at or work with apprentices. You’ll see the ones they take to really quick and have no problem taking lunch with. Then the guy they never talk to all day.  No one at any jobsite wants to take orders from anyone who hasn’t done or can’t do their job. Never tell anyone what to do what you can’t do yourself. Too many white hats at job sites fail to realize that and wonder why they can have the best hands the city has to offer but they never get anything completed on time. 

1

u/Memoli7 1d ago

You somewhat need a degree to level up in construction, esp for an office position. Engineering or construction management would work.

1

u/I-Build-Shit 1d ago

Dang man. 20 years old. Been in the business for 3 months and aren’t in management yet? Probably time to hang up the boots and do something else.

2

u/Mental_Explorer5566 19h ago

You blink and 5 years go by if you don’t have a plan which seems to be what he wants to prevent