Florida Executive Search Rules for Success

Author: Bob Oedy

So you’ve decided to have a go at it? And why not? A career in construction can be very rewarding. It’s amazing how little planning some workers put into their careers; in fact many get into construction on a whim. A friend told them they could get a job, and with little or no planning, they end up in a given trade. But today, that’s just not good enough. You need to make sure that the trade you choose has long term value. Some skills are worth more than others and some trades have more work and offer more opportunities. Here’s a list of six rules you should follow to achieve long term success in the construction industry:

Rule #1- Choose Your Trade Wisely

It’s a good idea to pick an activity that will lead to long term success. You’ve got to love what you do, but if you can’t find enough work to get you through the winter, what’s the point? So do a little research, read the papers and ask people on the jobsite what they earn and where they see the trade in five years. You might be surprised.

Rule #2- Join a Trade Union

Trade unions have a long history of teaching workers through the use of apprenticeship training. This valuable training consists of on the job training and in class/in lab study. Here’s the best part, they usually pay for it too. “Earn while you learn”, is their motto. In some cases you can earn up to 60 college credits that are transferable when you attend an accredited apprentice training program. Note: Steer clear of the non-union counterparts these bogus apprenticeship programs are often little more than scams and are the black eye of the construction industry.

Rule #3- Earn Your High School Diploma

If you think a High School diploma doesn’t have much to do with success in the Construction Industry, you’re wrong. With a diploma you can be accepted into a variety of accredited apprenticeship programs that will invest tens of thousands of dollars in your training. And studies prove that you will earn around $5000.00 more each year if you have a diploma than if you don’t. That’s a lot of money over the course of a career. Classes are often available in the evenings for working professionals. Sign up today to earn yours.

Rule #4- Be Punctual

Tardiness is a sure fire way to get laid off in construction. Maybe you worked in an office environment and it didn’t seem like it was that big of a deal, but in construction, it’s a big deal. Safety meetings are usually conducted at the beginning of a shift, and by you not being there, you’re risking the life of every worker on the job. Not to mention its just bad business. Construction workers are paid by the hour worked. Do your career, your coworkers and your foreman a favor, show up on time every day. Even a worker with sub par skills who shows up on time will outlast a worker with good skills who has a habit of showing up late.

Rule #5- Be Flexible

By its very nature construction means change, different locations, different conditions and different trades all working for a common cause, completion of the project. This means that even though each trade has a set schedule, that schedule is likely to change when conditions on the project require it. Therefore you need to be flexible too. You may be asked

Author: Kris Koonar

Let’s face it: The construction industry just is not for everybody. While the work itself is steady and readily available, the nature of it can change frequently. One job might find you clearing rubble from a winding mountain road, while another might bring you into the city to raze and old highway. Additionally, operating heavy construction equipment is done outdoors, and it is often strenuous work. Some people just aren’t cut out for that type of employment, instead preferring to make their living in a safer, more comfortable environment.

For those who choose the construction field as their source of income, however, the very things that drive some people away are precisely what draw them to it. There is something to be said about working with the sun on your face, or about performing rewarding physical labor. The monotony of an office setting is a far cry from the comparative freedom offered by a construction job. The state of the construction industry in the country today is such that people employed in it can still enjoy regular, rewarding pay even while the job changes; there is simply more demand than there are qualified employees, and thus there always exist job opportunities.

The National Heavy Equipment Operators School can and will help prepare you for a job in the construction industry. Our short, comprehensive, two-part course is the only accredited heavy equipment operation training in the country. In short, training through National is worth far more than simply a certificate. Moreover, our training program is as unorthodox as the industry it represents. The first part of the course is performed in-home at the student’s individual pace. National provides all relevant texts and materials, and the student receives all background information that will be necessary in order to start training in person. The second phase is just that: on-site, in-person training at our facility in North Florida. There, the student will receive time with a wide variety of heavy equipment, including modern bulldozers and excavators, all under the watchful eyes of our qualified instructors.