29 Aug 2021

Construction is an absolutely huge industry - and not just in terms of how much money flows through the industry every year. There are so many different kinds of jobs in the industry, to fit all of the skills needed for a project to come together - and they don’t all drink ice coffee on an upturned milk crate. Here’s some of the different types of people you’ll meet in construction.

Planners and Measurers

Behind everything any business makes, there’s usually planners and measurers, and construction is no different. A building or reno usually entails a whole bunch of different tasks, subcontractors and materials all coming together at the same time, and it’s the job of people like site managers, estimators and project directors to estimate, plan and execute these massive undertakings. People who do well in these roles are usually super-organised, work to a schedule and keep everyone on task.

Thinkers And Dreamers

It’s not all data and bean-counting though. Take a look at any amazing building or structure, some of our biggest landmarks here in Aus - they’ve all been designed by creative people like architects, interior designers, and even illustrators who create the vision for governments and companies to sign off on. Some of them like Jørn Utzon (architect of the Sydney Opera House), Walter Burley-Griffin or Rose Seidler are household names.

Super-Smart Workers Who Didn't Like School

We’ve all heard the stereotype that tradies or people in construction aren’t the sharpest tools on site. But let me tell you, some of the smartest people I know work in trades and construction. Stuff that you do in exams is just a small part of what it means to have a good head on your shoulders - stuff like technical knowledge, how things work or come together and even stuff like amazing muscle memory are all part of intelligence. Not to mention that you get paid for that kind of expertise - specialists like electricians and plumbers get some pretty sweet incomes right off the bat.

People Breaking The Mould

Did you know that construction is actually one of the most culturally diverse industries? We all have a particular picture of someone working in construction in our heads, but statistically speaking it’s probably not very accurate. The stats show that more than half of people working in construction were born overseas, and 39% were born in a non-English speaking country. It’s not just blokes working in construction either - there’s a huge push to bring more women into the fold. In Queensland over the last 5 years, the amount of women working in construction trades has more than doubled. Some popular apprenticeships for women include sparkies, plant operators, and carpentry just to name a few. 

The Team Players

It’s pretty rare in construction that you’ll be working solo the whole time - and working freelance or as a subcontractor is just as much about building a reputation for being good to work with as it is actually doing great work. The team player is the one who’s doing the coffee run in the morning, keeping morale up with a great yarn or keeping their eyes peeled for someone who could do with a hand on-site. They’ve usually got pretty good taste on the radio as well, with a matching story about how they saw them live in their prime eras. Sure they’re not household names like the Thinkers And Dreamers, but they’re local legends in their own right.

You might see a bit of yourself in one of these little characters - if so, why not take a look at our Academy The New-Print Of Construction? We’ve teamed up with CSQ to give you the straight facts about what a career in construction could look like for you (spoiler alert: pretty damn rewarding. Why not take a look here?