16 Mar 2021

What comes first to mind when you think about the construction industry?

The words ‘engineer’, ‘plumber’ and ‘electrician’ probably pop up. Those career paths are some of the most popular routes in this industry and they’re of course awesome - but the world of construction is waaaay more extensive than you might think.

There are a number of unique careers and jobs on offer for anyone, no matter your skillset. There are plenty of entry-level jobs going around, that you don't even need experience for. Here are some gnarly paths that you might find yourself thriving in one day!

1. Materials Technician

As a construction materials technician, you would be preparing and testing soil and concrete samples in a laboratory environment, evaluating its suitability for foundations. Your work would always be unique with different projects in various areas of infrastructure such as road, rail, tunnels, bridges, oil and gas and mining to name a few. (The average salary also looks red hot too, just sayin’.)

2. Building Estimator

Building estimators are responsible for preparing the budget for building and construction projects. They chinwag with suppliers, electricians, contractors, architects, builders, and civil engineers to negotiate prices and make sure their construction project is profitable.

This is mostly an office job, geared towards people who love working with numbers. But you’d always be working on new projects and with new people therefore the job would never be boring.

3. Solar Installer

This job is constantly growing in popularity as more and more people are going green by getting green solar technology! Yeehaw says mother nature!!!

A solar installer, sometimes called a PV installer (which stands for photovoltaic), install and maintain solar panels on people’s homes, businesses, or on land. These installers would also be responsible to ground any necessary equipment and ensure safety standards and code are met. Most of the work would be outdoors and often requires workers to be high off the ground.

Mother nature would LOVE you!

4. Surveyor

The surveyor comes in before the foundation of a building has even been laid. They suss out the potential site by inspecting and gathering data on the elevation, contour, location, and property lines, to name a few. They then compile this info and present it for construction and other purposes.

They need to be accurate and precise with their measurements and guidelines. Basically, without them, a job site wouldn’t run smoothly.

5. Crane Operator

Be honest, every time you saw a crane as a kid, you wanted to be up there.

Operating the large crane at construction sites does demand a lot of responsibility, but let’s be real, it’s a pretty epic experience.

In construction, crane operators are normally focused on removing earth to clear space for buildings. Some work on a building site for the entire length of the construction project. For example, operators often help to construct high-rise buildings by transporting materials to workers far above ground level.

Our mates over at Coffey Testing can provide you with the necessary training and knowledge to progress in their careers as materials technicians. Use this form to get in touch with them about their entry-level jobs and let's get that career underway!