2 answers
Luis
Student
Yuma, Arizona
1
Question
Updated
236 views
What is the hardest part about being a construction worker ?
Hello, I am Luis I go to crane middle school in Yuma , Arizona. My question is I want to be a construction worker and I am wondering what the hardest part about working with construction so I can be ready and prepare for that challenge. I am in 7th grade. I want to be a good at building because I like building legos and wonder if I can do it for a living but on a next level. I want to be good at constructing. Thank you for reading.
Login to comment
2 answers
Liam Rielly
Data Center Technician
180
Answers
Manassas, Virginia
Updated
Liam’s Answer
Luis, you have already started. You are a builder now building with legos and that is great! Keep going!
The hardest thing about being a construction worker is the opportunity and trust you need to move up in the field. I remember I begged my landlord to talk to her father and have me help him move bricks and stone for a job. Three years later I stood on top of a building facing the US Capitol building starting my first job! There was a massive gap for me trying to get to that point but I stayed persistent and made my own luck. The hardest thing you will encounter is talking to your boss and saying "I can take over the job for a day (week/ month) and you can trust me it will get done right!" You might be in a company and want to go from moving stone and doing primarily manual labor to dealing with customers or leading projects. Can you take on the task? Can you become that person your boss can trust and rely on?
Likewise the opportunity. Can you show up to the right place at the right time and essentially walk into your dream job? Can you be the best person on your team and have them all agree you should move up in the company or on the job? Can you show up on time?!?! Just showing up on time sometimes gives you an advantage over the person who doesn't. The best job I had my boss called me at random and just needed someone with electrician skills to show up and work. After a couple of months I asked to take on more responsibility and I was given larger tasks. After a year I was basically running my own jobs for him and he was able to trust what I was doing represented the company and delivered a high quality product. I was able to stay with that company for years after and I enjoyed every day there and earned respect as a subject matter expert in the field. Opportunities come at strange times and you need to be ready when they do, this is hard to explain to someone in 7th grade but you will see this quickly as an adult. Be ready and keep building!
Keep building with Legos!
Read a book about something technical, try to understand it even if you don't. Reading anything at all (not online) is better than not.
Keep building with Legos!
Keep your math skills up in case you want more out of your job later on.
Keep physically healthy. Working with your hands requires you to be healthy and present. Just start to make healthy habits now so its easier to stay healthy later.
The hardest thing about being a construction worker is the opportunity and trust you need to move up in the field. I remember I begged my landlord to talk to her father and have me help him move bricks and stone for a job. Three years later I stood on top of a building facing the US Capitol building starting my first job! There was a massive gap for me trying to get to that point but I stayed persistent and made my own luck. The hardest thing you will encounter is talking to your boss and saying "I can take over the job for a day (week/ month) and you can trust me it will get done right!" You might be in a company and want to go from moving stone and doing primarily manual labor to dealing with customers or leading projects. Can you take on the task? Can you become that person your boss can trust and rely on?
Likewise the opportunity. Can you show up to the right place at the right time and essentially walk into your dream job? Can you be the best person on your team and have them all agree you should move up in the company or on the job? Can you show up on time?!?! Just showing up on time sometimes gives you an advantage over the person who doesn't. The best job I had my boss called me at random and just needed someone with electrician skills to show up and work. After a couple of months I asked to take on more responsibility and I was given larger tasks. After a year I was basically running my own jobs for him and he was able to trust what I was doing represented the company and delivered a high quality product. I was able to stay with that company for years after and I enjoyed every day there and earned respect as a subject matter expert in the field. Opportunities come at strange times and you need to be ready when they do, this is hard to explain to someone in 7th grade but you will see this quickly as an adult. Be ready and keep building!
Liam recommends the following next steps:
Rafael Diaz Montelongo
Consultant
563
Answers
Raleigh, North Carolina
Updated
Rafael’s Answer
Hi Luis! I like that you're already thinking about this in 7th grade and that passion for building with Legos is exactly the kind of mindset that makes a great construction worker. From what I've seen working on complex projects, one of the hardest parts is the physical demand because you're on your feet all day in extreme heat or cold, lifting heavy materials for long hours. Another tough part is problem solving on the fly because things don't always go as planned, whether it's weather delays, supply issues, or design changes. In my own career, I've had to solve issue logs during high pressure project launches, and that ability to stay calm and figure things out is something you'll definitely need in construction too. My advice is to start learning now by watching how things are built around you, take a woodworking or shop class when it's available, and look into programs like SkillsUSA when you're older. Keep that curiosity going!