9781422270653

CAREERS IN BEAUTY AND FASHION CAREERS IN BUSINESS CAREERS IN CONSTRUCTION CAREERS IN ENGINEERING CAREERS IN THE ENVIRONMENT CAREERS IN NURSING CAREERS IN SAFETY AND SECURITY CAREERS IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE WEB CAREERS IN SPORTS CAREERS IN THERAPY AND REHABILITATION

BY ANDREW MORKES

PO Box 221876, Hollywood, FL 33022 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free) • www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2024 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-4751-8 Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4222-4756-3 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-7065-3 Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress Developed and Produced by National Highlights, Inc. Project Manager: Andrew Morkes Cover and Interior Design: Tara Raymo • CreativelyTara Layout: Priceless Digital Media, LLC Publisher’s Note: Websites listed in this book were active at the time of publication. The publisher is not responsible for websites that have changed their address or discontinued operation since the date of publication. The publisher reviews and updates the websites each time the book is reprinted.

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CONTENTS

Introduction................................................................... 7 Chapter 1: Is a Construction Career for You?....................11 Chapter 2: Construction Career Paths.............................17 Chapter 3: Charting Your Path in Construction.................33 Chapter 4: Exploring Education and Careers in Construction..................................57 Chapter 5: Learning More about Construction and Job Choices............................................81 Index............................................................................92 Photo Credits................................................................94 Educational Video Links.................................................95 Author’s Biography .......................................................96 Words to Understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills. Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much more! Series Glossary of Key Terms: The Key Terms glossary contains terminology used throughout this series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field.

Many construction professionals work on large building projects, such as constructing skyscrapers. 6

Introduction

Students are often interested in learning more about careers, but many don’t take the steps necessary to do so, according to a survey of 14- to 18-year-olds by the nonprofit ECMC Group. It found that while 74 percent of respondents believe it is important to have their career plans determined when they graduate from high school, only 39 percent have taken classes or participated in programs to explore occupations. Many young people are not aware of the wide range of activities that are available to help them explore the field they’re considering, discover career paths, and learn what it takes to train and be successful in a given occupation. If you are a middle school or high school student, here are just a few of the exploration activities in which you can participate: • construction and general science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) competitions • school clubs • interviews and job-shadowing experiences with construction professionals • summer exploration camps • volunteer opportunities • tours of construction sites, engineering firms, and other places where construction professionals do their work • books, websites, podcasts, and videos • mentorship programs • resources from professional construction associations, companies, and government agencies The Getting Started series provides everything that you need to know about exploring careers while you’re in middle and high school. It also includes a wealth of information about dozens of occupations

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in each title, educational requirements, paying for school, and many other resources. If you’re looking for some great—and fun—ideas on how to learn more about a specific occupational field, you should check out this series. After trying out some of the suggested activities and learning more about construction occupations, you may be inspired to become a carpenter, plumber, or construction manager, or enter one of dozens of other careers in this field. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s begin exploring education and careers in construction.

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Getting Started: Careers in Construction

Nearly 725,000 job openings in the construction industry will be available each year in the United States through 2031, according to the US Department of Labor.

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Introduction

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

computer-aided design (CAD): the process of using software to create architectural plans, blueprints, or artwork extraction: removing a substance from an area infrastructure: in relation to the construction industry, the systems of a city, region, or nation, such as communication, sewage, water, transportation, bridges, dams, and electric photovoltaic: a type of technology that is used to generate electricity directly from sunlight via an electronic process

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1 Chapter

Is a Construction Career for You?

What’s So Great about Construction Careers?

Construction professionals build, maintain, and repair homes, factories, skyscrapers, amusement parks, highways, ports, bridges, and many other structures, as well our nation’s infrastructure . They are the type of people who like to work with their hands and build and repair things. They do not want to spend their workdays in front of a computer. Careers in construction are available for people with high school diplomas all the way through doctorates. You can train for many positions via an apprenticeship (a formal training program that combines supervised practical experience and classroom instruction) or through the military. These training methods—unlike college—are free, and you will earn a salary while you learn. Many construction professionals spend much of their workdays outdoors in challenging weather conditions, or indoors in unheated buildings and other structures that are in the process of being built. Some jobs—such as construction manager and civil engineer—feature a combination of indoor (in offices) and outdoor work. But unlike many workers, construction professionals don’t mind the work environment and enjoy the fact that no day on the job is the same, and that work settings change frequently.

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Earnings for many construction professionals are higher than those paid to workers in other fields. For example, construction and extraction professionals earn a median annual wage of $48,210, according to the US Department of Labor (DOL). This is higher than the median annual wage ($45,760) for all occupations. Construction workers that receive higher median annual salaries include brickmasons and blockmasons ($59,340), construction managers ($98,890), electricians ($60,040), pile driver operators ($76,260), and plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters ($59,880). On the other hand, workers in the following occupations have earnings that are lower than the median salary for all workers: construction laborers ($37,770); insulation workers–floor, ceiling, and wall ($39,880); and painters–construction and maintenance ($45,590). There will always be a strong need for construction workers because they are the builders and repairers of our roads, skyscrapers, other buildings, bridges, ports, dams, and other structures. Despite the strong demand for construction workers, there is a shortage

Learn why you should pursue a career in construction.

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Getting Started: Careers in Construction

Brickmasons and blockmasons rank amongst the highest paid construction workers.

of qualified professionals. Employment for all construction and extraction workers is expected to increase 4 percent from 2021 to 2031, according to the DOL. This is about as fast as the average for all occupations, but the following careers will enjoy stronger growth: • solar photovoltaic installers: much faster than the average • construction managers: faster than the average • floor layers (except carpet, wood, and hard tiles): faster than the average • tile and stone setters: faster than the average What Type of People Are Interested in Construction Careers? People with many different interests can find construction careers that suit them. But if you’re unsure about your interest in the field,

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Is a Construction Career for You?

answer the following statements to determine if a construction career is the best fit for you: • My favorite class in school is shop. • I like to build and fix things.

• I like to use power and hand tools. • I am curious about how things work. • I am good at math. • I don’t mind getting dirty in order to get a job done. • I consider myself a good problem solver. • I like using computer-aided design (CAD) software to create designs. • I enjoy studying architecture. • I enjoy observing work at construction sites.

If you like to make things, construction is a good career for you.

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Getting Started: Careers in Construction

If many of these statements describe you, then you should consider a career in the field. But don’t be deterred if you didn’t check most of the boxes. So many additional construction occupations exist—such as cost estimators and surveyors—that you are likely to find a great career that will match your skills and interests. In fact, this book provides information on more than 40 construction careers! What’s Inside This Book In this book, you’ll receive answers to the following questions, and more: • What are some great careers in the field? • What are some key construction terms that I should know? • What are some easy and more challenging ways to explore education and careers in the field? • What advice do high school and college teachers have for future construction professionals? • What are some important professional associations in the field, and what types of resources do they provide to students and to those just starting out in their career searches? • What construction-related books and websites should I check out? • How do I train for a construction career? • How do I pay for my education, and what free training options are available? • How do I land my first job in the field? Does a career in construction sound like a good fit for your interests and abilities? If so, read on to learn everything you need to know about exploring and preparing for the field.

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Is a Construction Career for You?

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

allergen: any substance—such as pollen, dust, mold, and pet dander—that is recognized by the immune system and can cause an allergic reaction historical landmarks: buildings or other structures that are protected under law because they have special value due to historical, cultural, or other factors pollutant: any substance (such as tobacco and other types of smoke, household chemicals, etc.) that is introduced into the environment that causes a negative effect on humans, plants, animals, ecosystems, and the overall environment scaffold: a temporary raised structure that tradesworkers use to work at heights that would otherwise be hard to reach sprinkler system: a fire protection structure that typically runs along the ceiling and shoots out water when high heat from a fire is detected union: an organization that seeks to gain better wages, benefits, and working conditions for its members; it is also called a labor union or trade union

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