Regardless of career, industry, or profession – there’s set of myths or misconceptions about certain jobs that people commonly recite as gospel. You may have heard them over the years…you can’t trust a lawyer; all cops have mustaches; doctors are in it for the money, etc. Unfortunately, the construction industry is not exempt from these old wives’ tales and stereotypes. Quite frankly, the industry’s reputation takes a hit as extremely talented people shy away from a line of work that is vastly different from the picture most people paint. Today we’ll address some common construction industry myths and debunk them along the way…strap in!
Construction is for people that can’t get regular jobs – We’re not quite sure why this myth is propagated over and over again as the years pass by. It’s borderline insulting to suggest talented construction employees were relegated to a low-brow industry because they couldn’t find work anywhere else. Truth be told, people work in construction for the proportionally high wages, overtime pay, paid holidays, and the gratification of building something that will stand on this earth longer than they will. Most people don’t know that construction is one of the few industries that dedicates significant yearly monies to training, employee development and continuing education.
The construction industry is uneducated as a whole – Another myth that is simply not true…the construction industry is home to some of the best and brightest mathematical, scientific, and technical minds out there. Sure, some workers might not have enjoyed the traditional school experience, but they’ve learned countless “on-the-job” lessons in physics, engineering, design, and importantly, real life problem-solving. Many construction professionals admit they learned more useful, sound practices on the job that actually complement their raw academic learning.
Construction is 100% dangerous, all the time – Yes, working with heavy machinery, large objects, pneumatic tools, and hazardous materials is inherently more dangerous than working a desk job. Current safety standards, OSHA regulations, and local risk management plans at jobsites mean that fatal work injuries in construction sectors decrease year after year. “Safety first” has become a widespread mantra from both construction management and tool & machine companies, as engineers have redesigned common hazardous tools and rigging to have built-in safeguards. The simple truth is that unsafe construction companies don’t last, as it’s financially impossible to stay afloat operating in an unsafe fashion with OSHA on your tail.
Construction as a career pursuit is a dead-end job – Construction, as whole, is a multi-billion dollar industry with tiered levels of residential, transportation, infrastructure, commercial, and industrial developments popping up everywhere across the country. If you’re either a skilled worker or an entrepreneur, you can start your own company and grow a lucrative project-based operation quite quickly – keep in mind the median income for construction project managers is $82,790 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016). The construction industry also boasts various professional certifications, continuing education courses, and trade specific training that outpaces what’s available in other professional industries.
Construction is just an industry full of people slinging tools – A lot of people tend to think construction means “a bunch of simple brutes manning the machines,” which couldn’t be further from the truth. Educated construction planners, engineers, and architects all perform detailed, high-brow work on complex, technical computers and drafting machines that require careful calibration and minute precision. Long before a tool ever shows up on-site, there are hundreds of brilliant construction employees that inched the project along in the planning and strategy phases – ensuring that the job site is ready to break ground. When the workers do show up on site, they employ modern innovations and use new digital advancements in construction tech to raise structures that we’ve come to appreciate and use daily.
All in all, the construction industry is a lot more connected, educated, and involved than the old stereotype. Don’t believe the tired wives’ tales that you hear about construction – it can be a very lucrative, engaging career – explore the industry, it’s certifications, and opportunities with CSLS today.
About CSLS:
CSLS is the largest contractor licensing school in California with over 25 locations throughout the state. We have the highest success rate of any school – 99% of our students pass their exam on the first try, and that’s guaranteed or your money back.
Our teaching process prepares you in a step by step manner for everything you need to know to pass the law, business and trade portion of your exam. Our programs are designed for convenience. We have online programs, home study, crash-course and in-school options, making it easy and affordable for you to become a licensed contractor.
