5 Things to Consider When Changing Careers to Construction

Changing jobs is one thing. Changing to a whole new career is a different matter entirely. If you’ve been thinking about starting a career in construction, there are a few things you should consider. Here are some factors to keep in mind as you make a decision.

Education and Training Requirements
As you start to browse through the types of jobs that you may want to do, take a moment to evaluate the education and training requirements for each position. In most cases, you’ll start out at a lower level and work your way up, but it depends on the field and the current demand. Many careers in construction do not require a college degree, but some of them may be easier to secure if you have one. Others might require a specific license or a certain number of years of experience. Factor these into your plans, and consider creating a career goal that involves a progression if necessary.

Income Expectations Over Time
Before you can choose a job, you’ll need to know if you can make enough money to pay your expenses. While income is highly dependent on the type of job you have, it also relates to your location and other aspects of the field. Do some research into the average salary for various positions, and be sure to factor in years of experience. If you can, search in your target ZIP code or region to get more detailed information. It’s also a good idea to look at how the average pay for the job has changed over time, to get a sense for what you can expect in the future.

Paid Employment or Run a Business
Many people decide to go into construction because they want to be their own boss or run their own business. However, this isn’t necessarily a requirement. There are plenty of licensed contractors who have paid employment in a larger company. There are benefits to both approaches. By starting your own business, you get to have more influence over the type of work you do, as well as how and where you do it. Paid employment in a corporation may offer you more stability and benefits, without all the extra work of running the business as well. It’s possible that you may choose one, and switch to another over time. Just in case, you should scope out your options for both.

Long-Term Location Plans
Before you start making plans for your career and training, you need to make sure that you know where you plan to be in 5 to 10 years. Although most people tend to live their whole lives within close range of their hometown, this isn’t true for everyone. If you live in a rural part of California, you might long to move to somewhere with a higher population of prospective clients. Similarly, you might be dreaming of moving to a different state with unique options and a different climate. Both of these choices could dramatically change your career prospects and the steps you need to complete in order to get there. Make sure that you feel confident about your expectations before you commit.

Career Goals
When you’re evaluating a change in a field or industry, you’ll have to consider several things. It’s important to figure out what kind of job you can get in the beginning, but you don’t have to feel like you’re stuck there. Do some brainstorming about what you want your long-term career to look like, even up to the point that you are ready to retire. There may be a few steps that you need to achieve in the middle, and you’ll need to outline those. Determine whether your ambitions are realistic, or if you’ll need to make additional plans to stretch your skills and experience to meet them.

Changing your career to construction is a big deal, but it may be one of the best decisions you ever make. To get started on your career path, contact CSLS today!

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About CSLS

Contractors State License Service (CSLS) is the largest school in California devoted to the Construction professional. For over 23 years, CSLS has helped its students pass the exam to become licensed contractors in the State of California, licensing more students than any other school. From our main offices in Southern California, CSLS operates over 25 locations with full-service support and classrooms. We have grown to this extent by providing quality, professional services. In comparison, this provides 7 times the number of convenient locations than the second largest contractor school. Contractors State License Services is one of the only contractor schools in the state that is run by educators, not lawyers or people mostly interested in the bonding and insurance business. Contractors State License Services formerly operated under the oversight of the State of California's Bureau for Private Post Secondary and Vocational Education. As of January 1 2010, the new Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) came into existence replacing the BPPVE. CSLS now operates under the provisions of the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (CPPEA), Article 4 Section 94874(f). Our Mission is simple; We can help you pass your California Contractors License Exam. Celebrating our 25th year, CSLS has helped over 120,000 students pass the California contractor licensing exam to become licensed contractors in the State of California. Additionally, we offer complete home study and online contractor’s license programs to help you pass your California contractors license exam. CSLS offers licensing classes for all types of contractor licenses, including General Engineering Contractor, General Building Contractor, Specialty Contractor, Insulation and Acoustical Contractor, Framing and Rough Carpentry Contractor, Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry Contractor, Concrete Contractor, Drywall Contractor, Electrical Contractor, Elevator Contractor, Landscaping Contractor, Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor, and many others. For a complete list of contractor licenses, visit www.MakeMeAContractor.com and tuned for more informative posts.