Getting Back to Business
Every year around this time, there’s a wave of energy as schools ramp back up. There’s a sense of a fresh start. Sometimes, it looks like a freshly paved parking lot as students arrive for a school year ahead. Other times, it’s just the feeling of the transition from summer into fall. Regardless of if you’re a young person with the chance to make the most of your school year or a seasoned construction professional, we can all make choices to get back to business. If you decided to make the most of the nine months ahead, where do you think you would land by spring 2022?
High school students, how can you get the most out of this school year?
If you or a teen you know are a freshman or sophomore in high school or junior high student, start looking into Career-Technical Education. Kentucky public high school students can take advantage of career-tech training centers, which help prepare students for careers in construction. This training is done in tandem with other high school classes, so that by the time students graduate, they’re ahead of their classmates. Kentucky has lots of educational opportunities and centers to get you started on a path toward any career–including a career in construction. Plus, in construction, you can often earn while you learn, which is something unique to our industry.
If you’re a rising high school junior or senior, now is the time to start looking into the best place to continue your education after you earn your diploma, if you decide to pursue a more traditional two- or four-year degree program. There are great options within the construction industry that require those degrees too, like accounting, marketing, and management positions. Kentucky students are lucky to have access to some incredible schools in all corners of the state. Click here for a list of our community colleges and universities to pursue your degree of choice.
If you decide that your path to your future doesn’t involve a college degree at all, no worries — we have you covered there, too. Construction is a realistic industry: we know that people are different and want different things in their lives. Check out this blog called “No Degree, No Problem” to learn more about beginning a career in construction without a degree.
Young adults, how can you lay the foundation for your career?
Your twenties are a time of exploration. But without direction, you’ll find yourself wandering well into your 30s — and beyond. At this stage, some of your peers are working their way through a degree while others are working full-time. Apprenticeships offer the best of both worlds, allowing you to earn great money for your current bills while you train for your future career in construction.
Understanding your path within the industry doesn’t have to be difficult. You can explore dozens of positions at varying levels within the construction industry to gain a better understanding of what each of the positions requires. We have backgrounds on everything from bricklayers to engineers.
Seasoned professionals, how can you pivot to get on the right path?
It’s never too late to consider a career in construction. Like young adults, those with many years of professional experience can transition to a career in construction. Don’t let the fear of trying something new prevent you from reaching your untapped potential. It may not seem like it at surface-level, but your work experience, no matter how seemingly irrelevant it might be, will serve you well in this next stage.
Like we mentioned above, Career Technical Centers are an efficient and effective way to lay the foundation for your career in construction, even as an adult. Those who have already been in the workforce for some time often pair apprenticeships alongside their training at a Career Technical Center. This way, you can continue to earn as you learn and get started on your new path as soon as possible.
No matter your age or experience level, now is the time to get back to business. We need your skills and determination to build the future of Kentucky. You don’t need to know it all right now. You just need to get started.
