I have a son who is interested in getting into construction. Willing to start at the very bottom. However he is really having a hard time getting anyone to give him a chance.

Any suggestions on where he can start the process?

Construction is slow right now, at least on the residential side.

Have him go to local lumber yards (not a Lowe's or Home Depot). Have him find the sales desk, or even find one of their outside sales reps. Have him give his name and number to them and explain what he wants to do. Those counter guys, and especially the outside sales reps, will know which contractors to direct him to.


Your son needs to be aware that whoever hires him, he needs to have a "eagerness to learn" attitude. Be honest in what he knows how to do and what he doesn't know how to do.

ETA: "construction" is a very broad term. Does he have a more specific idea on what he wants to do? Dirt work? Fencing? Framing? Concrete? Electrical? Remodeling? Skyscrapers? Custom home building? Does he want to own his own construction business or climb the corporate ladder of a KB homes type company?

Is this a high school aged kid looking for a summer job or what?

How old is he? Where does he live? What does he want to do?

I can speak for the residential construction sector......The home building market is the weakest its been in since the recession 15 years ago.....it is TOUGH right now.....lots/most production home builders have had multiple rounds of layoffs in the last 12 months.

Becoming an electrician or plumber would be a HUGE longterm success.

Road construction in Texas seems to be the most bulletproof of the construction indilustries.

Good luck!

Sorry he lives in BCS currently he is looking to make construction his career. He is 22 and graduated from A&M. He is willing to move. He seems most interested in electrician, but understands he may have to work his way up to that.

What is his degree?
Does he have any construction experience?

I'll give the benefit of the doubt and assume your son is actively pursuing leads and you've created this thread as an additional resource to help him out.

Being a TAMU graduate could help get him in a project management role, if that's what he's interested in. Keep in mind that would likely mean he's stuck at a desk most of the time rather than being an "electrician", but this would typically offer higher starting pay.

If he truly wants to be an electrician, he probably will need to just start at the bottom and work his way up. I know some very successful guys that have gone this route and started their own company after learning the ropes.

Some big players in the BCS commercial market he might want to check out include Britt Rice, Dailey, Elite, Juhl, Dowling, etc.

ironmanag said:

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I have a son who is interested in getting into construction. Willing to start at the very bottom. However he is really having a hard time getting anyone to give him a chance.

Any suggestions on where he can start the process?

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https://instagr.am/p/DUBmsMQkd-L

What is his degree in? Construction Science?

If he really wants to get into the trades and craft work (kudos to him on that, BTW) - he needs to be knocking on doors at local electrician shops and talking face to face with those that do the hiring. There are a bunch of electrical outfits out there - Britt-Rice, Alterman, AJI (Houston), etc. that are always looking for quality labor.

Specialty trades like electricians, HVAC, instrumentation, etc. generally require licenses and you have to go through a series of time in the field and tests before you can get those licenses.

MyNameIsJeff said:

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I'll give the benefit of the doubt and assume your son is actively pursuing leads and you've created this thread as an additional resource to help him out.

Being a TAMU graduate could help get him in a project management role, if that's what he's interested in. Keep in mind that would likely mean he's stuck at a desk most of the time rather than being an "electrician", but this would typically offer higher starting pay.

If he truly wants to be an electrician, he probably will need to just start at the bottom and work his way up. I know some very successful guys that have gone this route and started their own company after learning the ropes.

Some big players in the BCS commercial market he might want to check out include Britt Rice, Dailey, Elite, Juhl, Dowling, etc.

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This is correct. I will not be contacting anyone for him. I was just asking so I could point him in the right direction.

His degree was shut down when Banks reorganized and he got stuffed into Hotel and Leisure management. He knows this is pretty worthless. Which is why he knows he has to start at the bottom.

Maximus Johnson said:

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I struggle with these questions a ton because it is so simple it is almost painful, yet so many people make it way more complex than it needs to be. Here is a step by step guide to becoming an electrician:

- Be alive
- Drive to closest union hall. To find closest union hall, google "closest electrician union hall near me"
- Walk in union hall and tell them you would like to be an apprentice electrician
- Sign papers
- Show up where they tell you to show up

And just like that, you are a union apprentice electrician.

If the kid graduated from A&M with a construction science degree then it is 100% his fault he doesn't have a job in construction management. I think you have to work harder to not have a job lined up coming out of that program than you do to actually get one.

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I will send him this right now.

Road construction, water treatment, water districts, and data centers are hot in Texas right now. Have him use AI to research markets and leading construction companies in different markets. Common sensed individuals, even with little "experience", can excel quickly in constriction.

Have him text me

I can ask him a few questions but dont do as much as Inuse to and see if he wants to do stuff with us

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But I am residential. Sheetrock
Painting
Capentry

I'd encourage him to look into a career as an instrument technician. I think he'd still need to do a 2 yr associates degree program, could be wrong on that since he already has a BA. High demand in the Houston area always. Good pay. Relatively light work and easy on the body as far as trades jobs go. Lots of junior colleges in the area to look into.

Benny the Jet Rodriguez said:

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Animal said:

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I hate to be "that guy" but if he is 22 years old, he should be the one on here asking these questions....

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I hate these type of responses. They assume the kid is sitting on the couch doing nothing. God forbid his dad wanting to help. If I have a connection with someone who can help any of my kids get their foot in the door, damn straight I'll use it if my kids ever need help. He's asking for information. Nothing wrong with that at all.

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I'm on the commercial side and we're looking for people up and down the leadership chain. FWIW I don't have a construction science degree and you don't need one to be successful in this industry.

If he's interested in the commercial side, or if he's dead set on being an electrician (I know of one outfit that's looking for people), have him contact me.

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I may be able to get him an residential electrician job in the hill country.

Or i could possibly teach him to build houses but hed have to be willing to live in the hill country. Its nice out here but its not convenient or full of young women.

In all seriousness he should join the plumbing union 68.

https://www.plu68.com/

Lots of guys who are project managers for major union plumbers worked in the field, learned the trade, and moved into the office. There is great money to be made. I know many guys who started their own businesses and make much more money that guys working white collar fancy jobs. Also plumbing is never going away. Everyone thinks plumbers just deal with crap. New construction doesn't deal with service issues like repair type plumbers. There is a huge demand for plumbers. Commercial work in Houston and surrounding areas is busy. If he's good he will always be in demand and can work his way up the ladder. Union just got a nice pay raise this year too.

Also if he has any interest in wholesale distribution of construction products post your email. I was a project manager in construction for years but enjoy the distribution side much more now and still get to be involved in construction just in a different way.

Following this.