Carpentry is a specialized skill that takes a lot of physical work. If you really want to pursue a carpentry career, here are a few things you should do.
First, you should ask whether or not this is a good career choice for you. Do you know what a carpenter does? Do you have what it takes to do back breaking work the whole day and return the day after doing the same thing until the project is completed?
If you are convinced that you want to become a carpenter, one thing you thing you have to do is finish high school. This will give you time to practice your skills in shop class and brush up on your mathematical and reading skills so you can look at the blueprints then convert them from paper into the real thing.
One person that can help you in your carpentry career is the guidance counselor. He can help you enhance your skills in this trade by recommending a good school you can go to that helps students become good carpenters.
When the list of schools is given, read the curriculum offered by each one. You should take note of the admission policies, the cost of tuition and the success rates of the graduates especially where they are working right now.
Upon graduation from the secondary program, find employment through an apprentice program. You can get in touch with the Associated General Contractors, the Associated Builders and Contractors or the National Association of Home Builders.
If there are none available, see if you can get a beginner’s position from a carpentry contractor. This will give you the opportunity to learn other things about being a carpenter that are not taught in the classroom. The better skilled you are, the higher the chances of finding work even during tough economic times.
When you have enough experience, it is time to find a job. Look at ads in the paper or online and apply to them even if you don’t qualify for it. This will give you the opportunity to know what employers are looking for so you can take courses and specialize in it which will be good for you in the future.
Some people who pursue a carpentry career will work for other people for the long term while others will open up their own carpentry firm and hire other people to work for them. You have to remember that a good or bad job with one customer will surely spread around so if you want to attract more business, you have to do your best every time you are hired to do the job.
Regardless of where you are right now, make it an effort to do your best so you feel good about yourself and what you have accomplished since you are part of the team.
It takes someone who is good with his hands to have a successful carpentry career. If you have tried it and things work well for you, then you have found your true calling. But if things go the other way, don’t feel bad because at least you gave it your best shot. This just means that you are cut out for something else and you just have to find it.