'I love designing and making stuff. Can I turn this into a career?'

 

If you're a practical type, like working with your hands and love seeing the finished result this could be an industry for you to consider. Whether it's a building, a bridge, a freeway or a turbine for capturing wind power - construction careers definitely offer more variety and possibilities than you might think.

It's also a place for where technology, creativity and problem-solving are important. Construction is evolving just as quickly as other sectors, introducing new systems, better products, systems and processes every year. The industry also makes a big contribution to environmentally friendly and sustainable development for Australia.

There are many different jobs and that they're not all for the boys. You can choose to work outdoors or indoors, on site or in the office and always be part of making something real that will last for a long time.

Construction careers can be divided into Planning and Design, and Trades:

Planning and Design
Good at organisation or have a creative eye? Want to have a positive impact on the built environment? Any kind of construction requires planning and design: what's going to be built, where's the site, what materials should be used and how people will use and benefit from the space? When it comes to the challenge of planning, some specialists work together in design, some source the materials needed and others making sure that the construction is carried out properly.

Typical careers: project managers; urban and regional planners; architects; interior decorators; landscape architects; surveyors; civil engineers; structural engineers; geotechnical engineers; draft persons; building inspectors.

Trades & labour
The actual labour required for the construction industry offers unlimited opportunities to practise and develop a trade. You can gain specialist hands-on skills from electrical installation and woodwork to boiler making and mechanical engineering. Another bonus is that you can end up running your own business, or heading up major projects depending on where your passions lie.

Typical careers: project managers; construction managers; electricians; carpenters; sheet metal workers; earth movers; concreters; form workers; operators; plasterers; glaziers; painters; plumbers; roofers; structural and reinforcing iron metal workers.

Where can I get more information?
Construction is an industry that has many career options. Have a look at the websites below for more information:

CITB Careers Information
Doorways 2 Construction

Need some inspiration?
Ly Kheng Ing can tell you more about her career as a Civil Engineer at Maunsell AECOM.