The construction industry is a challenging, ever-changing business where no two days are the same, says Mark Snape of Snape Construction. But it gives you a real buzz! Here he gives us the low-down on how to get into the industry.

The work begins with the estimator. He will look through each individual item required on a build and makes sure we’ve got the lowest price. He also needs to make sure there are no anomalies in the estimate – it has to be a realistic quote otherwise the client will just dismiss it.

The surveyor starts getting in the orders. His work begins once the contract has been won, and he is site-based. He will revisit people contacted in the original tender and firm up prices, and then agree orders so the work can begin. He will also look at bigger issues – if we have to dig a channel deeper than originally estimated, he will explain these new costs to the client.

The contracts manager makes the build happen. He is physically on site, watching and nurturing the build. His will be worried about deadlines and quality all the time. It’s his job to make sure everything is happening to plan and to keep the site tidy and respectable.

We always need more business and this is where the sales & marketing team come in. They need to be looking for that next job to make sure we still get money and business for the future. This means getting to know clients, understanding their needs and getting us the opportunity to tender for quotes.

You genuinely never have the same day twice in this industry. We can be running three projects at the same time – there might be a school being refurbished, an extension to a retail development, or a new-build commercial build. Not only do you have three different arenas, but also three different types of actual build.
If you get a buzz sorting out problems, then this could be the career for you! It suits people who like variety, change and new challenges. You might get in at 7.30am with a list of things to do that day but this will keep changing – you need to enjoy keeping up!

I got into the industry by doing a degree in quantity surveying. It was one day of lectures per week and four days practical work on site, which was great for me because it meant you could really get into it properly. It also helped financially because you were working and learning at the same time.

You don’t have to go to university to get far in this industry. My advice for anyone wanting to start in construction would be to get an apprenticeship with a reputable firm. It’s certainly not unheard of for someone who started a carpentry apprenticeship at the age of 17 to work his way up to become Managing Director of a company.

A carpentry apprenticeship would be the best one to go for. It gives you the broadest range of skills because the chippy is the guy who is always needed on site – right the way through the build. The electricians and plumbers come and do their bits then leave, but the chippy is there right to the end. That’s why so many of them make good contracts managers – they understand what’s required in the whole build.

Don’t worry if your CV isn’t huge – it’s your willingness to work that must show through. To get an apprenticeship, send your CV to lots of firms and don’t worry if you don’t get anywhere at first – you don’t know when they are taking on apprentices. So, keep resending them every few months and you’ll eventually get on the cycle.

It’s the interview stage where you need to stand out. Turn up on time, look smart and presentable, and be enthusiastic. Most importantly, have a couple of questions up your sleeve that make you stand out. Show that you have researched the company by asking questions about it, for example, ‘I know you’ve been around for 15 years and you turned over £x million last year – where do you see the company going in the next five years?’ This sort of detail will really impress the interviewers and show that you’re keen to work with them.

You can read more about getting a job in the construction industry in our previous article from the Chartered Institute of Building.

Search in Jobsite for some great jobs in the construction industry.

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