Construction Chat was started May 8, 2014, to build community among the construction-inclined.
This weekly chat is hosted by Riggins Construction Thursday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time. We’d love you to join us, if you’re free next week.
(I put a reminder in my calendar. Otherwise, even I would forget.)
This week’s topic:
I was taking to a friend who works in the grocery industry who said she’s “just blue-collar” so professional development isn’t that critical. Of course I disagree. But we do discount ourselves? And it got me to thinking about us in construction. Are we “just” blue collar?
With all the dangers of the job, current technology. It's more than blue collar job. #ConstChat
— WarehouseFlow Advisr (@witzshared) July 24, 2014
Below are the questions, as asked, and some highlighted answers. Some weeks there are so many great answers, it’s hard not to include them. I apologize for the length in advance. The purpose of the recap is to give you, the reader, some insight.
Q1: What brought you into construction?
A1. I knew 3 hinges went on a door. The distributor hired me for sales 😉 #constchat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) July 24, 2014
A1 – "Fell" into the industry working my way through college with a fire sprinkler contractor. #constchat
— Tess Wittler (@TessWittler) July 24, 2014
.@TessWittler I think "fell" is a good word for most of us in this industry 🙂 #constchat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) July 24, 2014
A1. I became involved because a friend encouraged me to apply for a position with CITC! #ConstChat
— CITC of WA (@CITC_WA) July 24, 2014
Q2: How long have you been in construction?
A2. Yikes – 20 years! #constchat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) July 24, 2014
A2 – Been around the industry since 1991 – YIKES! #constchat
— Tess Wittler (@TessWittler) July 24, 2014
A2. I’ve worked in the apprenticeship training arena for the construction industry for over 21 years. 🙂 #ConstChat
— CITC of WA (@CITC_WA) July 24, 2014
Q3: What is your trade (or the trade of your employer)?
A3. We are a mfg of architectural door hardware. #constchat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) July 24, 2014
A3. I worked in food manufacturing but hired and worked with construction companies on company improvement projects. #ConstChat
— WarehouseFlow Advisr (@witzshared) July 24, 2014
A3. Morning y'all! We're a mfg of Construction calculators, measuring & estimating take-off tools – going on 30yrs #ConstChat
— CalculatedIndustries (@Calculated_Ind) July 24, 2014
Q4: What do you wish people knew about your trade?
A4 That the construction industry is a very honorable industry to be a part of #ConstChat
— CITC of WA (@CITC_WA) July 24, 2014
A4. The bldg industry as a whole is important work: life safety, fire safety etc. And don't wait until last min to order drs/hdw #constchat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) July 24, 2014
A4 Sometimes customers don't realize all the gov't regulations that contractors must comply with – so projects aren't swift #constchat
— Tess Wittler (@TessWittler) July 24, 2014
A4. True Bridget and maybe that's the term we should us instead of construction workers but technicians. #ConstChat
— WarehouseFlow Advisr (@witzshared) July 24, 2014
Q5: Do you think that the construction industry is undervalued (as an industry)? Not as sexy as tech?
Good Question. A5. I think the general public walks into a bldg and never thinks twice about all that goes in to make it safe. #constchat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) July 24, 2014
A5 Ya Its a shame people dont see the skill it takes to achieve journey level status or the amount of $ you can make #ConstChat
— CITC of WA (@CITC_WA) July 24, 2014
A5 – IMO it starts with teachers recognizing ALL that's available to the youth. College isn't all that. #constchat
— Tess Wittler (@TessWittler) July 24, 2014
Q6: Do you feel that construction’s image is a career challenge?
A6 – YES #constchat
— Tess Wittler (@TessWittler) July 24, 2014
haha, I agree too! @TessWittler A6 – YES #constchat
— AEC Daily (@AECdaily) July 24, 2014
A6. Not just the media, but fly by night construction companies that rip people off get the headlines. #ConstChat
— WarehouseFlow Advisr (@witzshared) July 24, 2014
A6. The construction industry often offers high wages so can be a great career choice #ConstChat
— Liftec Forklifts (@LiftecForklifts) July 24, 2014
Q7. Do you think the use of social media could improve construction’s image?
A7. Absolutely! This chat included! #constchat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) July 24, 2014
Agree 100% RT @HagerCo A7. Absolutely! This chat included! #constchat
— Tess Wittler (@TessWittler) July 24, 2014
A7. Yes, put a positive spin out there and let's get it back in the schools. I took electric shop, wood shop and metal shop. #ConstChat
— WarehouseFlow Advisr (@witzshared) July 24, 2014
A7 – Yes. More good people on SoMe that get introduced to each other can become advocates for the industry #constchat
— Tess Wittler (@TessWittler) July 24, 2014
A7 Chats like these & other uses of social media certainly don't hurt. Yes, social media a great fit #ConstChat
— Liftec Forklifts (@LiftecForklifts) July 24, 2014
Bonus Tweets:
It is highly technical and the career avenues and opportunities are limitless; especially for women. #ConstChat
— CITC of WA (@CITC_WA) July 24, 2014
But don't forget guys it's not just a fun job with good pay. It's also a very dangerous job as well. #ConstChat
— WarehouseFlow Advisr (@witzshared) July 24, 2014
I'm all pumped up now to tell everyone how great the construction industry is! 🙂 #constchat
— Tess Wittler (@TessWittler) July 24, 2014
Do you have an answer you want to contribute? Feel free to add it in the comments.
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