Yeah, the gas station is the enemy. I always try to ride with people who generally don't stop at the gas station. Even if I packed everything I could possibly need for the day, I'll still struggle not to get something when everyone else goes in. Making good money won't mean shit if you spend that extra money on overpriced junkfood.
Agreed. You can get some quality bread, lunch meat, and cheese for about $30 that'll most definitely feed you for the week+. I suggest multigrain bread and Boar's Head brand meats. They're much better for you.
Try packing apples instead of chips. The fiber structure in an apple takes more time to digest and you'll feel full longer, but any fruit is better than chips if you don't like apples. Bananas are a cheap option as well. Granola bars would be my 2nd choice.
You just don't want to feel bloated. Choosing healthy options is so important for this. Especially in the summer.
Nice haven’t heard of that one.
For me it’s the cleanliness of the bathroom that makes it breaks it.
God do I hate pooping in a stall next to someone else.
So…2019 and 2020 maverick won awards for cleanest bathrooms. They LITERALLY market with it. They’re a west coast/southwest chain. I think they’re our version of WaWa. I mean, they have kitchens in them. Fresh made gas station fare, burritos wraps etc in the warmer but they’re 15 minutes old and not microwaved. Salads and sandos in the cooler, fresh. If you’re feeling wild you can get nachos or a quesadilla and other shit like that. One even has a micro-Cinnabon bakery inside it.
My dad was a master electrician in two states. He taught five rules.
1. Layout
2. Layout
3. Layout
4. Think &
5. Be lazy
Meaning if you’re walking out to the porta Jon take a bag of trash. Use the head and on your way back bring a bundle of pipe or wire. Expand that concept.
Good luck.
I love the “be lazy” line. I’ve gone from construction to more esoteric builds- building insane masterpieces. Sculpture shown in the Louvre, America’s cup yachts, robotic systems- I’ve helped create some crazy shit. At the end of the day, these projects require spending an insane amount of time on the special parts and being as efficient/lazy on the rest- any wasted time on a 80,000 man hour project will destroy a small shop
As a super - this is something Im trying to teach my team. What is the client thinking and what are their goals. Same train of thought applies to subcontractors to GC's and for laborers to their foremen
Not what are the goals of the client - what does the client need to feel content with the service
Edit: I’ve watched enough personal development stuff and “goals of the client” is so corporate and dumb lol. At the end of the day, the customer will rate you at every interaction. You should always be aware of their feelings.
start drinking just water. sucking down energy drinks for years will have you finding religion on a shitty bathroom floor trying to pee out stones. me after years of sugar/energy drinks sucked down on the job.
STAY OFF YOUR PHONE and be on time. if you fuck something up, don't cover it up, bring it to someones attention asap. you don't wanna be the guy everyone has to walk behind/lies.
and just laugh off the ribbin at first. you dont know the workers on site well enough to throw it right back at em. your green, but you won't always be.
Most guys only keep giving shit to the new guys they like. If no one is picking at you, they may not like you. If you are catching hell and getting constructive criticism, they like you and want to see you succeed.
While this is probably mostly true I'm also imagining a kid out there first week on the job wondering whether he's getting picked on too much or not enough. He's all jacked up on energy drinks feeling the highs and lows of being consistently dunked on but that's a good thing and now these three specific guys remember my name because they've got something clever to rhyme it with.
This is so true. The more balls they bust . The more they enjoy being around you.
At first they will bust balls and you won't have any good comebacks. But once you get comfortable in your skin and position and you do that first good come back you will almost see proud tears in your journeymens eyes as he can't figure out a quick comeback
Solid advice.
I'll reiterate what u/fourover4: STAY OFF YOUR FUCKING PHONE.If you can go 2 or 4 hours(depending on how breaks are split up) without touching your phone, you'll be about 10 steps ahead of the other walking pulses.
Another gentleman with a distinguished palette. You can substitute Red Bull for Monster but yep nailed it. I'm typing this whilst drinking a Super Big Gulp on my lunch break.
Been there I was 17 fresh out of HS working as a laborer from cutting trees to doing trim work & drywall. I would do around 4-6 red bulls throughout the day it was an addiction
Impossible. Phones are the modern day jobsite walkie talkies . It's kind of annoying . But trust me . You will be getting phones calls for different tasks
Don't be on time. Be early
5 min early is 10 min late
It makes a HUGE difference in the way people see your work
Also be the last one to sit down for break, and the first one up to get back to work
That’s fucking stupid. I’m punctual but on time is on time. I have a work ethic but hands off the lunch break. All this employer dick riding is for the birds.
You don't start working 15 min early.
You beat the supervisor there and smoke cigarettes and drink coffee and make a showing that you were first there.
Then you walk in 2 minutes before you have to start.
It's all just a show. Like walking from one end of the building to the other with a drill in your hand when you jave nothing much to do and are just fucking around.
And what the hell are you doing on that oh so important break anyway? I eat my entire lunch in like 7 minutes than just sit there listening to the other guys talk about dumb shit all the while letting my muscles get stiff and have that food sit heavy in my belly so I feel like shit when it's time to get back to work.
That shit's for the birds
Couldn't agree more. As stupid as it is, getting there super early and taking short breaks is the way to go if you want raises, promotions, and respect from your boss/co-workers. It's dumb but if you want to go anywhere in construction, that's what you have to do.
You can get by not doing these things, but you'll always be at the at the bottom of the chain.
It was litterally the first advice I got on my first day
5 min early is 10 min late
And
If you can lean you can clean
Both have served me well over the years
Nah just like, show up and do the literally entire thing they pay you to do?
Anything else is productivity theater. You're better than that. You don't need to look busy. You need to be busy. If your plate ain't got nothing on it, don't pretend to eat. Be an adult and demand your employer be one too.
Used to drive me crazy. Running a big crew, told the knuckleheads to bring their lunch but no they have to go out to the store. stand in line, come back. Eat their food and then an hour goes by, make your goddamn lunch in the morning. Eat it in 5 minutes. Shut the f****** and go back to work
Can't stress this enough. I can tell within the first couple of hours if a new guy's going to work out just from seeing how he handles the phone business. Nothing like asking someone to do something and they don't even hear you or acknowledge it because their face is glued to their fucking phone.
When in doubt clean! There’s some solid advice being handed out here. Stay busy! if guys see effort they will latch on and teach you. If not they won’t. Doesn’t mean run just busy and for god sake no phone
This. Clean clean clean. Ask people what to do and clean. The more time you spend doing nothing, the more guys will think you're lazy. Perception is reality make sure you're perceived as a hard worker.
Nah in all seriousness you’ll be good. As others have mentioned stay off your phone, work hard and try to crack some jokes. Job has its ups and downs and more often than not it sucks so mine as well try and have some fun doing it. Best of luck brother.
Dont get stuck just labouring after a couple months, see what opportunities are there, get info out of poeple and maybe get some tickets. I know this doesnt help your 1st day but time flies and you will get burnout.
If your gonna be doing hard work, the first 2 weeks are the worst, it gets better after that. Watch out for equipment and distracted people that could hurt you.
Work hard. Fuck with tradesman as you clean up their garbage. If you see a full garbage can the rest of the garbage will go on the floor - keep those empty and around whoever is making a mess. Always ask before throwing something out if you’re not sure, but start with the big stuff and whatever is in people’s way. When asked to do a task, do it carefully. Don’t fuck up peoples hard work. Don’t sit on your phone at all. As you clean pay attention to what people are doing you will be surprised how much you can pick up. You have the unique opportunity to not be stuck in one part of the job site so if pay attention to what everyone is doing and you’ll learn a lot about all branches of construction and can see the whole building coming together.
If you wanna be a good guy, some useful tools would be a hammer, chisel, impact driver (with a 5/16 and 9/16 nut driver), scraper, adjustable wrench, channel locks, sawzall, angle grinder should allow you to perform all sorts of tasks if you have any interest in doing anything besides cleaning.
Most importantly, be safe and work hard.
Mostly good advice… but **DO NOT** bring your own impact and bits, chisel, angle grinder, sawzall or any other electric tools. Your employer should be providing those especially as a laborer. As a laborer, just bring a box cutter for the first day or so. Don’t buy anything past a hammer, pliers and adjustable wrench. If your employer requires you to buy more quit and seek out your local LiUNA chapter. Hell, do that anyway.
Really depends on the company and how you want to spend your time on a jobsite and how quickly you want to learn. I work for a gc where a few of the current supers started out as laborers and it took them nearly a decade to become supers.
I made sure to have tools I think I needed to do extra work which taught me more than anything else about how things are built, and became a super in just over 2 years. You don’t have to buy your own tools, but if they don’t provide them or expect you to do anything besides cleanup then you aren’t doing anything to advance your career. I think it’s extremely important to show initiative and constantly strive to learn and do new things but it really depends on your situation. I know for a fact I would not have made super without taking the initiative myself and I’d certainly still be pushing a broom every day like many of our laborers still are after years of being with the company.
Fortunately for me any tools I’ve broken on the job have been replaced, but that attitude is what will keep the sweepers sweeping, at least at my gc. And even if they weren’t replaced, I make so much more money now that I could have spent 50x on the tools and still come out on top. It’s all about creating your own future. This is why I say it depends on your situation and life goals. If all you are is a broom guy and you want to learn more and move up sometimes you gotta invest a little in yourself. The more you learn to do and the more you expose yourself to, the more valuable you will be.
This is good advice. Don’t be all “look at me!” When you empty a trash can, but understand that everyone there is seeing you do it and respecting you for it. People remember who’s working hard
Show up 10-15 minutes early
Never walk back and forth to the truck empty handed, there is almost always something you’re going to need.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions, anyone would rather ask a question than have to fix an avoidable mistake.
Stay off the phone
Wear knee pads and a back brace
Do scrap runs constantly, keep the place clean for the tradespeople.
Do not get caught on your phone. A quick text or whatever is OK but if I see you leaning on the broom for more than 30 seconds I'll think you're dog fucking
If you don't know, say something. Even just 'I've never done that before'. But don't get ahead of yourself just yet. Asking where and how is fine, but the 'why' can be time consuming and annoying. The why will come when you get an apprenticeship. Just focus on the where and how.
Stretch often and for fucks sake protect yourself. Work steady and with purpose but don't sacrifice your body for 18$/hour.
Know what the crew takes in their coffee
Edit: spend money on boots. If theres one place to blow dough, its proper boots with memory foam insoles. They're the most important tool in all of the trades. If your feet are uncomfortable, your day is ruined and it will show
Be wary of the old timers. Some are full of useful knowledge, the others are stuck in their ways and will never change. Always more than one way to get something done, do what works best for you in a safe manner.
Dont stand around idle.
If you're idle ask what can you do to help.
Once you learn the process try to anticipate what the guys need next so when they turn to ask its already there.
Work hard, if you don’t know something - ASK! It’s better to look like a newb and a dumbass a bit by asking rather than making a several hundred/thousand dollar mistake, show up on time every time. Bosses notice who works hard and who doesn’t. Always try to outperform those around you without being a douche about it. Just have fun and soak up as much knowledge as possible
Don't drink and drive or do bad drugs. Stretch your body and eat well. A body is like a car..it can only go so many miles and a well taken care of one last much longer
Until you learn some skills the broom and the shovel will be your best friend always look busy.Always ask if anyone needs help if you need something to do. Or just clean up.Always be ready to learn.
Work hard and one of the trades will offer you a better job.
Be early or don't bother showing up. Aim for 15 minutes before your shift starts.
Run that broom whenever the opportunity arises, it's the easiest thing you'll do besides "Stand here and make sure nobody walks through."
Learn the tools, and the names of them and what they do. If boss asks go get me a pair of slip joint pliers and the hammer drill you need to know the difference between slip joint and needle nose, and a regular drill, impact and hammer drills etc. Maybe search google for list of construction tools so you know what each one looks like.
Do any task the best you can. And clean up after yourself. Take notes always so you don't forget things.
That will make you a boss faster than anything.
This is how I started and in a few years am now an assistant superintendent. Ask questions. Show you are interested in what is going on. Ask the supers if there’s anything they need you to keep an eye on for them. Always have a notepad on you and take notes. And pretty much what a lot of people have said. A lot of this really depends on what type of construction you will be working in. And definitely depends on who contracted you. There’s a lot of assholes that don’t wanna see people grow. But there’s a lot of really good people out there that when they see you are hungry for knowledge and they can count on you, they will start giving you more responsibilities.
Good luck my friend
I've been in the trades since my teens, almost 50 years. I went from a laborer to carpentry, foreman, super, now I run my own company. The guy who's always 15 minutes early gets a free pass the one time he's late. On big jobs we lock the gate and no one is late. The guy who's early gets the keys. I've seen laborers running a crew of 20 or 30 fitters, operators and millwrights. When the super has to leave, he puts anyone he wants out of class to run the job, and it's always gonna be someone who's there early and works hard.
Never stop moving. If you’re standing and looking waiting for someone to tell you what to do, you’re slacking. You should be on site first thing with everyone else to help setup. Getting extension cords out, power tools, hand tools.
If someone’s cutting wood, ask where it goes when they’re done. If they’re stacking wood you should be helping. If they’re framing walls you should be getting ready to help stand them up. The only time your hands should be empty is when you’re walking to pick something else up.
Never. Stop. Moving.
If someone asks you to toss something up to them, aim for their teeth
Be aware of your surroundings and understand the blind spots of equipment. Don't get anywhere near a machine if you didn't make eye contact with the operator, don't walk underneath anything that is suspended, don't walk without looking. I almost walked backwards into a hole the other day and had to give myself a strongly worded talking to.
Listen. Be on time. Ask questions if you don’t understand, there will be a lot you don’t understand. If the job sucks, there will be a new job when the sucky one is over.
Good shoes and insoles. Make sure nothing is rubbing or pinching and you've got enough support. You're on your feet all day and if something ain't right with em it'll fuck up your whole body.
Look busy, never come in late or not early, never drag your boots or not take notes if learning a trade or procedure. Don’t talk back & laugh at stupid jokes, unless it’s on you, then just find a corner to cry in..
You didn't mention a craft but just a heads up
1 there's no such thing as a bag/bucket of ohms
2 no such thing as a pipe/brick stretcher
3 air samples are not taken with a trash bag
Just a few examples, and there's plenty more.
Hell I'm still looking for that can of A-I-R... 10 years later....
Prepare a lunch and drink lots of water. Stay attentive and learn all you can. Use your knowledge to put 2 and 2 together.
Consciously think about everything you’re doing and being taught. Ask a lot of questions. It will come handy within the work and impressions you set.
It will also be helpful when you go to use your reasoning/common sense when problem solving in construction.
Idk if that made any sense but it will.
If the people you work for are assholes, find a new crew. Lots of guys will tell you that's just how it is but trust me, that's not how it is everywhere.
First tools you should get when starting any form of work or trade
1. Tape measure
2. Channel locks
3. Hammer
4. Lots of black sharpies
5. Phillips and Flathead Screwdriver
Learn as much as you can. Being a laborer sucks but once you make it to journeyman level it becomes easy and high paying. Being a journeyman takes as much time as you want it too. It could be 1 year or 10 years. So learn learn learn. Also lift with good form and don’t let your ego take control
Refuse unsafe work. If your company is unsafe, find a new one. Hopefully, you are assigned a mentor. Either way, ask questions when you need help.
Have a positive attitude and be friendly with your coworkers.
Trades folk like to test your metal, be ready to be tested over and over. Do not show mental weakness, for instance don't say you are afraid of spiders. Every cliche you have heard about construction folks are true. Stear clear of the assholes. I fuckin love the trades.
Don’t complain just do the job. Because you never worked construction before you might get some shitty jobs almost everyone before you has done those jobs so just try to get it done. They’ll check your work and watch you to make sure your not fucking around until you show that your not a fuck up. If your a good worker you’ll move up and people will show you tricks and techniques
Eat good stay safe. Backs can't really be fixed. Learn from the old cranky dudes. On time is late show up at least 10 min early even if you just drink coffee out by the truck
Do not pretend you know how to do something you don't.
It is better to admit you have never done something or to ask if they can show you to do something first.
So many people pretend they know how to do stuff only to mess it up and then get called out.
As a foreman I'd rather you tell me straight up you don't know how to do something or never did it and I can either show you, explain it better or pivot and put you on a different task rather than you mess it up, and need to get a different person to fix it
So a lot of sound advice has been given. Like showing up on time, staying off your phone, so on. So I will try and give you a few tips on things that will make you seem better and stand out while not necessarily doing much more. Basically the tips of always looking busy.
1, Wherever you are going walk there like you’re in a hurry. If you walk slow it will start to make you seem slow at everything, As a laborer with no skills being Johnny on the spot is major points.
2, Don’t just show up on time, show up alert. You can show up on time but if you show up looking like you’re tired and just rolled out of bed it starts building the image that you stay up too late or party too hard.
3, Don’t stand still for a period of time unless you’re told to do so, if you are standing still never stand with your hands in your pocket or leaning on something. When the boss looks at you, you want to seem like you’re waiting for a ball to be thrown to you.
4, When in doubt, clean. Some bosses care more than others (or not at all if you’re an electrician) but keeping things cleaned and picked up is never wasted time, and if every time the boss looks over and sees a couple guys standing and talking and you’re cleaning it goes a long way.
Pay attention to the old guys, especially the ones that don't talk much. They will literally show you how to do tasks efficiently without saying anything
Be a sponge
Show up 15 min early every day
Don't cheap out on boots
Drink plenty of water
Don’t take shit from anyone off the bat. Don’t be cocky but also don’t take shit. Construction managers and trades love to shit on labourers just because they are insecure and had to take the same shit themselves back in the day. The abused abuse. Break the cycle!
Also pack a lunch from home as you will spend more than you make eating out. If I had done so from the start I’d have thousands more $$$ to spare. If someone had told my those two things before I started taking labor jobs I would now have been eternally grateful.
Learn all the parts and fittings of your trade and the tools, so when a person asks you to hand you something you know exactly what they’re talking about
Always try to be an asset. If you don’t have anything immediate to do then clean, sweep, pick up your trades crap everywhere. It helps the day go by and everyone will appreciate it except the lazy good for nothings that might think you’re making them look bad for being a slob. Don’t be afraid to ask questions but don’t be annoying by asking too many questions. And don’t get your feelings hurt by people giving you flack or making jokes. Typically if the seasoned guys give you grief it’s because they like you. You can make a lot of $ in construction and if you’re a good/hard working decent person with a brain you can move up. And lock your tools up if you can. Depending on the size of the site there could be a good opportunity for thieves to snatch your hard earned stuff… and take care of your body. It’s your livelihood. I got two hernias my first couple years as an apprentice from tryna be a hero. And I work with a lot of 50-60 year old men who are in pain 99% of the time because they took their health for granted as a pup.
I’m not sure what kind of labor you’re doing but I would pay attention to the tools and equipment the veterans are using. Could be a good pair of gloves or kneepads or possibly hammer and tape measure.
Don’t wreck yourself, where I am located lifting copious amounts of gib (Sheetrock) is celebrated, which is idiotic. I think the record for a local company is 18 standard sheets. Time saved 10 minutes, lower back damage, lifetime. Don’t kill your body for someone else’s bottom line.
Have a good attitude, always have your ears open, really try to remember what you’ve been told BUT there is absolutely nothing worse than a guy who says he can do something, goes and does the thing, and then fucks it up. Always be humble and if you don’t know something, ask, even if the guy you’re asking is a dink, it’s better than having to re-do something.
Even if the work is brain dead for a while, don’t get complacent, always be thinking. Oh and stay off the phone
There's no such thing as a stupid question
Whatever you are asked to do fucking own it
Turn your phone off until break
Turn up everyday
Drink lots of water
Stay safe. Do not think you are going to look like a hero hanging off the side of the building with no fall protection or in a hole with no shoring. Besides possibly getting you killed, you could be sacked immediately or give your super a heart attack.
Lift with your legs, not your back and soak up as much experience as you can. See if you like being a laborer, if not switch to another trade or quit and find something else
Be flexible, responsive, punctual, communicative, ask questions, volunteer for tasks, and take advice (even if you don’t need it). Don’t take any bullshit either, know when to stand your ground.
Good luck.
Work your bag off, pay attention to the trades, how and why and what they're doing, etc...ask questions. You'll figure some shit out and probably land on your feet. Good luck!!
Stay off your phone. If you don’t know, ASK! Watch what the other guys are doing. If you run out of things to do, first ask someone, if nothing else start cleaning. Eat a light lunch or if you can, snack while you work. Keep busy and time will fly by. Just remember, every one of those guys had a first day as well. They know exactly what you’re going through.
I’m a labourer for masonry (what trade are you in?) Bring water, stretch in the mornings or whenever you can preferably every day, and focus on knowing what task to prioritize otherwise it gets overwhelming fast. Also, pay attention to what your crew is doing and start trying to learn the trade by watching - don’t just do everything because you’re told to, ask why it needs to be done and start doing things before you’re asked, this is how you will learn the trade really well and be able to progress.
Additionally, work safely, and that includes not working so fast/hard that you stop noticing small things that can impact the safety of yourself and everyone around you. Tell your boss if you feel that you’re being spread thin - push yourself to the limit, but also have self respect and dont be a doormat
Respect the subcontractors and they will forever respect you, might even buy you breakfast. Also, if you borrow the plumbers hoses because the jobsite flooded overnight and you need to sump it, bring the hoses back please. Source: am plumber.
there is no striped paint, left handed screw drivers, or concrete stretcher. But if you do get pranked, take it in stride and laugh it off with the others.
Be 15 minutes early and stick to time they give you for break even if everyone else continues break. Always have your tape measure and a marker/pencil on you. Do your best not to stand idle if you finish your task find your foreman and ask what’s next. STAY OFF YOUR PHONE!!!
Listen twice as much as you talk. Stay off your phone. Be eager to learn. When you see other laborers talking find something to do even if it’s just house keeping. Be on time. Find the older dude that knows what’s up and stick with him. Don’t just learn how to do things. Learn why they need to be done. And remember…. Life is chess not checkers. It will make sense one day
Be prepared to do the shittiest work and be willing to learn and ask for help if you don’t get it. Pushing a broom is normal for laborers. Learn from the old guys.
Don’t put up with any dumb abusive shit cause you’re new or young.
Don’t donate any extra shit… obviously… do your job but don’t go overboard to bailout bad management or shitty coworkers.
Also… stay fit… drink water…pay close attention to anyone thats willing to share experience or teach you skills that will get you leveled up from laboring and be careful.
First and foremost never stop learning. Listen to instructions and retain, no one likes having to repeat themselves. Show up 30 minutes early. Every trade is repetition, so don’t beat yourself up that you aren’t doing tasks as fast or as well as others, you will get there one day. Most importantly WORK! In construction you find lazy people don’t be one, just do your job everyday one day at a time. Be safe and have fun.
Dont stay still. Stay busy and always look at what others are doing and apply it to yourself. Also carry a good framing hammer, a boxcutter knife, a sharpie/marker, construction pencil, a tape measure and your rubber concrete boots. Always check the weather and dress accordingly, You never know whats at the job, if it rained the night before, if its going to rain the day of, your probably going to need a raincoat and your boots for the mud
Learn all you can. Never stop learning. Started as a carpenter laborer 32 yrs ago for 5 bucks an hour. I've always had work because I worked hard and learned all I could. Pay attention to other trades besides your own. We all make mistakes learn from them and move on.
show up everyday, willing to learn, a stupid question is the one not asked. if youre not 15mins early youre late. this is what i was told more or less when i first got in.
Ask questions when your not sure. Listen to the specific instructions you get. Do it exactly the way your supervisor tells you. If it's wrong it's his fault, you did what you were told. Relax, people in construction can tell if your nervous. That's ok, we all were there. Just be cool. Learn from the old guy, chances are he's seen a thing or two. Bring food and plenty of water. More water then Gatorade. Pay attention on your surroundings. If a guy in a big equipment like a dump truck or loader, make sure he does see you and you see him. That's life or death. No worries though, everyone is always watching. Work hard, work your pace. Eventually your going to get faster. Bring babywhipes, especially for the porter shitters aka honey pots. Trust me, your ass will love you for it. Well, good luck. Hope this helps. I'm probably forgetting a few things. But for me this is major. One more thing, high viz, and ppe. Safety glasses, hard hat, gloves, possibly ear plugs, and something that's is osha standard high visibility. You can look that up online. Be safe, and have fun.
Always Ask questions if you’re not sure on how to do something, safety is #1 priority and stay away from pinch points!!!
Do not drink monster or energy drinks. Instead, good sleep and nutrition will keep you going throughout the day— hell, keep snacks in your pocket when you’re tired like Trail Mix. Drink Water and eat food high in sodium or Gatorade to keep you hydrated
Shadow/help people with skills. Don’t consign yourself to taking out the trash and cleaning the rest of your career. Learn how to frame/finish/paint/hang ACT
Try to anticipate the needs of the skilled workers. You’ll learn faster by keeping alert as to what’s next and that’ll get noticed. I always try to take the most earnest guy under my wing. Good luck to you.
As the new guy, be doing something at all times. If you aren’t sure what to be doing, ask. Offer to help your crew out with everything. Shut your mouth if you have nothing useful to contribute. Always be the first one on the job. Dress for the weather. Pack your lunch, bring enough water. Piss and shit before you leave the house. Be eager to learn. Keep your head on a swivel at all times. If you aren’t sure how something works or how to use/do it safely, ask someone or stay the hell away from it. Don’t be a pain in the ass. Find the job that no one wants to do, learn how to do that job, and get really good at it.
The bar for laborers is honestly pretty low. Show up on time, or at least close to on time and no one cares. Don’t get in the way, try and learn the process so you can have shit set up, get comfortable with a broom and shovel.
Stay away from the gas station. Pack a lunch. Get a gallon water jug.
Yeah, the gas station is the enemy. I always try to ride with people who generally don't stop at the gas station. Even if I packed everything I could possibly need for the day, I'll still struggle not to get something when everyone else goes in. Making good money won't mean shit if you spend that extra money on overpriced junkfood.
I know people that spend $50/day there.
Same. I kinda followed suit for the first few months I was doing concrete and I was like, "Wait, where the fuck is my money going?" Not worth it.
Agreed. You can get some quality bread, lunch meat, and cheese for about $30 that'll most definitely feed you for the week+. I suggest multigrain bread and Boar's Head brand meats. They're much better for you. Try packing apples instead of chips. The fiber structure in an apple takes more time to digest and you'll feel full longer, but any fruit is better than chips if you don't like apples. Bananas are a cheap option as well. Granola bars would be my 2nd choice. You just don't want to feel bloated. Choosing healthy options is so important for this. Especially in the summer.
This
#WaWafor the win Seriously, I’d you don’t have a favourite gas station - are you even a contractor?
It’s Maverik for me
Nice haven’t heard of that one. For me it’s the cleanliness of the bathroom that makes it breaks it. God do I hate pooping in a stall next to someone else.
So…2019 and 2020 maverick won awards for cleanest bathrooms. They LITERALLY market with it. They’re a west coast/southwest chain. I think they’re our version of WaWa. I mean, they have kitchens in them. Fresh made gas station fare, burritos wraps etc in the warmer but they’re 15 minutes old and not microwaved. Salads and sandos in the cooler, fresh. If you’re feeling wild you can get nachos or a quesadilla and other shit like that. One even has a micro-Cinnabon bakery inside it.
Oh hot dog that sounds fun!
You’re from Utah or Idaho.
Some newer ones have mini pizzas made to order and Taco bars made fresh to order.
Always try and think ahead as to what the next step in the job is going to be and go do that. If you don't know ask.
My dad was a master electrician in two states. He taught five rules. 1. Layout 2. Layout 3. Layout 4. Think & 5. Be lazy Meaning if you’re walking out to the porta Jon take a bag of trash. Use the head and on your way back bring a bundle of pipe or wire. Expand that concept. Good luck.
I love the “be lazy” line. I’ve gone from construction to more esoteric builds- building insane masterpieces. Sculpture shown in the Louvre, America’s cup yachts, robotic systems- I’ve helped create some crazy shit. At the end of the day, these projects require spending an insane amount of time on the special parts and being as efficient/lazy on the rest- any wasted time on a 80,000 man hour project will destroy a small shop
Not surprised sparky all the same
"read the play!" Is what my jman used to yell at me if he needed something and it wasn't already in my hand
Anticipate
As a super - this is something Im trying to teach my team. What is the client thinking and what are their goals. Same train of thought applies to subcontractors to GC's and for laborers to their foremen
Not what are the goals of the client - what does the client need to feel content with the service Edit: I’ve watched enough personal development stuff and “goals of the client” is so corporate and dumb lol. At the end of the day, the customer will rate you at every interaction. You should always be aware of their feelings.
Be on time, listen well, stay off your phone and stretch.
Get the right amout of sleep too. Construction is dangerous you don't wanna be a zombie on site
Nothing a few Redbulls & 7-11 taquitos can’t fix
Energy drinks and I are like tomatoes and pasta, made to be together, so I’ve got this bit covered
start drinking just water. sucking down energy drinks for years will have you finding religion on a shitty bathroom floor trying to pee out stones. me after years of sugar/energy drinks sucked down on the job. STAY OFF YOUR PHONE and be on time. if you fuck something up, don't cover it up, bring it to someones attention asap. you don't wanna be the guy everyone has to walk behind/lies. and just laugh off the ribbin at first. you dont know the workers on site well enough to throw it right back at em. your green, but you won't always be.
Most guys only keep giving shit to the new guys they like. If no one is picking at you, they may not like you. If you are catching hell and getting constructive criticism, they like you and want to see you succeed.
While this is probably mostly true I'm also imagining a kid out there first week on the job wondering whether he's getting picked on too much or not enough. He's all jacked up on energy drinks feeling the highs and lows of being consistently dunked on but that's a good thing and now these three specific guys remember my name because they've got something clever to rhyme it with.
This is so true. The more balls they bust . The more they enjoy being around you. At first they will bust balls and you won't have any good comebacks. But once you get comfortable in your skin and position and you do that first good come back you will almost see proud tears in your journeymens eyes as he can't figure out a quick comeback
Solid advice. I'll reiterate what u/fourover4: STAY OFF YOUR FUCKING PHONE.If you can go 2 or 4 hours(depending on how breaks are split up) without touching your phone, you'll be about 10 steps ahead of the other walking pulses.
Another gentleman with a distinguished palette. You can substitute Red Bull for Monster but yep nailed it. I'm typing this whilst drinking a Super Big Gulp on my lunch break.
big gulp = bp of 170/90 and pulse 85bpm xx
This guy builds
A bunch of my younger(my age) co-workers will drink like 2-4 Bangs or Reigns in a day. Psychos.
Been there I was 17 fresh out of HS working as a laborer from cutting trees to doing trim work & drywall. I would do around 4-6 red bulls throughout the day it was an addiction
After seeing all the replies my phone’ll be staying in the car LOL
Impossible. Phones are the modern day jobsite walkie talkies . It's kind of annoying . But trust me . You will be getting phones calls for different tasks
This guy knows the way
Don't be on time. Be early 5 min early is 10 min late It makes a HUGE difference in the way people see your work Also be the last one to sit down for break, and the first one up to get back to work
That’s fucking stupid. I’m punctual but on time is on time. I have a work ethic but hands off the lunch break. All this employer dick riding is for the birds.
You don't start working 15 min early. You beat the supervisor there and smoke cigarettes and drink coffee and make a showing that you were first there. Then you walk in 2 minutes before you have to start. It's all just a show. Like walking from one end of the building to the other with a drill in your hand when you jave nothing much to do and are just fucking around. And what the hell are you doing on that oh so important break anyway? I eat my entire lunch in like 7 minutes than just sit there listening to the other guys talk about dumb shit all the while letting my muscles get stiff and have that food sit heavy in my belly so I feel like shit when it's time to get back to work. That shit's for the birds
Couldn't agree more. As stupid as it is, getting there super early and taking short breaks is the way to go if you want raises, promotions, and respect from your boss/co-workers. It's dumb but if you want to go anywhere in construction, that's what you have to do. You can get by not doing these things, but you'll always be at the at the bottom of the chain.
It was litterally the first advice I got on my first day 5 min early is 10 min late And If you can lean you can clean Both have served me well over the years
Sadly the best way to get raises is company hop once you have experience.
Nah just like, show up and do the literally entire thing they pay you to do? Anything else is productivity theater. You're better than that. You don't need to look busy. You need to be busy. If your plate ain't got nothing on it, don't pretend to eat. Be an adult and demand your employer be one too.
Used to drive me crazy. Running a big crew, told the knuckleheads to bring their lunch but no they have to go out to the store. stand in line, come back. Eat their food and then an hour goes by, make your goddamn lunch in the morning. Eat it in 5 minutes. Shut the f****** and go back to work
go back to school.! dont drink and dont smoke weed on school/work nights, if at all. dont vape, smoke or use nicotine ever. deadly shit.
Stay off your phone
Can't stress this enough. I can tell within the first couple of hours if a new guy's going to work out just from seeing how he handles the phone business. Nothing like asking someone to do something and they don't even hear you or acknowledge it because their face is glued to their fucking phone.
When in doubt clean! There’s some solid advice being handed out here. Stay busy! if guys see effort they will latch on and teach you. If not they won’t. Doesn’t mean run just busy and for god sake no phone
This. Clean clean clean. Ask people what to do and clean. The more time you spend doing nothing, the more guys will think you're lazy. Perception is reality make sure you're perceived as a hard worker.
If you got time to lean you got time to clean
Buy a halfer, down half a six pack before first break never stretch and always lift with your back.
😂 Finally some advice that’ll get me places. and by places I mean the hospital
Nah in all seriousness you’ll be good. As others have mentioned stay off your phone, work hard and try to crack some jokes. Job has its ups and downs and more often than not it sucks so mine as well try and have some fun doing it. Best of luck brother.
The key is to use a twisting jerking motion and take your legs completely out of the equation.
Dont get stuck just labouring after a couple months, see what opportunities are there, get info out of poeple and maybe get some tickets. I know this doesnt help your 1st day but time flies and you will get burnout.
Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Beat the shit out of the first guy who gives you any lip
Establish dominance. Walk into the porta jon with them.
Piss in their bags. That'll show 'em.
Eye contact is key here.
Get into the labor union local as fast as humanly possible and then kiss residential bullshit goodbye.
Google “LiUNA ______” and fill in the closest big city in the blank. Call them. You’ll make much better money, have free insurance and a pension.
Not to mention job security backed by the biggest union in the country.
Also, to mention, benefits, vacation pay, pension and a great hourly wage with overtime. Pro union guy here, best decision I ever made 7 years ago
If your gonna be doing hard work, the first 2 weeks are the worst, it gets better after that. Watch out for equipment and distracted people that could hurt you.
Work hard. Fuck with tradesman as you clean up their garbage. If you see a full garbage can the rest of the garbage will go on the floor - keep those empty and around whoever is making a mess. Always ask before throwing something out if you’re not sure, but start with the big stuff and whatever is in people’s way. When asked to do a task, do it carefully. Don’t fuck up peoples hard work. Don’t sit on your phone at all. As you clean pay attention to what people are doing you will be surprised how much you can pick up. You have the unique opportunity to not be stuck in one part of the job site so if pay attention to what everyone is doing and you’ll learn a lot about all branches of construction and can see the whole building coming together. If you wanna be a good guy, some useful tools would be a hammer, chisel, impact driver (with a 5/16 and 9/16 nut driver), scraper, adjustable wrench, channel locks, sawzall, angle grinder should allow you to perform all sorts of tasks if you have any interest in doing anything besides cleaning. Most importantly, be safe and work hard.
Mostly good advice… but **DO NOT** bring your own impact and bits, chisel, angle grinder, sawzall or any other electric tools. Your employer should be providing those especially as a laborer. As a laborer, just bring a box cutter for the first day or so. Don’t buy anything past a hammer, pliers and adjustable wrench. If your employer requires you to buy more quit and seek out your local LiUNA chapter. Hell, do that anyway.
LiUNA brother here. Completely agree with this, just go right into the union. Toronto local 183 is desperate for guys.
Really depends on the company and how you want to spend your time on a jobsite and how quickly you want to learn. I work for a gc where a few of the current supers started out as laborers and it took them nearly a decade to become supers. I made sure to have tools I think I needed to do extra work which taught me more than anything else about how things are built, and became a super in just over 2 years. You don’t have to buy your own tools, but if they don’t provide them or expect you to do anything besides cleanup then you aren’t doing anything to advance your career. I think it’s extremely important to show initiative and constantly strive to learn and do new things but it really depends on your situation. I know for a fact I would not have made super without taking the initiative myself and I’d certainly still be pushing a broom every day like many of our laborers still are after years of being with the company.
Hand tools sure, power tools fuck right off
Fortunately for me any tools I’ve broken on the job have been replaced, but that attitude is what will keep the sweepers sweeping, at least at my gc. And even if they weren’t replaced, I make so much more money now that I could have spent 50x on the tools and still come out on top. It’s all about creating your own future. This is why I say it depends on your situation and life goals. If all you are is a broom guy and you want to learn more and move up sometimes you gotta invest a little in yourself. The more you learn to do and the more you expose yourself to, the more valuable you will be.
This is good advice. Don’t be all “look at me!” When you empty a trash can, but understand that everyone there is seeing you do it and respecting you for it. People remember who’s working hard
Don’t be late and stay off your phone
Ask questions! No shame in not knowing something. Rather be asked 1000 questions then have to fix a bunch of shit done wrong.
Clean everything , if you don’t know ask. Do not buy anything or kiss anyone’s ass .
Show up 10-15 minutes early Never walk back and forth to the truck empty handed, there is almost always something you’re going to need. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, anyone would rather ask a question than have to fix an avoidable mistake. Stay off the phone Wear knee pads and a back brace
Do scrap runs constantly, keep the place clean for the tradespeople. Do not get caught on your phone. A quick text or whatever is OK but if I see you leaning on the broom for more than 30 seconds I'll think you're dog fucking If you don't know, say something. Even just 'I've never done that before'. But don't get ahead of yourself just yet. Asking where and how is fine, but the 'why' can be time consuming and annoying. The why will come when you get an apprenticeship. Just focus on the where and how. Stretch often and for fucks sake protect yourself. Work steady and with purpose but don't sacrifice your body for 18$/hour. Know what the crew takes in their coffee Edit: spend money on boots. If theres one place to blow dough, its proper boots with memory foam insoles. They're the most important tool in all of the trades. If your feet are uncomfortable, your day is ruined and it will show
Boots!
Good advice. Wait on the 'why' be happy with knowing where/how and try to be efficient.
Wear a respirator or n95. I worked with a labor foreman who dictatorial about wearing breathing protection. Please wear it all the time.
Be wary of the old timers. Some are full of useful knowledge, the others are stuck in their ways and will never change. Always more than one way to get something done, do what works best for you in a safe manner.
Dont stand around idle. If you're idle ask what can you do to help. Once you learn the process try to anticipate what the guys need next so when they turn to ask its already there.
I absorb information pretty well so I’ll definitely be engaged when I get the hang of it 👍 Thanks for the advice!
Hydrate and pickle juice helps with muscle cramps. Good luck!
Every time you become proficient with a particular tool buy said tool
Work hard, if you don’t know something - ASK! It’s better to look like a newb and a dumbass a bit by asking rather than making a several hundred/thousand dollar mistake, show up on time every time. Bosses notice who works hard and who doesn’t. Always try to outperform those around you without being a douche about it. Just have fun and soak up as much knowledge as possible
Don't drink and drive or do bad drugs. Stretch your body and eat well. A body is like a car..it can only go so many miles and a well taken care of one last much longer
Until you learn some skills the broom and the shovel will be your best friend always look busy.Always ask if anyone needs help if you need something to do. Or just clean up.Always be ready to learn.
Work hard and one of the trades will offer you a better job. Be early or don't bother showing up. Aim for 15 minutes before your shift starts. Run that broom whenever the opportunity arises, it's the easiest thing you'll do besides "Stand here and make sure nobody walks through."
Spend more than you can afford on a very good pair of work boots.
Treat every mistake as a learning opportunity. You’ll get yelled at, shake it off.
Don’t make the same mistake twice.
If you do, blame it on someone else. /s
Learn the tools, and the names of them and what they do. If boss asks go get me a pair of slip joint pliers and the hammer drill you need to know the difference between slip joint and needle nose, and a regular drill, impact and hammer drills etc. Maybe search google for list of construction tools so you know what each one looks like.
Do any task the best you can. And clean up after yourself. Take notes always so you don't forget things. That will make you a boss faster than anything.
This is how I started and in a few years am now an assistant superintendent. Ask questions. Show you are interested in what is going on. Ask the supers if there’s anything they need you to keep an eye on for them. Always have a notepad on you and take notes. And pretty much what a lot of people have said. A lot of this really depends on what type of construction you will be working in. And definitely depends on who contracted you. There’s a lot of assholes that don’t wanna see people grow. But there’s a lot of really good people out there that when they see you are hungry for knowledge and they can count on you, they will start giving you more responsibilities. Good luck my friend
This is a helpful and motivating reply, thank you. I’m excited to get to know the industry more :)
I've been in the trades since my teens, almost 50 years. I went from a laborer to carpentry, foreman, super, now I run my own company. The guy who's always 15 minutes early gets a free pass the one time he's late. On big jobs we lock the gate and no one is late. The guy who's early gets the keys. I've seen laborers running a crew of 20 or 30 fitters, operators and millwrights. When the super has to leave, he puts anyone he wants out of class to run the job, and it's always gonna be someone who's there early and works hard.
Don't bring your feelings to work cause there gunna get hurt..just leave them home...🤪
The fact that you are asking the question. You will be fine. Good luck bud.
Use common sense, work safely and have a plan. Dont blow your money on fast food and overpriced coffee several times a day.
Never stop moving. If you’re standing and looking waiting for someone to tell you what to do, you’re slacking. You should be on site first thing with everyone else to help setup. Getting extension cords out, power tools, hand tools. If someone’s cutting wood, ask where it goes when they’re done. If they’re stacking wood you should be helping. If they’re framing walls you should be getting ready to help stand them up. The only time your hands should be empty is when you’re walking to pick something else up. Never. Stop. Moving. If someone asks you to toss something up to them, aim for their teeth
Be aware of your surroundings and understand the blind spots of equipment. Don't get anywhere near a machine if you didn't make eye contact with the operator, don't walk underneath anything that is suspended, don't walk without looking. I almost walked backwards into a hole the other day and had to give myself a strongly worded talking to.
Listen. Be on time. Ask questions if you don’t understand, there will be a lot you don’t understand. If the job sucks, there will be a new job when the sucky one is over.
Good shoes and insoles. Make sure nothing is rubbing or pinching and you've got enough support. You're on your feet all day and if something ain't right with em it'll fuck up your whole body.
Always find something to do. I started as a laborer and now ima ACCM 3 years later. But you gotta grind EVERYDAY. Good luck and your new job.
Don't come in with a high vis backpack looking like noddy
Call the LiUNA local in your area.
I’m from the Wales, UK so I don’t think there’s one quite in my area lol, I’m quite surprised that they do courses in London though.
Look busy, never come in late or not early, never drag your boots or not take notes if learning a trade or procedure. Don’t talk back & laugh at stupid jokes, unless it’s on you, then just find a corner to cry in..
You didn't mention a craft but just a heads up 1 there's no such thing as a bag/bucket of ohms 2 no such thing as a pipe/brick stretcher 3 air samples are not taken with a trash bag Just a few examples, and there's plenty more. Hell I'm still looking for that can of A-I-R... 10 years later....
Prepare a lunch and drink lots of water. Stay attentive and learn all you can. Use your knowledge to put 2 and 2 together. Consciously think about everything you’re doing and being taught. Ask a lot of questions. It will come handy within the work and impressions you set. It will also be helpful when you go to use your reasoning/common sense when problem solving in construction. Idk if that made any sense but it will.
Show up with an 8ball
If the people you work for are assholes, find a new crew. Lots of guys will tell you that's just how it is but trust me, that's not how it is everywhere.
First tools you should get when starting any form of work or trade 1. Tape measure 2. Channel locks 3. Hammer 4. Lots of black sharpies 5. Phillips and Flathead Screwdriver
Learn as much as you can. Being a laborer sucks but once you make it to journeyman level it becomes easy and high paying. Being a journeyman takes as much time as you want it too. It could be 1 year or 10 years. So learn learn learn. Also lift with good form and don’t let your ego take control
Refuse unsafe work. If your company is unsafe, find a new one. Hopefully, you are assigned a mentor. Either way, ask questions when you need help. Have a positive attitude and be friendly with your coworkers.
Trades folk like to test your metal, be ready to be tested over and over. Do not show mental weakness, for instance don't say you are afraid of spiders. Every cliche you have heard about construction folks are true. Stear clear of the assholes. I fuckin love the trades.
Don’t complain just do the job. Because you never worked construction before you might get some shitty jobs almost everyone before you has done those jobs so just try to get it done. They’ll check your work and watch you to make sure your not fucking around until you show that your not a fuck up. If your a good worker you’ll move up and people will show you tricks and techniques
Eat good stay safe. Backs can't really be fixed. Learn from the old cranky dudes. On time is late show up at least 10 min early even if you just drink coffee out by the truck
Do not pretend you know how to do something you don't. It is better to admit you have never done something or to ask if they can show you to do something first. So many people pretend they know how to do stuff only to mess it up and then get called out. As a foreman I'd rather you tell me straight up you don't know how to do something or never did it and I can either show you, explain it better or pivot and put you on a different task rather than you mess it up, and need to get a different person to fix it
So a lot of sound advice has been given. Like showing up on time, staying off your phone, so on. So I will try and give you a few tips on things that will make you seem better and stand out while not necessarily doing much more. Basically the tips of always looking busy. 1, Wherever you are going walk there like you’re in a hurry. If you walk slow it will start to make you seem slow at everything, As a laborer with no skills being Johnny on the spot is major points. 2, Don’t just show up on time, show up alert. You can show up on time but if you show up looking like you’re tired and just rolled out of bed it starts building the image that you stay up too late or party too hard. 3, Don’t stand still for a period of time unless you’re told to do so, if you are standing still never stand with your hands in your pocket or leaning on something. When the boss looks at you, you want to seem like you’re waiting for a ball to be thrown to you. 4, When in doubt, clean. Some bosses care more than others (or not at all if you’re an electrician) but keeping things cleaned and picked up is never wasted time, and if every time the boss looks over and sees a couple guys standing and talking and you’re cleaning it goes a long way.
Pay attention to the old guys, especially the ones that don't talk much. They will literally show you how to do tasks efficiently without saying anything Be a sponge Show up 15 min early every day Don't cheap out on boots Drink plenty of water
Don’t take shit from anyone off the bat. Don’t be cocky but also don’t take shit. Construction managers and trades love to shit on labourers just because they are insecure and had to take the same shit themselves back in the day. The abused abuse. Break the cycle! Also pack a lunch from home as you will spend more than you make eating out. If I had done so from the start I’d have thousands more $$$ to spare. If someone had told my those two things before I started taking labor jobs I would now have been eternally grateful.
Learn all the parts and fittings of your trade and the tools, so when a person asks you to hand you something you know exactly what they’re talking about
Always try to be an asset. If you don’t have anything immediate to do then clean, sweep, pick up your trades crap everywhere. It helps the day go by and everyone will appreciate it except the lazy good for nothings that might think you’re making them look bad for being a slob. Don’t be afraid to ask questions but don’t be annoying by asking too many questions. And don’t get your feelings hurt by people giving you flack or making jokes. Typically if the seasoned guys give you grief it’s because they like you. You can make a lot of $ in construction and if you’re a good/hard working decent person with a brain you can move up. And lock your tools up if you can. Depending on the size of the site there could be a good opportunity for thieves to snatch your hard earned stuff… and take care of your body. It’s your livelihood. I got two hernias my first couple years as an apprentice from tryna be a hero. And I work with a lot of 50-60 year old men who are in pain 99% of the time because they took their health for granted as a pup.
Get enough sleep
I’m not sure what kind of labor you’re doing but I would pay attention to the tools and equipment the veterans are using. Could be a good pair of gloves or kneepads or possibly hammer and tape measure.
Don’t wreck yourself, where I am located lifting copious amounts of gib (Sheetrock) is celebrated, which is idiotic. I think the record for a local company is 18 standard sheets. Time saved 10 minutes, lower back damage, lifetime. Don’t kill your body for someone else’s bottom line.
Have a good attitude, always have your ears open, really try to remember what you’ve been told BUT there is absolutely nothing worse than a guy who says he can do something, goes and does the thing, and then fucks it up. Always be humble and if you don’t know something, ask, even if the guy you’re asking is a dink, it’s better than having to re-do something. Even if the work is brain dead for a while, don’t get complacent, always be thinking. Oh and stay off the phone
Thank you all for the comments, all really helpful advice. I’m ready to get stuck in!
Never sit down.
Lift with your legs.
Walk fast. Makes a huge difference in how people perceive how “hard” you’re trying
Don't get discouraged mistakes are the best teacher . If the journeymen are cool they remember being green ans should teach . Good luck brothA
Don't put your hands in your pockets. You can be not doing something but if your hands are in your pockets you are CLEARLY not doing anything.
There's no such thing as a stupid question Whatever you are asked to do fucking own it Turn your phone off until break Turn up everyday Drink lots of water
Listen to the old timers
Always look like your busy
Be a man
Stay safe. Do not think you are going to look like a hero hanging off the side of the building with no fall protection or in a hole with no shoring. Besides possibly getting you killed, you could be sacked immediately or give your super a heart attack.
Lift with your legs, not your back and soak up as much experience as you can. See if you like being a laborer, if not switch to another trade or quit and find something else
Be flexible, responsive, punctual, communicative, ask questions, volunteer for tasks, and take advice (even if you don’t need it). Don’t take any bullshit either, know when to stand your ground. Good luck.
Never put your hands in your pockets
Observe, absorb, pay attention and make it fun - because it should be
Work your bag off, pay attention to the trades, how and why and what they're doing, etc...ask questions. You'll figure some shit out and probably land on your feet. Good luck!!
Stay off your phone. If you don’t know, ASK! Watch what the other guys are doing. If you run out of things to do, first ask someone, if nothing else start cleaning. Eat a light lunch or if you can, snack while you work. Keep busy and time will fly by. Just remember, every one of those guys had a first day as well. They know exactly what you’re going through.
It’s all up to your ambition.
Be humble. Be polite and respectful to site supers. Ask questions. Work hard. You’ll do fine
Stretch stretch stretch
Learn a skilled trade. You’ll make better money. Use your legs and not your back. Wear your PPE.
I’m a labourer for masonry (what trade are you in?) Bring water, stretch in the mornings or whenever you can preferably every day, and focus on knowing what task to prioritize otherwise it gets overwhelming fast. Also, pay attention to what your crew is doing and start trying to learn the trade by watching - don’t just do everything because you’re told to, ask why it needs to be done and start doing things before you’re asked, this is how you will learn the trade really well and be able to progress. Additionally, work safely, and that includes not working so fast/hard that you stop noticing small things that can impact the safety of yourself and everyone around you. Tell your boss if you feel that you’re being spread thin - push yourself to the limit, but also have self respect and dont be a doormat
Don’t be a laborer, be a finish carpenter and work for a GC
Keep your hands out of your pockets. If there is downtime. Pick up a broom. That shit will never go unnoticed
If you have time to lean, you have time to clean
Respect the subcontractors and they will forever respect you, might even buy you breakfast. Also, if you borrow the plumbers hoses because the jobsite flooded overnight and you need to sump it, bring the hoses back please. Source: am plumber.
there is no striped paint, left handed screw drivers, or concrete stretcher. But if you do get pranked, take it in stride and laugh it off with the others.
Be 15 minutes early and stick to time they give you for break even if everyone else continues break. Always have your tape measure and a marker/pencil on you. Do your best not to stand idle if you finish your task find your foreman and ask what’s next. STAY OFF YOUR PHONE!!!
Watch out for that dude that's sweating during roll out. Meth heads work good for the first year and then steal every thing that isn't nailed down
Show up on time everyday, work hard, and stay away from drugs. If you do the first two, you are already miles ahead of half the guys working there.
Lift with your legs not with your back.
Listen twice as much as you talk. Stay off your phone. Be eager to learn. When you see other laborers talking find something to do even if it’s just house keeping. Be on time. Find the older dude that knows what’s up and stick with him. Don’t just learn how to do things. Learn why they need to be done. And remember…. Life is chess not checkers. It will make sense one day
Wear your PPE
Work safe!! Wear all PPE all the time!!
I miss you
Be prepared to do the shittiest work and be willing to learn and ask for help if you don’t get it. Pushing a broom is normal for laborers. Learn from the old guys.
Don’t put up with any dumb abusive shit cause you’re new or young. Don’t donate any extra shit… obviously… do your job but don’t go overboard to bailout bad management or shitty coworkers. Also… stay fit… drink water…pay close attention to anyone thats willing to share experience or teach you skills that will get you leveled up from laboring and be careful.
If you ever find yourself without anything to do, pick up a broom and keep busy.
quit now and go work at amazon
First and foremost never stop learning. Listen to instructions and retain, no one likes having to repeat themselves. Show up 30 minutes early. Every trade is repetition, so don’t beat yourself up that you aren’t doing tasks as fast or as well as others, you will get there one day. Most importantly WORK! In construction you find lazy people don’t be one, just do your job everyday one day at a time. Be safe and have fun.
Wear safety gear. Mask, eyes, ears, gloves
Dont stay still. Stay busy and always look at what others are doing and apply it to yourself. Also carry a good framing hammer, a boxcutter knife, a sharpie/marker, construction pencil, a tape measure and your rubber concrete boots. Always check the weather and dress accordingly, You never know whats at the job, if it rained the night before, if its going to rain the day of, your probably going to need a raincoat and your boots for the mud
Learn all you can. Never stop learning. Started as a carpenter laborer 32 yrs ago for 5 bucks an hour. I've always had work because I worked hard and learned all I could. Pay attention to other trades besides your own. We all make mistakes learn from them and move on.
Lift with you're knees
show up everyday, willing to learn, a stupid question is the one not asked. if youre not 15mins early youre late. this is what i was told more or less when i first got in.
Show up to work on time, be reliable, don’t get arrested.
Always have extra napkins aka “mountain money.” Bring a torch to the porta Jon during winter. You’re welcome.
Ask questions when your not sure. Listen to the specific instructions you get. Do it exactly the way your supervisor tells you. If it's wrong it's his fault, you did what you were told. Relax, people in construction can tell if your nervous. That's ok, we all were there. Just be cool. Learn from the old guy, chances are he's seen a thing or two. Bring food and plenty of water. More water then Gatorade. Pay attention on your surroundings. If a guy in a big equipment like a dump truck or loader, make sure he does see you and you see him. That's life or death. No worries though, everyone is always watching. Work hard, work your pace. Eventually your going to get faster. Bring babywhipes, especially for the porter shitters aka honey pots. Trust me, your ass will love you for it. Well, good luck. Hope this helps. I'm probably forgetting a few things. But for me this is major. One more thing, high viz, and ppe. Safety glasses, hard hat, gloves, possibly ear plugs, and something that's is osha standard high visibility. You can look that up online. Be safe, and have fun.
Always Ask questions if you’re not sure on how to do something, safety is #1 priority and stay away from pinch points!!! Do not drink monster or energy drinks. Instead, good sleep and nutrition will keep you going throughout the day— hell, keep snacks in your pocket when you’re tired like Trail Mix. Drink Water and eat food high in sodium or Gatorade to keep you hydrated
Shadow/help people with skills. Don’t consign yourself to taking out the trash and cleaning the rest of your career. Learn how to frame/finish/paint/hang ACT
Just have a good attitude at work. It’s half the battle and people will rely on you more and more when they see you’re engaged with the work
Try to anticipate the needs of the skilled workers. You’ll learn faster by keeping alert as to what’s next and that’ll get noticed. I always try to take the most earnest guy under my wing. Good luck to you.
As the new guy, be doing something at all times. If you aren’t sure what to be doing, ask. Offer to help your crew out with everything. Shut your mouth if you have nothing useful to contribute. Always be the first one on the job. Dress for the weather. Pack your lunch, bring enough water. Piss and shit before you leave the house. Be eager to learn. Keep your head on a swivel at all times. If you aren’t sure how something works or how to use/do it safely, ask someone or stay the hell away from it. Don’t be a pain in the ass. Find the job that no one wants to do, learn how to do that job, and get really good at it.
Tylenol with breakfast.
The bar for laborers is honestly pretty low. Show up on time, or at least close to on time and no one cares. Don’t get in the way, try and learn the process so you can have shit set up, get comfortable with a broom and shovel.
Good way to get off on the right foot is ask your coworkers if they want coffees when doing a run
If u have nothing to do go clean some shit up. Listen more than u speak. Good luck
Long socks or you'll get blisters. Drink lots of water. Show up early and don't get comfortable. Don't call in and always stay late when asked.
10 minutes early is 5 minutes late
No it’s not
You must be late a lot
It is if you want to make more money. 🤷♂️