Jobs in the construction industry are so tough that you’ll want to quit.
"I want to quit field work." I've thought that many times myself. It's only natural. Field work is tough. Not only does it require physical stamina, but the amount of paperwork is also enormous.
I’m not sure if I, as someone in the industry, should say this, but working in the construction industry is so tough that it makes you want to quit. I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who, like me, want to leave the construction industry or stop working on construction sites.
In this post, I’d like to talk to those of you who are in that situation about what options are available when you feel like quitting your on-site job.
Break Through the Status Quo by Elevating Your Position
Where do you stand right now? Are you a traffic director? A construction worker? A foreman? A construction manager? A client? A materials supplier? The construction industry encompasses a wide range of job roles. Depending on your position, the challenges you face will vary.
For laborers, it might be physical exhaustion. For foremen, it might be the mental anguish of not being able to secure work. For construction managers, it might be the distress caused by the pressure of the job.
Perhaps by improving my current standing, I might be able to change my circumstances.
For example, someone who feels that their wages as a worker are too low might be able to earn a higher annual income than they do now by going into business for themselves, while maintaining the same workload. A self-employed contractor might be able to build credibility by incorporating their business, which could enable them to win contracts for larger projects.
In other words, by improving your position (changing your current situation), you may be able to break out of the status quo.
My Journey from Construction Worker to Construction Management Engineer
In my case, I was exactly the kind of person who was physically exhausted and wanted to quit the construction industry. While working as a civil engineering laborer, the work was so grueling that I was constantly anxious about my future. “Will I be able to keep doing this job for the rest of my life…?”
After agonizing over it, the decision I finally reached was to transition from being a construction worker to a construction manager, obtain the necessary certifications, and change jobs—and to start my career as a certified construction manager.
Thanks to all my hard work, I passed the First-Class Civil Engineering Construction Management Technician exam and was lucky enough to land a job at a local general contractor. To be honest, once I became a construction management technician, I faced a whole new set of challenges (laughs), but compared to what I went through before, they’re nothing I can’t handle.
The important thing here is whether the pain you're currently experiencing is something you can endure.
There is virtually no job in the construction industry that doesn’t involve some hardship. Even so, you should have your own standard for determining whether that hardship is within your tolerance level.
In my case, I found that I could handle the mental strain of working under immense pressure as a construction manager better than the physical strain I experienced when I was a construction worker.
The work I'm doing now is just a small part of what the construction industry entails.
To those who find their work unbearably difficult: The tasks you’re currently handling are just a small part of what the construction industry has to offer. If it’s truly that hard, I want you to know that there are countless other options available to you.
If you enjoy physical work but feel that your current job isn’t a good fit for you physically, there are other industries to consider, such as architecture, civil engineering, and electrical work, as well as a wide variety of other job roles, including formwork carpenters, rebar workers, heavy equipment operators, and tow truck drivers.
You might find a sense of fulfillment or discover your strengths by switching to a different line of work. Please don’t think that the job you’re doing right now is the only thing the construction industry has to offer.
The construction industry is a field where it takes time to realize how “interesting” it is. This is because it takes a certain amount of time before you’re able to take the initiative and do the work on your own.
It’s also true that once you get past that hurdle, work becomes enjoyable—as if the struggles you once faced were a distant memory. If, before reaching that point, you feel you truly can’t handle it, one option is to consider other career paths and try out a variety of experiences.
