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If you are an active person who loves the outdoors and has no desire to work at a desk for 40 hours a week, a career in carpentry may be the perfect fit for you. Carpentry is a hands-on career that exercises both your body and your mind, introducing a new journey every day.
Carpenters get to work in the heart of the construction site, focusing on constructing, repairing, and installing building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials. As a carpenter, it is likely that no two days will ever be the same. You could be installing doors, floors, and furniture in new builds, renovating or refitting existing structures, and so much more.
Carpentry is known as one of the most well-established trades within the construction industry and continues to be in high demand for employment. Across Northeast Florida, there are new homes, and commercial and industrial developments being built at record rates. Now more than ever, the construction industry needs skilled workers to meet the high demands of Florida’s growth.
Even though we live in a world where technology is constantly evolving to create machines and equipment to construct buildings, there is still nothing that compares to the authentic craftsmanship that is achieved through enduring hands-on work by humans. At the end of the day, carpenters get to enjoy the great satisfaction of seeing a job through from start to finish, knowing that their work will be of great use to the community.
“Carpentry” is a really an umbrella term that covers a number of specializations. In fact, there are a variety of different tasks that carpenters can perform on a daily basis. Whether you are working on site, in clients homes, or in a workshop, typical carpenter duties and responsibilities include:
All successful carpenters acquire a number of skills in order to fully thrive in their positions. Those who wish to pursue a career in carpentry need manual dexterity, good hand-eye coordination, physical fitness, and a strong sense of balance. Carpenters must also have ample mechanical skills to be able to work confidently with a variety of tools and machines that are used on a daily basis. A number of math skills such as geometry, algebra, measuring, and budgeting are also important in order to accurately plan projects and correctly measure materials for cutting. Other useful skills that are critical for carpenters include critical thinking, troubleshooting, effective communication, and detail orientation.
As you can see, being a carpenter requires a great deal of both physical and mental skills. The good news is carpenters are able to learn their craft while also making money simultaneously through on-the-job-training.
The NEFBA Apprenticeship Program offers aspiring construction workers the opportunity to work in a hands-on environment beside the best skilled professionals in the area. Our apprentices receive classroom instruction from subject matter experts with zero tuition fees. The only out of pocket expenses for the apprenticeship are for books, required polo shirt for classes and testing fees all ranging from only $150-$175 each year.
Apprentices will be able to have the best of both worlds by gaining valuable knowledge learned in the textbook and putting it to life in on-site, real-world situations. Throughout the entire 4-year program, students will have the opportunity to make money through on-the-job training, receive career counseling and be assisted with free job placement.
For over 48 years, the Northeast Florida Builders Association has been accredited to offer professional training in carpentry and other trades. If you’re interested in learning more about an apprenticeship opportunity, please email apprenticeship@NEFBA.com or call us at (904) 421-0296.