Getting into a new career isn’t always easy. You need to have gone through certain training and most employers will want to see some sort of formal qualification. But what if you’re in a hurry to change your career? You might be looking to start afresh with no previous experience. The good news is that, while you might have to go unpaid for a while, this is possible. So, how do you become a labourer with no experience?
One of the best ways to get into labouring without any previous experience is to apply for work experience. This is often unpaid but will get you to where you want to be and give you some real life exposure to the job you’ll be doing.
Of course, the best way to become a labourer is to take an appropriate college course or complete an apprenticeship. In this guide, we’ll be looking at how to become a labourer from scratch even if you have no experience at all.
What’s The Best Way To Become A Labourer With No Experience?
If you have decided that you want to get into labouring work then the most common route is by applying for formal training. This can be achieved in several ways such as a college course or an apprenticeship.
If you take a college course, you will need to do either a Level 1 in Construction Skills or a Level 2 in Construction operations. You will need to make sure that you have the relevant qualifications to get onto your chosen course including at least 2 GCSEs grades 3 to 1 or 2+ GCSEs at grades 9 to 3.
Alternatively, many people opt to do an apprenticeship. You’ll need to apply for this with an employer that is taking on apprentices and, if successful, you will spend the majority of your working week on site, shadowing a qualified labourer. The other part of your week will be spent learning.
You might complete an apprenticeship in something like piling, groundwork or road surfacing. In any case, one of the main benefits of working as an apprentice is that you will be paid, which is great if you don’t have the capacity to give up work while studying.
Finally, it is possible to find a company that is taking on new labourers and is willing to train you up. However, some of these companies will expect a certain level of experience, particularly on the construction site so you may have to gain this before you apply.
What About Work Experience?
Work experience allows you to get involved in your chosen career and gain important knowledge and skills for the future. You may notice that some jobs are advertised and ask for a certain level of work experience. If you have no previous experience, this makes applying for a job very difficult.
However, many companies are happy to take on an extra set of hands to help out and in return, you gain that all important knowledge. However, it is important to realise that most work experience positions are unpaid. That said, it is possible to apply for an entry level job and work your way up through the ranks.
Starting From The Bottom And Working Your Way Up
If you don’t fancy spending a lot of time on the job without the reward of a wage at the end of the week, then you could apply for an entry level job. This is an excellent way to get into labouring without having to go through college or an apprenticeship.
Groundworker
One of the most common entry level jobs within the construction industry is a groundworker. You normally don’t need any former training or experience and there’s a high call for these types of workers.
This job involves preparing a site for construction so groundworkers are usually some of the first people on site. You will need to have a very good level of physical fitness and a keen eye for detail as well as being a good problem solver. Starting here means that you can work your way up and gain skills from various different types of construction.
Maintenance Operative
You might also consider becoming a maintenance operative. This is a great entry level job for people who enjoy DIY. It usually involves things like repairing tools, fitting skirting boards and other general jobs. Again, you need no previous experience to get started.
Scaffolder
Some people use scaffolding as a route to labouring and other jobs on the construction site. While there are college courses for scaffolding, this is far from being a requirement. Many people directly apply for jobs and learn the necessary skills on site. You may then go on to earn other qualifications and work your way up.
Conclusion
For people that are interested in becoming a labourer, there really is no set route that you have to follow. There are college courses and apprenticeships but this isn’t completely necessary. For some, college is not an option but applying for an entry level job and working your way up might be more than feasible.
You may also consider taking part in some work experience. This will demonstrate to potential employers that you have gained relevant skills and knowledge to apply for a labourer’s job and they then may be willing to train you on the job.
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