Talk to your school counselor about programs and classes like woodworking that are offered at your school so you can start learning skills that will get you started in this field.

Find a class to jump-start your construction skills.

Search online for how-to videos to see how hard this work is to master--and whether it's something you think you'd like. Does seeing this kind of work in action make you more interested in trying it?

Watch tutorials on how to do this kind of work.

The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.

The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.

The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.

The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Brickmasons and Blockmasons

Lay and bind building materials, such as brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block, with mortar and other substances, to construct or repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and other structures.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Masonry Apprentice 

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Brickmasons, Blockmasons, and Stonemasons

Construction and Extraction Occupations

Construction Trades Workers

Measure distance from reference points and mark guidelines to lay out work, using plumb bobs and levels.

Construct corners by fastening in plumb position a corner pole or building a corner pyramid of bricks, and filling in between the corners using a line from corner to corner to guide each course, or layer, of brick.

Apply and smooth mortar or other mixture over work surface.

Calculate angles and courses and determine vertical and horizontal alignment of courses.

Break or cut bricks, tiles, or blocks to size, using trowel edge, hammer, or power saw.

Interpret blueprints and drawings to determine specifications and to calculate the materials required.

Remove excess mortar with trowels and hand tools, and finish mortar joints with jointing tools, for a sealed, uniform appearance.

Fasten or fuse brick or other building material to structure with wire clamps, anchor holes, torch, or cement.

Clean working surface to remove scale, dust, soot, or chips of brick and mortar, using broom, wire brush, or scraper.

Examine brickwork or structure to determine need for repair.

Microsoft Excel

CPR Visual Estimator

Daystar iStructural.com

Estimating software

Tradesman's Software Master Estimator

Intuit QuickBooks

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft Windows

RISA Technologies RISA-3D

Construction Management Software ProEst

Adhesive trowels

Pointing trowels

Power trowels

Sled runner jointers

Bush hammers

Carpenters' hammers

Striking tools

Tile hammers

Brick bolsters

Brick sets

Pitching chisels

Tile chisels

Bosun chairs

Swing stages

Work cages

Laser levels

Masonry levels

Water levels

Cement mixers

Mixing drills

Mortar mixers

Block and tackle equipment

Chain blocks

Rope and pulley systems

Circular saws

Jig saws

Masonry saws

Cutting torches

Propane torches

Hydraulic jacks

Screw jacks

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

Every day

How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions

Continually or almost continually

More than half the time

How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?

How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable

Once a week or more but not every day

How much does this job require making repetitive motions?

How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?

Once a month or more but not every week

How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?

Moderately close (at arm's length)

Slightly close (e.g., shared office)

How often does this job require exposure to high places?

Brickmasons and Blockmasons

Overview

Career

What Brickmasons and Blockmasons Do

Other Job Titles Brickmasons and Blockmasons May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Brickmasons and Blockmasons

Overview

Career

What Brickmasons and Blockmasons Do

Other Job Titles Brickmasons and Blockmasons May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Brickmasons and Blockmasons

Majors Related to Career

Related Leaders