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.

Is someone you know (a neighbor, family member, friend, etc.) working on a home improvement DIY project? Volunteer to help in order to get practice using hand tools, taking measurements, problem solving, and more!

Volunteer to help with a home improvement project.

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

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

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 tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

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

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Helpers--Carpenters

Help carpenters by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

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 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

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 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 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

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

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

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

Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Helpers, Construction Trades

Construction and Extraction Occupations

Clean work areas, machines, or equipment, to maintain a clean and safe job site.

Fasten timbers or lumber with glue, screws, pegs, or nails and install hardware.

Perform tie spacing layout and measure, mark, drill or cut.

Select tools, equipment, or materials from storage and transport items to work site.

Cut timbers, lumber, or paneling to specified dimensions.

Position and hold timbers, lumber, or paneling in place for fastening or cutting.

Align, straighten, plumb, or square forms for installation.

Hold plumb bobs, sighting rods, or other equipment to aid in establishing reference points and lines.

Intuit QuickBooks

Job costing software

Quicken

Microsoft PowerPoint

Bosch Punch List

Cost estimating software

Craftsman CD Estimator

Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal

Linux

Microsoft Windows

UNIX

Microsoft Access

Oracle Database

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

SAP software

Salesforce software

Microsoft Office software

Combination squares

Framing squares

Layout squares

Phillips head screwdrivers

Straight screwdrivers

Carpenters' levels

Precision levels

Circular saws

Table saws

Measuring tapes

Dial calipers

Concrete floats

Miter saws

Drywall knives

Block planes

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.

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.

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

Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.

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

Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

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

Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

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

Once a month or more but not every week

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Once a week or more but not every day

Continually or almost continually

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

More than half the time

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

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Constant contact with others

Contact with others most of the time

Contact with others about half the time

How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

Extremely important

Very important

How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?

Very high responsibility

Moderate responsibility

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

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions

Helpers--Carpenters

Overview

Career

What Helpers--Carpenters Do

Other Job Titles Helpers--Carpenters May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Helpers--Carpenters

Overview

Career

What Helpers--Carpenters Do

Other Job Titles Helpers--Carpenters May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Helpers--Carpenters

Related Leaders