The job market undergoes constant evolutions. The reason for this is because of the needs of industries, organisations and employers changing with the times. Whether there is a burst in investment of technology, or the demand for services in a particular industry rises to greater heights, it can be difficult to know what to expect.
In the case of those entering the labour workforce, they would need to understand the core attributes employers are looking for. But this is surface level. More research would be required to scope out the most practical and sensible jobs on the market.
Construction is an industry that takes up a decent percentage of the labour workforce. This makes sense considering it is one of the largest industries in Australia. You may find it hard to navigate what it is you actually want in a building and construction career because of how much there is on offer. The path to finding this becomes even more narrow when qualifications are added to the equation.
One of the most common courses undertaken is the Certificate IV in Building and Construction. The scope of roles you could look for is quite significant upon completion of the course. So, how can we narrow down the list of roles of interest? Here are the 5 most useful jobs in construction for a Certificate IV graduate.
Before we begin discussing the 5 roles, it is important to define what the Certificate IV in Building and Construction is. Certificate IV is a level of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) which is used to separate qualifications in education and training, classified as levels. Out of 10 levels, Certificate IV is the fourth, and represents a general rise in education standards from the previous three levels. There are courses of different areas in this level, and building and construction is one of them that features prominently.
The course itself comprises 19 units, with 11 of them being core and the other 3 being elective. The topics covered include but are not limited to:
- Applying building codes and standards to construction processes
- Managing occupational health and safety (OH&S)
- Conducting on-site supervision of projects
- Reading and interpreting plans and specifications
- Arranging for building applications and approvals
What CPC40110 aims to do, through these areas and many more, is enable you with skills in planning projects, applying codes and regulations, and managing resources effectively. It also seeks to enhance your knowledge in building and construction to an advanced level, which drastically increases chances of landing job opportunities. Roles commonly sought after and filled upon completion of this course include contract administrators, estimators, site supervisors etc.
In terms of requirements, students must possess a satisfactory level of English literacy, as well as a current construction induction card (commonly referred to as a White Card).
Students will also be able to attend classes which introduce and teach topics and at later points provide assessments, and perform a minimum of two hours of their own research.
Now that we know what a Certificate IV in Building and Construction is and what it entails, we can list the 5 most useful jobs in construction for a Certificate IV in Building and Construction graduate.
1.Professional Builder
To start things off, we begin with the job of a Professional Builder. As the name might imply, it is generalised to some degree. Professional Builders design, organise, lead, control and coordinate the building and construction process of projects (which can vary in size, resources and scale), as well as the resources needed to complete it which includes labour, capital, materials etc. They also must be able to ensure compliance of occupational health and safety (OHS) from all individuals involved in a project. As you might infer, Professional Builders have quite a bit of responsibility on their shoulders. Not only do they need to ensure workers are accounted for, but they must keep a birds eye view on all facets of the construction process from beginning to end. Some other tasks of Professional Builders include:
- Interpreting architectural drawings and specifications
- Coordinating labour resources, procurement and delivery of materials, plant and equipment
- Ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget
- Operating and implementing coordinated work programs for sites
- Ensuring adherence to building legislation and standards of performance, quality, cost and safety.
2.Carpentry and Joinery
Another job we can list that also has added popularity is the role of a Carpenter/Joiner. Technically speaking, carpentry and joinery are two different roles, however they are basically two peas in the same pod. Joinery involves constructing wood and similar materials in a workshop, whereas Carpentry involves building the materials together to form a structure. Combining the two roles together means the tasks involved consist of constructing and installing structures and fixtures of wood, plywood, and wallboard, and cuts, shapes and fits timber parts to form structures and fittings.
Some further tasks include:
- Studying drawings and specifications
- Determining materials required, dimensions and installation procedures
- Ordering and selecting timbers and materials, and preparing layouts
- Cutting materials, and assembling and nailing cut and shaped parts
- Erecting framework and roof framing, laying sub-flooring and floorboards and verifying trueness of structures
3.Plumber (General)
The job of a plumber is more specialised when compared to a professional builder. A plumber’s responsibility is to install and repair water, drainage, gas and sewerage pipes and systems. Some more expanded roles include:
- Studying blueprints, drawings and specifications to determine the layout of plumbing systems and materials required.
- Installing hot and cold water systems and associated equipment.
- Installing water-based fire protection systems, including fire hydrants, hose reels and sprinkler systems.
- Designing and installing sanitary plumbing and water supply systems, discharge pipes and sanitary fixtures.
- Fabricating and installing soil and waste stacks.
Plumbing has an added benefit of further specialisation. This is geared towards people with specific interests that cater to their personalities, which in turn would enhance enjoyment of the role as well as performance. For example, you could become a Water Plumber, or a Fire Services Plumber.
4.Construction Estimator
Construction Estimators are tasked with compiling a list of physical resources required to determine the costs of construction projects. This will normally occur continuously until the tender settlement stage. Whilst demand is moderate, the job offers generous pay rates. Construction Estimators will normally engage is tasks such as:
- Calculating costs and estimating time periods
- Inspecting work and materials for compliance with specifications, regulations and standards
- Producing initial sketches, working drawings and specifications
- Producing, editing and revising plans, maps, charts and drawings
5.Civil Engineering Technician
An area that is key to construction but not spoken about enough is civil engineering. Civil engineering deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of physical and natural works, such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports etc. The role of a civil engineering technician is to conduct tests of construction materials, prepare sketches and tabulations, and assist in estimating costs in support of Civil Engineering Professionals and Engineering Technologists. Further tasks include:
- preparing sketches, charts, tabulations, plans and designs for civil engineering works such as drainage, water supply, sewerage reticulation systems, roads, airports, dams, bridges and other structures.
- performing and directing fieldwork and laboratory testing.
- interpreting work assignment instructions, applying appropriate procedures and selecting equipment.
- collecting and analysing data, and carrying out computations.
Estimating material costs and ensuring finished works are within specifications, regulations and contract provisions.
With a Certificate IV in Building and Construction, the possibilities are endless. These are just a taste of what you can expect to be eligible for applying to when you have obtained the necessary qualifications. In reality, there is much to explore which will allow you to build a successful career in building and construction.
Parker Brent is a provider of building and construction courses at the Certificate IV and Diploma level. For more information: Enquire now
