Question: I am a recent high school...

Question: I am a recent high school graduate and interested in the construction trades. I have contacted several unions, and understand that it is very difficult to enter apprenticeship programs. Where is the best place for me to begin?

Answer: Many trades are in short supply today, and will be in much shorter supply down the line. The tile industry, for instance, should experience a serious shortage of contractors and setters within the next decade. If tile sounds right for you, here is an opportunity. If not, then you should enter into that area of construction that interests you most.

My advice is to work for a small residential builder or home-improvement contractor (most of whom are non-union), so that you may get a taste of each of the various trades. If a particular area appeals to you, contact the subcontractor and inquire about working for him.

Good, hard workers who arrive on the job every day and are willing to learn will usually not have to look far before finding fulfilling employment. If your plan is to become a contractor yourself, you must keep in mind that certain aspects of the trade take years to learn.

To be a really good general contractor who erects single-family homes or entire projects, you will have to acquire extensive knowledge of carpentry and need to comprehend the entire job operation. On the other hand, if you are learning a specific trade, you could very well become quite skillful with a year or two of on-the-job training.

Remember that if you decide to become a contractor, you will need at least four years of practice in the industry to attain your license. You should also attend night school to learn bookkeeping and accounting.

A good deal of your time as a contractor will be spent in estimating and other business-related areas that have little to do with actual construction. Most unsuccessful contractors fail because they have insufficient knowledge of business.