Graduate Building Jobs

Leading graduate employers

Helping you find a career in the building industry

Builders can work on all sorts of construction projects - from spare rooms in your parents' house to record-breaking skyscrapers. This is an industry that requires you to learn technical skills on the job. You can gain a trade in a particular specialist area - bricklaying, pointing - or as a general building contractor involved in moving heavy goods.

The construction and building industry is a major source of employment in the UK, providing a wide range of career opportunities. This is something that you can come into after a degree at a senior level.

If you are a practical person and looking for a useful career that involves working with your hands, a career within this particular section of the trades industry could be for you. You'll need to be good at planning and be accurate, have a natural affinity for problem solving and want to work out in the world rather than in an office.

Many builders work freelance, on one-off jobs or on short-term contracts, working on particular projects to completion. As your skills will be in demand from both industry and individuals, you should never be short of work.

Types of jobs within the building industry

Working in this field you will probably start as labourer or builder on a team, headed up by a contractor.

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FAQs

FAQs

Skills & interests required for a career in Building

All trade jobs are physical, meaning you'll need to be able to work long hours in potentially less than ideal conditions. Building is no different, so you'll need a lot of resilience and be prepared to work hard.

Teamwork and communication are also essential, as you will often be working in potentially dangerous situations with heavy materials. If you specialise in a particular trade within building, you will also need good technical skills and professional qualifications.

Working in this industry is usually customer facing, which means that a variety of skills are essential.

For graduate roles, your organisation, management and ability to see the bigger picture will also be incredibly important. You may also need to deal with budgets, so a head for numbers is likely to be useful.

Above all you'll be a skilled tradesman, who will continually update your skills and experience as new ways to work are developed. You will also be an excellent problem solver, who is able to clearly and quickly diagnose and fix problems.

Graduate schemes & other typical career progression routes in Building

Progression within any part of the trades sector means managing teams, taking on more extensive projects, and potentially setting up your own business. You'll need to be driven and have an entrepreneurial mindset for the latter. If you're in a company, a clear progression path may be available to you.

Becoming a member of a professional body could also help you to improve your skills over time. You should continue to grow your skills throughout your career by taking professional qualifications.

Tips for getting into the field

You'll need practical experience in order to learn what those in the building trade do day-to-day, so contact companies directly and ask if you can shadow a member of staff or come in to help out during your free time.

There are also a large number of general, non-industry-related things that you can do to put yourself in a good position to start applying for jobs. These include:

* Tailoring your CV for each specific role* - making sure you focus on previous experience and relevant skills See what the companies in the field require - start by looking for case studies, and note what backgrounds they have Get the relevant accreditation - in this case, a course through a local technical college might be helpful Use your contacts** - people you met on work experience, those you can approach through social media or LinkedIn - they're all potentially the stepping stone to your next role, and they might very well be happy to help you

How much can graduates earn in Building?

A labourer will earn an average of around £15,000 starting out, but salaries can increase rapidly depending on experience and if you learn a specific skill or trade. According to Payscale, the average salary for a builder in the UK is £11.54 per hour - or around £22,800 annually.

What qualifications do I need for a career in Building?

If you want to pursue a career in building after university, your degree probably won't have given you the exact practical skills needed. You might need to take up a vocational qualification, for example at a local technical college, in order to get the practical skills needed for the job.

Building industry bodies

Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)

Chartered Institute of Building

Federation of Master Builders

The Guild of Builders and Contractors

Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA)

National Federation of Builders (NFB)

Builders Merchants Federation