If you have any basic skillas a carpenter then finding a job in this field should be much easier than it seems. And if you have a lot of experience and skill then you can apply for the post of lead carpenter. Carpentry is one sector of the market which has managed to resist invasive capitalization to a large extent as many carpenters, while commercial, still work in small teams or individuals. This is excellent as it allows for a greater level of autonomy and creativity in terms of self-employment.
Carpenters are skilled craftspeople who typically work exclusively with wood and wood-related items. There are different types of carpentry, some of the more common areas of interest being rough carpentry, finishing, cabinet making, shipbuilding and scenic carpentry.
A rough carpenter is also called a ‘master and works on the big jobs like roofing, framing and formwork. The work is scaled up and requires a lot of strength. Normally construction sites are in urban areas as there is more development going on, so if you are looking for a carpenter job in a city then this is the best place for you to start and get noticed. Urban development is also the reason that over 98% of carpenters in the United States are male. However, with the advent of many power tools and so on, women are also increasingly able to join the rough carpentry work force.
Scenic carpentry is usually done on the sets of films, television and plays. The background, or set, is put up temporarily for shoots and then dismantled. The sets are not heavy or rigorous and only need to look authentic. Cabinet making and finishing are more delicate, fine-tuning areas of carpentry that require a more skilled hand and aesthetic taste. A ship building job is, as the name implies, carpentry work done on a ship. The shipbuilder or shipwright normally has a permanent post on the ship and is involved in the building, repair and maintenance work for the vessel. Both men and women can be equally employable in these areas of carpentry.
All these jobs referred to above are commercial carpenter jobs and may be applied for and advertised for as other jobs. In fact, looking for and getting acarpentry job is much easier than many other jobs. The trick is simply to get your name out there. You can get business cards made that you then pass them on to people you know; make flyers and leaflets to stick them around your neighborhood (if this is allowed by your local governing authority) and get online. Post your message and contact details on forums, blogs, comment sections – in fact, create a blog or website for yourself if you haven’t already. As a regularly self-employed professional (over one-third of carpenters are self-employed) this will be your most effective calling card in the virtual world.
And of course if you work well then wordofmouth will ensure that the jobs keep coming in, even during the dry spells. Here’s the thing about carpentry – there are seasons. These are largely dependent on the economy as a whole, so if the economy is doing well then carpenters do well and so on. During bad weather conditions jobs in most commercial carpentry sectors may go down. If, however, the weather is bad enough to damage houses though then jobs for carpenters will increase again.
Getting lead carpenter jobs takes many years of experience as well as the right temperament as it is about managing multiple employees as well as dealing with clients and so forth. Generally a lead carpenter will make over $30 an hour while a regular skilled carpenter will make between $13-23 an hour. That’s roughly between $40,000-50,000 per annum (on a 6-hour work day although this is, of course, extremely variable). The average annual income for an American household is between $40-50,000 so it is a financially very stable profession to get into.
In 2006 there were about a half million employed carpenters, most of whom worked on construction and building sites. You must keep in mind that as a carpenter, you will have to be willing to move around to go where the jobs are, unless you’re a permanent employee of a carpentry firm. There are many such firms, unions and guilds that employ and help find employment for cabinet makers, finishers and scenic carpenter jobs. And with jobs expected to grow for another decade or so this could be a very secure profession to get into and make name.
When looking for a job in carpentry, whether scenic or finishing, it is important to understand what makes you different from other carpenters in the field. Look at what your special talents and skills are. Also look at your strengths and then couple those with the latest tools in the field to make yourself an unbeatable candidate for any kind of commercial carpentry job. A resume is, of course, always a good idea but a photo portfolio is also a must so that you can show prospective clients and employers the kind of work you have done.
