Tool Box Buzz

Keeping Your Trade Skills Sharp

We’ve partnered with Milwaukee Tool’s GRID apprentice program to walk you through some tips for continued skill advancement as a journeyman carpenter.

Now if you’re an apprentice and want to learn more tips and tricks like this, please click the link in the description below to take you to the GRID website. It’s free to sign up, and you’ll have access to exclusive promotions and contests, you’ll have the ability to network with other apprentices from across the country, and you can check out industry articles and videos to help you kick-start your career.

The Trades Is A Life-Long Learning Journey

Like in any other trade or profession, the best carpenters are lifelong learners. Trade skills are not things you learn once and then you’re set for the rest of your career. Likely many skill-sets that you need to get your reps in and approach this as an educational journey that will last your entire career.

Like most fields, things eventually evolve. Carpenters are unique as they are the only tradespeople who are involved in a construction job from start to finish, and being familiar with all of the different trades makes them particularly invaluable.

For carpenters, that evolution may take the form of building code changes, improvements in technology, the development of new installation techniques, products, and materials.

3 Tips To Continuing Education for the Journeyman

Staying up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices, can make you a better carpenter and advance your skills.

• Self-Taught
• Informal
• Formal

Self-Taught – Read, Watch and Do!!

Some of the “self-taught” ways I try to stay sharp is by reading attending remodeling trade shows, reading trade magazines, visiting best-practice Websites and YT channels. This gives me exposure to new trends, products, and ideas. All of which I can do further research on, try out, and learn from my mistakes and experiences.

Informally – Check Your Ego

Informal education takes guts because you have to check your ego at the door.

“Informal education” for carpenters can be obtained directly through on-the-job experience. This method is done by asking to assist on a project out of your wheel-house, taking on something you’re not good at. Being the help-er…. You see what I mean by it takes guts.

Look taking chances, trying new things is a GREAT way to improve your skills Be the best wing-man and “be the sponge” – learn, do, and asking questions.

Continuing Education for the Journeyman – Formally  – Take Classes

“Formal Education” can be achieved in several ways. Joining professional organizations like NARI or NAHB is a start. Many of these organizations offer professional development and specialty courses such as;

• construction supervisors prep courses – to get licensed as a GC
• site superintendents, project managers certifications
• Estimators classes

Advancing Your Skill-Set – Beyond Basic Carpentry

Many carpentry schools, unions, contractor organizations, and trade shows [like JLC] offer continuing education, or skill advancement, courses that working carpenters can take to enhance their current skill level or to learn new ones.

Such as:

• Stair building
• Advanced framing
• Millwork
• Green building
• Blueprint reading
• First Aid
• OSHA 10
• Scaffolding
• Rigging

To name a few. I highly recommended courses like this to expand your specialty skill set as well prepare you to own your own business someday.

Preparing To Own and Operate A Business

Speaking of which, that’s where the real money is – owning your own business. Professional development classes that help develop you as a GC or business owner are:

• Business classes
• Project management
• Communication, problem-solving, and decision making
• Time management
• Leadership

These are excellent courses for carpenters who wish to own their own business as well as for those who want to become general contractors.

Click here to go to the GRID Website

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