How to Become a Carpenter

Carpenters are highly skilled craftspersons who fall into two basic categories. Structural carpenters are involved in the construction of buildings, whereas detail carpenters work to create, maintain or refinish items such as furniture.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Woodworking Tools
• Career Counseling
• Online Career Search

1. Realize that you must have excellent manual dexterity, good math knowledge and the willingness and ability to do physical work.

2. Begin learning the trade while you are in high school by taking courses such as math, mechanical drawing, blueprint reading and general shop. You should also begin to learn how to use a variety of woodworking tools.

3. Ask your guidance counselor for information on the valuable carpentry apprentice programs for high school graduates in your area. Be aware that an apprenticeship lasts for about four years, includes classroom work and can be difficult to get.

4. Work in a beginner's position for a carpentry contractor if you cannot get into an apprentice program. You will probably receive on-the-job training in only one type of carpentry work, so you will eventually need to learn other carpentry skills elsewhere. Multiskilled carpenters get the jobs during tougher economic times.

5. Contact the Associated General Contractors (agc.org), the Associated Builders and Contractors (abc.org), the National Association of Home Builders (nahb.org) and various unions for information about the carpentry field and apprenticeships.

Tips & Warnings

• Detail carpenters deal directly with the client, which requires them to have excellent interpersonal skills.
• Keep in mind that one third of carpenters are self-employed. If that is your eventual goal, find mentors among owners of carpentry shops.
• Be aware that there is a high injury rate among carpenters.
• Bad weather can result in unpaid downtimes.

on 11/22/2005 I've been working as a carpenter, or working in a related field, for the last 6 years. Over the last year, I've noticed there is a mentality to this trade. Any successful carpenter has a system they use to complete a task. Here's the breakdown:

1. Analyze. Inspect the location of where the work will take place. A good carpenter will find items in the set location that may help or hinder the operation.

2. Plan. Figure out what steps will need to be taken to complete the task. Plan around any problems you've found, when you analyzed the location.

3. Organize Material. Procure all the building materials and tools needed to complete the task.

During the operation a good carpenter needs to check his work periodically (once an hour or after a step has been completed).

I've noticed that having a good train of logical thought (left-side of the brain) is essential to being a successfully employed carpenter. If a carpenter is spaced-out too much he will miss steps, make errors, and ultimately lose money for himself or the contractor.

This brings me to the disagreement I have with career counselors. They say a carpenter needs a minimum I.Q. of 100. I've found that a semi-successful carpenter has a I.Q. of 110. I believe there is more to this trade than just being good with your hands. You're not going to need real good dexterity to preform concrete-form work. However, you will need a great logical train of thought, because a complex problem always arises.