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Step 1
Bulldozer operator jobs involve much more that knowing how to operate heavy equipment. First you should have a complete physical and determine if you are in good health. Bulldozer operators must be able to climb up onto the equipment and withstand heavy vibration and repetitive motion for hours on end. If you are in excellent physical health and are willing to spend hours in a dirty, dusty environment you should consider attending a heavy equipment school near you. Former military personnel with heavy equipment operating experience are often given preferential hiring treatment, with or without formal training. You will need a high school degree or GED before attending most heavy equipment schools. Bulldozer operators will need to understand mathematics and learn how to interpret engineer's drawings and plans for excavation work.
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Step 2
Choose a heavy equipment school that is certified by the National Association Of Heavy Equipment Schools. Member schools must meet minimum requirements for facility size, instructor qualifications and course work. As in other industries certification is becoming more of a job prerequisite. Although you can still become a bulldozer operator without being formally trained or certified it is much harder. Employers are more likely to hire operators who have passed some type of heavy equipment certification program since this often lowers their liability insurance premiums. Enroll in as many training programs as you can afford, including backhoe operation, bulldozer operation, skid loader, etc.
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Step 3
Before applying to a bulldozer operator job learn about how different kinds of bulldozers operate, even if you don't have a chance to operate them. Caterpillar, Komatsu, John Deere and others all have slightly different controls and features. Use your school's placement services to locate companies who hire apprentice dozer operators. You may end up working for a few months on smaller dirt moving equipment such as skid steer loaders before moving on to bigger equipment. Most companies don't just let heavy equipment school graduates begin operating a D-8 bulldozer immediately unless they have prior experience such as military operation under their belt. Submit your resume widely and even consider cold calling on construction sites in your area. Dress appropriately for a heavy equipment operator when interviewing. Wear ppropriate work clothes such as steel toe boots, jeans or Dickies, and a neat long sleeve shirt and belt.
