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Trades & Services Jobs

Trades & services is a general term used to describe all the labour jobs involved in the construction industry. People with trades & services jobs are referred to as tradespeople or tradesmen. Tradespeople may choose from a wide variety of specialisations that include bricklaying, carpentry, painting, and steel working.

Bricklaying

Bricklaying involves the building and reparation of archways, chimney stacks, tunnel linings, or walls. The tasks and responsibilities of a bricklayer include the measurement of work area, the sealing of foundations using damp-resistant materials, the spreading of mortar layers, the laying of individual bricks, the checking of brick alignment, and the shaping and trimming of bricks using hand and power tools. Bricklayers may also construct arches and decorative brickwork as well as repair clay bricks and cement blocks.

Carpentry

Carpentry involves the building and installation of wooden framework on residential or commercial buildings. The tasks and responsibilities of a carpenter include the construction of formwork, the cutting of timber, the installation of handles and locks, the creation of shelves and cupboards, and the reparation of damaged wooden objects.

Painting

Painting involves the application of paint, varnish, or wallpaper to interior or exterior surfaces. The tasks and responsibilities of a painter includes the mixing of colors, the painting of walls, the application of wallpapers, the spraying of varnish, the painting of roofs, the sealing of holes, the scraping of old paint, and the application of decorative finish.

There are no specific academic requirements for trades & services jobs. You can even apply for trades & services jobs right after you graduate from high school. Most employers will require you to complete a three to four-year long apprenticeship program on your chosen specialisation before they consider you for regularisation. Apprenticeship programs include both theoretical studies and on-the-job training. Since trades & services jobs are skill-based, you need a good hand-eye coordination to be successful. Having a background in construction, electronics, engineering, mathematics, physics, or woodworking will be very beneficial.