We can all agree that construction careers have been essential since the beginning of time. The future continues to grow because millions of groups of craftspeople continue to build. Beginning in 2005, by the organization called Build Your Future (BYF), Careers in Construction Week began and has grown into Careers in Construction Month (CICM). According to BYF, “CICM is a nationwide campaign held every October to increase public awareness of construction careers, inspire the next generation of craft professionals and make an impact on the perceptions of a career in construction.”
This is a monumental opportunity for every construction group across the nation to get involved and increase the excitement of beginning a career in construction. There are four notable ways that you can recognize the month of October as CICM and celebrate this career that we all cherish. The first way is by proclaiming October! In order for each state to be officially involved in CICM, the state must recognize October as Careers in Construction Month. Check the map to see if your state has proclaimed yet and if not, you can be the one to begin the process!
The second way that you can recognize CICM is by taking the pledge to publicly acknowledge that you will make spreading information and education about construction careers is important to you. By signing the pledge, you are agreeing that you will participate in at least one in-person or virtual classroom experience. The third way that you can recognize CICM is by participating in the I BUILT THIS! Video Contest. Here, you will submit a video, through Tiktok or Instagram, of a project that you built or your team built together. Three winners will be chosen! Lastly, you can spread the word about available careers in construction and why we all celebrate CICM! From vital craft roles to internal management roles, every career is essential and we should be celebrating our craft every day.
Some ways that East & Westbrook recognizes the importance of construction careers throughout the year is by spreading awareness to young people through tabling at local high schools in Louisville, KY or visiting our local trade schools to talk about the next step in a student's career. We wanted to take this informative piece a step further and put our words into action.
In 2019, we created an apprenticeship program as the result of a relationship with Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC). There are two paths that a student can take. Our Human Resources Director, Tim Ernst, said, “One path finds the student taking two semesters of classes at JCTC through a program called Jefferson BuiLT. The classes consist of Blueprint Reading, Leadership, Carpentry 1 and 2, a Carpentry Lab, Electrical, and Plumbing. Upon completion, the student has 26 hours of college credit. Students work in the field Monday through Thursday and we pay them to go to class on Friday. Classes start in August and run through May the following year.”
It is an amazing opportunity for any person to begin or continue their construction education. This free associates degree from JCTC includes classes such as Survey and Layout, Construction Math, Blueprint Reading, Properties of Concrete, Concrete Forms, Concrete Placement, Concrete Finishing, Pre-Engineered Metal Building Construction, Introduction to Power Tools, Interpreting Civil Drawings, Differential Leveling, Vertical Formwork, and Equipment Operating. At the end of this program students will receive a General Occupational and Technical Studies degree.
When you build with East & Westbrook, you will be building more than commercial, industrial, and general structures. You will be building a team, your professional relationships and friendships, and your own character. We strive to create an environment where every person on our team is respected and we all work together to provide for our community. We build memorable structures within our Kentucky community and across the nation, and then we take that one step further and create ways to contribute to the community and also recognize the work ethic and safety awareness of our team. Through our Good Catch program, we recognize team members who keep themselves or their fellow team members safe. We then make a donation on behalf of that team member to a charitable organization of their choice. It is one small way that we work together to make a difference.
Make a difference in your career. East & Westbrook has built a spot for you on our team. Whether you are interested in becoming a project manager, an equipment operator, a foreman, or another essential member of our team, we have a spot for you!
Check out all of our open positions by visiting our careers page. If you have any questions about Careers in Construction Month, our Apprenticeship program, or any aspect of who East & Westbrook is, we would love to hear from you. You can fill out the form at the bottom of our website, or you can call us directly at 502-222-0303. Let’s build your future together.
East & Westbrook Construction Co. Inc. has worked with commercial and industrial clients for more than 45 years to solve their most challenging construction problems. Through strategic partnership and calculated growth, we now offer our clients a wide variety of construction services regionally and nationally. Today, 80% of our projects come from repeat customers. Our foundation is built on safety, quality, and performance. Lastly, East & Westbrook was awarded by Louisville Business First the Best Place to Work Award. For more information about starting your next project or joining our team, call 502-222-0303.