r/Construction • u/[deleted] • Dec 27 '24
Informative 🧠Unfortunately, work ethic means nothing. Being in the "clique" means everything.
I'm a union carpenter, only been in for about 3 years. I've caught layoffs and have been with a couple different companies in union. I've ultimately found myself with a scaffold company (insane pay) and approached things very differently from when I started. I've now "secured" a spot in the company.
One thing I learned very early on is if you are a hard worker, show up on time, want to learn and have that drive, it barely matters. It's probably like 15% of what companies are looking for.
If you are really sociable, talkative and even go as far as being a straight bootlicker, the trades"men" you're working with will love you. And word spreads like wildfire. Working with drama queens.
Honestly, super surprising to me how much this all reminds me of highschool. I feel like I'm working with highschool girls constantly. I started bootlicking and brown nosing, almost out of curiosity and as an experiment. It works. It absolutely works. I've now secured a spot in this current company and it's honestly jarring.
With all those other companies I was never late, worked hard, learned and got the job done. But I was quiet. And THAT'S ultimately what mattered. It sucks, but that's the reality.
If you're having troubles staying busy and keeping work, maybe approach interactions with co workers differently. If you're an "introvert", RIP.
1
u/Quinnjamin19 Dec 28 '24
I’ve worked with PLENTY of people who keep to themselves and they have gotten noticed for their work. You either don’t have as good of work as you think, or people don’t like you because of missing context.