To work as a construction helper, you typically need to:

• complete short-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education is required for this job. However, many employers prefer that you have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

On-the-job training

Construction helpers usually receive training on the job from an experienced worker. During training, you learn to:

• use equipment necessary for the job;
• unload materials; and
• clean and prepare work sites.

Training generally lasts up to four weeks. It's important to remember that helpers continually learn new skills depending on the job and type of structure they are helping to build.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be construction specialists. Training lasts five to eight weeks, depending on your specialty. Further training occurs on the job.