5 Reasons Why You Should Get Off The Tools Right Now

Why should you get off the tools? Well if you’re on the tools, then you should at least have a plan to get off the tools. Working on-site can be physically strenuous and you may want a plan to transition to something less physically taxing for later in life. However, life gets in the way with work, holidays, marriage, kids, finances, and family issues which stop you from getting off the tools. Why waste your time in a lower-end role now when you could be achieving so much more in your career?

Below are five reasons why you should get off the tools right now and move into a more rewarding management role.

1. Getting off the tools can make you more money

The average annual salary for a qualified carpenter is around $53,516. However, those who get off the tools and into construction management roles are paid an average annual salary of $116,148. If you want to obtain more pay in your working life and you have a tools background, then it’s worth considering getting off the tools and moving into some more construction management-related roles.

2. Getting off the tools can lead to a logical career path

Below is the normal career path of a carpenter or anyone who’s had a career on the tools. Perhaps your job is listed below or maybe you can see your dream job there. As you can see, the top careers all contain some aspect of managing projects in the construction industry, with the majority of the roles being off the tools. Why would you continue in a role that will pay you less when you could put down the tools and move into the next stage of your career?

3. Getting off the tools is beneficial for your future health

How are your knees and back? Do you think you can continue your trade in your 40s, 50s, or 60s? With the age pension increased to 67 years of age, you need to formulate a plan on how to get off the tools and into project management-related roles. You should also consider what happens if your contract isn’t renewed and you need to drop back to being on the tools to make ends meet. How can you make yourself more employable so that you can protect both your wallet and your health?

4. Getting off the tools can provide job security 

Obtaining a project management role usually means working for a medium to large-size company working on projects worth millions of dollars. If you’re an independent contractor or subbie, then you’re probably at the bottom of the food chain and would prefer the security of going to a larger organisation. Also, if you get off the tools, you’ll develop a larger set of employable skills, setting yourself up for success going into the future.

5. Getting off the tools offers more involvement with the construction process

At the end of the day, you still have to have some kind of enjoyment with your career. However, for many who are still on the tools, it’s just a daily grind where your opinion and insight don’t count for anything. However, getting off the tools and into a project management-related role means that you’ll become more involved in the entire construction process – you’ll have a direct say and input in what happens throughout the cycle of the project.

The above five reasons are not meant to stress you out about the future but instead, help to remind you that you’ll need an exit plan to not just get off the tools but stay off the tools. If something resonated with you in this post, start to implement some changes. Think about where you want to be in the next five or 10 years, talk to those who are in the positions that you want, and start researching how further study can increase your chances of getting into those off-the-tools construction roles.