How to Advance from a Craft Professional to a Construction Foreman
If you’re working as a construction craft professional, you may be wondering what the next step in your career could be. There are many opportunities for advancement in the construction industry. One common path a craft professional can explore is how to become a construction foreman.
Here are a few tips on how to advance from a craft professional to a construction foreman.
Gain Field Experience
A good foreman is a hands-on field leader, which means they need to have plenty of knowledge in the trades they will be supervising. It typically takes at least two to four years of experience as a craft professional before someone will be considered for a foreman role.
Exploring multiple internship and apprenticeship opportunities can help you gain tangible skills and practical experience and will give you a better understanding of the demands in the field and potential challenges you might face on future job sites.
Foremen often act as a teacher or mentor for their crew members. They need to be able to use the same tools and follow the same techniques and procedures they are expecting from their team. Drawing from their own field experience can help foremen lead by example and support the teams they manage.
Develop Leadership and Professional Skills
It takes more than hard skills and technical ability to become a good foreman. There are many professional soft skills and leadership qualities, such as communication, problem-solving and emotional intelligence, that are fundamental to the role.
Consider taking the opportunity to develop these skills while interacting with your current jobsite teammates. For example, you can improve upon your communication skills by actively listening, using proper volume and tone when speaking, and expressing genuine respect, empathy and friendliness in your conversations. Showing appreciation and giving recognition when appropriate are also essential skills needed to become an effective leader.
Demonstrating responsible and professional qualities like adhering to ethical standards and company policies, effectively managing your time, and following all safety protocols are additional ways to foster professional values.
Acquire Training and Earn Foreman Certification
While there are multiple ways to prepare for becoming a construction foreman, there are specific and unique responsibilities foremen have that are best developed through proper training.
To cultivate the skills needed to become a qualified foreman, it can be helpful to take an industry-recognized foreman training course and to earn a foreman certification. Programs like the Construction Foreman Certification Program from NCCER offer specialized instruction on important topics, training exercises and activities, and insightful stories from current foremen and seasoned industry experts so learners can understand and master the challenges they face on the job each day.
The online, self-paced Construction Foreman Certification Program can be purchased directly, or you can ask your company’s human resources department if they currently provide NCCER’s training program or would be willing to reimburse you for the purchase. Many companies offer eligible employees tuition reimbursement for education related to their employment.
Foreman: The Next Step in Your Career
Advancing in your career from a construction worker to a field leader is a big and exciting step. Managing your own team is a lot of responsibility, but also extremely rewarding. With the right skillset, experience and training, you can advance into a foreman role with confidence and successfully lead a team of craft professionals.