| I was a construction worker in the southern California | | | | get home around 7:00pm each day. I followed that |
| area for almost 20 years. During that time, I worked | | | | schedule for nine months straight until the mall was |
| as a fire sprinkler fitter through a local union based | | | | finally reopened to the public. |
| out of Whittier. I designed, installed, and repaired | | | | The Ugly: Construction sites are dangerous. I've |
| automatic fire sprinkler systems in homes, | | | | personally witnessed men stepping through an unseen |
| restaurants, high-rises, and warehouses all over the | | | | hole on a roof and falling twenty feet to a concrete |
| Los Angeles area. | | | | slab below. I've watched men get their fingers caught |
| At the time, the money was fantastic. But the | | | | in machinery and almost ripped off. I've sliced open |
| money came with its own price, and I soon realized | | | | my own skin dozens of times. I've had to drive |
| there were both positive and negative aspects of | | | | myself to an emergency room twice. |
| working as a construction worker. If you or someone | | | | My worst accident was a torn shoulder that landed |
| you know is considering a career in the construction | | | | me in a hospital room and eventually the surgery |
| industry, be sure you know what you're getting into! | | | | room. Blood is common on a construction site, |
| The Good: As a construction worker, you are going | | | | especially the big ones when there are several |
| to get paid extremely well. This is especially true if | | | | hundred men working. After my shoulder surgery, I |
| you join a local union and graduate from their | | | | knew I didn't want to work in the construction |
| apprenticeship program. Union workers are always | | | | industry. I figured if I worked in the industry for 30 |
| the top paid construction workers when directly | | | | or 40 years, I might retire with a great pension but I |
| compared with their non-union counterparts. | | | | would probably need a wheel chair to get around, |
| Another perq is your are going to get off work | | | | and that wasn't for me. |
| relatively early compared to traditional office-based | | | | The Great: There are some aspects of construction |
| careers. You can expect to be on the freeway | | | | that are absolutely fantastic. What I enjoyed most |
| heading home anywhere from 1 pm to 2:30 pm | | | | was seeing new buildings and meeting new people |
| every day. For Los Angeles residents, this is perfect | | | | every day of week. |
| because you can avoid the evening traffic and you | | | | I've worked in all of the major film studios, and been |
| can get home relatively quickly no matter where you | | | | able to work on some great film sets, such as |
| live in southern California. | | | | Dracula and Hook. I've also got to shake hands with |
| Another benefit (and this depends on your personal | | | | some of Hollywood's most notable celebrities: Daryl |
| style) is you don't have to wear a suit and tie to | | | | Hannah, Billy Crystal, Keanu Reeves, and even Tom |
| work. You are going to get dirty every day, so you | | | | Cruise. I've brushed shoulders with countless others. |
| will need to wear rugged clothing and construction | | | | I've also worked extensively in all the major theme |
| boots, and there's no need for gel and stylish hairdos; | | | | parks around Los Angeles: Six Flags, Disneyland, |
| a Dodgers ball cap is completely acceptable every | | | | Knott's Berry Farm, and Universal Studios. It's |
| day of the week! | | | | definitely fun seeing the working side of the |
| The Bad: It's true, you do leave work exceptionally | | | | entertainment industry! |
| early every day as a construction worker. On the flip | | | | As you can see, there are a lot of benefits to being |
| side, it means you are getting up extra early every | | | | a construction worker, and just as many negative |
| day, anywhere between 3:30 am and 5:30am. | | | | aspects. For me, the bad didn't out-weigh the good, |
| After the Northridge earthquake destroyed most of | | | | and I quit the industry after almost 20 years of |
| the Northridge Mall in 1994, I was assigned the | | | | dedicated work. It wasn't all bad though; I certainly |
| position of superintendent for the fire protection | | | | acquired a lot of great memories! |
| installation. My day would begin at 3:15am and I would | | | | |