A contractor’s job is to ensure everything is according to plan, budget, and track. To become a successful contractor, you have to be organized and punctual.
You may take three years to become a contractor if you complete a professional apprenticeship. But with a bachelor’s degree, it will take approximately four years, and seven years with a master’s degree.
To make the process quicker, you can choose the option of a professional apprenticeship.
Contents
What are the 3 types of contractors?
There are three main types of contractors. The quality and amount of work required on projects often determine which type of contractor is best suited for the job.
General Contractor
There are two ways to use the term “general contractor.”. A general contractor can handle a wide range of construction projects. Home renovations and Renos often require basic electrical, plumbing, and carpentry skills. Many general contractors can address these issues. Licenses and experience are necessary for handypersons to be considered.
Renovations can also be managed by general contractors who are not involved with the work. Subcontractors are often hired to do work they can only do themselves or complete because they are too busy. The general contractor does many tasks like hiring the subcontractors, and managing the budget, schedule, and payment process.
Speciality Contractor
Specialty contractors are insured, licensed, and usually reliable to manage any team.
Depending on the project’s needs, there are so many specialty contractors in different sectors like the plumbing sector, electric sector, drywaller sector, and painting sector. These contractors are not paid cheaply, and they need the necessary experience to get the job done properly without the owner having to watch every move.
To work with these contractors, some plannings need to be done. For example, a painter deals with all kinds of painting sessions in the project; an electrician concerns about all the electrical wiring.
Freelance Contractors
In addition to having general contractor experience, these contractors need more experience and expertise to manage individual parts of a project without supervision. These contractors are called unskilled labourers because they need more expert knowledge to solve problems.
Hiring these workers will take time, effort, and patience, but they are by far the cheapest. Suck workers get the work done solidly, but they are suitable to work in the technical niche.
What does a contractor do?
In particular, the contractor’s role is to ensure everything is settled according to plan, on time, and within budget. To achieve that, the contractor needs to work with all of the project’s subcontractors (like plumbers, electricians, tilers, etc.).
A contractor’s responsibility is to ascertain that all the components are working together and bring a vast network of subcontractors to the table of a company he trusts and has experience working with, confirming good teamwork on all aspects of home building.
How long does it take to become a contractor?
As it is mentioned earlier, it takes approximately three years to become a contractor. If anyone wants to be a contractor with a bachelor’s degree, it takes four years; with a master’s degree, it takes seven long years to become a contractor.
How do I start working as a contractor?
As a beginner, you can start your work as a subcontractor. In this vision, you will learn how to work under the supervision of a general contractor. Once you start developing experience, your skills will boost, and you will start getting recommendations to upgrade yourself as a contractor.
You can start your work as a contractor by creating a profile on the contraction site adding your experience and skills, making a portfolio, and creating an online presence.
What are the highest-paying contractor jobs?
Contractor jobs open up many suitable ways to earn a ton of money. Such as:
As an Elevator Installer and Repairer: You can make up $97,000 working as an elevator and repairer in any place. As a boilermaker installer, you can get paid up to $64,290.
Construction and building inspector jobs can pay up to $61,640. There is also some other highest-paying contractor job like electrician, plumbers, ironworkers, pipefitters, sheet metal workers, drywall installers, constructor equipment installers, etc.
What are the disadvantages of being a contractor?
If you want to be a contractor, you will have to be ready to face such disadvantages of the job.
Additional Administration
There are several additional burdens that contractors have to deal with. Tax returns and annual accounts must be prepared and filed with accuracy and on time.
Expenses are also crucial for contractors to keep track of. Contractor accountants can handle these obligations, which will add to your earnings.
Work is not guaranteed
Contractors’ lives can be challenging. Working on short-term contracts means you should always be looking for work. If you can not find a job then you can use up your saving.
So you have to think about saving to carry your expenses while you are jobless. You need to have the mentality to accept that, being a contractor you can be jobless for a certain period.
Job insecurity
Most of the time, contracts are only valid for a limited time. Removing them may take little notice, depending on your terms. Contractual workers typically have shorter notice periods than employees in similar roles.
Sickness and redundancy pay are also unavailable as financial safeguards. In general, contractors only earn if they’re working.
Verdict
The job of a contractor is immensely struggling, but still, this is a good and one of the most highly paid jobs. You can live a solvent life working as a contractor.
You have to be strong enough to deal with the insecurities and challenges. Once you get project offers, your luck will boost, and you will step into a successful career as a contractor.
