If you’re thinking about joining the thousands of Kiwis building New Zealand’s future by working in civil construction, this handy ‘career starter kit’ guide has you covered.

The beauty of working in civil infrastructure is that you don’t need years of university study or expensive qualifications to get your foot in the door for most roles. All you do need is a can-do attitude and a few practical essentials.

Whether you’re fresh out of school or looking for a career change, this guide provides all you need to know before launching a rewarding career in the industry.

A ticket to ride

Industry stalwart and Loaders Civil General Manager Daniel Butcher says the “number one” qualification required is a driver licence, which opens doors in the civil construction industry in more ways than one.

When you are applying for jobs, travelling to interviews and getting to work depots, having your own car is a definite bonus.

Daniel says as you develop in your career, you’re likely to find yourself training for additional licences to be able to operate large trucks and other heavy machinery in the great Kiwi outdoors, making your basic Class 1 car driver licence the bedrock for career development.

“The advantage of our industry is being able to work outdoors, which a lot of our team like.”

Protective equipment is provided

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) might sound like a big expense, but the good news is that employers tend to provide you with everything you need.

Safety is paramount in civil construction and companies invest heavily in keeping their workers – their most valuable asset – as well protected as they can.

“We provide everything, helmets, goggles, hi-vis, gloves and boots – it’s up to workers to wear it.”

You can learn while you earn

Here’s something that might surprise you: many successful civil construction workers started with no formal qualifications beyond school.

The industry is all about practical, hands-on learning, and most employers are more interested in your attitude than your academic achievements (more about that soon).

“Often a lot of the training is on the job and we will look to train new employees in our way of doing things,” Daniel says.

“We’ll take them through confined spaces, working at heights, first aid, Class 2 and Class 4 truck driver licences and more.”

He says there’s nothing wrong with gaining any relevant qualifications to give yourself an edge, including traffic management, forklift training, leadership training, Site Safe and Wheels Tracks and Rollers endorsement, as well as the others he mentioned.

The great thing is that once you’re in, the learning never stops. Apprenticeships, continuous on-the-job training and industry courses mean you can build your qualifications while earning decent coin. You might start as a labourer and end up as an excavator operator, site supervisor, or even running your own company – just ask the many Kiwis who’ve done exactly that.

The right attitude

The civil construction industry values people who show up on time, work well in teams, and aren’t afraid of physical work or getting their hands dirty.

Communication skills matter too. You’ll be working closely with your crew, taking instructions from supervisors and potentially dealing with the public near work sites. Being able to get along with people from all walks of life and cultures is a huge asset – civil construction crews are some of the most diverse workplaces in New Zealand.

Daniel says key personality traits he looks for in potential employees include a good work ethic, punctuality and the patience to learn the basics, because being trusted to drive a 30-tonne excavator isn’t going to happen overnight.

At Loaders Civil the team makes a point of creating a supportive environment where people can be comfortable learning, while they build up experience on the tools, before being considered for more important and complex tasks.

“It’s down to the leadership’s observations of how that person goes and a feeling of how safe that person is around other people as well how they take ownership of mistakes, because then people can trust them.”

Why civil construction?

So what makes the civil construction industry so special? Well, at the same time as you build roads, bridges, water pipes and other crucial infrastructure, you’ll be connecting people, helping communities thrive and making New Zealand a better place.

Daniel says some people don’t realise how essential the industry is to the wellbeing of the nation.

“What we do as an industry is to provide the infrastructure for cities to grow and without it nothing really happens, so there’s a big sense of pride and accomplishment in the things that we create.”

With major infrastructure projects on the horizon and a strong demand for skilled workers, there’s never been a better time to get started. Your future in civil construction is just one decision away. Are you ready to take the first step?

Explore our Civil Construction Careers Roadmap to find out more about the opportunities waiting for you.