We had the pleasure of sitting down with Roger Hazzard, a highly experienced finish carpenter. After sitting down and talking with Roger, this was an opportunity for us to share insights from a veteran trades-person and his views on the industry, careers and lives of our construction staff and more.
Here is our conversation with Roger and how it is valuable for your career.
TradeSource Question. How did you get into construction?
Roger Answer: I was very young, around 14, when I first started working in construction. I worked with my grandfather and he showed me everything that I needed to know. I am happy that I began a construction career where I see the results of my work every day. Being able to go home every night and feel satisfied with the work that I accomplished during the day is a great feeling. I don’t feel like there are many other careers where you get this type of satisfaction. From just finishing one aspect of a project, for example the bathroom, to an entire home, the feeling that arises when you complete a project is pure pride.
Q. What is an important aspect to know about construction?
A: In carpentry, work is split between framing and finishing. Finishing is a very demanding carpentry job because it requires extreme patience, and attention to detail. Framers have a very physically demanding job, but the work does not have to be as perfect as a finisher. For example, a framer could be a quarter of an inch off and it’s fine; whereas, a finisher is not allowed to produce such an error. My advice? Framers that want to move into finishing in the future should begin practicing precision cutting in order to focus their attention on the details. This exercise helped me in my carpentry career and is positive for their future of working in construction.
Q. Any projects that stand out?
A: The one project that stands out in my mind was a home that I worked on for an elderly couple in Rhode Island. This was a massive 17,000 square foot home. The house was completed with all of the finest quality materials – everything was absolutely top notch. I was in charge of designing and building the pool house, so I drew up some quick sketches for the couple to review. I showed the owners the sketches and they loved them immediately. I knew I was able to complete her vision when the project was completed and I saw her smiling face. Her smile and others like them are some of the reasons I am working a career in construction.
Q. What drew you to TradeSource & what do you like about working for TradeSource?
A: I came to TradeSource in 2007, when the construction industry was extremely slow. Before that, I owned my own construction company and let me tell you, for the past 11 years things have been great. When I owned my own company, I never truly felt “off the clock”. I would come home just to do the bills or write a check or deal with client issues and more. Ever since working for TradeSource, when I clock out, I am able to enjoy my life and family and not think about work.
Q. What do you think of the recruiting team at TradeSource?
A: The recruiting team at TradeSource goes above and beyond. The recruiters are fantastic at finding new opportunities for their candidates, which is why I have been able to find solid work through TradeSource for the past 11 years. From my own experience, I am making better money at TradeSource then working for myself – with nearly no stress. Additionally, the recruiters truly make you feel like part of the TradeSource family and not just another contract worker.
Q. Any advice to millennials?
A: My advice to the younger generation is to truly consider a career in construction. Construction offers great flexibility, well-paying careers, and a diverse project load to keep you in engaged. There’s always going to be a need for buildings and infrastructure and the talented tradespeople that make up carpentry careers. There is nothing wrong with starting from the bottom and working your way up in the construction industry. This builds character and gives you the opportunity to enhance skills that you need later on in life whether you are a framer to a finisher.
About TradeSource
Founded in 1993, TradeSource is a construction labor solutions firm focused on delivering labor solutions to contractors throughout the United States. By supplying skilled tradespeople – where and when they’re needed – we help contractors grow their companies, without the associated costs and hassles of full-time hires. Likewise, we match qualified employees with rewarding and well-paying job opportunities in the construction industry. www.tradesource.com
My son wants to become a carpenter.
Should he go to a trade school or should he ge an Associate Degree?
I think a great approach would be to give an apprenticeship school a try. This would provide an introduction to the trade without the burden of college tuition. The Rhode Island Construction Training Academy would be a great place to start. They have top notch instructors and have many connections with contractors in RI and MA. While he is attending classes, which are in the evening, he could work as a general laborer on construction projects, which will give him the experience of working in the trades. If you would like, you can go to our “Contact Us” page and send us your son’s information. We can possibly get him some work or provide him some with some direction.