THe Top consTrucTIon
projecT In Texas for 2006
was THe forT blIss mIlITarY HousIng
complex In el paso—THe $336.9 mIllIon
journeyman electrician with
projecT began In julY 2005 and Is each apprentice.”
CREATE a Career
scHeduled for compleTIon bY june 2011.
Strouz says there are similar
programs in the Houston PoRTfoLIo
area for plumbers, pipefitters,
Apprenticeship carpenters, insulators, heavy machine One valuable tool that can help you get
Apprenticeship training is a common operators, bricklayers, and painters—“any ready for college and beyond is a career
entryway into careers in construction. craft that’s on a construction site.” portfolio—a collection of items that
Participants earn certificates in skills such as Though there are training programs for document your achievements both in
carpentry, masonry, and electrical work. students still in high school, Strouz’s program and out of school, assembled in one
Gary Strouz, training director of the Electrical requires a high school diploma, as well as proof convenient package.
Apprenticeship Training Program in Houston, of a passing grade in high school algebra. “You A career portfolio is not simply
says his program “combines on-the-job training have to do mathematical calculations to do a resume, although it can certainly
and classroom studies to produce top-notch electrical work correctly,” he says. “We hold include one. So what should go in a
electricians. Contractors generally pair up one the students to a high level.” career portfolio? A variety of things,
depending on your own personal
experiences. It could include transcripts
S P o T L I G H T
and grades; writing samples; letters
of recommendation from teachers,
mentors, or employers; awards you’ve
received; and items that document
CoNStRuCtIoN CoMPEtItIoN
other activities, such as internships and
Students vie for building Awards in CTSOs
job shadowing experiences.
“You need to be specific—dates, how
I
f you’re interested in architecture & competitive events for students entering
many years, any awards, what they
construction, it’s a good idea to get a jump- architecture and design fields include drawing
meant, and who you received them
start in your field while you’re still in high school. floorplans or blueprints to judges’ specifications
from,” says Grace Brauchle, who helps
because that cluster is particularly competitive, and other problem-solving exercises. students
students put their portfolios together
students who learn the basics at the high school interested in construction careers can compete in
as the career center coordinator for
level can have a competitive edge when they get carpentry, residential wiring, welding, masonry,
Lehman High School in Kyle.
to college or enter employment. cabinetmaking, and more.
Brauchle says portfolios come in
skillsusa, the Technology student association “The opportunity to compete really gives the
handy when students apply for jobs or
(Tsa), and family, career, and community students incentive. They strive to do better and
admission to college. “First impressions
leaders of america (fccla) are student learn skills of teamwork, problem solving, and
are a very big thing,” she says, “and
organizations that offer membership and activities leadership that you need to be successful on the
you want to be the one whose papers
related to a variety of occupational fields, job,” says ada kranenberg, program director for
get passed around the office. You want
including architecture & construction. In addition skillsusa championships.
to be the one where the admissions
to membership, which allows students to form a The thrill of competition may be enough
counselors say, ‘Wow, look at this one!’”
network of friends with similar interests, there are motivation for some students to get involved in
And a portfolio doesn’t have to be
also local, state, and national competitions. a cTso, but kranenberg suggests that
simply a collection of papers. Artists
participating in cTso activities can also help
and photographers use their portfolios
a student take the right direction toward his or
to provide visual examples of their
her career. “a student can get the experience
work, and so can you. Do you have
he or she needs to decide whether to go to a
photos of someone giving you an
four-year university, a technical school, or an
award? Put them in. How about a video
apprenticeship,” she says.
of a performance? Include it on a DVD.
To find out more about cTsos, see
Do you have experience in Web design?
“architecture & construction cTsos”
Make an online portfolio to showcase
on page 3.
what you can do.
Page 15
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24