Carpenters

Also Called:

Cabinet Maker,

Carpenter,

Scaffold Builder,

Form Carpenter

What they do: Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation. Includes brattice builders who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways.

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Architecture & Construction

Career Cluster

What do they typically do on the job?

  • Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
  • Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
  • Assemble and fasten materials to make frameworks or props, using hand tools and wood screws, nails, dowel pins, or glue.

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Cooperation

Initiative

Achievement/Effort

Adaptability/Flexibility

Interests

Career interests describe the perspectives and interests of people who enjoy the type of work involved in this career.

Discover what your interests are by taking the Interest Profiler Quiz

See Related Jobs

Realistic

See Related Jobs

Conventional

See Related Jobs

Artistic

Knowledge

People who want to pursue this career have knowledge in these areas.

Engineering and Technology

  • Building and construction

  • Design

Business

  • Management

  • Customer service

Math and Science

  • Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

  • Physics

Safety and Government

  • Public safety and security

Abilities

Whether you have received formal training or not, these types of abilities are helpful in this career.

Hand and Finger Use

  • Hold or move items with your hands

  • Put together small parts with your fingers

Ideas and Logic

  • Notice when problems happen

  • Order or arrange things

Spatial

  • Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed

Physical Strength

  • Use your lower back and stomach

Skills

People who want to pursue this career have skills in these areas.

Basic Skills

  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements

  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Work Values

Work values describe how your core beliefs align with those commonly needed for this career.

Support

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Independence

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Working Conditions

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Does this sound like something you'd like to do?

1. Do some research
  • Identify how your interests, values, and strengths match this occupation
  • Talk to someone who works in this field or spend a day job shadowing
  • Use the colleges and training directory to explore programs related to this career
2. Plan your next move

Data for NSI career cards comes from the following: Idaho Department of Labor, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*NET, MyNextMove, and Career OneStop