- knowledge of building and construction
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of maths
- the ability to work well with others
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- the ability to work on your own
- sensitivity and understanding
- design skills and knowledge
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Depending on where you work, your day-to-day tasks may include:
- discussing plans and following instructions
- cutting and shaping timber for floorboards, doors, skirting boards and window frames
- making and fitting wooden structures like staircases, door frames, roof timbers and partition walls
- making and assembling fitted and free-standing furniture
- installing kitchens, cupboards and shelving
- building temporary wooden supports to hold setting concrete in place (shuttering)
- making and fitting interiors in shops, bars, restaurants, offices and public buildings
- constructing stage sets for theatre, film and TV productions
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work in a workshop, at a client's business, on a construction site or at a client's home.
Your working environment may be you'll travel often, outdoors in all weathers, cramped, dusty and at height.
With experience, you could become a team leader or project manager.
You could also move into construction estimating and contracts management, or specialise in areas like stage sets or heritage restoration.
You could also start your own business or move into training.
You can find out more about becoming a carpenter from Go Construct and House Building Careers.
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