How Entry-Level or Casual Work Can Lead to Long Term Careers

Think of your career like a mind map not a ladder 🧠

This article is presented in partnership with BuildSkills.

We often think of entry-level jobs as stepping stones.

Something temporary, like a short-term role that you can move on from when something better comes along.

But entry-level roles are often places where your career can begin and start to grow.

In industries like water, construction and property, entry-level roles are where you get your foot in the door of a future career.

Entry-level work is not just a pay check.

Okay, so you may not be learning super technical skills in your first entry-level job.

You know what you will learn? Transferrable skills.

These are the type of skills that are useful in any job, across different industries and skill levels.

They are things like:

• Working as part of a team
• Learning how to communicate respectfully and efficiently
• Managing your time and tasks
• Adapting your plan when things don’t work out
• Taking initiative

And remember these are not small skills. They are really valuable whether you’re just starting out, or 20 years into the job.

Our careers are sometimes portrayed like ladders.

We go from job to job, moving our way up to what we consider to be a ‘top job’.

However, in these industries it can sometimes look more like finding an entry-level job, learning practical skills and pivoting to what you enjoy more.

How do you get started?

A big misconception in the property, water and construction is that you need a lot of experience to get a job.

But there are heaps of different entry-level roles if you are starting out in these industries.

Here are just some of them:

Construction:

• Apprenticeships
• Traineeships
• Trade Assistant Roles
• TAFE courses

Water:

• Traineeships
• Field Support Roles
• Maintenance Support
• Technical Assistant Roles

Property:

• Admin Support Roles
• Facilities Coordination
• Leasing Assistance
• Customer Service Roles

Where can these roles lead?

The best part about entry-level jobs is that they can lead you in a wide range of different directions.

For example, in construction you might grow into roles like Project Manager, Site Supervisor or Operations Leader.

In water you might work in Operations Management, Environmental Planning or in a technical specialisation.

If you’re interested in furthering your career in property, you could go into roles such as Property Management, Asset Strategy, Investment Advisor or event Developmental Property roles.

How can I get in these roles?

A good place to start is by researching some companies in your area and checking their careers pages and also looking at job boards. The key is to look for phrases such as ‘entry-level’, ‘trainee’ or ‘apprentice’ roles.

Another pathway is exploring industry programs, school-based pathways or vocational training that combine study with hands-on experience.

When applying, focus less on what you haven’t done and more on the skills you already have.

Entry-level work isn’t the bottom of the ladder, but rather the foundation of a career that can evolve with you.

For more information about looking for entry-level jobs in construction, water and property, check out BuildSkills.