Young People in Construction & Mining!

"Young people don't want to work." A commonly uttered and false phrase within construction in mining. To definitively prove these words wrong, I asked to hear from younger people working hard in these archaic industries on my Instagram channel @buildwitt. Here are a few of the 100 comments!

rockbusters_inc - "Over 50% of our operators in our mining division are under 30 years old. There’s nothing better as an employer than to see your young operators becoming successful through their own hard work! Don’t let your age deter your ambitions!"

grantfisher25 - "I’ve been operating heavy equipment before I had my drivers license."

hscr_photography - "Started operating machinery when I was about 12. Started in civil construction at 17, started mining at 20. Was swinging a 5500 shovel before my 21st birthday. Became a trainer/assessor at 23."

schutica - "Age 27, 4 years in construction. Grew from a low level field engineer out of college to full on PM managing multiple projects up to ~$10mil in value. All it takes is hard work, sacrifice, and focus. I am lucky enough to have mentors that challenge and push my boundaries daily."

jackbrose - "I got real lucky getting put under some really stellar foremen and fellow operators. If it wasn’t for that first crew I was on I don’t think I’d of lasted very long."

sol_aire_air_conditioning - "I'm a 30 year old HVAC FOREMAN. Been doing it since I was 14. I love it more and more every day! I grew up in the trade though. Pops put a broom in my hand when I was 14 and realized hard work and experience pays."

gustavdebels949 - "21. Running 6-8yd loaders feeding portable concrete plants. I got lucky getting in where I'm at in the sense that we are always spread thin. If you're willing to learn, they'll throw a lot at you. I'm lucky enough to get seat time in just about everything on site, including the plants."

adaigneau - "Started running equipment when I was 19, worked my way up and got some training and knowledge. Now I'm 26 and the lead hand / foreman of large deep excavations for high rise towers in Vancouver BC."

georgeloach - "I work on a paving crew! Asphalt's is one of the best jobs around. I started when I was 15 and now I'm 20! Best 5 years of my life.. hopefully many more years too!"

ktmoney303 - "Been running an excavator since age 5, 17 years later I couldn't love it more ???? best thing in the world."

gacampeau - "Started excavation and grading when I was 16, left for sales job at 23, back into it with mining at 29 cause it's that much fun!"

benwhelan88 - "I've been working in multiple different fields of construction since I was 16 years old, and I've been operating heavy equipment for about 10 years. My father was a homebuilder, my uncle a dock builder, their cousin a homebuilder, my other uncle an architect. Between all of us, we have personally had hands on projects that now define our home area. Many kids today have an undeserved sense of entitlement to a lazy lifestyle and don't understand what it takes to keep the lives we live supported and growing. I always encourage young people to start working with a focus and work towards a goal/career path, because it does pay off. Anybody want to learn to run an excavator like it's a natural extension of your body? I'd gladly teach, but it starts with learning to be a good ground man first."

aaron_12345_ - "Been a helper on a few small residential sites and now going to college for Construction Management, I absolutely love it!"

jesse_wray - "If you’re young and have the chance to work with older guys you’ve got a good opportunity to learn a lot. Even if it’s just how to put up with their cranky attitudes. Sometimes they give you trouble everyday just to see if you’re dedicated. Putting up with it is one way you earn their respect. Working hard with a good attitude is another way to earn some respect. Once the respect is earned, then they might teach you something. But most likely they will expect you to learn by just paying attention."

dave_snyder74 - "24 years old, foreman / operator for a construction company. It’s all about how hard you’re willing to work and how much responsibility you’re willing to handle. A lot of people my age don’t want to put in the work they wanna kick back and have it handed to them."

huntnducks4 - "28 years old manage my own marine construction crew. Can operate weld and drive boat. Hard work ethic can be taught to anyone."

roblennnon - "I'm 25 and I've been in construction all of my life. I always wanted to be an operating engineer so I've applied every year since I was 19. Finally making my way in and I plan on staying in until I retire. If you show some initiative the world is truly your oyster. You will get people who don't like you or think you're taking their job but In my experience that's pretty rare."