Advice to the Beginners

Words: Dan Hiltebeitel

The best advice I could give anyone that is starting a career in masonry is that first and foremost, you must "know" yourself. What do you like to do? What would you like in a working environment? Do you like to be outside? Do you enjoy physical activity and exercise? A career is more enjoyable when your work is "fun" and you enjoy different aspects of the job.

Athletes usually make good masons. Most athletes like playing in the dirt and do not mind getting physical. Do you like competition? Know yourself and be confident in your work ethic. This is a physical job, usually outside in all kinds of weather. You will need good sturdy leather work boots, no shorts or sneakers. You will need safety glasses, a hard hat, and gloves.

I started working in the masonry industry as a fourteen-year-old "summer helper." I was fortunate to work with "decent" people. The contractor I started with built one or two quality homes a year and usually subcontracted the masonry work. I was quickly assigned to work/tend/labor for the mason and enjoyed working outside, physical labor, getting dirty, and climbing scaffold. At this age, I had already worked regularly on a dairy farm, so I knew I liked being outside and physical.

Because of my early exposure and love of the physical aspects of masonry, I would recommend starting as a laborer for a good and decent mason. You can find these folks in your community: at church, school, scouts, or through your local vocational/technical school.



Do not expect to start laying block or brick until you have demonstrated a good work ethic. This includes showing up on the job on time (15 minutes early) every day, finding things to do, demonstrating a willingness to work, and working steadily all day. Leave your phone in your lunchbox! Carry a brick hammer in a hammer holster on your belt. Learn to stock material correctly, learn to mix mortar to the correct consistency, and do not sit down on the job. Do not leave your lunchbox on the ground where the ants will find it and ruin your lunch. If you are not sure what to do, "temper" (stir up) the mortar the bricklayer is using by adding a little water and keeping the mortar to the consistency the bricklayer requires. Stock the next workstation ahead of the mason. Do not stop moving and forget the phone!
Continuing to work in the masonry industry throughout my life has shown me that a positive attitude and the desire to work hard physically will lead to a successful life. You must define success on your own terms; what is your "dream"?

Once you have established your "dream," the next step is to set a goal prior to embarking on any professional career. I learned late in life that writing down a "SMART" goal is an excellent way to succeed. The acronym "SMART" is a way of developing a goal for yourself: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely.



S is for Specific. The single thing you want to achieve should be narrow in focus. In other words, "I want to become a good and respected bricklayer/mason."

M is for Measurable. We want to know on an hourly, daily, or weekly basis how we are doing. Enrollment in a formal apprenticeship program is the best approach to realizing a measurable goal. Time employed on a masonry job can be recorded and classroom hours for learning technical masonry information can be documented.

A is for Action-oriented. Be prepared to take action to achieve your goal and writing down what action you are taking will help you keep focused on the goal.

R is for Realistic. Do not set a goal that is impossible to achieve or you will easily become frustrated.

T is for Timely. Set time limits for your goal. In a typical apprenticeship program, it takes 5,000 hours working in the masonry trade to achieve journeyperson status. There are 2,080 hours a year (52 weeks × 40 hours per week). Typically, in the masonry industry, an apprentice can average 1,800 hours working in the trade per year. There are often delays due to weather, work stoppages, or when the economy is depressed. The great part of masonry is that you can travel to where the work is busy. Experiencing different parts of the country or even going to other countries to work is a rewarding experience.

Remember, bricklayers do not work when it is raining; but you can fish in the rain! Bricklayers do not work in freezing cold, snow, or when the economy is depressed. So, bricklayers go hunting, fishing, snowboarding, skiing, and four-wheeling! I do not know why everyone does not want to be a bricklayer. Being physically active while you earn good pay and benefits, working outside, and the ability to become self-employed – masonry is the best profession on Earth!
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