Drywall Installers and Finishers

It may be possible for students to visit a job site and observe installers and finishers at work. Part-time or summer employment as a helper to drywall workers, carpenters, or painters or even as a laborer on a construction job is a good way to get some practical experience in this field. Any experience that you can obtain using tools—especially trowels, tape measures, utility knives, power saws, and other tools that are used by drywall installers and finishers—will be useful. You should also visit YouTube to watch videos of drywall professionals at work.

Participate in construction projects that are sponsored by Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit that operates in local communities across all 50 states in the US, and in about 70 other countries. Volunteers aged five to 40 can participate in the organization's Youth Programs to construct affordable housing and repair existing homes for those in need. Visit https://www.habitat.org/volunteer/near-you/youth-programs for more information and sign up for its Youth Programs newsletter.

Other ways to learn more about this career include participating in information interviews and job-shadowing experiences with drywall installers and finishers and by getting involved in summer exploration programs in construction that are offered by community and technical colleges and unions.