A Journeyman successfully passes stringent training requirements by completing apprenticeship programs at reputable training institutes. After successfully completing training, the person will be an authorized professional who can then work as a skilled worker for a building trade or craft.

Through their training, journeymen earn certificates, which prove their qualifications that indicate they have performed the requisite number of apprenticeship hours for operating various kinds of equipment and tools, as well as learning the techniques to repair technical problems.

Carpenters, plumbers, electricians, as well as other specialties in a construction-related field, are called journeyman because they possess technical knowledge and expertise in their field.

Journeymen can become team leaders at construction companies. This requires good communication and management skills and a high level of discipline and focus to complete a given task on deadline. Effective team leaders use their knowledge of the field to overcome certain challenges while working and ensuring given tasks achieve the desired quality at the specified time. The best journeymen earn the opportunity to manage important construction projects in the company.

For U.S. government work, the journeyman must possess the appropriate certification from an accepted institution to perform any work.

Journeymen Options

Various career paths are available to you after completing training and receiving certification from a reputable institution. Here are some of the top fields journeymen can enter:

• Machinists

• HVAC contractors

• Ironworkers

• Electricians

• Plumbers

• Welders

• Toolmakers

• Carpenters

• Building constructors

In addition to joining a company as a team member, a journeyman can work as an independent contractor who provides a service to customers.

While some journeymen begin working as an employee in a construction company, others choose to initially start their own business and work as an individual contractor.

Construction is a competitive field and you must distinguish yourself with strong skills and an excellent work ethic to succeed in the industry.

Construction jobs require high quality work and if you have the ability to work under pressure while maintaining poise, then joining a company or going into business for yourself will be great option for you. Journeymen can earn good money and as you accumulate more skills and experience, your annual salary will increase.

Characteristics of the Journeyman:

Successful journeymen tend to have the following qualities and skills:

• Good Hand/Eye Coordination: The journeyman technician generally works with sharp tools and the mechanical equipment on which they work can be challenging to operate. Consistent practice will help you overcome these challenges.

• Ability to Clearly Distinguish Colors: As a journeyman, you’ll be working on projects that requires climbing, handling electric wires or fixing hardware components and so on. Electric wires and small parts are typically color-coded and each color will have an assigned role. Color-blindness may present challenges with certain types of work.

• Dexterity: Most work conducted by journeymen is done by hand. As a result, educational institutes emphasize dexterity practice during training. In the construction industry, journeyman technicians use both small and large equipment for cutting, molding and so on and high dexterity and skill are required to safely operate this equipment.

• Overall Good Health, Vitality: Journeymen’s job responsibilities often require a high level of physical activity, as well as physical strength. Know your limits, but also try to improve these limits through physical conditioning.

• Science and Mathematics Aptitude: The journeyman will work in subject matter that requires calculating height, weight, volume, etc., and an understanding of equipment specs. The journeyman also will work in situations that require use of chemicals and understanding their interactions can mean the difference between safely performing a given job or endangering themselves and others.

• Good Communication Skills: Journeyman interact with many employees and customers. Being comfortable asking questions, listening to team members and customers, clearly communicating project specs and requirement are all hallmarks of a successful journeyman.