Talk to your school counselor about programs and classes like woodworking that are offered at your school so you can start learning skills that will get you started in this field.

Find a class to jump-start your construction skills.

Look into training and apprenticeship programs to help you gain experience in this trade career. Check out OPCMIA or research training programs in your area.

Research cement mason apprenticeship programs.

Search online for how-to videos to see how hard this work is to master--and whether it's something you think you'd like. Does seeing this kind of work in action make you more interested in trying it?

Watch tutorials on how to do this kind of work.

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

Smooth and finish surfaces of poured concrete, such as floors, walks, sidewalks, roads, or curbs using a variety of hand and power tools. Align forms for sidewalks, curbs, or gutters; patch voids; and use saws to cut expansion joints.

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Cement Masons, Concrete Finishers, and Terrazzo Workers

Construction and Extraction Occupations

Construction Trades Workers

Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.

Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them.

Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.

Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process.

Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge.

Signal truck driver to position truck to facilitate pouring concrete, and move chute to direct concrete on forms.

Direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it.

Produce rough concrete surface, using broom.

Apply hardening and sealing compounds to cure surface of concrete, and waterproof or restore surface.

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

Overview

Career

What Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Do

Other Job Titles Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

Overview

Career

What Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Do

Other Job Titles Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers

Related Leaders