5 building materials careers with $90K+ potential—and why this overlooked sector offers stability you won't find anywhere else

Table of Contents

1. Building Materials Industry Careers Built With Purpose
2. Great Careers Are Built Right Here: Why the Building Materials Industry
3. 5 Jobs Available Now

• Lead Generation Specialist
• Dealer Sales Representative
• Warehouse Support/Driver
• Industrial Construction Specialist
• General Production

1. Why These Positions Matter
2. The Future of Building Materials
3. An Industry of Growth
4. Your Next Steps
5. Frequently Asked Questions

Building Materials Industry Careers Built With Purpose

The concrete you drive over. The insulation keeping your office comfortable. The steel beams overhead in every building you enter. We move through landscapes shaped entirely by materials someone engineered, someone manufactured, someone transported, and someone installed—yet we rarely consider the infrastructure of careers that makes any of this possible.

This invisibility is the building materials industry's defining characteristic and its greatest opportunity. While everyone notices a finished building, few think about the sophisticated ecosystem required to deliver the right material to the right place at the right time. Fewer still recognize that this ecosystem needs people—not just to move products, but to understand markets, forge relationships, solve logistics puzzles, and translate technical specifications into practical applications.

The industry comprises establishments that innovate, design, engineer, produce, market, advertise, distribute, and sell materials used in construction, renovation, and infrastructure upgrading. It encompasses both naturally occurring substances like wood and stone, and advanced manufactured products like composites and smart building technologies. From roof construction to plumbing, from insulation to heating systems, from glass to flooring—if it's part of a structure, it's part of this industry.

And right now, this industry is hiring. Not reluctantly, not cautiously, but with genuine urgency driven by market growth from $1.4 trillion in 2024 toward $2 trillion by 2034. The positions available aren't just jobs—they're entry points into an industry that rewards people who understand that the most meaningful work often happens behind the scenes.

Great Careers Are Built Right Here: Why the Building Materials Industry

Consider what career stability actually means. Not the promise of permanence—that's a fiction in any field—but resilience across economic cycles. The building materials industry possesses this quality in a way few sectors do.

People always need shelter. Infrastructure always requires maintenance. Commercial spaces continue evolving. This creates baseline demand that persists even when other industries contract. Construction and extraction occupations are projected to see about 649,300 openings each year on average, with median annual wages of $58,360—higher than the median for all occupations.

But the compelling case for building materials careers extends beyond stability. The industry is undergoing transformation driven by sustainability requirements, digital technologies, and shifting customer expectations. The sector employs 9.2 million workers globally and added 376,000 new employees in the past year, reflecting its capacity to create opportunities even as it evolves.

This transformation creates space for people who can bridge traditional industry knowledge with emerging capabilities. Companies need professionals who understand both product specifications and customer relationships, both regulatory requirements and business development, both local market dynamics and global supply chain realities.

The positions hiring right now reflect this need. They're not looking for industry veterans exclusively—they're seeking people who bring transferable skills from other sectors, who can learn technical details while building human connections, who recognize that every role contributes to something larger than individual transactions.

5 Jobs Available Now

Lead Generation Specialist

Home Hardware | Full-time | Remote (St. Jacobs, Ontario, Canada)

Marketing in building materials isn't about clever campaigns or viral moments. It's about connecting contractors with the right products before they know they need them, about understanding project timelines and budget constraints, about recognizing that every lead represents someone trying to complete work that matters to them.

Home Hardware's Lead Generation Specialist role embodies this sophisticated approach to customer acquisition. You'll execute lead generation tactics across multiple channels, working with marketing, merchandising, and eCommerce teams to drive new revenue and accelerate the sales pipeline. The position requires monitoring affiliate and search engine marketing performance, creating A/B testing programs to improve advertising return on investment, and tracking metrics that enable continuous improvement.

What makes this role compelling isn't the remote flexibility—though working from home three days weekly while maintaining connection to Home Hardware's St. Jacobs headquarters offers genuine work-life balance. It's the combination of analytical rigor and creative problem-solving. You'll identify top-performing marketing partners and develop incentive programs, collaborate on landing page optimization, and create performance scorecards that translate marketing efforts into business results.

Home Hardware operates as Canada's largest independent hardware and building supplies retailer, with presence in communities across the nation. The company's 80-year history provides stability, while their commitment to digital transformation creates opportunities for impact. They're looking for someone with three to five years of experience in lead generation, strong analytical and communication skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment where priorities shift and deadlines compress.

The compensation reflects both the specialized nature of digital marketing in building materials and Home Hardware's comprehensive approach to employee wellbeing: competitive base salary, annual incentive program, health and dental benefits, pension plan with company match, and employee discount programs. Google certification would strengthen your application, though the core requirement is demonstrated ability to acquire profitable customers through integrated marketing campaigns.

This isn't a position for someone who views marketing as creative expression divorced from business outcomes. It's for professionals who understand that effective lead generation requires both technical proficiency with analytics platforms and strategic thinking about how to position products in competitive markets.

You can apply here >>>> Lead Generation Specialist

Dealer Sales Representative

Simpson Strong-Tie | Full-time | Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Canada

Sales in building materials bears little resemblance to selling consumer products. When contractors specify structural connectors for residential projects, they're making decisions that affect structural integrity and building code compliance. The sales representative who understands this becomes more than a vendor—they become a trusted technical resource whose expertise prevents problems before they occur.

Simpson Strong-Tie's Dealer Sales Representative position illustrates this consultative approach to sales. You'll represent a company that's been a leader in engineered structural connectors since 1956, working with dealers and contractors in British Columbia's residential construction market. The role involves building relationships that go beyond transactions—demonstrating product features, explaining technical specifications, providing training, and ensuring that Simpson products are well-stocked and properly displayed in retail locations.

The position allocates half your time to meeting with current and prospective customers, providing what Simpson calls "No Equal" customer support. Another quarter involves building and maintaining product displays. The remaining time supports territory initiatives, promotes Simpson as an industry partner and employer, and provides educational opportunities across your territory.

Simpson seeks people who live for building relationships, who understand that effective sales requires becoming customers' technical expert, who can balance autonomy with accountability. The role requires travelling within your territory with occasional overnight trips, working some evenings and weekends, and maintaining consistent CRM management through Salesforce. While a bachelor's degree and one to two years of industry experience are preferred, Simpson emphasizes that previous construction knowledge matters more than credentials. What's essential is presentation skills, the ability to develop captivating narratives that guide prospects through solutions, and genuine customer focus.

The compensation package—$70,000 to $80,000 base salary plus commissions with on-target earnings of $90,000 to $100,000—reflects both the technical sophistication required and Simpson's position as part of a growing company with nine founding principles that have guided operations since 1956. You'll receive a company vehicle, representing a significant additional benefit for territory work.

This role suits people who recognize that construction sales requires more than charm and persistence. It demands technical aptitude, genuine curiosity about how buildings are assembled, and the patience to build relationships that may take months or years to yield results but create lasting value when they do.

Apply here >>>> Dealer Sales Rep  

Warehouse Support/Driver

Grainger | Full-time | Leamington, Ontario, Canada

There's particular satisfaction in work that produces visible, immediate results. Warehouse support and delivery roles in building materials offer this satisfaction—you see orders fulfilled, trucks loaded properly, products delivered safely to job sites where they'll become part of structures that serve communities for decades.

WFS, a Grainger company, positions its Warehouse Support/Driver role as essential to keeping businesses working and people safe. You'll deliver products to destinations using proper techniques to minimize transportation damage, conduct daily vehicle inspections, complete required logs, and assist with warehouse operations including order packing, maintaining cleanliness, and special projects as needed.

The requirements are straightforward: Grade 12 diploma or equivalent, valid G license (though a DZ license would strengthen your application), clean driving abstract, and experience in warehouse environments or shipping/receiving. Previous forklift experience helps but isn't mandatory. What matters more is organizational capability, attention to accuracy, willingness to work independently and as part of a team, and what Grainger calls "a winning attitude that makes the team better."

The role requires physical capability—you'll lift and move products regularly, work in various weather conditions, and spend significant time on your feet. But it offers something many positions don't: immediate visibility of your contribution. When deliveries arrive on time with products intact, construction projects stay on schedule. When warehouse organization improves efficiency, customer satisfaction increases. The connection between your work and its impact is direct and measurable.

Grainger provides comprehensive benefits that reflect genuine investment in employee wellbeing: medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage; paid time off and up to ten company holidays; life insurance including spousal and dependent coverage; Employee Family Assistance Program; Registered Retirement Savings Plan and Defined Contribution Pension Plan; educational and professional membership fee assistance; and employee discounts.

This position suits people who value tangible contribution over abstract impact, who take pride in doing essential work well, who recognize that reliable delivery and efficient warehousing make everything else in construction possible. The role may not offer the prestige of executive positions or the income potential of commission-based sales, but it provides stability, meaningful work, and a clear path for advancement within Grainger's operations.

You can apply here >>>> Warehouse Support / Driver  

Industrial Construction Specialist

Stanley Black & Decker | Full-time | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Most people encounter Stanley Black & Decker's products without thinking about the commercial strategy behind them. The tools contractors use, the hardware securing building components, the accessories enabling efficient work—all of this reaches job sites through sophisticated field marketing that connects manufacturers with end users directly.

The Industrial Construction Specialist role embodies this field marketing approach. Reporting to the Specialty Sales Manager, you'll execute Stanley Black & Decker's End User Brand Marketing Strategy by forming strategic partnerships with professional contractors on industrial, commercial, and institutional construction sites. Your daily activities include cold calling on active job sites, visiting construction company offices, planning jobsite events, and conducting safety training seminars for tool and accessory brands.

What distinguishes this role is its entrepreneurial nature. You're the main point of contact for Stanley Black & Decker in the field, providing customer service, product knowledge, and sales expertise directly to end users. You'll visit job sites and tool cribs across your region, assist the sales team at distribution events, build relationships with both end users and the internal sales force, coordinate top customer purchasing, and develop new business.

Stanley Black & Decker seeks college or university graduates with sales and marketing experience showing demonstrated achievements and leadership. The position requires strong communication and organizational skills, ability to manage multiple priorities, creativity and strategic thinking, and proficiency with Microsoft Office. You'll need a valid driver's license, clean driving abstract, willingness to travel, and ability to work some weekends as needed.

The company offers what they call "a utility role with independence"—significant autonomy to manage your territory combined with support from a Fortune 200 company with clear advancement paths. The compensation package includes competitive base pay, comprehensive benefits, use of a company vehicle, cell phone and laptop, plus company perks including GoodLife Fitness discounts and employee product discounts.

This role suits people who thrive without constant supervision, who can balance independence with accountability, who understand that field marketing requires both strategic thinking about market positioning and tactical execution of hundreds of individual customer interactions. The position offers exposure to diverse construction environments—from industrial facilities to institutional projects—providing education in how different market segments specify, purchase, and use building products.

Start the application process here >>>> Industrial Construction Specialist 

General Production

JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. | Full-time | Rantoul, Illinois, United States

Manufacturing roles in building materials offer something many positions don't: the satisfaction of making tangible products that become permanent parts of structures. Every door and window produced will be installed in someone's home, someone's workplace, someone's building—where it will function for decades.

JELD-WEN's General Production position reflects the diversity of manufacturing work. Depending on assignment, you might handle materials including wood, vinyl, metal, silicon, and glass. You'll operate both small and large machinery for door and window production, assemble products on designated lines, conduct quality inspections to ensure standards compliance, perform machining tasks for hardware installation, prepare and handle materials for production processes, stage and package finished products for shipment, and assist with general warehouse duties as required. The position includes working overtime as needed to meet customer demands.

JELD-WEN seeks people with strong attention to detail and accuracy, ability to follow safety guidelines and workplace protocols, willingness to work in various environments including hot, cold, or noisy conditions, effective communication skills for team collaboration, ability to operate basic hand tools or machinery, proficiency in reading and using tape measures accurately, basic math skills including working with fractions, and capability to lift up to 50 pounds with or without assistance. Previous manual labor experience is preferred but not required.

What makes this role compelling isn't complexity or prestige—it's the combination of skill development, job security, and meaningful contribution. JELD-WEN operates as a leading global designer, manufacturer, and distributor of high-performance doors and windows, serving new construction and renovation markets across North America and Europe. The company's scale provides stability, while their market-leading position across brands including JELD-WEN, LaCantina, VPI, Swedoor, and DANA creates advancement opportunities within manufacturing operations.

Manufacturing positions often serve as entry points into the building materials industry, offering on-the-job training that develops technical skills transferable to other roles. People who start in production can advance to quality control, machine operation, maintenance, supervision, or specialized technical positions. The path requires demonstrating reliability, learning capability, attention to quality, and commitment to safety—traits that matter more than formal credentials.

This role suits people who value hands-on work creating products they can see and touch, who take pride in quality craftsmanship, who appreciate the structure and predictability of manufacturing environments, and who recognize that every role in production contributes to delivering products that meet customer expectations and enable successful construction projects.

Apply here >>>> General Production 

Why These Positions Matter

These five roles illustrate the building materials industry's breadth. They span marketing and field sales, warehouse operations and jobsite engagement, manufacturing and distribution. Each requires different skills, offers different rewards, and contributes to the larger system that enables construction, renovation, and infrastructure development.

But they share common characteristics that make building materials careers distinctive. First, they all involve translating between technical specifications and practical applications. The Lead Generation Specialist must understand how contractors search for products and what information influences their decisions. The Dealer Sales Representative needs to explain structural connector specifications in ways that help contractors make informed choices. The Warehouse Support/Driver must ensure proper handling of materials with specific storage and transportation requirements. The Industrial Construction Specialist has to demonstrate how professional-grade tools solve real job site challenges. The General Production worker must maintain quality standards that ensure products perform as engineered.

Second, these positions all involve relationship-building across organizational boundaries. Building materials careers reward people who can forge connections between manufacturers and distributors, between sales teams and customers, between engineering specifications and field applications. The industry functions through networks of relationships that span decades—contractors who trust specific suppliers, sales representatives who become technical resources for their territories, warehouse teams who understand customer preferences and timing requirements.

Third, every role contributes to enabling construction projects that serve larger purposes. The homes people live in, the offices where they work, the infrastructure connecting communities—all of this depends on materials arriving when needed, specified correctly, delivered intact, and performing as promised. Building materials careers offer the satisfaction of contributing to essential work that shapes the built environment for generations.

The median annual wage for construction and extraction occupations was $58,360 in May 2024, higher than the median across all occupations. But compensation tells only part of the story. These positions offer stability that comes from serving essential needs, growth opportunities that come from working in a transforming industry, and meaning that comes from contributing to work that literally builds the world around us.

The Future of Building Materials

Understanding where the building materials industry is heading helps clarify why current hiring represents genuine opportunity rather than temporary circumstance.

The sector is experiencing growth driven by rapid urbanization, with more than half the world's population now living in urban areas—a shift expected to continue until nearly seven out of ten people will reside in cities by 2050. This urbanization creates persistent demand for housing, commercial spaces, and infrastructure that requires sophisticated materials delivered through complex supply chains.

Sustainability has moved from aspiration to requirement. Growth in building materials is increasingly fueled by the shift toward eco-friendly and energy-efficient construction, particularly in North America where modernization efforts and green building initiatives drive market expansion. Companies now compete not just on price and availability but on environmental performance. This shift creates demand for professionals who understand both traditional building requirements and emerging sustainability standards.

Digital transformation is reshaping operations across the industry. Customer service representatives navigate omnichannel experiences combining in-person interaction, phone support, and digital platforms. Sales representatives use CRM systems and data analytics to manage relationships and forecast demand. Even traditional roles like warehouse operations benefit from GPS routing, digital dispatch systems, and electronic record-keeping that improve efficiency while creating new technical requirements.

Construction employment is projected to increase 4.7% from 2023 to 2033, outpacing the 4.0% growth rate across all industries. This growth will concentrate in occupations related to energy, electrification, and manufacturing—areas where building materials play essential roles.

The most successful building materials professionals will combine relationship-building skills with technical knowledge and digital fluency. They'll understand both product specifications and customer needs, both regulatory requirements and business objectives, both local market dynamics and global supply chain realities. The five positions hiring now all offer opportunities to develop these hybrid capabilities that the industry increasingly requires.

An Industry of Growth

Numbers alone don't capture industry health, but they provide useful context for career decisions. The global building materials market valued at approximately $1.4 trillion in 2024 is projected to reach around $2 trillion by 2034, representing steady expansion even accounting for economic cycles and market fluctuations.

This growth stems from multiple reinforcing factors. Government infrastructure investment across North America requires massive quantities of building materials for roads, bridges, water systems, and public buildings. Aging infrastructure built in previous decades needs ongoing maintenance, repair, and replacement using modern materials meeting current standards.

Residential construction remains strong despite periodic economic fluctuations, driven by population growth, household formation, and ongoing demand for housing that meets contemporary expectations for comfort, efficiency, and technology integration. While construction experienced job losses at the pandemic's outset, recovery was swift—by February 2022, construction employment surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

Commercial and institutional construction continues expanding to support growing economies and changing work patterns. From office buildings incorporating flexible workspace designs to healthcare facilities requiring specialized materials and systems, commercial construction creates ongoing demand for sophisticated products and supporting services.

The shift toward sustainable building practices creates entirely new market categories while transforming existing ones. Green building certifications require materials meeting environmental performance standards. Energy efficiency requirements drive demand for advanced insulation, windows, and building envelope systems. Climate resilience concerns increase demand for materials withstanding extreme weather events.

These trends suggest continued opportunity for building materials companies and the professionals they employ. Organizations that can navigate regulatory requirements, serve evolving customer needs, and adapt to technological changes will capture disproportionate value—and provide exceptional career opportunities for their employees.

Your Next Steps

The gap between recognizing opportunity and pursuing it often comes down to clarity about what preparation actually requires. For the five positions outlined here, success follows less from perfect credentials than from thoughtful approach to what each role demands.

For the Lead Generation Specialist at Home Hardware, emphasize your analytical capabilities while demonstrating understanding of how digital marketing creates business value. Research the company's position in Canadian home improvement retail and their approach to connecting independent dealers with customers. Show that you recognize lead generation as bridge between marketing investment and sales results, requiring both creativity in campaign development and rigor in performance measurement.

For the Dealer Sales Representative at Simpson Strong-Tie, highlight your relationship-building abilities while showing genuine interest in how structural components function in construction. Research Simpson's product lines and market position. Understand that territory sales in building materials rewards patience—relationships develop slowly but create lasting value. Demonstrate technical curiosity alongside sales capability.

For the Warehouse Support/Driver at Grainger, focus on your reliability and organizational skills while showing understanding of how warehouse operations and timely delivery enable customer success. Emphasize any experience with logistics, inventory management, or customer-facing roles where accuracy and follow-through mattered. Make clear that you value tangible contribution and take pride in essential work done well.

For the Industrial Construction Specialist at Stanley Black & Decker, demonstrate your entrepreneurial mindset and comfort with autonomy while showing understanding of how field marketing creates competitive advantage. Research the company's tool and accessory brands and their position in professional construction markets. Show that you can balance independence with accountability, recognizing that field roles require initiative and strategic thinking alongside tactical execution.

For the General Production position at JELD-WEN, emphasize your attention to detail and willingness to learn while showing appreciation for manufacturing work that creates tangible products. Highlight any experience with hand tools, machinery operation, or roles requiring precision and quality focus. Make clear that you understand manufacturing as skilled work requiring both technical capability and commitment to safety.

Across all these positions, research the companies thoroughly. Understand their market positioning, competitive challenges, and strategic priorities. Think about how your background and interests align with their needs. These organizations seek people who can contribute immediately while growing into larger responsibilities over time.

Building materials careers reward curiosity about how things work, patience in building relationships, and commitment to doing essential work well. The industry offers paths from entry-level positions to executive roles, from specialized technical work to broad management responsibility. The five positions hiring now all represent entry points into an industry that remains overlooked by many career-seekers—which creates opportunity for those who recognize its value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the building materials industry growing?

Yes. The sector is expanding from $1.41 trillion in 2025 toward approximately $2 trillion by 2034, representing steady 4% annual growth. This expansion stems from urbanization, infrastructure investment, renovation markets, and increasing demand for sustainable building technologies. The industry demonstrates resilience through economic cycles because construction, renovation, and infrastructure maintenance represent ongoing essential needs rather than discretionary spending.

Do I need a college degree for building materials careers?

Requirements vary significantly by role. Engineering and compliance positions typically require bachelor's degrees in relevant fields. Sales and customer service roles often prioritize experience and demonstrated skills over formal education, though business or marketing degrees can strengthen applications. Driving and warehouse roles require commercial licenses and safety training but not necessarily degrees. Manufacturing positions often offer on-the-job training, making the industry accessible to candidates with diverse educational backgrounds. The five positions outlined here span this range—some prefer degrees while others emphasize transferable skills and learning capability.

What skills are valuable in building materials careers?

The most valued skills include technical knowledge of materials and their applications, strong communication abilities for explaining complex specifications, problem-solving capabilities for addressing customer needs and operational challenges, and adaptability to industry changes. Understanding regulatory requirements, supply chain dynamics, and how different customer segments make purchasing decisions provides competitive advantage. Digital fluency with CRM systems, data analytics tools, and project management software increasingly distinguishes successful professionals. Perhaps most important is what might be called "translation capability"—the ability to move between technical details and practical applications, between engineering specifications and customer needs, between company capabilities and market opportunities.

What is the earning potential in building materials careers?

Compensation varies based on experience, location, company size, and role complexity. The median annual wage for construction and extraction occupations was $58,360 in May 2024. Entry-level positions like General Production typically start at $35,000-$45,000 with advancement potential. Warehouse Support/Driver roles average $45,000-$55,000 with overtime opportunities. Lead Generation Specialists earn $50,000-$70,000 depending on experience and digital marketing capabilities. Dealer Sales Representatives earn $70,000-$80,000 base salary plus commissions, with on-target earnings reaching $90,000-$100,000. Industrial Construction Specialists receive competitive packages including company vehicles. As careers progress, advancement into management, specialized technical roles, or executive positions can lead to six-figure incomes. The industry rewards both technical expertise and business development capabilities, creating multiple paths to strong compensation.

Are there opportunities for career advancement?

Absolutely. The building materials industry values internal promotion and provides clear advancement paths. Customer service representatives can move into sales roles or branch management. Sales representatives advance to national accounts, product management, or regional leadership. Warehouse and driving positions can lead to dispatch management, logistics coordination, or operations management. Manufacturing workers develop into quality control, machine operation, maintenance, supervision, or specialized technical roles. Many industry leaders started in entry-level positions, learning operations from the ground up before moving into management. Companies typically offer training programs, mentorship opportunities, and tuition reimbursement to support career development. The key to advancement lies in demonstrating reliability, developing technical knowledge, building relationships across organizational boundaries, and showing initiative in solving problems and improving operations.

How can I apply for these jobs?

Each of the five positions outlined here can be accessed through the Building Materials Career website at the URLs provided in the original job postings. Most companies accept applications through their corporate websites or major job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed. Beyond formal applications, networking within the industry provides valuable insights and opportunities. Attending trade shows like the International Builders' Show or regional construction industry events creates connections with hiring managers and industry professionals. Joining professional associations related to construction, sales, or logistics demonstrates commitment to the field. Connecting with industry professionals on LinkedIn and engaging thoughtfully with their content can lead to conversations about opportunities. Many companies offer apprenticeship or training programs for entry-level positions, particularly in manufacturing, warehouse operations, and skilled trades. The most successful approach combines formal applications with relationship-building that demonstrates genuine interest in the industry and specific understanding of company needs and market challenges.

How does the building materials industry support diversity and inclusion?

The sector increasingly recognizes that diverse perspectives strengthen operations and customer relationships. Major companies implement initiatives to attract talent from varied backgrounds and communities while providing equal opportunities for advancement. Many organizations offer employee resource groups, mentorship programs, and professional development opportunities designed to support career growth for all employees. Industry associations provide networking opportunities and support programs specifically for underrepresented groups in construction and building materials. While the industry has historically skewed male and faces ongoing challenges around representation, companies serious about talent development recognize that excluding any demographic group limits their ability to find the skilled professionals they need. The transformation toward sustainability and digital operations creates particular opportunity for people bringing different backgrounds and perspectives to longstanding industry challenges.

What makes these roles critical to the industry?

Each position addresses essential functions that make everything else possible. Lead Generation Specialists identify potential customers and qualify opportunities, enabling sales teams to focus on closing business rather than prospecting. Dealer Sales Representatives build connections between manufacturers and retail partners while supporting both professional contractors and individual customers—ensuring high-quality products reach people who need them. Warehouse Support/Drivers provide reliable material delivery that keeps construction projects on schedule—when deliveries fail, entire project timelines collapse. Industrial Construction Specialists develop relationships directly with end users, creating brand loyalty and gathering market intelligence that informs product development. General Production workers manufacture the actual doors, windows, and building products that become permanent parts of structures. Without consistent execution in any of these roles, the sophisticated coordination required to deliver complex products to construction sites breaks down. These positions matter because they enable the larger system to function.

Is prior experience necessary for entry-level roles?

Not always. Many employers value transferable skills from retail, hospitality, logistics, or other customer-service oriented industries. Training programs and apprenticeships are common for roles like customer service, warehouse operations, and manufacturing. Companies often prioritize work ethic, learning ability, and customer focus over specific prior experience. The General Production position at JELD-WEN, for example, lists previous manual labor as preferred but not required—what matters more is attention to detail, ability to follow safety protocols, and willingness to learn. The Warehouse Support/Driver role at Grainger seeks "some experience" in customer-focused roles but emphasizes organizational skills and winning attitude. Even the more specialized positions like Lead Generation Specialist or Dealer Sales Representative often consider candidates who can demonstrate relevant capabilities even without direct industry experience. The key lies in showing how your background translates to the specific role requirements while demonstrating genuine interest in learning about building materials and construction markets.