4 Tips for Finding the Best Crane School Near Me
Finding a career path can be a challenging feat. Some people have always known what their career path looks like while others have had to test the waters in many different fields. However, either way, it doesn’t always mean getting a college education. Attending a trade school is quickly becoming more popular, and for many people, it’s a much better choice. If you know you want to become a crane operator, it’s important to choose a good crane school. Here’s what you need to know when you start your “crane school near me” search.
Crane Operator Expectations
Once you begin your search for a crane school near you, it can be hard to weed through the schools to find the one that will give you the most thorough education. Most general crane operator programs usually last between three weeks and three months.
A good crane operator school will teach you everything that’s expected of you so you can excel as a crane operator. It’s important to have a good understanding of all the duties that are expected, knowledge of all the requirements to become certified, a reasonable expectation of what an average salary looks like, what salary an experienced crane operator should expect, and what to realistically expect day-to-day from the work environment.
Skill Requirements
Pick a school where you will gain a good understanding of what skills are required, why it is important for you to have them, and how to improve those skills.
- Alertness. Crane operators need to have great spatial awareness. They need to be aware of their surroundings and their loads at all times. They need to stay alert to safely and efficiently complete their tasks, even after an overnight or long shift.
- Verbal Communication. Strong verbal communication skills are an absolute necessity. Crane operators rely on these skills to complete tasks correctly and safely.
- Mechanical skills. Having an understanding of how a crane works is important to be able to control the crane flawlessly. From a busy city site to a site with rough and uneven terrain, a crane operator must work with precision no matter what their surroundings may be.
- Attention to detail. To perform the job correctly, crane operators need to have an eye for detail so they don’t overlook a problem during the crane inspection. An oversight like this could compromise the safety of the jobsite.
What Comes Next
The trade school you choose should prepare you for what comes next. Your school will:
- Help you prepare for an apprenticeship. These apprenticeship programs typically last between one and six years.
- Teach you what certifications you need as well as help prepare you for exams.
- Help you prepare for any local certifications and licenses.
- Help you to create a professional resume.
- Prepare you for the hiring process.
Safety
This tip may be listed last, but it’s the most important. Becoming a crane operator can be a dangerous job, but when safety is a part of each step of training, chances of injuries significantly decrease. Finding a school that will teach safety in all aspects of being a crane operator is the school for you.
At West Coast Training, we want you to succeed whether you’re close by or looking into a program farther away. We are happy to answer any questions you may have to help you decide if our program is a good fit for you, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.