Paving Layer (Interlocking Pavers)

Good, straight work gets noticed on this school construction project in Cape Town CBD, and so does turning up every day. It's the kind of job where doing the basics well every day gets you noticed.

The site is in Cape Town CBD; early starts mean public transport timing matters, so check your route before applying.

• Clean your tools and sweep your work area before knocking off
• Tile floors, showers and splashbacks, including cutting around fittings
• Plaster walls and float them to a smooth, even finish
• Lay face brick and plaster brick to line, level and plumb
• Prime and paint walls, ceilings and woodwork in two or three coats
• Mix mortar and plaster to the right ratio for the job
• Lay paving on a compacted, levelled bedding sand layer

• Safety boots of your own for the first week, if possible
• Understands basic site safety like scaffolds and open trenches
• Punctual every morning, even in winter
• Able to follow a foreman's instructions and read basic measurements
• Physically strong enough for a full day of lifting and bending outside
• Willing to move between sites in the same city

• CETA or NQF 2 or 3 certificate in your trade
• Experience on NHBRC-registered housing projects
• Trade test in bricklaying, carpentry or plastering

• Weekly or fortnightly pay, always on time
• UIF and COIDA registration from day one
• Transport from a pick-up point to site
• PPE supplied: hard hat, gloves, reflective vest

• Say which trade you are strongest in first. "Bricklayer, 6 years, face brick" is better than "general construction".
• Bring photos of your work on your phone. A foreman believes a straight wall more than a long CV.