The phrase that quietly destroys careers in construction
“I’ll do my licence later.”
If you work in construction, you’ve heard it a hundred times.
Maybe you’ve said it yourself.
Almost everyone has.
But here’s the truth:
Later becomes months. Months become years. Years become missed opportunities.
And the most dangerous part?
You won’t realise what you lost until it’s too late.
Why people delay their licence
People don’t delay because they’re lazy.
They delay because they’re busy.
Construction is fast, demanding, and unpredictable.
- Work comes first.
- Teams come first.
- Clients come first.
- Family comes first.
The licence?
It gets pushed to “later”.
But “later” never magically arrives.
Christmas shutdown: the best time to get ahead
Every December, the industry slows down.
- Sites close
- People take leave
- Decisions pause
- Meetings stop
- Workload drops
And while everyone else is switching off,
you have a rare chance:
Prepare your licence while the world is quiet.
If you submit before the Christmas break,
you start the new year:
- Licensed
- Ready
- Ahead of the crowd
- With momentum already built
While others are making New Year resolutions,
you’ll already be moving.
Karen Zhang - QBCC Express Founder
The most dangerous part? You won’t realise what you lost until it’s too late.
Why licences open doors you don't see yet
A licence does more than keep you compliant, it gives you:
- Better job opportunities
- More leadership options
- Higher earning potential
- Flexibility in your role
- The ability to work legally when someone needs you to step in
- Long-term career security
Most people don’t realise how powerful their licence is
until something unexpected happens:
- Redundancy
- Company restructure
- Opportunity pops up
- Someone needs acting supervision
- A better role becomes available
- A project requires licensed personnel
The people who prepared “later” get left behind.
The people who prepared “early” move forward.
Start early. Finish early. Lead early.
The worst time to apply for your licence?
When you suddenly need it.
The best time?
When the industry is quiet…
and everyone else is relaxing.
Every year, the people who prepare during the quiet periods
end up ahead of everyone else.
If you want to start now
We prepare the full application for you:
- Experience mapping
- Evidence collation
- Referee statements
- Forms
- Lodgement
- Compliance checks
No stress.
No confusion.
No delays.
If you want a clean, ready-to-submit application before the break,
reach out.
Why is it risky to delay applying for a QBCC licence?
You miss opportunities, slow down career growth, and risk being unprepared when a job requires it. Also certain licence is mandatory, such as site supervisor licence for people who supervise building works.
Does the QBCC shut down at Christmas?
They will be closed during public holiday but not completely shut down like other construction companies.
Is it harder to get a licence during busy periods?
Yes. More people submit at the same time, causing longer wait times.
How long does a QBCC licence take to process?
Timeframes vary, but a well-prepared application can be processed much faster.
Can someone help prepare the licence application for me?
Yes. QBCC Express handles the full process from start to submission.