First you'll have to do a little bit of research to find local construction companies that seem professionally run and are actively hiring entry-level construct

First you'll have to do a little bit of research to find local construction companies that seem professionally run and are actively hiring entry-level construction crews. Use the phone book, google, yelp, or local conventions or trade groups. Also ask people you know if they have any connections to local construction companies and would be willing to intro you. Second, just be straight up with them - you've been working a sedentary desk job plugged into a computer building software apps for all of your twenties, and now want to spend some time learning how to build real world things and doing some actual physical activity. You're not sure how long you plan to do it, but at least long enough to learn the basics of the craft of building houses and similar sized buildings, maybe six months or so. You're inexperienced at construction, but are smart, have an engineering and problem solving mentality and experience, and can learn fast. With luck you'll find one willing to take you on and assign you a crew that will mentor you. They'll start you on easy tasks, teach basic things like professional hammering technique, how to use power tools safely, etc. All things you can get a jump on just by searching on Youtube. That's the gist of it. There will probably be more than one firm willing to take someone smart and reliable and train them up, even if you're up front about not knowing how long you intend to do it. PS - it also occurs to me another interesting kind of company to work for would be a local machining and manufacturing company, if any are in your area. There are all sorts of cool videos on Youtube about precision machining and manufacturing that might appeal to a programmer. Same process as above.