The article is based on a comparative investigation of the training and further training paths into middle management on building sites in eleven countries in Europe. Using as its primary examples a comparison between Hungary, where vocational training takes place predominantly within the state education system, and Germany, where the dual system (short periods of further training and a predominantly experience-based vocational promotion path) dominates, the article shows that these different training paths also correspond to different forms of deployment and activities in workers' careers. Other countries included in the investigation confirm these findings. This suggests that in countries with a vocational training system like that in Germany, introducing changes--even if they were necessary in order to increase working efficiency--would entail a profound caesura in established social structures. In countries such as Hungary, in contrast, expanding the training paths could have a positive effect on skilled workers. (Contains 12 footnotes.)