jobs in Construction
Construction is the process of assembling an infrastructure, on large scale construction projects, rather than being a single activity, a number of things are happening at the same time. Construction jobs are usually managed by a project manager who is then supervised by the construction manager or construction engineer.
Within the construction industry there is an array of work from the more traditional type of installation and fitting to creating structures like the Stadium for the 2012 Olympics. The sector brings a number of skilled craftsmen and technicians together usually managed by civil engineers and surveyors. From the professional level people are involved in the planning, design and project management; from then on the various skills come into play, scaffolding, plastering and roofing. Within the construction industry different jobs require a range of different skills, operatives and craftspeople need to have the relevant skills for handling machinery, they need to be able to communicate well work well in a team and problem solve.
Some of the work will involve the construction of new buildings or some buildings might need renovation maintenance or repair. People working in construction can expect to work up to 40 hours a week and there is usually the opportunity to work overtime. The construction industry, on average, employs around 2 million people and in the UK it is one of the largest industries, employers may range from international construction groups to small companies who only employ a few people. However the current economic downturn has had an effect on the construction industry, but a number of construction projects are still be planned for the next few years, and this should encourage people industry to enter the profession in order to support the work. Entry into the construction industry is via a range of construction related courses available at colleges and a Diploma in construction can provide entry into the sector. Many people enter a professional career by completing a relevant degree before joining a company.
Some people enter a career in construction by completing degree study, training varies, on the job training can lead to an NVQ qualification, there are some jobs that offer the opportunity to study part time at college. There is usually scope for promotion, and as people become more experienced in the construction field gaining more qualifications they are able to take on more senior positions, those who are self-employed can build a good reputation and there are normally opportunities to work abroad.
Construction is usually implemented by a specialised construction team they are usually separate from the designers however some larger organisations will combine both teams the construction team is led by a general contractor who takes responsibility for completing and signs a contract to that effect. The general contractor will do some work on the building and the remainder of the work is carried out by subcontractors who have a contract with the general contractor.
Contractors will receive construction specification detailing what they need to do at the construction site, they can be reviewed before a contractor puts in a bid on a project and are used in order to get a quote for the work needing to be done, the construction specification does not always cover all the issues that might occur but the main aim is to outline what needs to be done should the unexpected happen, this could involve changing the order or discussing the issue with the architect or developer.
Construction specifications specify the timeframe in which a project needs to be completed and finish by the allocated deadline, this is the determining factor as to whether or not a contractor will bid on a project, as those who do not have the manpower or who have restrictions on their time as well as other projects to complete, may find it difficult to complete the job.
Along with this is the scale of the work involved will be set out in the construction specifications, this will detail if any demolition, or excavation work needs to be done, or if any electrical or plumbing work is required, there may be separate documents which contractors can sometimes bid for separately but in some cases the general contractor hires sub-contractors to do this type of work.
Industrial construction is a small part of the construction industry but is also a key element, projects like these are generally run by major industrial corporations in industries such as medicine chemicals and manufacturing, the processes in this industry requires specialist engineers and as with some other types of construction needs a team of people working together for a successful outcome.
Financial issues can cause major problems with not enough money made available to complete a construction project, there are also times when funding is not available to cover costs for labour and materials once a project has already started. It is important to plan finances in the early stages of a construction project, as well as have a contingency plan to provide for the unexpected.