An Overview of Building Jobs
The construction industry is one of the most profitable in the modern world. In every city in the world, buildings and houses are in the process of being built.
It is no surprise therefore, that this industry provides numerous career opportunities for people to choose from. The success of each building project depends on the talents and knowledge of the people handling them. Furthermore, since these structures are normally going to be occupied by people, their safety is ensured by government regulations and that the standards for quality of construction are met. All these aspects of construction require a certain amount of skill and technical expertise.
If you are wondering what roles are typically filled in a construction perspective, and then read on for a rough guide on the subject.
The jobs available in the construction industry are numerous, but may vary depending on the country. However, they are more or less divided into three subgroups depending on their academic qualifications:
- Unskilled and Semi-skilled workers - These are the manual labourers who work on-site and have little or no construction qualifications.
- Skilled - Managers who work on-site with extensive experience and knowledge in their trade or profession.
- Technical and Management - These are the personnel with the highest amount of educational qualifications, most probably graduate degrees. They are trained to design, manage and oversee the whole construction process.
In the UK, Skilled workers require further qualifications which they can achieve after they finish their compulsory education or by going through an apprenticeship. Apprenticeship training is when workers are in an "on the job" training. They basically work and train at the same time, then getting certified along the way to becoming a Skilled worker.
Technical or specialised positions require extensive training and education because their roles involve expertise and greater technical knowledge. These roles also involve some legal responsibility.
Building and Construction Job Roles
You will find below an overview of the typical job roles in construction as a rough guide.
Building Architect
The architect leads the design team in both drawing up plans for the construction, as well as supervising the construction of a project. This role involves knowledge of construction, art and engineering. Architects also require strong management skills in order to effectively lead his/her team, stay within the project budget, negotiating skills and the ability to apply the design into the actual construction.
To be an architect, one must hold at least a 4-year degree in architecture. To hold the title, one must go further and obtain an architectural license, the qualifications for which depends on the country's architectural regulatory body.
Civil Engineer
Civil Engineers are involved in the whole building project, from the design, development and even during construction of the building project. Their role is to ensure that their projects are completed in a safe and timely manner. With enough knowledge and experience, they can move up to becoming Project Managers.
These personnel should hold at least a degree in the same subject. However, they will only be considered as Incorporated Engineers until such time that they finish their Master's degree. By then, they will be eligible to become chartered. This process is also dependent on the country's regulatory body.
Building Services Engineer
These types of engineers typically hold a degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, and therefore usually referred to as an "M&E Engineer." Building Services Engineers are the ones who ensure that the design and maintenance of energy-using elements in a structure are cost-effective, environmentally sound and have sustainable designs. This role is also very important as these engineers are involved in the development and maintenance of a building, including its components, to make sure that natural resources are used effectively and that public safety is guaranteed. This includes lighting, heating, air-conditioning, ventilation, electrical distribution, water supply, public health, sanitation, fire protection, escalators, lifts, façade engineering, as well as acoustics.
Construction Project Manager
These managers have overall responsibility for a construction project's planning, management, financial control and co-ordination.
Their usual tasks involve the following:
- Work in the client's interest
- Liaise and supervise the work of the other professionals involved
- The project aims are met, keep track of work progress
- The quality standards are adhered to
- Maintain records for expenses, costing, billing and accounting.
Project Managers typically hold at least a 2-year higher education qualification, but usually also hold qualifications from other fields such as civil engineering or quantity surveying. Construction managers and site engineers usually move up to this role after a few years' experience.
Quantity Surveyor
All the costs of a building project are managed by the Quantity Surveyor. They essentially seek to enhance the value of the project and to minimise its costs, while ensuring that the quality and required standards are maintained. These standards are dictated by the local government, so the quantity surveyor needs the knowledge to understand these in order to make sure that the standards are met.
Quantity Surveyors require special knowledge on the following:
- Local property taxation
- Providing advice on life-cycle costing, facilities management service and possible issues during post-occupancy.
- Providing advice for building maintenance costs.
- Assisting clients on where to locate additional funding or alternative sources for same.
Structural Engineers
These engineers are the ones responsible for a project's analysis and engineering design. At the beginning of their careers, these personnel will be responsible for the design of a structure's individual components like the floors, columns and beams. Senior engineers take responsibility for the design of the whole building. They often specialise in particular fields like building engineering, bridge engineering, pipeline engineering, industrial structures and even special structures like aircrafts and vehicles.
Structural Engineers should have a very understanding of dynamic or static loading, and that the structures are able to resist them. Modern construction requires that these personnel are able to creatively find ways for the structures to either support or resist these loads. To be a fully qualified Structural Engineer, one must have at least three years professional practice after obtaining a four or five-year undergraduate degree.
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