First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Career Overview
Career Description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.
Industry: Construction and Extraction
Other Job Titles for First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers:
- Construction Managers
- Civil Engineering Technicians
- Geophysical Data Technicians
- First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
- First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
- Construction and Building Inspectors
- First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Logging Workers
- Loading Machine Operators, Underground Mining
- Shuttle Car Operators
- Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
Personality Profile
- Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
- Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
- Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
- Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
- Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
- Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
Common Work Tasks
- Examine and inspect work progress, equipment, and construction sites to verify safety and to ensure that specifications are met.
- Read specifications such as blueprints to determine construction requirements and to plan procedures.
- Estimate material and worker requirements to complete jobs.
- Supervise, coordinate, and schedule the activities of construction or extractive workers.
- Confer with managerial and technical personnel, other departments, and contractors in order to resolve problems and to coordinate activities.
- Coordinate work activities with other construction project activities.
- Order or requisition materials and supplies.
- Locate, measure, and mark site locations and placement of structures and equipment, using measuring and marking equipment.
- Record information such as personnel, production, and operational data on specified forms and reports.
- Assign work to employees, based on material and worker requirements of specific jobs.
- Provide assistance to workers engaged in construction or extraction activities, using hand tools and equipment.
- Train workers in construction methods, operation of equipment, safety procedures, and company policies.
- Analyze worker and production problems and recommend solutions, such as improving production methods or implementing motivational plans.
- Arrange for repairs of equipment and machinery.
- Suggest or initiate personnel actions such as promotions, transfers, and hires.
- Nail pointed slats to rails to construct picket fences.
- Construct and repair barriers, retaining walls, trellises, and other types of fences, walls, and gates.
- Weld metal parts together, using portable gas welding equipment.
- Erect alternate panel, basket weave, and louvered fences.
- Blast rock formations and rocky areas with dynamite to facilitate posthole digging.
- Insert waterproof sealers, bullets, and/or powder charges into guns, and screw gun ports back into place.
- Clean, gauge, and lubricate gun ports.
- Connect gun chambers to electric detonating devices, and operate controls at panelboards, in order to detonate charges in guns or to ignite chemical charges.
- Lower perforating guns into wells, using hoists; then use measuring devices and instrument panels to position guns in correct positions for taking samples.
- Insert powder charges into chambers of sidewall sample-taking cylinders, and assemble cylinders, using special wrenches.
- Obtain samples of earth from sidewalls of well boreholes, using electrically exploding devices.
- Signal hoist operators to lower torpedoes or sample-taking guns into wells and to raise equipment for sampling from blast holes after detonation.
- Observe odometers, weight indicators, and instrument panels in trucks in order to position guns at predetermined points in wells.
- Repair electrical instruments, using electricians' hand tools.
- Operate hoists to lift power line poles into position.
Emerging Tasks
- Create and lay out designs for drill and blast patterns.
- Conduct methane gas checks to ensure breathing quality of air.
- Hang ventilation tubing and ventilation curtains to ensure that the mining face area is kept properly ventilated.
Work Activities
- Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
- Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
- Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
- Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
- Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
- Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
- Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
- Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
- Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
- Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
- Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
- Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Detailed Work Activities
- analyze organizational operating practices or procedures
- assign work to staff or employees
- conduct or attend staff meetings
- conduct training for personnel
- coordinate through subordinate supervisory personnel
- demonstrate or explain assembly or use of equipment
- develop staffing plan
- dictate correspondence
- direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
- direct and coordinate construction of mine shafts or tunnels
- direct and coordinate mining operations
- establish employee performance standards
- estimate materials or labor requirements
- hire, discharge, transfer, or promote workers
- inspect project operations, or site to determine specification compliance
- maintain file of job openings
- maintain inventory of office equipment or furniture
- maintain job descriptions
- maintain production or work records
- monitor worker performance
- motivate workers to achieve work goals
- order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
- orient new employees
- oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
- perform safety inspections in construction or resource extraction setting
- plan construction of structures or facilities
- plan meetings or conferences
- plan or organize work
- prepare or maintain employee records
- prepare reports
- prepare safety reports
- read blueprints
- read specifications
- read tape measure
- read technical drawings
- read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
- recommend improvements to work methods or procedures
- recommend personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, and dismissals
- recommend purchase or repair of furnishings or equipment
- resolve or assist workers to resolve work problems
- resolve personnel problems or grievances
- schedule employee work hours
- set priorities for construction workers
- understand construction specifications
- use hand or power tools
- write employee orientation or training materials
- use interpersonal communication techniques
- use measuring devices in construction or extraction work
- use oscilloscopes in electronics repair
- use soldering equipment
- use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter
- use hazardous materials information
- use measuring devices in construction or extraction work
- use spray paint equipment
- use surfacing machine to polish terrazzo or concrete
- verify levelness or verticality, using level or plumb bob
- work as a team member
- understand construction specifications
- use basic carpentry techniques
- use basic plumbing techniques
- use building materials for routine building maintenance
- use building or land use regulations
- use concrete fabrication techniques
- use hand or power tools
- use hand or power woodworking tools
- use hazardous materials information
- use measuring devices in construction or extraction work
- use oral or written communication techniques
- verify trueness of structure using plumb bob or level
- weld together metal parts, components, or structures
Tools & Technology Used on the Job
- Acetylene welding equipment
- Adjustable wrenches
- Adobe Acrobat
- Aerial personnel lifts
- Air compressors
- Allen wrenches
- Ammeters
- Analog temperature analyzers
- Arc welding equipment
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Backhoes
- Bench vises
- Biscuit joiners
- Blasting machines
- Brick trowels
- Bubble levels
- Caulking guns
- Chalk lines
- Channel lock pliers
- Clamp-on meters
- Claw hammers
- Concrete floats
- Concrete mixers
- Crowbars
- Data entry software
- Desktop computers
- Detonators
- Digital cameras
- Digital temperature analyzers
- Dump trucks
- Facilities management software
- Files
- Fish tape
- Flat screwdrivers
- Flatbed truck trailers
- Flow meters
- Forklifts
- FranklinCovey TabletPlanner
- Fuel-burning kettles
- Gas-powered generators
- Glass cutters
- Glass gloves
- Glass holders
- Glass lifters
- Glass tongs
- Graphics software
- Hand saws
- Humidity meters
- Hydraulic crimping tools
- Hydraulic knock-out punches
- Insulated adjustable widemouth pliers
- Insulated screwdrivers
- Inventory tracking software
- Ladders
- Lathes
- Layout squares
- Manlifts
- Marking gauges
- Megohm meters
- Metal inert gas MIG welding equipment
- Mi-Co Mi-Forms Client
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft NetMeeting
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Mortar mixers
- Multimeters
- Nut drivers
- Ohmmeters
- Oxyfuel gas welders
- Pallet jacks
- Personal computers
- Phillips head screwdrivers
- Pipe benders
- Pipe cutters
- Pipe threaders
- Pipe vises
- Pipe wrenches
- Planes
- Plumb bobs
- Pointing trowels
- Power drills
- Power grinders
- Power lockouts
- Power nailers
- Power polishers
- Power saws
- Power washers
- Precision levels
- Pressure meters
- Protective ear muffs
- Protective ear plugs
- Pry bars
- Putty knives
- Refrigerant leak detectors
- Refrigerant reclamation equipment
- Respirators
- Rubber mallets
- Saber saws
- Safety glasses
- Safety gloves
- Safety goggles
- Safety harnesses
- Safety lanyards
- Scaffolding
- Scheduling software
- Scoring tools
- Screeds
- Skid steer loaders
- Slickline fishing tools
- Spray guns
- Steel chisels
- Surveying rods
- Swing stages
- Tablet computers
- Theodolites
- Tracked excavators
- Transits
- Trenchers
- Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment
- Two way radios
- Utility knives
- Vacuum cups
- Vacuum pumps
- Voltmeters
- Wattmeters
- Welding equipment
- Welding masks
- Wheeled bulldozers
- Wheeled loaders
- Wire crimpers
- Wire cutters
- Wire strippers
- Wood chisels
- SmartDraw software
- Socrates Contractor's Library
- SoftEmpire Electrical Calculations
- Soldering tools
- Spreadsheet software
- Square shank screwdrivers
- Staple guns
- Strap wrenches
- Tablet computers
- Tape measures
- Tapered reamers
- Tapping tools
- Telescoping lighted pickups
- Tension gauges
- Terminal crimpers
- Test lamps
- Threading dies
- Timberline Office
- Tongue and groove pliers
- Torpedo levels
- Transfer impedance meters
- Truck cranes
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
- Two way radios
- Universal stripping tools
- Utility cable cutters
- Utility knives
- Volt tick meters
- Voltmeters
- Wattmeters
- Welding equipment
- Welding hoods
- Wheeled wire dispensers
- Winches
- Wire cutters
- Wire dispensers
- Wire dollies
- Wire hand caddies
- Wire loop pullers
- Wire strippers
- Wire wrap guns
- Word processing software
- Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment
- Two way radios
- Utility hoists
- Utility knives
- Ventilation fans
- Vernier gauges
- Vise grip pliers
- Water levels
- Wedges
- Welding distribution panels
- Welding machines
- Welding shields
- Welding tip cleaning files
- Welding tips
- Wire brushes
- Wire rope pullers
- Workshop cranes
- X ray inspection equipment
Education, Training & Experience
Overall Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.
Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.
Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.
Salary & Wages
- Average hourly wage (2007) -$26.90
- Average annual wage (2007) - $55,950.00
Projected Employment Growth
- Projected growth (2006-2016): 9.07%
- Projected need (2006-2016): 69,980
- Employment (2006): 771,796
Related Occupations
- Civil Engineering Technicians
- Construction and Building Inspectors
- Construction Managers
- First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
- First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers
- First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Logging Workers
- Geophysical Data Technicians
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
- Shuttle Car Operators
- Tile and Marble Setters




