Building Trades Worker

How to Become a Construction Estimator

August 27th, 2010. Published under Construction Jobs. No Comments.

by cogdogblog

How to Become a Construction Estimator

What will you do in a construction estimator job?

As a construction estimator you will be responsible for calculating quotes and proposals for your employer and making sure that these proposals offer a good return on investment for the company. Construction estimators also negotiate contracts and prepare estimated construction prices based on architect’s drawings, the amount of employees needed for the job and also the amount of construction materials required.

Construction estimators can be responsible for estimating everything from the cost of construction equipment to how long the project will take to complete. All of these elements will be taken into account to calculate a final estimated figure for the cost of the project. Although much of the job is office based, estimators are required to liaise with architects, clients, surveyors and a whole range of construction staff. Visiting and negotiating with clients, colleagues and other key industry members can help you to accurately forecast construction costs.
What qualifications do you need to apply for an estimator vacancy?

Most employers look for construction estimators who have degrees in a relevant area which covers estimating skills such as construction management or construction science. During these courses or as a part of post graduate training, you should have the opportunity to gain in depth knowledge of the construction industry including construction materials, costs and procedures. Having a background or post graduate training in maths will also help you with the data analysis side of the job and allow you to make judgements based on the data you collect. Having advanced skills in computer data analysis is also important especially if you have worked with specific estimation software packages. Excellent communication skills are a must as you will interact with many different people at all levels in the industry.

What experience do you need to apply for an estimator vacancy?

If you have a background in a relevant degree then you should gain some experience from this however estimators receive a lot of training on the job, particularly as each business will have its own specific process for estimating. You will be likely to shadow an experienced estimator on the construction site and in the office and assist them with their work while you enhance your experience and learn new skills.

What are the development opportunities available for a construction estimator?

Once you have experience in a construction estimator job you could then choose to specialise in a field that you are particularly interested in such as electrical estimating or mechanical estimating. If you want to stay in your existing role then development opportunities usually come in the form of opportunities to work on higher value and more prestigious projects, higher pay levels and progression into a more senior position. Other options include working on a freelance or temporary basis on long or short-term contracts.

If you want any more information on careers or recruitment within construction and engineering then please visit our website at www.linearrecruitment.co.uk

Sarah Evans is a professional copy writer working on behalf of http://www.linearrecruitment.co.uk

Article from articlesbase.com

Tags: Become, Construction, Estimator

Construction resumes at a stalled Braintree condo development

August 27th, 2010. Published under Construction Discussions. No Comments.

Construction Information Services.

August 27th, 2010. Published under Construction Articles. No Comments.

Construction Information Services.
Construction Management Related Software Including Scheduling, Estimating And Reporting Software And EBook(R)s As Well Public Interest EBook(R)s.
Construction Information Services.

Construction Courses on Project Management, Estimating, & Bid Strategy
The Contractors Zone presents a series of continuing educational courses for the new builder and experienced pro alike. These courses have been adapted from over 100 years of construction experience in project management, estimating, and bidding strategy.
Construction Courses on Project Management, Estimating, & Bid Strategy

N.Y. Skyline, 1913 (LOC)

August 27th, 2010. Published under Construction News. No Comments.

Check out these construction trade news images:

N.Y. Skyline, 1913 (LOC)


Image by The Library of Congress
Bain News Service,, publisher.

N.Y. Skyline, 1913

1913.

1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller.

Notes:
Title from unverified data provided by the Bain News Service on the negatives or caption cards.
Forms part of: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress).

Format: Glass negatives.

Rights Info: No known restrictions on publication.

Repository: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA, hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print

General information about the Bain Collection is available at hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.ggbain

Persistent URL: hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ggbain.13220

Call Number: LC-B2- 2715-11

Crane accident


Image by Listen Missy!
There was an awful accident at the Goldman Sachs construction site near the World Trade Center today. The load of steel fell tens of stories and completely crushed a work site trailer where one man was inside. He is reported as injured but I haven’t seen any additional detail.

New Free Construction Employment Site Launched

August 27th, 2010. Published under Construction Jobs. No Comments.

Ottawa, ON (PRWEB) June 4, 2006

A new free employment website for the construction industry has been launched at http://www.constructionemploymentnews.com.

“Employees can register for free, and employers can post career opportunities with free 15 day listings,” said Mark Buckshon, president of the Construction News and Report Group of Companies.

“As well, because the site is very new, the first 10 employers who list their career opportunities will have unlimited free access to the service for at least one year.”

“We believe there is no need to charge high fees for employment services on the Internet,” Buckshon said. “We will screen listings, of course, and only include bona-fide employment opportunities.”

The new employment site will be promoted on the Construction News and Report Group’s network of more than 100 regional and local construction websites, and in its printed newspapers in Canadian and U.S. cities. More information is available at http://www.constructionnrgroup.com

###

More Construction Employment Press Releases

Opening the Field

August 25th, 2010. Published under Construction Discussions. 6 Comments.

What’s to come during the Open Field’s summer-long experiment? Join us for a social hour, followed by a chance to share ideas and pose questions about the cultural commons. What constitutes a community of shared ideas, artworks, and other resources? How do age-old ideas about the commons translate to today’s digital world? Guests for this conversation present ideas from an array of fields, including new media, philosophy, education, law, and history Speakers include: Michael Edson is the Director of Web and New Media Strategy at the Smithsonian Institution and is leading an initiative called the Smithsonian Commons. Sumanth Gopinath, musicologist interested in the intersections of race, ethnicity, music and the ringtone industry. Jon Ippolito, artist, writer and curator interested in building and sustaining networks and breaking down hierarchical media and culture. Laura Musacchio, landscape design educator and researcher interested in human-nature interactions in metropolitan, cultural and bioregional landscapes. Caroline Woolard, artist and co-founder of OurGoods, a barter network for independent projects.

www.c-spanarchives.org
Video Rating: 3 / 5

Construction Resumes at Post Office

August 25th, 2010. Published under Construction Articles. No Comments.

Construction is once again underway for the Cadillac Post Office. The postal service began renovations to their Cadillac facility over the week of August 18th, but some miscommunication temporarily stopped the project. The miscommunication that paused the project involved the construction schedule, which was supposed to be shared before construction started. That schedule hadn’t been shown to the city when construction began, causing a delay. The construction schedule for the renovations to the post office is now under development, and will be shared with the city by the end of the week. The schedule will be shared with the public shortly after being received by the city. Questions regarding the renovations to Cadillac’s post office should be addressed to Alvin Tamura the project archetectict. His contact information is available at our web site, local-edition.com.

Electricians are SHOCKED! Limited Social Media Equals Unlimited Business

August 25th, 2010. Published under Construction News. No Comments.

Electricians are SHOCKED! Limited Social Media Equals Unlimited Business

Some people truly believe that for most local businesses engaging in social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogging, etc.) it is a complete waste of time, and worse – it’s a waste of money.  While this may be true for some small businesses, it is not true for all small businesses.

There is no question that computer challenged individuals probably won’t benefit much from social networking, primarily because they do not understand the technology – not because business opportunities do not exist for them.   Others, may be avoiding social media because they already have more business than they can handle and are stretched too thin trying to meet the demand for their services.

The reality is that while there may be a few good reasons for not engaging in social media, there may be many more convincing arguments as to why all small businesses should be involved on the Internet. 

Local Business People Need Local Business Solutions

Residential Electricians, in particular, do the majority of their work close to home.  Homeowners usually seek out electricians and plumbers that do business in or near their community.  If there is an emergency, they want help to come from nearby and as soon as possible.  Customers also prefer to engage local trades people recommended to them by their neighbors and friends or from right out of the local listings – often found on the Web.  In order to be easily found, small businesses need to show up in search results for keyword phrases that include a geographic modifier and their services and / or products.  An Electrician in Brooklyn, NY needs to show up in search results for “electrician Brooklyn NY or ” residential electrician Borough Park,” etc. They can easily do this without ever once engaging in a social media activity.

When it comes to social media, local businesses should be spending their time on geo-targeted social networks like Google Buzz, Google local search and Foursquare.  Maybe Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn aren’t for them, but these geo-local sites are just what the doctor ordered.

Here is how geo-local Internet searching can be of benefit to almost any small business, including electricians.  If your small business has done all it can to be easily found, your target customers “land” right on your website and can see your phone number, front and center.  If your website is all that it needs to be they will pick up the phone and call you to come make electrical repairs in their home. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning for how your business will be found on the Web by your local customers:

1.  Be sure to use Local Keywords.  Your customers will look for you by city and state, first.  They need to be prominent among your keywords and accompany other keywords that are specific to what you do for a living that you also offer your customers to solve their problems.

2. Pay Attention to Local Google Maps.   They offer some great tips on local searching.  And, having these maps appear right on your website when potential customers are trying to figure out exactly where you are located in relation to their own homes is a great tool and benefit.

3.  Choose Authoritative Directories for Inclusion.  Submit your website to the better known “authoritative” directories such as Yahoo! Directory.  Look for other quality directories on which to post your URL so as to earn enough link equity to rank you ahead of your competitors, especially in the more general directories (re: searching for electricians).   

You can Ignore Social Media, but Not the Internet

Looking for other reasons why electricians and other small businesses need to pay attention to the Internet, if not actively participate in social networking?  You business may be getting bad ratings and reviews from service reviewers and customers. You could possibly be losing business and not know why.  You may not even have an opportunity to answer the critics as they continue to throw bricks at you in front of hundreds or thousands of potential customers searching for reviews on your service.

Listen to What Others are Saying about You and Your Business

One thing every small company should do on the Internet is to listen to what others are saying about you – good,  bad and awful. Connect with your current customers as well as your potential ones. Be available to answer their questions and to give your advice. Be there to answer their criticisms and address their concerns.  You get a lot of mileage by showing everyone that you care and always respond in an honest and truthful way – even when the news may not be what they want to hear. People respect that kind of attention.

When People See That You Know Your Stuff, They Know Who to Call

Respect also comes with being perceived as a subject matter expert (SME).  If you are the local electrician –show your target audience what you know as an experienced tradesman.  Create a blog and offer some basic tips free and with no string attached.  Share “how-to” solutions and let people know about preventive measures that can save them money and worry.  This is the sort of attitude that earns praise and future business opportunities.

You Don’t Need to Get In Over Your Head When You Make the Right Choices

If it sounds like I have gotten you to stick your big toe in the social media waters, I may have.  But realize that what I have shown you does not involve constant Facebook updating or daily “Tweeting.”  My recommendations are directed at being found and being respected, more than they are about engaging in a full range of conversational activities in social networking.

Spend the Bulk of Your Attention and Your Resources on Your Website

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Sample navigation of a typical Electrician’s Website
Home | About Us | Ethics & Value | Guarantee | Safety Tips | FAQs | Glossary | Jobs | Useful Links | Contact Us | Directions
 Services – Residential
Voice & Data Cabling | Hot Tubs & Spa | Ceiling Fans & Attic | Emergency & Back up Systems | Panels & Wiring | Rewiring | Landscape & Outdoor Lighting | Inspections | Telephone & Computer/Network Cabling | Surge Protection | Basement Development | Knob & Tube Removal | Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling | Recessed Lighting | Troubleshooting | Smoke Alarm/Detector
Services – Commercial
Service Upgrades | Commercial Kitchen Design & Maintenance | Parking Lot Lighting | GFCI Installation & Replacement | Retail Interiors & Ballast Replacement | Aerial Maintenance & Installation | Infra-red Testing | Infra-red Testing | Track Lighting | Telecommunications | Recessed Lighting | Hazardous Locations 
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

The one place that you should invest yourself in to a larger degree than anywhere else we have discussed is your website.  If you are going to be easily found on the Internet, it is your website that will appear ahead of your name, address and reputation.  If your website does not look professional at first glance, most people will abandon it before ever reading on to determine your suitability as an electrician.

So take a look at your website and ask yourself the following questions about it?  Does Your Website Pass This Test?

1. Is your website’s design aesthetically pleasing?

2. How intuitive is your website to navigate?

3. Does your website have a clear statement of PURPOSE near the top of its homepage?

4. Is your website copy concisely written and richly informative?

5. Do you update your website content REGULARLY?

6.  Does your website have a “call to action” on every page for customers to respond to?

7.  Does your website’s index page draw visitors further into its content and to where you display and sell your products and contract your services?

8.  Is your website designed to encourage future visits (i.e. is there a newsletter; a tell-a-friend feature; a blog with an RSS button to subscribe with?)

Electricians, you can definitely “short circuit” the process of social media and still get the business results you are looking for.  You need to be smart in the ways you employ the Internet in order to be easily found and then, to be able to impress your target audience when they land at your website for their very first time.  If your website passes the effectiveness test and if you have done all your homework with regard to geo-search, you’ll be very pleased at the additional phone calls you’ll be getting from local customers looking for a good electrician.

Marc LeVine is the Director of Social Media for RiaEnjolie, Inc. (http://www.riaenjolie.com/electrician-websites.html) a NJ-based web development company specializing in professional looking and affordable websites for small businesses.

VN:F [1.8.1_1037]

Some people truly believe that for most local businesses engaging in social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogging, etc.) it is a complete waste of time, and worse – it’s a waste of money.  While this may be true for some small businesses, it is not true for all small businesses.

There is no question that computer challenged individuals probably won’t benefit much from social networking, primarily because they do not understand the technology – not because business opportunities do not exist for them.   Others, may be avoiding social media because they already have more business than they can handle and are stretched too thin trying to meet the demand for their services.

The reality is that while there may be a few good reasons for not engaging in social media, there may be many more convincing arguments as to why all small businesses should be involved on the Internet. 

Local Business People Need Local Business Solutions

Residential Electricians, in particular, do the majority of their work close to home.  Homeowners usually seek out electricians and plumbers that do business in or near their community.  If there is an emergency, they want help to come from nearby and as soon as possible.  Customers also prefer to engage local trades people recommended to them by their neighbors and friends or from right out of the local listings – often found on the Web.  In order to be easily found, small businesses need to show up in search results for keyword phrases that include a geographic modifier and their services and / or products.  An Electrician in Brooklyn, NY needs to show up in search results for “electrician Brooklyn NY or ” residential electrician Borough Park,” etc. They can easily do this without ever once engaging in a social media activity.

When it comes to social media, local businesses should be spending their time on geo-targeted social networks like Google Buzz, Google local search and Foursquare.  Maybe Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn aren’t for them, but these geo-local sites are just what the doctor ordered.

Here is how geo-local Internet searching can be of benefit to almost any small business, including electricians.  If your small business has done all it can to be easily found, your target customers “land” right on your website and can see your phone number, front and center.  If your website is all that it needs to be they will pick up the phone and call you to come make electrical repairs in their home. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning for how your business will be found on the Web by your local customers:

1.  Be sure to use Local Keywords.  Your customers will look for you by city and state, first.  They need to be prominent among your keywords and accompany other keywords that are specific to what you do for a living that you also offer your customers to solve their problems.

2. Pay Attention to Local Google Maps.   They offer some great tips on local searching.  And, having these maps appear right on your website when potential customers are trying to figure out exactly where you are located in relation to their own homes is a great tool and benefit.

3.  Choose Authoritative Directories for Inclusion.  Submit your website to the better known “authoritative” directories such as Yahoo! Directory.  Look for other quality directories on which to post your URL so as to earn enough link equity to rank you ahead of your competitors, especially in the more general directories (re: searching for electricians).   

You can Ignore Social Media, but Not the Internet

Looking for other reasons why electricians and other small businesses need to pay attention to the Internet, if not actively participate in social networking?  You business may be getting bad ratings and reviews from service reviewers and customers. You could possibly be losing business and not know why.  You may not even have an opportunity to answer the critics as they continue to throw bricks at you in front of hundreds or thousands of potential customers searching for reviews on your service.

Listen to What Others are Saying about You and Your Business

One thing every small company should do on the Internet is to listen to what others are saying about you – good,  bad and awful. Connect with your current customers as well as your potential ones. Be available to answer their questions and to give your advice. Be there to answer their criticisms and address their concerns.  You get a lot of mileage by showing everyone that you care and always respond in an honest and truthful way – even when the news may not be what they want to hear. People respect that kind of attention.

When People See That You Know Your Stuff, They Know Who to Call

Respect also comes with being perceived as a subject matter expert (SME).  If you are the local electrician –show your target audience what you know as an experienced tradesman.  Create a blog and offer some basic tips free and with no string attached.  Share “how-to” solutions and let people know about preventive measures that can save them money and worry.  This is the sort of attitude that earns praise and future business opportunities.

You Don’t Need to Get In Over Your Head When You Make the Right Choices

If it sounds like I have gotten you to stick your big toe in the social media waters, I may have.  But realize that what I have shown you does not involve constant Facebook updating or daily “Tweeting.”  My recommendations are directed at being found and being respected, more than they are about engaging in a full range of conversational activities in social networking.

Spend the Bulk of Your Attention and Your Resources on Your Website

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Sample navigation of a typical Electrician’s Website
Home | About Us | Ethics & Value | Guarantee | Safety Tips | FAQs | Glossary | Jobs | Useful Links | Contact Us | Directions
 Services – Residential
Voice & Data Cabling | Hot Tubs & Spa | Ceiling Fans & Attic | Emergency & Back up Systems | Panels & Wiring | Rewiring | Landscape & Outdoor Lighting | Inspections | Telephone & Computer/Network Cabling | Surge Protection | Basement Development | Knob & Tube Removal | Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling | Recessed Lighting | Troubleshooting | Smoke Alarm/Detector
Services – Commercial
Service Upgrades | Commercial Kitchen Design & Maintenance | Parking Lot Lighting | GFCI Installation & Replacement | Retail Interiors & Ballast Replacement | Aerial Maintenance & Installation | Infra-red Testing | Infra-red Testing | Track Lighting | Telecommunications | Recessed Lighting | Hazardous Locations 
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

The one place that you should invest yourself in to a larger degree than anywhere else we have discussed is your website.  If you are going to be easily found on the Internet, it is your website that will appear ahead of your name, address and reputation.  If your website does not look professional at first glance, most people will abandon it before ever reading on to determine your suitability as an electrician.

So take a look at your website and ask yourself the following questions about it?  Does Your Website Pass This Test?

1. Is your website’s design aesthetically pleasing?

2. How intuitive is your website to navigate?

3. Does your website have a clear statement of PURPOSE near the top of its homepage?

4. Is your website copy concisely written and richly informative?

5. Do you update your website content REGULARLY?

6.  Does your website have a “call to action” on every page for customers to respond to?

7.  Does your website’s index page draw visitors further into its content and to where you display and sell your products and contract your services?

8.  Is your website designed to encourage future visits (i.e. is there a newsletter; a tell-a-friend feature; a blog with an RSS button to subscribe with?)

Electricians, you can definitely “short circuit” the process of social media and still get the business results you are looking for.  You need to be smart in the ways you employ the Internet in order to be easily found and then, to be able to impress your target audience when they land at your website for their very first time.  If your website passes the effectiveness test and if you have done all your homework with regard to geo-search, you’ll be very pleased at the additional phone calls you’ll be getting from local customers looking for a good electrician.

Find More Electrician News Articles

Marketing For Construction

August 25th, 2010. Published under Construction Jobs. No Comments.

Marketing For Construction
Marketing support for Construction Professionals worldwide, including a 50,000 word eBook, Full Training Course, Private Membership Site, Teleconferences, Cpd Events and numerous resources – constantly updated. Vital in a time of economic uncertainty
Marketing For Construction

Construction Template Store
Construction document templates for the Construction Industry. The forms and templates hosted here are preconfirgured (ready for use) for Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Pdf, complete with formulas and layouts. Our templates are designed by Contractors.
Construction Template Store

Discussing The Construction Manager Resume

August 25th, 2010. Published under Construction Discussions. No Comments.

Discussing The Construction Manager Resume

Introduction of the Job

Construction Managers are responsible for a variety of facets of the construction process from the initial implementation of the project to its completion. The construction manager assures that the project remains within the client’s budget and stays within its drafted timeline. The construction manager makes sure that all aspects of the project adhere to a high level of quality and standards. The construction manager is often responsible for some aspect of the construction of some physical structure, but can also be someone who works for a management company as a manager of the processes leading to the construction of such project.

Key responsibilities

Construction managers are responsible for organizing and facilitating the completion of a project from start to finish. Therefore, a construction manager must be someone who can work effectively in a fast paced environment while being flexible and resourceful when challenges or roadblocks should arise. Construction managers are also responsible for ensuring that all aspects of a construction project are carried out safely and legally under any regulations that may be in place. Construction managers must obtain any required permits and licenses necessary for legally carrying out the project.

Educational Requirements

Most employers will require that a candidate for a construction management position hold a college level degree in fields such as civil engineering, construction science, or construction management. Further technical knowledge is required in specific skills related to construction. For example, construction managers should be capable of understanding engineering and architectural plans and drawings. Most employers fall under the belief that not all the skills necessary to be a successful construction manager can be obtained from books and will require that the applicant have a significant amount of practical experience as well. Such experience can be obtained through field training and working under other construction managers as well as through apprenticeships.

Career Path

Most construction managers work for trades contractors in fields such as architecture, plumbing, or local government divisions among other specialty trades fields. There are many construction managers who are also self-employed and draw up contracts with clients on their own. The number of construction management positions is increasing due to the fact that construction processes are becoming progressively more complicated and technical with the introduction of new forms of technology and more complex laws regarding construction regulations, standards and practices. The opportunity to move up and advance in a construction management career varies depending on the employer and the size of the company one works under. If the company is large they may offer upper-level management positions for construction managers. Construction managers can also become consultants for other construction management companies or construction contract firms.

Summary

When discussing the Construction Manager Resume, construction managers are very involved in every step taken within a construction project. Construction managers are responsible for overseeing details regarding a wide array of aspects such as materials, equipment, safety, workforce, budget, design and timeline. The construction manager must divide a project into a series of steps and make sure that each degree of the project is carried out effectively and to the desired standard so that the ensuing steps can also be implemented properly.