Questions for Operators - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Lar · 02-09-2009, 12:25 AM

Please be patient with me, I have some questions in regards to getting into this field of work, it is part of my required research to get government assistance for schooling! Just copy and paste, thank you to all who answer my questions!

Note: I have already done my research in regards to these questions, however I need these answers straight from the workers in this business!

1. What are the basic skills required for this position?(schooling/exp. etc.)

2. What is the minimum work experience necessary for this field?

3. Where did you get your training or education? Would you recommend school? Why or why not?

4. What is the entry level position for operators for this field in your organization? Are there opportunities for advancement?

5. What do you like best about your job? Why?

6.What do you like least about your job? What are the problems working in this field?

7. What are the working conditions( i think we already know that..)

8. Where do you see the field/industry in the next 5 years?

9. What special advice would you give a person entering the field?

10. Can you refer me to someone else who can provide me with additional information about this occupation?

Once again thank you all for your time and patience. Lar.

woodchuck2 · 02-09-2009, 09:55 AM

Most guys around here grew up around equipment so to them it is second nature. The only schooling that there is around here is a vocational center about 35 miles away. This attracts students of all ages. I myself have always been around equipment as a grunt on the end of a shovel. I was a welders helper on a pipeline at the local ski area that i worked at and over time i got to run some equipment. Most places i have worked you only got to run equipment after you payed your dues and had some seniority. Being knowledgeable of the machine and the task at hand was a must. This summer i was sitting on my mini-ex digging along side a foundation and i had my 2 boys "both 15 yrs old" down in the hole with shovels cleaning off the concrete and throwing it where i had better access. The 2 boys were glaring at me the whole time while i gave orders and criticised their work, finally they blurted out how lazy i was and that i should be in the hole digging. I just replied that i was the boss and their jawing was wasting time. Now my older neibor had stopped by to chat and watch and he gave them an awesome reply that totally made sense. He asked them how many hours did they think i ran a shovel to earn the money to by the machine? He then told them that the shovel they held and were learning to use was like addition in math, the mini-ex was like calculous. You must learn one to use the other. Both boys shut right up and went back to work.
As far as the future of this type of career, well it is like most of the careers that we have on this board and as long as mankind needs a roof over their head the buildings will be built and older buildings tore down to make way for the new. There will always be slumps and high times but these types of careers will always be here.

OnSiteGrading · 02-10-2009, 01:11 PM

Hey, hows it going my names cory im from southern Ca here is what i have learned in my time on the field

1. What are the basic skills required for this position?(schooling/exp. etc.)
They have some schooling i knew a friend who went to one in vegas awhile back but i would have to say the best way to learn is to be in a machine on your own in some spare time such as if ur on a grading job and want to learn how to run a dozer ask the foremen if u can get on a stock pile and move some dirt or rip a bottom open at lunch etc

2. What is the minimum work experience necessary for this field?
there really is no minimum it depends on how fast you learn like i said above being in the field on a job being around it is the best way i think to catch on

3. Where did you get your training or education? Would you recommend school? Why or why not? personally i wouldnt recommend the reaosn is my friend who went to the school learned basic operations of the machine and i think the best way to learn is seat time

4. What is the entry level position for operators for this field in your organization? Are there opportunities for advancement? there are alot of advancements in grading they might start you out in a water truck or cleaning up debris in a skip loader and move you up to a scraper then utility dozer then to fine grade and slopes it all depends on how far you want to take it and how much you want to learn

5. What do you like best about your job? Why?
ive been around this industry my whole life nothing beats gettin up early on a crisp morning firing up your machine and doing what you love its more of a passion for me

6.What do you like least about your job? What are the problems working in this field? iim located in southern ca so i would have to say running and open cab machine in the summer in 110 degree weather on a silty job or rain. rain shuts jobs down which = no work

7. What are the working conditions( i think we already know that..)

8. Where do you see the field/industry in the next 5 years?
well as of right now its pretty bad out there so i see it climbing back up it wont happen over night but thats right about the time we estimate things will start picking back up in residential out here

9. What special advice would you give a person entering the field?
make sure this is what you want to do and you have a passion for it cause if your just going to collect a paycheck and dont take pride in your work you really wont excell to far

10. Can you refer me to someone else who can provide me with additional information about this occupation? anyone on this site has great advice

Hope this helps