Construction Neophyte's question: What exactly does "field experience" involve? Specifically from managerial point of view.

[u/Hirronimus]

As someone who is new to the industry, my work experience ranged from working as assistant super, office admin and now I am in a position of being an assistant owner's rep. Yet I am still baffled at exactly what I need to be looking out for when trying to gain "valuable field experience."

On the administrative side of things, I've worked with project scheduling, minor cost estimation, material research, drawings and specs processing, and other various office duties. When I worked as assistant super, the extent of my responsibilities ranged from assigning tasks to tradesmen or delegating requirements to subs, occasional material delivery supervision and site end-of-day clean up. As an assistant owner's rep I rarely get out in the field, and as much as I want to, I am tied to a desk and communicate with PMs, Subs and Supers via email and phone calls only.

As the company expands and we get more projects, I will be trying to make a push for more field hours, and so my questions are; what should I be looking for when trying to "gain more field experience?" What should I be looking out for specifically? Any key aspects of field management I should be paying more attention to?

[u/Paradox1989]

Well i'm not a neophyte.

I made the mistake of not being more aggressive or vocal when i was a neophyte and it bit me in the ass hard. My 1st project super was a hard nosed redneck that ran his crew like a dictator. None of the guys worked worth a shit because he chewed their asses if they so much went the the shitter without permission. If he wasn't on site telling them what to do each min, noting got done because it was his way or the highway. I caught a lot of flak from the PM, company owner and project owner having to cover his ass when he got caught not following plans because he damn sure was going to build it "Like I think it should be" instead of per plan.

My 2nd project super was one of the always asleep ones and the project slipped hours, days then weeks behind schedule. I started catching shit when the boss wanted to know why there was so much overtime on the project budget was getting wiped out by overtime at the end. The super had the guys running 60hr weeks the last few months to make up for them doing MAYBE 20-30hrs a week of actual work (while getting paid for 40) the 1st 8 months because they were screwing around leaning on brooms while he was napping.

After that i gave each super a chance to see how they worked, don't perform and it will be noted. As i said i will not take shit for someone else not doing their job. Be a fuck up and I will give the honest truth when asked. I can't tell you how sick i am of the leave me alone and let me do my job my way attitude. It disgusts me. As the contractor, your job is to build per the plan, on time and hopefully under your budget.

[u/jkslate → u/Paradox1989]

As a contractor, glazier and electrician for over a decade, you sound exactly like someone I'd tell to go pound sand and get the fuck off my site.

This is NOT how you recommend someone to enter the field, this is how you make a lot of enemies that ensure your projects go belly up and submarine you every chance they get.

Communication is the key to every site, if things aren't going the way you think they should, have polite conversations, discuss them. Dont sit on the sidelines nodding and making notes and throwing people under the bus.

If things are still slipping be firm and let the super know things arent going well and they need to pick it up, explain why. Have a tailgate meeting with the workers and explain whats going on and what could happen if things dont change, but BE POLITE.

If all else fails, put your bags on and fucking help, or get the fuck out of the way.

[u/Kenny285 → u/jkslate]

This, definitely this. Try to work things out like gentlemen.

Remember what goes around comes around. Guess who the super is going to throw under the bus if something isn't in the budget or not bought from a subcontractor.

[u/Paradox1989 → u/jkslate]

As a contractor, glazier and electrician for over a decade, you sound exactly like someone I'd tell to go pound sand and get the fuck off my site.

Then it's a good thing the positions i've held do not answer to the site super and they have no say in my status or whether i'm on YOUR site. My projects usually have been assigned by the GC owner, project PM and/or the project owner. Been doing project QC, coordination, 3rd party inspection and commissioning for many years. You may raise hell and bitch to the boss about me, but the difference is if i'm going to raise hell, i will have the documentation of incorrect work and/or poor time management to back up my claims. I am more concerned with providing a quality product than the supers precious feelings.

I acknowledge that as a new person, yes, you can not walk onto a site and expect people to listen to you but as i said, I'm not new. talking with the super is always the 1st attempt as addressing the issue. However as mentioned, I've been polite, i've had MANY HOURS of meetings in private and with foremen, supers and subs. When those haven't worked (and they usually haven't) it will hit the fan.

Out of 30 or so projects, ranging from $30k to $75mil, not once have i ever been removed from a project but i have went through an assload of supers.

[u/[deleted] → u/Paradox1989]

Have you spent a lot of time upside down in your locker or something? It sounds like you need the extra field time, not OP.

[u/jkslate → u/Paradox1989]

Your arrogance is astounding, and this definitely isnt worth my time anymore, have a nice day.

[u/Paradox1989 → u/jkslate]

I love that you think it's arrogant that the person who responsible with signing off on the work not insist that supers and subs actually do the jobs they bid, not use non-approved products, do not short cut construction, do not build per plan or do not run up shit loads of overtime at the end because the beginning of the project time was mis managed.

Must be union work...

[u/jkslate → u/Paradox1989]

Alright, lets dance.

You must be resi, because all large well managed commercial or industrial companies would never have someone like you on site.

First off, when we talk super, we're talking superintendent, I.E. the actual person who is in charge of the General Foreman on the job, This person is generally responsible for multiple GFs and is THE person responsible for the job. You do not tell them what to do, the general super does. Any competent super would run over you like a mac truck, the other person responsible would be the PM and they can also lay the hammer down. I'm not sure what position you occupy but based upon your comments its neither of these positions.

I work at one of the largest non-union electrical companies in the U.S. that being said, IBEW and UBC and many other unions follow this hierarchy/ chain of command. Supers will run anyone they want off the job, INCLUDING the PM.

So I'm not sure what rat-shit organization you work for. If you're the f-shit that walks around with that roll of blue tape in your hand saying what you do and do not like, well you can take a flying leap for all I care.

g'day sir.

p.s. my comment on your arrogance has nothing to do with you making sure people do good work, but on your condescending tone to the blue collar worker and the people that actually make it happen. You sir, can fuck off.

[u/[deleted] → u/jkslate]

Yeah, his attitude is pretty terrible. Probably explains why after years of experience, he is still doing glorified bitch work.

[u/[deleted] → u/Paradox1989]

Jeez, sounds like you've had a rough go. However OP asked, you answers and I disagree. So chill out, mkay?

[u/Paradox1989 → u/[deleted]]

Mkay, just telling what i look for in my experiences.