The Results-Oriented Construction Workplace

Construction jobs, whether bookkeeping, accounts receivable or auditing, are involved in a lot of detail. When construction people are so engrossed in the details of their jobs, it's easy for them, for anyone actually, to lose sight of the job's major contribution.

A Results-Oriented Construction Job Description is different from a traditional job description because it focuses an employee on the several job results that answer the question: What results must this construction job accomplish for the organization?

Construction Job Standards added to job expectations tighten management controls by clarifying how well and when results must be accomplished.

Construction Job Objectives establish management and employee plans by highlighting important current and future results needed.

Job-specific Construction Employee Management Forms maintain consistent and legally sound management actions by basing manager-employee interactions on job results.

The Purpose of Construction Jobs

Stated in a results-oriented, three-line style, construction jobs--

BUILD STRUCTURES by

identifying construction objectives; preparing designs and specifications; calculating and tracking costs; selecting and hiring sub-contractors; monitoring delivery schedules and production; resolving construction problems; inspecting and maintaining quality.

Types of Construction Jobs

Some construction jobs study construction requirements and prepare designs and specifications for others to follow. Other jobs check build codes, prepare and negotiate contracts and estimate costs. Still other jobs actual build the structure, such as iron workers, bricklayers, cement masons, roofers, tile setters, electricians and plumbers.

Somebody needs to know exactly how much it costs to build the structure, and to prepare forms, applications and reports. And, of course, somebody has to manage and supervise the construction people and processes.

Construction Job Management Tools

Here are actual job examples of how construction job actions can be focused on results and kept on track using each of our job management tools:

Results-Oriented Construction Job Descriptions form the foundation of all job management tools. Our uniquely structured job descriptions focus on the result to be accomplished first and prominently, followed by the duties performed in order to accomplish the result. For example,

RECOMMENDS CONSTRUCTION ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

Construction Job Standards sharpen employee attention and management control by defining and communicating how well the construction results must be accomplished and what benchmarks will be used to measure job results. For example, for the job result above, the job standards might be:

• Construction situations are correctly understood.
• All options are identified and evaluated.
• Construction recommendations are ready when needed.

Construction Job Objectives point the direction for employee actions by focusing job efforts on current and future construction issues. Job objectives are written in the three-line, results-oriented structure. For example, for the job result above, a job objective might be:

SPEED-UP DECISION MAKING by

reducing time to deliver construction recommendations by 10% by (date).

Construction Employee Management Forms tied specifically to each construction job description are more helpful (and legal) than generic forms used for all different kinds of jobs. Job-specific forms are used to state job qualifications, guide job interview questions, orient new employees, plan job training, and appraise job performance.

Construction Job Qualifications are stated in the same terms used in the job description. They are not translated into generic (typically behavioral) terms. For example:

RECOMMENDS CONSTRUCTION ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

Construction Job Interview guide questions are inserted directly below each job result in the job description: For example:

• "What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?"
• "Where did you have these job responsibilities?"
• "When did you have these job responsibilities?"
• "How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?"
• "What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?"
• "In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?"
• "How did you overcome the challenges?"

The Construction Job Orientation guide reformats the job description sequence so that job explanations, policies, protocols, processes, and procedures are logical and complete and can easily be checked off. For example:

RECOMMENDS CONSTRUCTION ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

The manager might say: "Here's the procedure and format we use to analyze and present construction recommendations."

The Construction Job Training plan guides a thorough examination of actual job knowledge, skills, and abilities as described in the job description that need improvement or that might be enhanced. For example:

RECOMMENDS CONSTRUCTION ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

The manager might say: "Analytical skills would be improved by enrolling in a statistical analysis class."

The Construction Job Performance Appraisal guide is a job-specific form. It is not a universal form used for all jobs. The guide adds an appraisal scale below each job result in the job description so that attention can be drawn to each job requirement and expectation. For example:

RECOMMENDS CONSTRUCTION ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

__ Great! Just want we wanted.
__ We have a problem.
__ Improvement is needed.
__ Much, much more than we asked for.

Comments: _________________

Construction Résumé Template

Potential employers want to know what a job applicant has accomplished in his/her construction work career. They don't want to be bored with minor details. Our Résumé Template provides:

• an outline to help assemble personal background information.
• a Results-Oriented Job Description to provide the construction job language-focused on results-needed to write an effective résumé.
• Construction Job Objectives to orient thinking in terms of accomplishments.
• instructions on how to use a Results-Oriented Construction Job Description and Construction Job Objectives to express job accomplishments.

Use the construction job description responsibility statement as a base:

RECOMMENDS CONSTRUCTION ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

Select the construction job objective that fits your experience:

REDUCE COSTS 10% by

improving construction processes.

Combine the two into a résumé statement:

Reduced costs 10% by analyzing, identifying, and recommending new construction system controls.

Construction Career Links

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Construction Managers

Learn about the training and education needed for construction management jobs, earnings, expected job prospects, what managers do on the job, and working conditions.

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Construction Laborers

Training and education required for construction laborer jobs, earnings, expected job prospects, what managers do on the job, and working conditions.

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Construction Equipment Operators

Training and education needed for construction management jobs, earnings, expected job prospects, what managers do on the job, and working conditions.

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Construction Engineers

Construction engineering jobs required training and education, earnings, expected job prospects, what managers do on the job, and working conditions.

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Construction Cost Estimators

Information about the training and education needed for construction cost estimating jobs, earnings, expected job prospects, what managers do on the job, and working conditions.

Michigan Construction Careers

Construction apprentice schools-scope of work, working conditions, apprenticeship requirements, contacts.