Who is a Supervisor?
A supervisor or team-leader has the power and authority to give instructions and/or orders to subordinates. In addition, the supervisor is responsible for the work and actions of other employees. In the construction industry, the supervisor ensures that a group of construction workers gets out the assigned amount of production, when they are supposed to do it and maximizing the levels of quality, costs, crew-harmony and safety. As a member of a larger management team, a supervisor's main job is more concerned with orchestrating and controlling construction work rather than performing it directly. In order to become a supervisor, a leader needs to first show great knowledge of his/her trade. For instance, a supervisor in a carpenter's crew would usually be a person who seems to get the most out of all the carpenters through leadership and who possess extensive knowledge of carpentry.
Usually, it takes a great worker and leader between 2 and 6 years to consolidate a position as a team-leader or supervisor. Either through company-internal or union-based apprenticeship programs, workers receive a combination of on-the-job training or class training that assists all workers development in a specific trade. During the time workers develop their trade skills, a natural process of selection often takes place for recognizing outstanding leaders within the crew. Different courses assist workers in making this ascendant move to supervisor (see the Construction Education section of the Career Connections), but the Stepping up to Supervisor program is currently on demand these days.
According to the Iowa Workforce Development center, on average a supervisor earns an entry wage of $17.07. After some years of experience, a supervisor median wage could reach $27.48. The next step up for a supervisor is to become a project superintendent. In this case, a superintendent is in charge of supervisors of different trades. Many supervisors prefer not to Step up to Superintendent based on many reasons. However, making a career as a supervisor could mean an experience wage of up to $32.85. Not bad at all!
An experent in an specific trade with leadership skills will help you consolidate a place as a supervisor. You can eaither shoot for becoming a project superintendent through more advance training or make a career as a project supervisor.
