Even candidates with little or no experience on a construction site will still be considered for positions within Carmichael UK. Chainmen or Assistant Engineer positions provide a good avenue for people looking to progress their career and gain further experience within the Construction Industry. There is potential to develop candidates working in these roles up to full Site Engineering level.

From the early beginnings it would be beneficial to have worked on a construction site previously, although it is not essential. It is not possible to become an Engineer overnight but below is a typical career path to give an overview of the steps to take:

Chainman

To adequately fill this role a “can do attitude” and enthusiasm is needed. The right person also has to be willing to learn and be able to communicate effectively with co-workers. This position gives the opportunity to learn daily occurrences such as survey techniques, site terminology and good communication skills. Depending on starting level, an average time to remain in this position could be 3 – 6 months.

This type of position could also be of benefit to an engineer from overseas looking to gain experience in the UK market before taking roles involving full Engineering responsibility.

Assistant Engineer

Moving up from a chainman, a candidate would have to demonstrate knowledge of Setting up Survey instruments and an understanding of Survey methods and reasoning. Some exposure to site paperwork would also be required, in addition to as-built surveys. Generally the role would involve developing a feel for the daily responsibilities of a Site Engineer. An average time to remain in this position could be around 3-6 months.

Technician

A technician would be expected to undertake (with supervision) their own setting out on a daily basis. They would become comfortable with various types of construction works and become proficient with other tasks such as record keeping. A candidate could expect added responsibility of some supervision and looking after sub-contractors. They would have a superior Engineer to report to with any queries or problems. An average time to remain in this position could be 3 months.

Junior Engineer

A Junior Engineer would be expected to work mainly unsupervised and on their own initiative with duties such as setting out, record keeping, crew supervision and liaison. Candidates would start to become familiar with construction techniques and engineering required on a project. They would also be working towards making decisions on their own. An average time to remain in this position could be for around 1 or 2 contracts but a realistic time frame would be around 3-6 months.