Wagner And Hitler Essay, Research Paper

Being a carpenter

Upon the interviews of two trade carpenters, a detailed description

of the occupation of a carpenter came clearly into view. From some of

the most general there was received a more descriptive perspective.

What would someone interested in this job need to do to get started?

What personal qualities/traits should a person have to be successful at this job?

How did you get started in this field?

How much of a challenge is your type of work?

What types of writing do you do?

When you write, who are your usual readers/audiences?

What general tasks does your job entail?

To put it simply, carpenters build things. They cut, fit, and join wood and other materials together. They make many things like buildings, roads, bridges, and boats. Carpenters who work for a special trade contractor do only one or two things like forming molds for concrete or building a frame. A carpenter may also work for a general building contractor. This carpenter performs many tasks, including putting in doors and windows, hanging kitchen cabinets, and installing tile ceilings. Some carpenters change jobs when they finish their tasks. Others switch back and forth from being self-employed on small jobs.

Most carpenters follow the same basic steps when getting ready for a job. They must layout or design the project. Design includes measuring, marking, and arranging materials. The carpenter then cuts and shapes the material. Carpenters use different hand and power tools, such as chisels, saws, and drills. Finally, the carpenter joins the items together with nails, staples, or glue. In this, they use rulers or framing squares to get how accurate their work is.

When working with ready-made parts, such as stairs or parts of walls, the carpenter’s job is easier. A carpenter may install these parts all at one time. Carpenters may also replace glass, ceiling tiles, and doors. Some carpenters repair desks and cabinets; put in doors and windows; change locks; and repair broken furniture. In a factory, carpenters may help move or install machinery.

How stressful is your job?

Carpentry work is sometimes stressful. It often involves standing

for a long time, climbing, bending, and kneeling. Carpenters risk getting hurt from slipping or falling, or from working with sharp or rough tools.

In relation to that, what are the working conditions like?

As in other building trades, carpentry work is sometimes strenuous. Prolonged standing, climbing, bending, and kneeling are often necessary. Carpenters risk injury working with sharp or rough materials, using sharp tools and power equipment, and from slips or falls. Additionally, many carpenters work outdoors, which can be uncomfortable. Some carpenters change employers each time they finish a construction job. Others alternate between working for a contractor and working as contractors themselves on small jobs.

Jobs

Carpenters held about 1.1 million jobs in 1998. Most of them, about 80 percent, worked for contractors who build or repair buildings. Most others worked for private firms, government agencies, retail stores, and schools. Nearly one-third were self-employed. Carpenters get jobs in most parts of the country.

Preparing for the job

Carpenters learn their work mostly on the job and through training programs. Many carpenters learn their skills in school. High school courses in carpentry, shop, drawing, and math will help on the job. Some carpenters join a program called an apprenticeship. This program combines learning on the job and classroom work. Applicants for this program must be at least 17 years old and pass an exam to see if they have the skills to become a carpenter. The length of the program is usually 3 to 4 years.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

Carpenters learn their trade through on-the-job training, as well as formal training programs. Most pick up skills informally by working under the supervision of experienced workers. Many acquire skills through vocational education. Others participate in employer training programs or apprenticeships. Most employers recommend an apprenticeship as the best way to learn carpentry. Apprenticeship programs are administered by local joint union-management committees of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, the Associated General Contractors, Inc., and the National Association of Home Builders. In addition, training programs are administered by local chapters of the Associated Builders and Contractors and by local chapters of the Associated General Contractors, Inc. These programs combine on-the-job training with related classroom instruction. On the job, apprentices learn elementary structural design and become familiar with common carpentry jobs, such as layout, form building, rough framing, and outside and inside finishing. They also learn to use the tools, machines, equipment, and materials of the trade. Apprentices receive classroom instruction in safety, first aid, blueprint reading, freehand sketching, basic mathematics, and different carpentry techniques. Both in the classroom and on the job, they learn the relationship between carpentry and the other building trades.

Usually, apprenticeship applicants must be at least 17 years old and meet local requirements. For example, some union locals test an

applicant’s aptitude for carpentry. The length of the program, usually about 3 to 4 years, varies with the apprentice’s skill. Because the number of apprenticeship programs is limited, however, only a small proportion of carpenters learn their trade through these programs.

Informal on-the-job training is normally less thorough than an apprenticeship. The degree of training and supervision often depends on the size of the employing firm. A small contractor specializing in home-building may only provide training in rough framing. In contrast, a large general contractor may provide training in several carpentry skills. Although specialization is becoming increasingly common, it is important to try to acquire skills in all aspects of carpentry and to have the flexibility to perform any kind of work. A high school education is desirable, including courses in carpentry, shop, mechanical drawing, and general mathematics. Manual dexterity, eye-hand coordination, physical fitness, and a good sense of balance are important. The ability to solve arithmetic problems quickly and accurately is also helpful. Employers and apprenticeship committees generally view favorably any training and work experience obtained in the Armed Services or Job Corps. Carpenters may advance to carpentry supervisors or general construction supervisors. Carpenters usually have greater opportunities than most other construction workers to become general construction supervisors, because carpenters are exposed to the entire construction process. Some carpenters become independent contractors. To advance, these workers should be able to estimate the nature and quantity of materials needed to properly complete a job. In addition, they must be able to estimate, with accuracy, how long a job should take to complete and its cost. New carpenters learn many things on the job, including basic design, common job skills, use of tools and machines, safety, and first aid. They practice drawing and apply math on the job too.

The future

Finding a job as a carpenter should be easy. From 1998-2008, thousands of jobs will become available each year because the occupation is so large. However, there is still the chance of losing a

job. This happens because many construction jobs do not last a long

time and bad weather may halt other jobs. Carpenter jobs also depend on the part of the country they live. Construction jobs go where people and businesses move and where the local business is good. Therefore, the number of jobs in any year will be different from area to area. Construction jobs will increase as people want new houses and firms want to make old buildings new again. Building things depends on the economy. When the economy is not doing so well, there are a smaller number of jobs for carpenters. New and improved tools make the job of a carpenter more flexible. Therefore, carpenters with all-around skills may get better projects than those who can only do simple tasks.

Job Outlook

Job opportunities for carpenters are expected to be plentiful through the year 2008, due primarily to extensive replacement needs. Thousands of job openings will become available each year as carpenters transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. The total number of job openings for carpenters is usually greater than for other craft occupations, because the carpentry occupation is large and the turnover rate is high. Because there are no strict training requirements for entry, many people with limited skills take jobs as carpenters but eventually leave the occupation because they dislike the work or cannot find steady employment. However, employment of carpenters is expected to increase for all occupations through the year 2008. Increased demand for carpenters will create additional job openings. Construction activity should increase slowly, in response to demand for new housing and commercial and industrial plants and the need to renovate and modernize existing structures. Opportunities for frame carpenters should be particularly good. However, the demand for carpenters will be offset somewhat by expected productivity gains resulting from the increasing use of prefabricated components, such as prehung doors and windows and prefabricated wall panels and stairs, which can be installed very quickly. Prefabricated walls, partitions, and stairs can be lifted into place in one operation; beams—and in some cases entire roof assemblies—can be lifted into place using a crane. As prefabricated components become more standardized, builders may use them more often. In addition, improved adhesives will reduce the time needed to join materials, and lightweight, cordless pneumatic and combustion tools—such as nailers and drills—and sanders with electronic speed controls will make carpenters more efficient. Carpenters can experience periods of unemployment because of the short-term nature of many construction projects and the cyclical nature of the construction industry. Building activity depends on many factors—interest rates, availability of mortgage funds, government spending, and business investment—that vary with the state of the economy. During economic downturns, the number of job openings for carpenters declines. New and improved tools, equipment, techniques, and materials have vastly increased carpenter versatility. Therefore, carpenters with all-round skills will have better opportunities than those who can only do a few

relatively simple, routine tasks. Job opportunities for carpenters also vary by geographic area. Construction activity parallels the movement of people and businesses and reflects differences in local economic conditions. Therefore, the number of job opportunities and apprenticeship opportunities in a given year may vary widely from area to area.

Pay

In 1998, half of all carpenters earned between $10.84 and $18.57 an hour. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $8.74 and the highest 10 percent earned over $23.57 an hour. Sometimes carpenters may lose work time in bad weather and when the economy is not doing well. When this happens, their wages drop.

Earnings

In 1998, median hourly earnings of carpenters were $13.82. The middle 50 percent earned between $10.84 and $18.57. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $8.74 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $23.57. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of carpenters in 1997 are shown below:

Nature of the Work

Carpenters are involved in many different kinds of construction activity. They cut, fit, and assemble wood and other materials in the construction of buildings, highways, bridges, docks, industrial plants, boats, and many other structures. Carpenters’ duties vary by type of employer. Builders increasingly are using specialty trade contractors who, in turn, hire carpenters who specialize in just one or two activities. Some of these activities are setting forms for concrete construction; erecting scaffolding; or doing finishing work, such as installing interior and exterior trim. However, a carpenter directly employed by a general building contractor often must perform a variety of the tasks associated with new construction, such as framing walls and partitions, putting in doors and windows, building stairs, laying hardwood floors, and hanging kitchen cabinets. Because local building codes often dictate where certain materials can be used, carpenters must know these requirements. Each carpentry task is somewhat different, but most involve the same basic steps. Working from blueprints or instructions from supervisors, carpenters first do the layout—measuring, marking, and arranging materials. They cut and shape wood, plastic, fiberglass, or drywall, using hand and power tools, such as chisels, planes, saws, drills, and sanders. They then join the materials with nails, screws, staples, or adhesives. In the final step, carpenters check the accuracy of their work with levels, rules, plumb bobs, and framing squares and make any necessary adjustments. When working with prefabricated components, such as stairs or wall panels, the carpenter’s task is somewhat simpler than above, because it does not require as much layout work or the cutting and assembly of as many pieces. Prefabricated components are designed for easy and fast installation and generally can be installed in a single operation.

Carpenters who remodel homes and other structures must be able to do

all aspects of a job—and not just one task. Thus, individuals with good basic overall training are at a distinct advantage, because they can switch from residential building to commercial construction or remodeling work, depending on which offers the best work opportunities.

Carpenters employed outside the construction industry perform a variety of installation and maintenance work. They may replace panes of glass, ceiling tiles, and doors, as well as repair desks, cabinets, and other furniture. Depending on the employer, carpenters install partitions, doors, and windows; change locks; and repair broken furniture. In manufacturing firms, carpenters may assist in moving or installing machinery.

Employment

Carpenters, the largest group of building trades workers, held about 1.1 million jobs in 1998. Nearly 4 of every 5 worked for contractors who build, remodel, or repair buildings and other structures. Most of the remainder worked for manufacturing firms, government agencies, wholesale and retail establishments, or schools. Nearly one-third were self-employed. Carpenters are employed throughout the country in almost every community.

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