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Administrative services managers work in all areas of the economy. Their areas of responsibility are quite varied. But whether they work for a large university, a government agency, or for a small company, their role is always the same: Administrative services managers are facilitators. By coordinating and directing a wide range of support services and personnel, they make it possible for everyone else to get their jobs done view more

Every doorway, wall, and window in every building is where it is because someone decided to put it there. Someone also decided what building materials would be use, what traffic patterns people would follow, and even how they would feel when entering or leaving the building. That “someone,” of course was an architect. The same person may also have been responsible for designing the plumbing, heating, and electrical systems, and even overseeing the building’s construction view more

A craft as old as civilization itself, now uses methods both ancient and modern. Boat Builders and Shipwrights construct and repair ships and boats of all kinds from small pleasure craft to commercial and naval vessels. These boats are built from a range of materials including metal, wood, aluminum, fiberglass and plastic. They work from designs on paper—blueprints—to make sure the work is “ship-shape view more

Carpet installing takes precision--and a good deal of physical strength and agility. Installers need to be able to handle large heavy rolls of padding and carpet. They also spend a lot of time kneeling and bending. Their judgment is called upon to evaluate the underlying flooring for imperfections. They need to know how things like traffic flow will affect the new carpet. Installers must be able to accurately measure and carefully cut the carpets view more

Nothing is more important than the proper nurturing of a child. And whether serving as a day care center employee, camp counselor, or teacher aide, nuturing is exactly what a child care worker does. Finger painting, show-and-tell, and group projects, are much more than just activities to keep kids busy. They help children develop communications skills, build self-confidence, and learn how to work with others view more

Civil engineers build things. Things like roads, bridges, tunnels, dams, and airports. They combine a knowledge of materials science, engineering, economics, physics, geology, and hydraulics to create the physical infrastructure essential to modern life. Naturally, there are numerous sub-specialties. Surveying and mapping engineers identify the best sites for construction. Hydraulic and irrigation engineers focus on dams, flood control, wells, and reservoirs view more

Clergy are the spiritual and religious leaders of their faith. They lead their congregations in prayer and teach and interpret religious traditions. Clergy organize religious services and officiate at special ceremonies such as weddings, baptisms, bar mitzvahs and funerals. They also visit the sick and dying and counsel and comfort people with family problems. As leaders of their faith, clergy should inspire confidence while being sensitive to the needs of others view more

Communication equipment mechanics install and maintain the switches that connect someone with someone else whenever they dial the phone. Many work in “central offices” — those windowless phone company buildings seen in many towns. Mechanics specializing in installation and repair setup and connect computer phone switches. They punch copper wire into connector boards or splice fiber optic cable to make the physical connections and then program the switches to establish the electronic connections view more

In a hotel, apartment or office building, a person with the title concierge helps ease the way for visitors and residents in many ways. The concierge may take messages, arrange transportation, or process requests for housekeeping and maintenance. In some areas, the concierge is the person to see for tickets for a sporting event, or show. It’s a crucial position for the management of the building or hotel, because the concierge can make people feel good…or bad…about the establishment view more

When buildings, roads, bridges or utility systems are built or repaired, the work must comply with various building and safety codes. Construction and Building Inspectors make sure that these codes are followed. Most Inspectors work for federal, state and local governments. Inspectors start their work when a project begins and conduct follow-up inspections throughout the project to monitor compliance to the codes view more

Some call them messengers, some call them couriers. What they do is pick up and deliver letters, important business documents or packages. Even in an electronic age, the physical act of delivering something important is essential. A messenger is called when the item has to be delivered quickly or when it’s so important that it has to be hand-carried to its destination. Usually messengers deliver things locally—either within a building when they work for a large company, or across town in a metropolitan area view more

A drafter “draws” the plans that specify how something should be constructed. Engineers and architects may develop the grand design of a machine, building, or circuit board, but the drafter is the one who does the “heavy lifting” of filling in the specific details -— without which nothing could be built. The work of drafters is all around you. Your computer, your telephone, and your TV exist because a drafter at some company created a set of plans specifying how it should be built view more

For years after Edison invented the light bulb, people wouldn't buy a lamp unless it could use both electricity and gas. Most assumed electricity in the home was just a fad, and they wanted to be prepared for the return to gaslight. Today, of course, civilization depends on electricity and on the men and women who splice the wires and install the switches to make the electricity flow. The work of electricians is as varied as the uses for electricity itself view more

“The cause of the blaze is under investigation.” By the time you hear that phrase in a news story about a fire, a special kind of detective has already been hard at work trying to crack the case. Where we see burnt rubble, a fire investigator sees clues. Often before the smoke clears, this investigator is at the scene collecting and documenting evidence to determine the cause of the fire. This can involve carefully sifting through debris with specialized equipment and running lab tests on it view more

Building a new high rise, shopping mall or factory is a complicated effort. Construction Managers supervise these projects, make decisions about daily operations and keep costs within budget. Construction managers represent the building owner or developer and coordinate the entire construction process. They decide on construction methodsthe number of workers needed, hire contractors and setupschedules and do cost estimates view more

Flowers add a special touch to any occasion. But they would be considerably less special were it not for the floral designers who work at most retail florist shops. These are the people who combine their innate creativity and color sense with a knowledge of flowers and foliage to create pleasing arrangements. Sometimes, a standard, nationally advertised design will be called for. But often designers listen carefully to a customer’s needs, suggest possible approaches, and create a custom arrangement view more

H-VAC technicians are specialists in "heating, ventilation, and air conditioning" equipment. But a more accurate job title might be "human comfort specialist!" Most people take their comfort in a building or house for granted — until something goes wrong. Only then do they realize that they depend on HVAC technicians to keep them cool in summer and warm in winter. And rarely do they ever understand that that their comfort depends on complex systems of pipes, coils, ducts, fans, compressors, and machines view more

Masons, or "stonemasons" as they are sometimes called, work with marble, granite, limestone, and other materials to build walls, walkways, and arches, and to lay stone floors. Using special tools such as hammers and chisels and water-cooled saws with diamond-toothed blades, masons cut and shape their materials. They must also be able to use irregularly shaped rocks and turn it into a uniform structure--like a wall or floor view more

Does your house stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter? If so, thank the workers who installed the insulation – they did their job properly. An insulation worker installs insulating material by cementing, stapling, wiring, taping or spraying it into buildings, around pipes, boilers and tanks. The insulation can take the form of foam, loose-fill, fiberglass, cellulose, or rock wool and in cases where there is old insulation, workers must first remove it and then secure the new materials view more

Janus was the Roman god who guarded gates and doors, so it's not surprising that the first "janitors" were doorkeepers. Gradually the job responsibilities expanded to include cleaning, sweeping, and otherwise caring for a building. That's why janitors are sometimes also known as "building custodians" or "maintenance workers." Schools, apartment and office buildings, shopping malls, airport terminals, hospitals, and just about every other place people gather, rely on janitors to keep them neat and clean view more

It takes planning, engineering, government permits, money and teamwork to erect a building. The same is true of parklands, golf courses, college campuses, public spaces, bike trails, and even the verge of an expressway. A landscape architect creates planned green space. To do so, he or she must possess imagination, artistic talent, practical skills and a thorough knowledge of ecology, plant and soil science view more

The mailroom is a place to start in a company, and gain experience to advance if you stand out as a reliable, efficient, energetic employee. It’s an entry-level job that provides an opportunity for people without much work experience. Mail clerks handle mail that moves in and around a company, as well as the mail being sent out. So some mail clerks load mail into carts that they take around the building view more

From construction digs to assembly lines, businesses rely on a key equipment specialist to set up the work area: the millwright. Millwrights install, repair and dismantle heavy, motor-driven equipment at construction sites, and in large manufacturing and processing centers, industrial plants…and any place with a conveyor belt or assembly line.. Even before the equipment gets to the site, the millwright is already there, consulting with managers, checking blueprints and choosing the best location for the machinery view more

Operating engineers quite literally operate power-driven construction machines like shovels, cranes, tractors, bulldozers, pile drivers, concrete mixers, and industrial pumps. If something is massive and heavy, and if it requires a big, powerful machine, an operating engineer will probably be involved. Work sites include building and road construction projects, mines, steel mills, warehouses, and heavy manufacturing plants view more

The term plumber comes from the Latin word for lead, the material used for joints and pipes for centuries. Modern plumbers no longer use lead, but they still spend much of their time assembling, installing, and repairing pipes for systems that carry everything from water and steam to oil and gas. Plumbers can be found at construction sites and in residential and commercial buildings, where a great deal of the work involves cutting, bending, threading, and joining pipes and fittings view more

Property or Real Estate Managers are the people who supervise the vital behind the scenes operations of malls, commercial office buildings or apartment buildings. They advertise apartments and commercial space, negotiate leases, pay bills, prepare financial statements and report to the owners on the status of their properties. Managers also negotiate contracts for building services and hire and supervise maintenance and management personnel view more

Roofers work with diverse materials on many types of buildings: residential, commercial and industrial. In addition to new building, roofers do repair work on existing roofing, so their jobs are less affected by economic downturns than other construction jobs. Roofers need a good sense of balance, and must not be afraid of heights. They work outdoors in all types of weather. The job can be very strenuous, from erecting scaffolds, to hauling heavy bags of shingles up ladders view more

Sheet metal duct installers make, install and maintain heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems. They may also construct pollution control systems. Ductwork installation actually begins in a shop, where components are fabricated to meet a particular building’s needs. Drafting and specification reading are important tools at this stage, so installers must have good math skills and mechanical aptitude view more

Heating, air-conditioning and ventilation systems keep apartment buildings and commercial complexes comfortable year round. Stationary Engineers make sure these vital systems operate properly. In addition, engineers oversee the building’s electrical and fire safety systems. So they need to be knowledgeable about running various types of mechanical and electrical equipment. Being able to follow instruction manuals and complex diagrams is essential view more

If ever there was a career that combined specialized skill with job diversity, this is it. Experienced structural iron workers build everything from bridges to highways, office buildings to factories. From the frames that support a building to the railings that surround its stairs, structural metal workers are involved in almost every facet of construction. They may even fabricate and install the lampposts! Cranes and derricks that lift materials to the tops of high-rises are also assembled by structural metal workers view more

Some manufacturing workers like their jobs super-sized. Structural metal fabricators and fitters construct enormous metal objects from tanks and water towers…to frames for buildings and bridges. Though the projects can be massive, the work is quite intricate. Following blueprints, fabricators make patterns and templates as guides. Fabricators use special machinery to cut the metal into the required pieces or plates view more