Commonwealth Occupations

CAREER GUIDE FOR CARPENTERS

Standard Occupational Code: 47-2031.01

Pay Band: 3 and 4 (Salary Structure)

Standard Occupational Description: Construct, erect, install, and repair structures and fixtures of wood, plywood, and wallboard, using carpenter's hand tools and power tools.

Carpenter positions in the Commonwealth are assigned to the following Role in the Building Trades Career Group:

Trades Technician III

Trades Technician IV

While Carpenters within the Commonwealth are all located within the Building and Trades Career Group, individuals may want to pursue other opportunities within the Commonwealth depending upon individual training, education, knowledge, skills, abilities, and interests.

Other Career Group(s) that may be of interest are:

Equipment Service and Repair

Transportation Operations

Utility Plant Operations

Engineering Technology

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND TASKS

(Technical and Functional Expertise)

Skills

Note: The technical and functional skills listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Carpenters commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the skills listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.

1. Using mathematics to solve problems.

2. Managing one's own time and the time of others.

3. Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

4. Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

5. Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

6. Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

7. Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.

8. Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

9. Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.

10. Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.

Knowledge

Note: The technical and functional knowledge statements listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Carpenters commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the knowledge listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.

The Knowledge of:

1. Materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

2. Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

3. Design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

4. Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

5. Practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

6. Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

7. Relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

8. Laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Abilities

Note: The technical and functional abilities listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Carpenters commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the abilities listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.

The Ability to:

1. Keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

2. Coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

3. Use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

4. See details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

5. Arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, and mathematical operations).

6. Quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

7. Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

8. Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

9. Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

10. Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Tasks

Note: The following is a list of sample tasks typically performed by Carpenters. Employees in this occupation will not necessarily perform all of the tasks listed.

1. Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.

2. Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.

3. Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.

4. Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saw.

5. Study specifications in blueprints, sketches or building plans to prepare project layout and determine dimensions and materials required.

6. Assemble and fasten materials to make framework or props, using hand tools and wood screws, nails, dowel pins, or glue.

7. Build or repair cabinets, doors, frameworks, floors, and other wooden fixtures used in buildings, using woodworking machines, carpenter's hand tools, and power tools.

8. Erect scaffolding and ladders for assembling structures above ground level.

9. Remove damaged or defective parts or sections of structures and repair or replace, using hand tools.

10. Install structures and fixtures, such as windows, frames, floorings, and trim, or hardware, using carpenter's hand and power tools.

INTERESTED?

Like people, occupations have traits or characteristics. These characteristics give important clues about the nature of the work and work environment, and give you an opportunity to match your own personal interests to a specific occupation. When you choose a job in an occupation that matches your own interests you have taken an important step in planning a successful and rewarding career.

The carpenter occupation has the following characteristic:

Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

LICENSURE, REGISTRATION, OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Generally licensure is not required for Carpenter positions in state government.

Licensing information for trades occupations can be found on the Department of Professional & Occupational Regulations' web site at http://www.state.dpor.virginia.gov/

EDUCATIONAL, TRAINING, AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

The Department of Labor provides the following information:

Carpenters are involved in many different kinds of construction activity. They cut, fit, and assemble wood and other materials for the construction of buildings, highways, bridges, docks, industrial plants, boats, and many other structures.

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. 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 administer apprenticeship programs. 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.

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 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 also is helpful. Employers and apprenticeship committees generally view favorably any construction-related training and work experience obtained in the Armed Services or Job Corps.

Carpenters may advance to carpentry supervisor or general construction supervisor positions. Carpenters usually have greater opportunities than most other construction workers do to become general construction supervisors, because carpenters are exposed to the entire construction process. Some carpenters become independent contractors.

In Virginia, the Apprenticeship Division of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) administers apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeship programs usually consist of 4 or 5 years of on-the-job training and a minimum of 144 hours per year of classroom instruction. Apprenticeship programs provide comprehensive instruction in both sheet metal fabrication and installation. Detailed information on Apprenticeship programs is available on the DOLI web site at http://www.doli.Virginia.gov/

There are 7 recognized apprenticeable specialties associated with this occupation:
Carpenter; Carpenter, Maintenance; Lather; Prop Maker; Residential Carpenter; Carpenter, Interior Systems; Carpenter, Mold.

For general information about apprenticeships, training, and partnerships with business, visit the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services (OATELS) website.

Many employers, including the Commonwealth, expect trades professionals to gain knowledge, skills, and abilities in more than one area. Multi-skilled workers can add value to the organization and often find that a variety of work assignments can be rewarding.

COMMONWEALTH COMPETENCIES

Competencies are a set of identified behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities that directly and positively impact the success of employees and the organization. Competencies can be observed and measured. When consistently demonstrated, competencies make employees particularly effective in their work. Competencies help lay out a road map to career success. You can use the Commonwealth Competencies to help improve your individual performance by adopting behaviors that make high performing employees successful in their jobs. In this way, you can use the Commonwealth Competencies for your further professional development.

The Commonwealth Competencies are:

1. Technical and Functional Expertise

2. Understanding the Business

3. Achieving Results

4. Serving the Customer

5. Teamwork

6. Interpersonal and Communication Skills

7. Leadership and Personal Effectiveness

The above competencies may be applied to employees throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. They can be rank-ordered by agencies and hiring managers to represent the needs of a specific job. The rank ordering will change depending upon the occupation, an organization's priorities, the actual job requirements, and the supervisor's preferences.

Career success is both about what you do (applying your technical knowledge, skills, and ability) and how you do it (the consistent behaviors you demonstrate and choose to use) while interacting and communicating with others. Hopefully, by studying the Commonwealth competencies, identifying your developmental opportunities, and working to refine your own competence, you can take charge of your career!

For additional information about the Commonwealth Competencies go to: http://jobs.virginia.gov/cd_main.html. For the competencies, we first list the competencies and then define each. Finally, we list competency indicators; to describe what successful performance looks like.

COMMONWEALTH CAREER PATH

Career opportunities in the Commonwealth are not limited to moving “up” to the next highest role and pay band, changing positions, or to becoming a supervisor. That's because most roles describe a broad group of occupationally related positions that perform a range of work that requires increased knowledge and skills. For that reason, Commonwealth roles describe the career paths within the same or higher-level role for the same or different Career Group. The broad salary range and the Commonwealth's pay practices provide flexibility in recognizing career development and advancement. (Salary Structure)

For example: Carpenter

Pay Band	Practitioner Role	Pay Band	Manager Role
3	Trades Technician III	5	Trades Manager I
4	Trades Technician IV	6	Trades Manager II

Sample Career Path

Trades Tech III

The Trades Technician III role provides career tracks for carpenters performing a skilled trade in a specialty area whose work ranges from journey level technician to lead. Some employees may supervise a small crew/staff.

Trades Tech IV

The Trades Technician IV role provides career tracks for carpenters whose responsibilities range from the expert carpenter to first line supervisors of carpenters. The expert carpenter provides guidance to other technicians or works on a "multi-trade" team requiring specialized skills and knowledge in several trades areas.

Trades Manager I

The Trades Manager I role provides career tracks for managers who responsibilities range from assisting in the planning and direction of a buildings and grounds program to managing a comprehensive building and grounds program for facilities such as a training center, rehabilitation center, or hospital. Areas managed may include a power plant, buildings and mechanical maintenance, ground maintenance, housekeeping and related services.

Trades Manager II