I did not graduate from medical school nor did I complete my residency. And, no, I don’t really operate on people, but I do qualify as a surgeon because I’ve been watching the latest season of “Grey’s Anatomy” on television. If Dr. Derek Shepherd can do it, why can’t I?
Oh, and did I mention I can drive in the Indianapolis 500 now because I watched it in its entirety on Memorial Day weekend?
Wannabe
I hired an ex-U.S. Army medic to work on a Gulf Coast construction project. He, along with other specialists, had performed minor surgeries and treated minor injuries while serving in the Middle East. Upon his return to construction, and without anyone suspecting it, he continued to use his medical skills. As I was touring the construction site one day, I ventured into the first aid room only to find him about to suture an employee who had suffered a serious laceration. No problem, he told me, this was routine for him. “Whoa! Not so fast,” I said. “We are in the U.S. now, and there are different rules of engagement and protocols.” The injured man was patched up and sent to the designated clinic where a “real” doctor sutured and treated the employee. Although the injury was a recordable by OSHA definitions, it was a lesson learned for me.
I wonder …
Since I’ve seen supposedly qualified people do things that are not allowed and not usually permitted, I wonder how many project leaders, and even crafts, get to a project without experience and do work they are not qualified to do. So, just to see if I could do it, I completed a pipefitter craft assessment. Believe it or not, I passed even though I’ve never served as a pipefitter and I didn’t know the Blue Book well. Still, I completed the knowledge assessment validating I had the knowledge required. I con-fess my years as a piping designer helped me pass the assessment but I wondered if I could “fool” some employer into thinking I was a craftsman, how many times could others deceive employers?
Construction professional
Reading materials and understanding the blueprints does not qualify one to perform professional services. I understand scheduling, but that does not make me a scheduler. My knowledge in contracts and procurement doesn’t qualify me as a contracts manager or purchasing specialist. Projects usually get into trouble during the mobilization phase, and these issues continue for the duration of the project often with contractors winding up in litigation with plant owners/operators. Could this be due to nonqualified workers performing work they should not perform? My guess is yes. We have many projects staffed with less than qualified individuals who are hoping to get by without their qualifications being questioned or their job performances being noticed.
A current company president, who used to be my boss, worked in each construction department for years in preparation for being the ultimate boss. He has vast and firsthand knowledge of all elements of construction. He is comfortable talking about estimates, budgets, quality and, most especially, safety. He has the social skills needed and can converse on almost any subject. He not only can run a project successfully but also has the skills to treat people like they should be treated. He once replaced a supervisor who did not treat her field workers the same as she did the office personnel. Muddy boots and coveralls don’t mean a worker should be disrespected.
McDreamy
Dr. Shepherd, a.k.a. Dr. McDreamy on “Grey’s Anatomy,” could probably schmooze his way into a project manager position. His good looks and acting skills would help. But, being experienced on-site requires far more than acting. You may know the construction process. You may be able to sequence time, materials, equipment and human resources into a schedule. You may have knowledge of all the crafts skills needed. You may know it all. But successful experience in all facets is the key. Until you serve time as an assistant, a junior, a trainee or mentee, maybe they should call you a “wannabe” or a McDreamy.
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