Table 1Transition record

steeplejacktotower crane operator

A steeplejack already meets 32% of what the tower crane operator role asks for. The move turns on 10 required skills not yet in the profile.

From steeplejack

32%

Overlap1

To tower crane operator

8 Skills carried over

10 Required, not held

64.7 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 64.7

This move: 64.7 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the tower crane operator role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the steeplejack profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 8 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A tower crane operator role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a steeplejack background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held set up temporary construction site infrastructure constructing
already held work in a construction team communication, collaboration and creativity
already held use safety equipment in construction assisting and caring
already held follow safety procedures when working at heights assisting and caring
already held follow health and safety procedures in construction assisting and caring
already held keep personal administration information skills

All 8 carried skills, including the 5 the tower crane operator role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 19 missing skills fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 information skills 3 required

required, not held inspect construction sites required
required, not held interpret 2D plans required
required, not held interpret 3D plans required

02 working with machinery and specialised equipment 2 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held secure heavy construction equipment required
required, not held operate tower crane required

optional, not held guide operation of heavy construction equipment optional
optional, not held operate heavy construction machinery without supervision optional
optional, not held perform minor repairs to equipment optional

03 engineering, manufacturing and construction 2 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held mechanical systems required
required, not held mechanical tools required

optional, not held electricity optional

04 constructing 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held keep heavy construction equipment in good condition required

optional, not held set up tower crane optional

05 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required

required, not held react to events in time-critical environments required

06 services 1 required

required, not held crane load charts required

3 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a tower crane operator role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 8 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held follow health and safety procedures in construction skill
already held follow safety procedures when working at heights skill
already held use safety equipment in construction skill
already held work ergonomically skill
already held work in a construction team skill
already held keep personal administration skill
already held keep records of work progress skill
already held set up temporary construction site infrastructure skill

The 3 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 handling and moving 2 supplementary

optional, not held transport construction supplies optional
optional, not held rig loads optional

08 assisting and caring 1 supplementary

optional, not held test soil load bearing capacity optional

09 working with computers 1 supplementary

optional, not held use remote control equipment optional

9 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held guide operation of heavy construction equipment optional
optional, not held test soil load bearing capacity optional
optional, not held transport construction supplies optional
optional, not held electricity optional
optional, not held operate heavy construction machinery without supervision optional
optional, not held perform minor repairs to equipment optional
optional, not held rig loads optional
optional, not held set up tower crane optional
optional, not held use remote control equipment optional

25 held skills the tower crane operator role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role blast surface skill
not needed by the target role build scaffolding skill
not needed by the target role clean building facade skill
not needed by the target role clean glass surfaces skill
not needed by the target role climbing equipment knowledge
not needed by the target role construct working platform skill
not needed by the target role handle equipment while suspended skill
not needed by the target role inspect climbing equipment skill
not needed by the target role inspect concrete structures skill
not needed by the target role inspect construction supplies skill
not needed by the target role inspect insulation skill
not needed by the target role inspect masonry work skill
not needed by the target role inspect paintwork skill
not needed by the target role inspect roofs skill
not needed by the target role inspect scaffolding skill
not needed by the target role inspect wind turbines skill
not needed by the target role install insulation material skill
not needed by the target role lay bricks skill
not needed by the target role paint surfaces skill
not needed by the target role perform search and rescue missions skill
not needed by the target role prune hedges and trees skill
not needed by the target role risk assessment for window cleaning knowledge
not needed by the target role set window skill
not needed by the target role spot other climbers skill
not needed by the target role work from suspended access cradle skill

4 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held crane load charts required
required, not held mechanical systems required
required, not held mechanical tools required
optional, not held electricity optional

Index

Other moves recorded from steeplejack

Full index of moves from steeplejack

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.