I started as a laborer on a concrete crew, after 1-2 years was able to read grade stakes, interpret given information, and finishing concrete with the best of them. Then moved on to an earthwork crew, running smaller pieces of equipment, still reading stakes, checking elevations, pulling dimensions, learning the steps it takes to install lifts, pass quality control tests with third parties, bring a job site from an open field to a building and parking lot. After 1-2 years of that, moved on to another earthwork crew that used GPS equipment to complete work. Solely learned how to use the GPS equipment to conduct site surveying, localize the site, shoot in control points, add points, a build surface files, layout coordinates for all company based trades on that one site. After a short time, promoted to an earthwork superintendent with my own crew.