Anyone here a construction manager or in the industry?

I’m sure we’ve got a few guys/gals in the construction industry here in the US. I’m a second year college student working for a local contractor. I’m not studying construction specifically but I plan on pursuing some form of management position when I graduate. Any advice for a young guy in the industry? Things I should do/not do ETC...
Thank you!!

Also for those who studied construction in college, was that a necessary thing for employers or is experience a good alternative to go along with any degree?

 

What kind of Construction contractor are you currently working for? Do you have any particular areas of interest for the construction industry?

 

I work in the Industry.
Superintendent For a large construction company that starts with an "S".
Keep at it, project engineers , and managers are hard to come by.

 

I work around heavy civil construction contractors regularly, seems most of their management personnel either has a degree in engineering or construction management.

 

Thank you!!

 

I’m working for a multi family contractor who’s does local and some out of state projects. I am interested in road work, commercial, petroleum construction as well

 

Get as much field experience as possible. Learn as much as possible. Everything is a learning opportunity. You can learn something from everyone, even if it's what not to do. Learn how to communicate. Learn when to send an email, when to make a phone call and when to speak in person. Learn how to work with others. Trust, but verify. Plan ahead as much as possible. The devil is always in the details. Read all the notes on all the drawings and read all the specifications. The devil is always in the details.

Think about the economy and how your company and/or sector could be impacted during the next downturn. Try to position yourself for this.

Start saving your money now. Create a spreadsheet to forecast your expenses and plan savings into that.

 

Swinerton?

@PRO19 i would say get in the field. I’ve been in construction both residential and industrial for 13 years and the #1 complaint or issue with anyone in the office (Project management, supers, detailers etc) is they typically have ZERO field experience. Get to know the trades you will be dealing with. Understand as much code as you can and applicable usage and installation of materials. Framers and plumbers ALWAYS take precedence over other trades. Structural issues affect them the most, and please take your time to fully submerse yourself into the industry.

Nothing is more frustrating that a project manager or detailer that has no real world grasp of the task at hand. Oh and don’t be afraid to ask for more money. Construction is booming and we are short staffed everywhere. The only time we can get greedy with paychecks is while we are under handed. Know your worth and fight for it.

 

Not Swinerton - think more Scandinavian...
Any way , yes there is terrible shortage of skilled tradespeople right now, and its going to get worse.

 

Working as a carpenter in the Bay Area for about 12 years now. started digging holes when I was 12 (gotta start somewhere). My best advice is learn as much as you can in the field. Field experience is easily recognized. Be a sponge and soak up everything you can. Best of luck.

 

I am a construction project manager for a site/civil general contractor. We do underground utilities, roadways and site development.
I am a civil engineer, but most of the project managers in our office and other companies in the area do not have formal education; most of them started in the field as foremen, then worked themselves up to superintendents and then management.
Field experience is a must. However, looking at advertisements for management positions, they typically look for someone with a degree in engineering or construction management.

Best job ever!

 

Be able to pass a drug test and get as much field experience as you can. Have a great relationship with your co-workers and make sure to respect them. It's okay not to know something.

You are in the right field. Shortage of good, skilled, motivated workers.

 

I appreciate your response! I have googled a lot of job postings for project engineers and pm’s. They either say 4 year construction degree or related experience.

 

I suggest either construction management or engineering but specializing in healthcare facilities. There is always a need for anyone who is sincerely interested in healthcare construction. Healthcare construction is unlike conventional due to requiring much higher standards regarding fire prevention, hvac, electrical and plumbing/medical gases etc... Sensitive areas like operating rooms, isolation rooms, laboratories all require a higher level of ventilation and with very tight certifications requirements. MRI areas need to be constructed with non-ferrous materials which provide a whole plethora of challenges.
There is much more interesting and challenges to healthcare construction depending on services provided and size.

In any event I wish you much success!

 

I am a Project Manager for a Commercial GC in Washington DC Area. You def need a 4 year degree. Not necessarily in Cont Mgmt, but it would def help you a lot if that's the field you are pursuing. I don't necessarily disagree with the people saying you should get field XP, but you don't need it and most PM's at large GC's in this area don't have much other than being an intern. Its not needed and neither of the owners of my company have any field XP and they run a very successful company. Supers/Field guys know the field and PMs and execs know how to get jobs, bid jobs, run jobs etc on the office side. I would actually say get a CM degree and go straight for the office if that's where you want to be. They will train you and you will be fine and further ahead then guys who spend several years in the field.

 

Skanska?

 

I would say that that ^^ is correct.

I've been a professional building contractor for 34 years. Re-read post #9. He said it well.

What part of the country are you in Pro 19??

 

Are you in construction in this area. You aren’t that far away from myself.

 

Thank you very much!!

 

Im in Louisiana!
We have a lot of big oil and gas contractors out Baton Rouge area. Turner Industries to name one

 

Thank you! I like the truck too

 

Yep, I work in the DC metro area.

 

I couldn't agree more with some of the guys telling you to get in the field some. It's only going to help you understand the things they don't teach you in school and help you earn the respect of the guys who will inevitably be working for you.

Having been on both sides of the job, there always seems to be guys who have a hard time respecting you if you can't show that you're a competent person as well as educated.

Best of luck!

 

Now that I'm a real keyboard.

Learn how "things" go together. It fries my mind how many professional contractor kind-of-folk have no idea how a building goes together. That pays so many dividends to success. Don't just be a "paperwork" contractor who spends all day fighting about terms and conditions of the written agreement. Uggggggghhhhh. Horrible way to do business.

And did I mention that my particular favorite part of the built world? Concrete. I spend all day, every day, building out of concrete. What a wonderful part of the industry.

 

I'm in agreement with @Porkchop Express on this. Construction companies nationwide have been having a hard time for several years finding skilled workers who want to work. And they go through project managers faster than you can learn their names. Part of that is the constant pressures of the job of course. As others have said, field experience is valuable, but not necessary for a management role. That requirement will vary by company. Having it might help a guy command more respect from the field guys, though.

Have you considered working for large companies/agencies who do a lot of construction projects? Examples would be the DOTs and railroads, or public works of large cities. Those are good, typically stable jobs, with a lot of potential upside.

 

Check out Skanska's website. There are several job openings in several states, some internships as well.
Like many have said , dont be an office dweller. Get out and meet the crews, get to know the foremen and ask questions about what and how the job gets done. Stuff doesnt just "get built". There are moths and sometimes years of work that go into planning even the small projects.