How To Prepare To Move To Another Company?

pm_sup

So I think I have made the decision to consider either moving on to another company, or back to work for myself.
A little background. Prior to working for this company as a PM and super (for almost 2 yrs now), I was self employed as a contractor since '77. I decided to switch to an employee position based on a steady paycheque and the fact that I would not have the typical paperwork/estimates waiting for me on my desk at home. Thinking basically, that I would have more personal time, lower stress level, etc.

The current company is mid sized and one of their "policies" is to encourage minimum holidays (even though I am paid for 3 weeks per year.) This is an issue for me, as working for myself all those years, I had skipped enough holidays (I already have 2 weeks holidays banked.) I have some health issues and am not about to wait for retirement to take holidays, because that might not be an option. The principles are decent guys, but they are businessmen. They also don't really have staff to fill in for us.

It also kind of burns me, that I took 14 consecutive Saturdays of my own time to complete a project management certificate this fall, and they are so upset about me wanting to take a week off, sheesh. Anyway the course was good, it strained my marriage a bit, but thats' water under the bridge now.

I know that I could move today to another company, but my thought process is to finish the current project. I am scheduled to move to a small office tower. I thought I would complete that project, then move on. In the mean time, I want to take some steps to enhance my resume, for my future move.

So what do you think. Should I continue to take courses? Are completeing these jobs a good idea before moving?

Maybe they seem like dumb questions, but being an employee is quite a bit different from being self employed, so I have no experience in what prospective employers are looking for.

mikesewell

The construction business is the construction business. Unless you work for the government or a company that is making huge profits, chances are they can't afford to be without you because they don't have anyone else to run your job.

There's more red tape, paperwork, and therefore more stress every day. It's not going to do anything except get worse. The "good old days" are gone.

Don't leave them high and dry in the middle of a project. Period.

Get all of the education and experience that you possibly can. Your ability to do the jobs that your competition can't do is the only "job security" that you're ever going to see in this business. LOL, being a General Contractor or a Project Manager is easy, the only thing that you have to know is EVERYTHING.

Don't sell yourself short. You are in a management position. You should know EXACTLY what an employer is looking for.

Best regards,
Michael

__________________
Commercial construction

Sewell Construction

pm_sup

Thanks for the perspective.

Quote:

Don't sell yourself short. You are in a management position. You should know EXACTLY what an employer is looking for.

I actually had not thought in these terms. I suppose working for myself, I have always held a high standard which I expected to be met. The employer or prospective employer should also have a set of standards. My job obviously to research that, and/or have complete knowledge of their expectations.

In my current job, I believe that I hold higher expectations than my employer does.

For example, I have insisted on quality control standards on the current project which has reduced deficiency costs by close to $250K. I know of (some of their) other projects which have had deficiency costs of $500K.

My next pet peeve, is their lack of on site inventory control. It also costs them a lot of money. I have not looked at this in fine detail, but I estimate there is at least $30 to $50K in lost damaged or mismanaged inventory, supplies, equipment. Maybe more.

Perhaps my expectations are unrealistic, but I feel that if an employer desires these kind of results and wants competent management, they are going to have to realize that their managers are going to need a week, or a few days here or there to de-stress.

Same Old

I constantly encourage my employees to point out ares they see a possibility for improvement. Anyone can come up to me with any idea they have at any time. I'll listen. More often than not they aren't implimented. But, many times it has brought attention to another areas that are in need of improvement. i.e. there's a problem, but it's not necesarily what they think it is.
You should address your concerns with your superiors. You are part of the company. You are an asset of the company, you're worth more every time you find a way to make the company more profitable. As a PM you are THE field rep and should report your reccommendations. The way I see it, it is your job to recognize and address these problems. You keep referring to managment as "their". You need to be on the same team. Why are you complaining to us instead of addressing these issues at your company?

pm_sup

Not complaining...
This thread is already going off topic

Anyway to make my point as simply as possible;
They take a less than positive view of any employee taking holidays. Getting a ½ day over stat holidays around xmas time is nearly impossible (despite most trades being awol for 2 weeks.) That is just the way it is. I accept that this will not change.
So I either accept this and live with it, or not accept it and move on. Yes?

As far as my work, ideas, quality metrics, changes etc. many have already been implemented, and they are trying to get other site supers and pms to mirror some of the methodology. That’s all fine. I will work to high standards no matter who I work for.

Forry

Why is it "take it or leave it" when they take a "less than positive view" of something? You DO have some power to negotiate... Maybe try ask for what you want and stay positive and show them why they should be ok with your time off... have you communicated about this?