Construction Managment

DHBill

I want to get a job inthe construction industry and am considering doing a Construction managment (Bsc) degree, or architectural technology and other such degree courses.. the only problem is the names and descriptions are so vague I don;t really know what jobs these would lead to inthe industry...which is a bit of a problem for me as I can't really set myself a goal or see where i would be going. I am working with a renovation/building company at the moment who specialise in Oak framed buildings and was considering becoming an apprentice carpenter with them but in most cases a graduate willcommand a far higher salary, and i am interested in the management and design aspects of construction as well as the practical side of things but can't help but think that a degree would stand me in a better position in life generally with scope to possibly properly learn trade at some other time.
Sorry this is abit of a rambling seeminly pointless post but basically i'd like to know where you guys who are actually in the industry (unlike the clueless careers advisors i have spoken too!) see a construction management or similar sort of degree putting me in terms of a job/career what sort of things do people qualifie dinthis way do? what sort of tasks would that involve? Or if any of you have simlar qualifications and where they have gotten you and if they were useful or not.
I do not want to be stuck in a office permanatly, not while i'm young anyway so am trying to find a path thats leads to a good degree of on site work, i realise i could get htis just by becoming an apprentice of some kind but this seems a bit limited seeing as i have the option of higher education.
Thanks for any help you can offer i look forward to hearing your replies.

Thanks, Bill

realpurty2

Based on your comments, I would suggest that you consider a degree in architecture/design with a minor in construction management.

Construction Management is a vague term because it doesn't relate to one specific job class. It will encompass many areas of running both a business and a jobsite, but only touches the tip of what's needed in the real world. A design student trains to become an Architect, Construction Management just covers several skills that go with many different job titles.

The actual jobs are titles like Superintendent, Project Manager, Site Supervisor etc. Depending on the size of the company, they may have one of each, several of each, or one person doing the job duties of all three. The candidates who are usually considered most qualified for these positions have had a long background of experience. The good ones got there by working their way up the ranks. I'd definately suggest you work in the trades as an apprentice in every trade you can anytime that it won't conflict with school. How can you lead and teach what you can't do yourself, right?

I think you will find the answers you need if you explore those job titles a bit more. Let me know if you want our job descriptions for each title and I'll send them to you.

Best of Luck

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Woman in a Man's World.

charlesmd

Been there, done that.. It really dosent matter what you get a degree in
(its an accomplishment that will pay off someday).I too did the college thing
with construction management. If you end up not liking your career, you can do something else, you will have that degree... As for what it preps you for-
since im in the business- there are alot of ops out there. Super for residential work, inspector, estimates for a big co., who knows, things are getting to the point where if your not in a specialty, your goin down..Who
knows whats around the corner.Know this- the economy is down again, im
having trouble finding enough work,its a cycle that repeats itself every so often,if you have a degree in ANYTHING, your more marketable that someone who dosent have it.Ive been in business for 9 years-3 in the springs and 6 here in Md. If I have to, I have something to fall back on-
I just dont think I can work for anyone after working for myself-Im too stubborn...........................GOOD LUCK...........

DHBill

Yeah job dexcriptions for each title would be nice and potential salary maybe :p just after as much info as possible. has anyone heard of an architectural technology degree? or where it leads?

Thanks for the help so far.

rbsremodeling

I second the Architecture design route with the minor in CM. The design route will be more marketable and if you do get a CM Or PM job the design backround will be a good asset. Construction/trade knowledge is helpfull if you can get some field time or atleast theory in it makes it easier

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DHBill

I have just come across a whole load of courses at a relativley local university I am qualified to take any of them


Architectural design
Architecture
Building surveying
Construction business management
Design and Construction management
Construction Surveying management
Quantity Surveying
Real Estate

All Bsc degree courses
its impossible to know whats qworth doing though! Really my passion is with the practical side of the industry I love operating 360's or 'track hoe's' as most of you guys would call them and the normal trades and things too the degree is really just security or to possibly make more money, Is surveying particularly useful? I have read through what the courses include and all the ones with construction inthe name seem to share a basic set of subjects with the addition of whatever the extra part is i.e surveying added on. they are fairly broad apart form the architecture ones so am i best off just choosing what sounds best to me and doing that as i am guessing they will all get me to vaguely the same place?

I know a lot of you guys are involved in the practical side of construction owner operaters doing the digging and tradesmen dealing with frames pipes wires etc and as i have read in other posts some of you have got degree's. i'd like to take part in this side of things but with a degree as a safety net, but preferably a useful one so some info on how those of you with degrees and the like got where you are today and how it helped or hindered you would be excellent

Super-Mike

Civil Engineer (construction specialization)

And do a couple years of field work so you don't sound like a complete jackass like some project manager's I've met.

DHBill

How complex is the maths involved with Civil engineering?

rch

I'm a professioanl Project Mgr and I have a GC License here in NY.
I also spent years as an Electrical Inspector for the NY Board of Fire Underwriters w/ all 3 IAEI Certifications.

The real world:
Residential Construction: $1M + homes (new or remodel) and you can get a job, but you will need considerable field experience ON THAT LEVEL, so not easy to get and very few positions available.

Home-Owner Residential: They are not [typically] interested. The GC watches/manages the job, and the home owner doesn't want to spend on anything extra. The ones that self-contract have already decided that they know everything so they won't pay you what your time is worth.

Commercial: Without considerable field experience and a very extensive knowledge + the required attitude to handle subs who like to break rules, you either won't get the job or you will be eaten alive in the first 2 weeks.
You get exactly 20 seconds upon entering a job-site to seem like you know what you're doing. After that, the dogs smell the fear and dismiss you completely. Can you tell I've been through this?

Of the pathes you are considering, the mgmt are the least worthwhile, IMHO. If you can go for an architect license or civil engineering, at the very least, you will be able to generate, review, and possibly stamp/approve Blueprints, which means instant income, as ALL plans submiited for building permits will require an approval stamp. If i weren't 55 I would actually spend the time and get the engineering degree. It's like becoming a Notary only yoru stamp can actually make you $. It's job a hop & a skip from there to working as a Project or Construction Mgr.

thekctermite

I graduated with a BS in Engineering with a Construction Management emphasis. Some colleges call it construction science. If you want to do commercial construction, the jobs are there for people with 4 year degrees. My experience has been that very few residential contractors will pay competitive wages to attract college grads. Some of the very large outfits will, but normally not the local builders.

Commercial outfits will usually start you as a project engineer (not an actual engineer), assistant project manager, or assistant superintendent. In the midwest, starting salary range for someone right out of college is well into the $50000 range. I know literally hundreds of superintendents and project managers, and can't think of any that started out with architecture degrees.

My sister has the same degree as I do, and is a senior project manager for a large commercial contractor. She makes excellent money and works very hard.

I like my evenings and weekends too much so I opted to use my degree and building experience as an inspector. It doesn't pay well, but there's no stress compared to being a builder, and I work 8 hour days 5 days a week!

Steve Manning

I got my bach. degree in Civil 11 years ago. The math is not incredibly hard and you will probably never use most of it again anyway. I then spent a couple of years in the field surveying and construction inspection which really helps out nowadays. Didn't care for it too much at that time though. If you follow that route learn all the surveying you can, maybe get licensed in it. Then after you've passed your FE (usually in school still) and a minimum four years of experience you can take your PE. Their are plenty of options in that field.

genecarp

you dont need a degree to manage and design, you could get a job with a quality general contractor, that will be your primary education. work hard, after a few years open your own buisness, and the rest is history. imo formal education with a degree in my field is not required, unless of coarse you want to be a licensed engineer or arch.

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ssargeulb

I'm assuming that you relatively young which is in your favor because you have time to work at it. I am also assuming that you have a relative passion for construction in general which is also a plus.
The deeper that you get into the industry (construction or any other) the more your eyes will open to all of the possibilities. I strongly recommend that you consider securing a position as a assistant superintendent with room for advancement. A superintendent gets to see pretty much everything that happens in the field and some of what happens in the office. After a short time you will learn enough about the different facets of the business to get a better feel for the direction that is right for you.
Work hard to eliminate certain phrases from your vocabulary such as "not my job", I'll do more when they pay me more" or any similar comment that might imply that you are happy with where you are and what you are paid. Always try to take on more than is in your scope and even if it is not on the job, do it at home in the evening as an exercise. When the right opportunity comes you will be better prepared.
Regarding degrees...the downfall of most contractors is in the business end of things not bricks and mortar. If you are not sure of your direction at least take business courses that will apply to many different degrees.
My recommended recipe for your situation is as follows:
Physically put yourself in front of at least ten project managers or superintendents and ask for a minute of their time to discuss your ambitions. You can often do this simply by showing up on a job site (late afternoon is usually best). This may be a little intimidating but you will be surprised that many of us are happy to spend a few minutes with someone trying to get started. Ignore all negative responses.
The industry needs ambitious, qualified and honest managers. Show up at one of my projects and I promise that you will either get a few minutes of my time or a time that we can talk later.
Good Luck in your journey.

richard123

In the UK more and more companys are employing post graduate staff in there managerial position. Most new managers have a degree in management or something also as relevent. the management construction jobs are also becoming increasingly competetive with a huge amount of applications coming in even for a single job.

I was just wondering if this is the same case in the USA?

HitchC&L

I took 2 years engineering and architectural design in a vocational school before college, now I am an engineering and construction management major at norwich university, and I am looking into an architecture minor. I was an architecture major for my freshman year, and engineering for the past 2.

The way my curriculum is set up, I take quite a few classes with the architecture majors, civil engineers, and business managers. So I get a wide range of stuff. I learn structural, surveying/site work, finances, design, HVAC, etc...

I am a very hands on person, and a visual learner. I can draw and design very well, but I cant stand sitting down for a long period of time I have to be "working" thats why I am an doing engineering now.

My father has owned a high end custom cabinet business for 35 years, Ive done work with him, and I work full time for a high end builder, and thats where Ill be going after I graduate, and thats exactly where I want to be.

With my schooling in architecture and engineering, I am able to read plans and visualize how things are going to be set up, plus having the management aspect, I am able to run jobs, and manage finances, its a good combination to have.

I think the best place for someone thinking like you is to go with some sort of engineering schooling, and then try to take some business classes, as well as architecture, or look into a curriculum that combines them.

Heritage

An engineering degree is the best imo. Project Management is something best learned in the field with hands on experience.

A project manager with an engineering degree, 5+ years experience managing projects could easily get a 90k+ salary. Now suppose you learn how to design and submit proper drawings, with good estimating knowledge, you'll put yourself in the area of 150k.

I know project managers that make around that much working comfortable jobs for large companies and they ALL have an engineering degree. Without a degree, your field/experience knowledge would limit your ability/worth to an organization.

Design/build companies would be tripping over themselves to hire a PM who could stamp and approve designs, then run the project.

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smalpierre

I agree with Heritage. The highest paid construction manager I know is my stepdad. He has a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering. He has worked on a lot of huge projects including nuclear power plants, food manufacturing facilities, oil refineries, pharmaceutical manufacturing plants ... 15 years ago, he was working for Sandvik Process Systems making well over 100k. He then went to work as owners representatives, overseeing and inspecting GC's for postal sorting facilities, FDA labs, and now he's doing estimating - but for the client, not GC's - so they know whether or not bids are appropriate. He is currently working on estimations for schools that were destroyed by storms.

My mom has an urban planning and development degree, a BA I think. She worked for real estate developers for a long time - spent nearly 10 years managing this project (was an abandoned paper mill when she started): http://www.rocklandcondosociety.com/...e_2021193.html, and does damage assessments for FEMA, and managing oil spill cleanup in the gulf.

All of the construction managers on the large projects I know of with the exception of my mom - had engineering degrees. All but one of my stepdad's brothers are construction managers, and all have engineering degrees. All of them do very well for themselves.

Roy Propsner

On contract:
CM team would probably have five people on site, including a secretary, and charge about $500 per hour.