Overview:
Career Paths For College Graduates
Overview:
Career Paths
For College Graduates
There are many diverse management opportunities in the construction industry. Each type of management position requires its own skills, training, and experience for a person to be successful
College training in Construction Management or Construction Engineering is increasingly useful for career success at middle and upper level management positions in construction positions like project engineer, superintendent, project manager, company operations manager, estimator, or even chief executive.
Opportunities vary with construction company structure and type of work that the firm does. Some companies contract to do only a portion of the work on a project. These firms are called subcontractors or specialty contractors because they work for another firm that oversees all of the work on the project. The overseeing company that has responsibility to build the entire project for the owner is usually called a general contractor.
The general contractor signs a contract with the project's owner agreeing to build the project. The general contractor also signs many subcontracts with specialty contractors who agree to perform part of the work for the general contractor. The general contracting firm usually does a portion of the work with its own forces, but the amount of work varies with the type of project and the firm’s capabilities. Often more than half of a project is subcontracted.
Both general contractors and subcontractors need good managers, and many offer opportunities for college graduates. Though few construction companies are exactly alike, many have similar management structures.
Typically, the crew foreman is the first manager in the structure of construction company authority, responsibility, and decision making. Often, the foreman will be a well seasoned craftsman who, because of exceptional ability, has been raised to a position of managing a crew of craftsmen. A foreman must know the craft he or she manages. Good foremen are a valuable asset to a company. Their trade experience is usually more important to their success than any college experience can be.
The construction foreman usually reports to a manager called a superintendent. This important manager typically oversees several foremen. It is a job that requires exceptional people management skills, good knowledge of construction methods, materials, and equipment, as well as very good communication skills. Most general contractors employ more than one superintendent and each is responsible for managing all or a significant portion of the field operations on a project. Most of a superintendent's time is spent supervising construction operations at a jobsite and he/she usually has an office there.
A construction management college education can help to develop and improve some of the skills that a superintendent needs. However, depending on the company structure and what type of trade work a company performs with its own forces, craft work knowledge can vary from highly important to an absolute necessity for this position.
In most construction firms, a project manager coordinates the field and office procedures. He or she writes the subcontracts, orders the major materials, and generally coordinates information and communications important to the paper flow management of a project. This person usually has the most authority in the structure a project team.
Today, a large number of successful project managers have a college degree in construction management or a related field. Some onsite experience is also very important to understanding what is happening on a construction project. Often the project is distant from the company home office where many project managers work. A project manager must be able to visualize how things are to be built when he or she looks at a set of construction drawings. A project manager also needs estimating and scheduling skills to help price changes in the work and to properly coordinate office and field responsibilities for a smooth construction operation. Also important are both oral and written communication skills.
Very few college graduates will have the experience and knowledge for success as project manager when they first receive their diploma. Other related positions are often the starting place for a career in construction management. Positions like project engineer, assistant superintendent, assistant project manager, or other similar titles are common entry level opportunities for aspiring project managers who will train by working closely with more experienced individuals. However, success in these positions still requires a significant previous exposure to construction operations. Work in construction trades between college terms is a common way of gaining this early exposure before graduation.
Another key position in a construction company is that of an estimator. Much like a project manager, both college training and field work experience are important to success at this position. In addition, an estimator must possess very good analytical and organizational skills. An estimator must be able to conceptualize how his or her company will perform their portion of work on a project by carefully reviewing the drawings prepared by the project designers. Typically, engineers or architects prepare the construction drawings and specifications. The construction firm does not usually do the designing of the project.
The estimator must determine all of the quantities of materials that his company will be responsible for purchasing and/or using. Then the estimator must determine the cost of each of these materials, and must apply good judgment to estimate the cost of labor effort required to install them. In addition, if the estimator is working for a general contractor, he or she must know how to collect and analyze many subcontractor and supplier bids along with those costs of the general contractors own work so that he can arrive at the total project estimate. Often this must be done under extreme time pressure when subcontractor and supplier bids do not get delivered until the last few hours before the proposal must be made to the owners.
The estimator's position is very important, demanding, and is usually well paying if the estimator consistently demonstrates good judgment and makes very few significant errors.
Of course, every company needs supporting accounting and finance functions. A college degree is nearly always necessary for entrance into these aspects of construction company operations-unless the company is small and relies on an outside consultant to perform portions of this effort.
Finally, there are executive level positions in every construction company. Few people reach these positions without many years of successful management experience in one or more of the positions just discussed. Positions such as operations manager, construction manager, or even chief executive are usually reserved for individuals who have proven themselves well in middle management positions. The title of constructor is reserved for those who have reached the top of their profession.
Whatever construction career a person chooses, they can usually be certain that they will face exciting opportunities, ever-changing circumstances, and strong competition. Once successful, many people find the long hours and continued challenge to be a very rewarding and satisfying professional experience.
Page updated: March 26, 2000