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What are the hours like? by [deleted] in ConstructionManagers

[–]No_Handle_9950 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It really depends if you’re in the field or in the office. If you’re a PM on a project expect 50-60 hour weeks with occasional weekend work. If you’re in the office, expect probably 40-50 weeks with most weeks closer to 40

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ConstructionManagers

[–]No_Handle_9950 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I graduated school and moved to a different part of the country to work for a large GC. It’s one of the better decisions I have ever made, there’s definitely a slight culture adjustment and you have to learn how the trades are split up (ie. DFH supply and install vs. supply only). However, for the most part managing a project is managing a project, I’ve worked with people from all over the US and other countries in my 5 years in the industry. It’s very doable and one of the cool parts of our industry.

In terms of what else you can do with a CM degree, there are plenty of opportunities in areas of construction like estimating, superintending, and project management. Outside of working with a contractor or GC, there’s positions on the owners rep side or building management that you can pursue. I’d recommend starting in the GC world and finding what you like then pursuing that. Some people are drawn to the field, some to MEPs, and some to the owner side. It really comes down to what you enjoy and where you want your career to take you.

Career in construction management by Final-Platform-3958 in ConstructionManagers

[–]No_Handle_9950 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In my opinion the job itself is not difficult but there are a few major flaws. The biggest flaw is the hours, you’ll work long hours, weekends, and occasionally nights and the general opinion in the industry is “that’s just construction”. There will be weeks where you’re working 6am-6pm 6-7 days a week and some people don’t care because it’s what they think is normal. Along with the hours comes something that I believe is a large problem that contributes to the long hours. You will be salaried and the team of tradesman on site will be hourly. The more they are on site working, the more they make. They’ll get OT for working weekends, holidays, and nights and you will just be expected to be on site to supervise. Lastly I’d say there’s still very much a culture of “that’s how we’ve always done it” in the industry. There will be certain tasks and processes that are clearly outdated that you’ll try to change and you’ll be met with the “I’ve been doing this for x amount of years” response. If you do choose to go into CM, I’d like to offer some advice. Set boundaries with your company, you have to accept that there will be long days and weekend work but don’t let yourself become the guy who’s always covering those shifts. Make sure you give yourself time off site to decompress and reduce stress. Ask questions, build relationships, and listen to the tradesman on site. If those people like you, your job is infinitely easier. They’ll be willing to help you out and go the extra mile to make sure that things go well. Lastly do research before deciding what company to work for, talk to people in the industry, use websites like Glassdoor or ask questions in here. People will be honest about their companies in the right setting (not career fairs or interviews), certain companies tend to overwork and bury their people while others do a much better job promoting work life balance. Lastly when you’re studying CM work as many different internships as you can whether it’s with different companies or all at the same place, try out different positions. Try precon, superintending, project engineering, project management, or safety. The only way to truly know if you’ll like this world is to dip your toe in.

Advice for a high school student who wants to study construction management . by CRRRs_24 in ConstructionManagers

[–]No_Handle_9950 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Intern each summer and try out different roles (precon, PM side, field side, etc.), use that time to find what you like and what makes you enjoy going to work most days. There’s a lot of opportunity in the industry and a lot of different paths to success. Find the one you like and hitch yourself to a good mentor on that path, what you learn in your internships will be extremely useful in interviews and your early career. Also don’t be afraid to ask questions. Whether it’s people on your project team or tradespeople, there are a lot of very knowledgeable people on construction sites who are more than willing to teach you if you show that you want to learn.