Is construction management stressful reddit Construction is always an option, but don't discount the technical portion from school. The first 12 months are a hell of a learning curve. 2 caveats though: I imagine that being an air traffic controller is very stressful so I would guess that the OP would be fine as far as handling the stress. Goal is estimating/PM. There is a big boom in construction right now that is being fueled by the low oil prices. There would be no issues getting a job. This is a major problem in construction management. The best play imo, do construction management while your young; the experience is more wider and more valued early on. In construction you're kind of sandbagged into construction, owners rep, administration, etc. Expectations are very high from upper management. ) because the departments that should take care of those things are either severely understaffed (only one person) or plainly non-existent. As the title says, I’m looking at new careers that I could transition to, going back to school isn’t a problem at the moment. Then get a job for an accounting firm that specializes in construction accounting (doing their audits ETC) and do that for a few years, then jump back into working as a controller for a GC, then move to CFO. The other was a management role that requires more hours (50 hours) during about three months a year. ). It seems different now, but it used to take an act of god. In terms of task Surveying does not typically have deadlines, and you work outside Design can be stressful because of deadlines, but you're in the office for the most part. Anybody working in this field is welcome! Carpentry, concrete, steel, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, landscaping, equipment operators, etc. From my experience, an online vs in person degree doesn't make a difference, you learn the concepts and content either way. Yes construction management is a really great field. If you really want to travel, consider getting a TEFL certificate and teaching technical English in another country. Go into sales at companies that service the construction industry. Probably 6 months in I was leading estimates on smaller projects, with proper supervision and checks from more senior estimators. I switched from traveling Project Coordinator for a large industrial electrical construction company to IBEW apprentice at my Local at home after getting a CM degree in college and working there for 1. If you are resilient maybe the better option is to do it for several years, save some money and then start a business hiring and overlooking several tradesman, eg builders, painters etc. I’ve been able to “shut off” work mode after 5 every day, and only worry about work when I’m at work. And so many damn meetings that could have been an email. Sometimes the “answer” is a mish-mash of different answers that come together to solve a problem. I also have a few questions, if anyone could be so kind as to answer them: Do construction managers need trade/construction experience (i. Cost of living is not as high as I live in Charlotte,NC. Not everyone is able to function that way, though. Project management is stressful at times and once you get into it you can often predict when it will become snaggy and therefore reduce the opportunities for stress to arise. I switched from petroleum engineering to construction management at my university and went to our recruiting event for construction management program, landed 2 internships my first try (the event is held once a semester). Is the extra money worth the trouble in Construction Management or Construction Engineering? As a senior in the latter, I was frustrated how little I learned about construction and how much I learned about design. You will be hard-pressed to get qualifying PE experience, despite what the higher-ups might tell you. Ive looked at some programs in Germany since I would like to go there and there was a program i was interested in: Masters in Integrated Design (MID). I love the interactions and making things work with other disciplines, but there is a lot of back and forth with clients and “dead times” when all of your projects end up being in the same stages. Project management is stressful in my opinion. You have to deal with a lot of things. If you truly love construction, as I do, then the balance won’t be an issue. It'll be hard to break into, but its definitely not saturated. Bachelor’s in Construction Management. And as far as I can tell it seems like property management is among one of the less stressful professions. Your experience could make you a great sales person or implementation manager. I was working for a GC as a PM for on a project for this developer. I read many posts here detailing how stressful of a job project management is, I have some estimating friends and they always talk about how it’s equally if not more stressful then being a project manager. Worked construction on and off throughout my life. Construction management has deadlines but you can be outside up to 90-95% of the time. The management experience was an eye opener but holy fuck is it stressful, especially for someone who doesnt know the trade. Not every position in supply chain management is inherently stressful. You will never put in fewer than 40 hours per week. A place for professionals to discuss the construction industry. However, it provides a new perspective when looking at someone’s drawings, why something needs to be somewhere etc. The “con-tech!” industry seems to focus solely on having one more bid solicitation platform, one more job invoicing program, one more project management-cloud-based-super productive construction manager platform. Having The Sight, being able to anticipate the next phase and the tools material and info necessary, and moving with a purpose, acquiring them effortlessly. No more saturdays, no more 10+ hour days, and I have opportunities to work from home. As far as pros I like my job because I like architecture and construction, I like the variety of projects. The ones that really made it offered more than just design and stamping (project management, construction management, RFQs, asset order flow, etc. Wondering whats the better Construction Management jobs taking into account, in order from top priority to least: Work/Life balance, Stress, job satisfaction and money. Construction Manager - more than 10 years experience, excellent construction knowledge as a whole, doesn’t manage projects like a PM, but is involved in all the projects to some degree. Seems a little less stressful Best money I've seen in the industry. com Jul 26, 2021 · Construction management can be highly stressful because the manager must keep projects on schedule and within the approved budget. As a project manager, you may not always be on the job site, but rather in the office, managing schedules, budgets, and resources. Construction management includes project planning, stating objectives, gathering contracts & documents, to reporting when the project is completed. I switched over to construction management, with a minor in construction technology. So I am 22 in my final year of a civil engineering degree and my biggest concern is the fact that I won't ever make enough to be FI. Some games I already play like this are Two Point Hospital and Cities Skylines. I was also initially scared knowing I was the only construction professional in Company A, and having no senior to consult technical issues with! You eventually gain confidence and knowledge though! I've been working in a quantity surveyor/consultant role in Canada for a little over 10 years now. I think so, I came straight into estimating after a degree in construction management and no real practical construction experience. Then transition to FM when you are ready to set roots. from anyone who has jumped between project management (consulting) and construction management / resident engineer roles, and is willing to share. Trust your instincts and don’t let office people dictate how you run your project because they made some promise that makes them look good. You'll need something like Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or some universities offer an Engineering and Management degree. General Contractor side pays better but is stressful compared to Civil Design or Structual Design. I got laid off and am looking for a job in an area besides construction. The people in project management are also frequently very competitive for raises/promotions. Jul 19, 2024 · I know there are similar subs out there like r/Construction and r/ConstructionNews, but I think that this sub could be a good thing for us on the management side of Construction. For example yesterday I dealt I'm wanting to do my Bachelor of Construction Management (3 year full time degree), after I finish my apprenticeship. Manager you have to persuade other teams and subcontractors to meet timelines while maintaing quality, and also keep eye on procurement, cost inflations in long term projects and deal with requirement changes and incoorporate in given budget, its damn I am about to get my associates degree in construction management and I am planning to do inspection. Again though it’s stressful 70 percent of the time. Not to . Jul 19, 2019 · 1. And every project is different regardless. Examples: Using statics to determine rigging for crane picks, and submitting these plans for means & method approval. Director - Either director of a construction business, or Project Director leading a build (think Joint Venture projects like cross river rail, metro tunnel etc). Things like scheduling and cost analysis/estimates. I just think engineers get to work at a little different pace. Sure working for an owner probably isn’t as stressful, but you may swap that for incredibly intense workplace politics and games. Long Working Hours. I’m sure every job has it’s share of BS to deal with, just depends on what your personal temperament is. However, I am using Connecteam software for some of my construction management needs such as planning, communication, and employee monitoring. Manpower problems? Tell the owners rep. About to get my Journeyman's card shortly and will craft my resume to sound like I have a construction management degree with a lot more field experience. But I really don’t understand why an engineer with a degree would choose this career path unless you had a burning passion for it. Hope you find something within construction that you love! Busting your ass should relieve stress very quickly, if not during the work definitely after. 25 years old. Union? Go to the union hall and ask if the books are open. Construction is a lot of hard work and a lot of hours but also rewarding work. But you can expect to work long hours, that’s just the nature of all construction fields. Thus, construction managers are often overstressed. During the construction, I was fortunate enough to have an Owner that was involved in his projects and developed a relationship with him during his site visits and through OAC meetings. The thing with construction management is that it is a lot of hours and stressful, but with the right company it is 100% worth it. Many jobs are known for being ‘9-to-5’: 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. power plants or oil refineries isn't too far of a stretch and can be a lot less stressful because your employer is also the owner. The majority of job sites open at 7am, and usually stay open until at least 3:30pm. My rent and bills alone take half of my monthly income. It is very stressful and sometimes overwhelming in terms of tasks that need completion. I hated my first employers preconstruction set up because the precon teams would have to write and execute contracts. Yes, as a VP of a contractor doing very well, and hiring guys like you - $50-60K was the norm. I’ve been a PM for 12 years now, and I love what I do every single day. I always enjoyed doing takeoffs and figuring out what assemblies should cost. This is why utilizing SaaS solutions is important to keep everything in order, and Connecteam is what we are using for these needs. Your next 2 years will be important, even in construction. I won’t get into the reasons, but I’m tired of the constant stress and long hours of construction management. Emails and phone calls, do them at the end of the day. But not every day or even every week. With that being said, I work for a GC doing construction management but have an engineering background. you’re the person going on site and talking through issues with the field and your superintendent These employers will want to see you get a full degree. A lot of the large general contractors tend to build up a huge backlog so they will always need workers regardless of how bad the economy is. construction business is booming. There’s also being a VP/Executive at the construction company. And why do the RCP drawings never show the room number or name? Agreed. Overall I have 5 years construction experience with an associates degree from community college. Problem-Solving Skills are Always Required. They pass information between the field team and the design team, whether that’s through RFIs, Submittals, meeting minutes, emails etc. I basically mentored under a ~30 year experience superintendent / estimator. I applied to a small GC right out of college to get my foot in the door and one year later started applying to other companies. I run my own contracting business now though so those tools I learned as a PM definately help. g. Along with attention to detail, construction leads are often required to come up with novel solutions to construction problems on the fly for projects to proceed and be completed on time. I know the stress level on the architecture side, and hearing a lot of people in construction saying is also like that if not more. Though it does have it’s good sides to it. Achieving this requires constant supervision and hands-on involvement in the day-to-day running of a project site. The job is never boring and can be rewarding, but it can be also be very stressful. My route sounds a little backwards compared to most people I'd be interviewing against, but I'm confident I'll reach my goals. to the Facilities manager role 13 years ago and have moved companies once. You will burn out no matter what. Manufacturing engineering just doesn’t have that level of pressure or that type of 24/7 stress. Depends on the project phase. all that matters is the budget and schedule. . I'd say it averages around a 6 Its hard as a Project manager if your people and persuading skills are weak, as a designer the major share of work is in your hands but as a P. I'm really good at what I do and I know I can get ahead especially In building services and project/construction management but I feel due to the whole bidding process and shark-like mentality amongst companies, the earning ceiling is very low in the construction If you're in a major metro area and are willing to move companies a lot, you can make quite a lot in FM though. I’m in structural design, 4 years out of college without FE/PE (waiting currently on FE results). All the "rich" engineers I know started their own firm. Attention to detail on the job is “always” required for construction management professionals. The level of stress can vary depending on the specific role, industry, and organization. It’s a really stressful job. In PM it is mostly just stress over business development, fighting over receivables with clients and randomly internal policy bullshit / employee management. It’s not as backbreaking as the labor jobs and doesn’t have as much stress as the management side since you aren’t doing the planning. Pay will always be good. so i am looking for advice and who better to ask than the people on the field. A place for construction professionals to discuss the industry. Internships in college are a perfect tool to figure out if construction is right for you. Construction management is not one of these jobs. I love it and it is definitely where the money is at. I’m really cool with my superintendent so we will take turns leaving our job-site early during the week. If the experience you have on your resume is relevant to what you're applying for, then yes it'll help. Cleaner type work that is generally cost + fee, so it's less stressful than lowest bid lump sum commercial type projects. So as the title suggests i want to switch majors to construction management because to me i saw it as a better option, a bit of background i am in a masters program at FIU and the stress is immense for the things they make us do, so this could be the cause of wanting to switch, but what i really think pushed me over The specifics vary. CSUN has a good CM program and the field is in demand. Pays well I have 2 years project management/estimating for commercial metal framing, drywall, and acoustical ceilings. Construction: Working in construction was not for me, personally. I would encourage Project Managers, Superintendents, Estimators, Foreman, and Safety Directors to join this community and hopefully share information or tips to help See full list on indeed. I have a bachelors degree and only 2 years as a PM. Check out r/PMcareers for career related posts. Construction Management deals with all the planning required for construction to go smoothly. Now I only work 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM, M - F. Diversification of Skills: A master's degree in construction management could significantly enhance your skill set, making you more competitive in the job market. I'm looking at colleges/college majors and construction management has recently piqued my interest as a potential career, and I was wondering what this subs take on it is. Ans others that caught my eye were Master of Urban Management, Master's in Construction and Real Estate Management (ConREM) and Building Sustainability- Management Methods for Energy Efficiency I left construction management mostly due to the high stress levels. And while it might be implied here, IMHO not only are PMs overworked but the job itself usually sucks. Tons of very uncomfortable, aggressive conversations with customers, getting shit on both by management and the customer, and having to manage time being charged to projects and specific tasks, timesheets, expenditures, improvising how to cope when projects go over Management and Sales promising clients top quality at low cost without taking into account your input about the inviability of the project, then expecting you to do all of the work (finding resources, dealing with tech issues, etc. Maybe include geographic location, salary, benefits, and any other info you would like to! I'll start (I've only worked with Kiewit since graduating with a bachelors in construction management, December '20): Company: Kiewit (Colorado) Foreman/Field Engineer Intern (Summer 2018)- $300m job - $16/hr - Company truck (only used on site) I have always been interested in property management. CM can mean working for a Sub or GC, or for a true Construction Management company (Owner's Rep). Construction management is stressful as, pays bloody well though. If you have no experience you say ‘I show up everyday, I don’t come to work fcked up or get fcked up Construction project management can be an excellent career path for a reserved introvert who has a passion for the construction industry and enjoys working behind the scenes. Check out the bls website for construction management for more data. Non union or once you have a union book, you show up to the job ask for the foreman, shake his hand introduce yourself and tell him what your experience is. I couldn't deal with the stress of PM, especially when someone else is making the big bucks. My buddy makes a killing ($160k/year) at ProCore Industries; they sell a construction management system that is blowing up right now. On my way out, I was taking my GC exams, getting other credentials I would need, and started planning my life for a profession outside of corporate construction. Keep in mind that the recession has impacted the construction industry much more than other sectors of the economy. I’m on year 7, honestly hated it for the first 4 years or so, just kept working to pay the bills, however these past 3 years my perspective has completely changed. true. After 4ish years in project management, I asked to move over. 5 years. For most project managers it's the sheer scale of involvement that makes it stressful. Im looking into construction management, and would like to know if its worth pursuing the path. Flip side to that is you're always at the beck and call of your clients while under contract and scope creep becomes the bane of existence. You essentially move the design plans through the construction phase and support/delegate any updates to the projects construction documentation. Architects and engine I’m trying to find a good game that has a lot of design choices, personalization, building, and management. A PE is the communication HUB of the team. I always caution folks before seeking a career in construction management. gotta delay schedules, let them know. I've been in the commercial GC side of construction since graduating with a degree in CM. Fast paced and complex projects that are fun, but stressful at times. All careers will have a level of stress, but construction is for sure one of the most stressful. Most of my stress is falling behind or the opposite, being impatient with others. Construction project management will possibly get you working on more exciting projects and give you a better overall view of the project, but the level of responsibility, expectation and work required is huge and relentless at times. The stress I would say is the bigger responsibility in making sure every decision for the company is right. Maybe 0-25% field visit. that will be far less stressful overlooking 5-10 guys of your own. My stress levels and overall happiness have been much improved the past few months. This is a safe and open environment dedicated to the promotion of project management methodologies, with the purpose of fostering and promoting free discussion about all things project management. If you like the money management side you can get a postbac certificate in accounting that would allow you to sit for the CPA exam. e actually swinging the hammers). I've been pursuing a construction project management pathway and after about a year in the industry, I can finally make moves towards getting hired as a project engineer. A lot of people new to construction management spend their time high strung and as stressed as can be, but if you pay attention you will notice most of the successful superintendents with 10-20+ years of experience very rarely get worked up. It's still construction, but it's so much more laid back than being a contractor. jump to a cutting edge construction industry like semiconductor plants, renewable energy (geothermal, offshore wind), or space industry building rockets or satellites, or hi tech construction inside of Federal government national laboratories (Los Alamos, etc. I made the move from construction mgmt. BIM/VDC is quite competitive right out of college; additionally big companies want someone with experience handling their VDC operations. It’s the type of stress that follows you home and you can’t get away from. Yeah its crazys what people put themselves thru for a paycheck. I'm still on that page, but I'm seeing others in my field paying $70K out the gate, and if you asked me about 5-year potential 5 years ago I'd say you might have to live on 50, today - I'm seeing guys with only 5 years experience out of college, making $100K or more You're right, it's less stressful. Management of people is a different kind of stress IMO than deadline pressures or being personally accountable for a particular deliverable. Plus careers in IT you can get online and can earn a great living. On the plus side, you will be exposed to a wide range of "soft-skills" that aren't taught at school. I earned 46k last year. The main reason I wanted to get into construction project management is because I'm great with people, esp in a workplace environment, and I love problem solving. I hire people with design or construction experience and turn them into Construction Construction: Working in construction was not for me, personally. I currently am the Construction Manager for a real estate development company in Florida. Sure, there are days that are a lot more stressful than others, but the stress is only what you make it out to be. Project Management vs Construction Management vs Resident Engineer Hello friends - looking for input, insights, advice, experiences etc. It is a high-stress, fast-paced, and demanding field. Reply reply Free_Internal_391 Especially in urban areas, there's a continuous need for infrastructure development and maintenance, which bodes well for construction management professionals. However, many positions in supply chain management require effective communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills to manage complex processes and ensure timely delivery A place for construction professionals to discuss the industry. Sounds like you get it, but at the same time, you're dealing with a lot of stress of being a firefighter but its kind of good stress, like stress that matters, in construction. CM is a nice balance but ia hard to do right out of college. Lots of naysayers in here on the PE role which I find rather interesting and surprising. But in terms of money, a 10 yrs PM in architecture caps out at 80k avg. Con #9. If you are 50/50 on either option, I would say go for the civil degree, go work as a project engineer, and then get your PE in construction management (a civil disciple in) and/or your masters in project management plus the PMP certification. I'm a junior now, work part time as an estimator. This is how you build your experience, not in a classroom. Being a PM on a design project and a construction project are very different in the specifics. At the most basic level you are responsible for managing the schedule, scope, and cost. I feel underpaid for where I live 100% but I work for a small company, so there are plenty of perks to that. I can't really get behind it. It seems like a career path that I could see myself enjoying. 10 projects, all need materials, short or delayed supply, not conveying this info to owners or engineers, not updating and modifying brings the stress. Con #10. Based on my experience we’re always hiring people with any kind of experience because the turnover is high, because while it’s not the most interesting work it’s so much less stressful than construction, as explained to me by the several older/senior ex- construction managers who now work for us because their personal lives were suffering. It's a high paying, high stress, high speed, and high turnover environment. Industrial project engineering for e. The more stressful part of our job is getting along with the guys you work with or work for. My job is pretty stressful and demanding the majority of the time. I see their point, ultimately if the job looses or wins money it comes down to their estimate. Travel can be a killer but still a better work-life balance than other industries. You walk out at the end of the day and it’s done. yes the work is hard some days, but the average non construction worker doesn’t enjoy the day to day freedoms that we do, from being able to light a smoke while working and playing whatever music or podcast you feel like, to Project Management expects perfect world scenarios and construction just isn’t perfect. In construction management, it’s a lot more open-ended, which is challenging for civils who have been taught a fairly linear way of thinking. 10 years in that world before taking a commercial construction job with a large company that was always building new facilities. ) where they build huge particle accelerators, prototype fusion energy facilities and I'm a recent college grad with a construction management degree. 18 months out of college and I am now at a ENR top general contractor. If we have a trade that decides to work late that day, my PM expects all of management to stay. The job is very demanding. It feels more like a job and less like a lifestyle. Although, covid has severely effected business right now. It's been fun but there is a little stress imagining finding a real full time job when I graduate. You will probably also be responsible for the quality management, risk management, and some other stuff. Plus the skills are transferable. All you really need is to know how things are built, rules, regulations, laws, and make a plan to fix 32 votes, 50 comments. Can any property managers out there give me insight into the stresses of the job and what I can expect? One was a non-management role and extremely high stress. Resource management is fine, but I’m not really looking for a game that requires a lot of intense planning with extremely dire consequences if I make the Project Management is a GREAT and growing field, but you'll find its easier to enter in basic level construction (where you're focused on schedules, budget, client relationships) or in tech with the right certifications. I deal mainly in preconstruction estimating so I like filling in the blanks, problem solving, identif When a construction project moves through construction, it requires constant input from engineering teams to review project submittals and RFIs to work through technical problems. Granted my experiences are not necessarily standard and the individual project determines a lot of it. I Did have experience in the field prior. mfqfmko yuwdo ghw vpgg vnjj pzrii inbq addv shzeaw lxge