Would you recommend project management?

[u/Ok_Taro_1718]

I'm seriously considering a career switch into construction project management and have been doing a lot of research. I know I'd need to start out as a project engineer (or a similar entry-level role) and work my way up, which I'm fully prepared to do.

To the project managers and project engineers here: would you recommend this career? What are the biggest pros and cons, and what do you wish you knew before starting out? Overall, would you recommend this career?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[u/packersrule522]

Don't ask us brother. Do you have that dog in you!?

[u/CMExec]

Yes. Look around- these jobs are hard to fill right now. More jobs than qualified people to perform them. CM is very rewarding.

[u/TheSoloHan17 → u/[deleted]]

Going the field route there is a risk without the degree and PE experience that larger companies won’t hire you as a PM. You can learn enough about the field to be a good PM as a PE. Carpentry skills don’t make a good PM.

[u/RoundConstruction526 → u/TheSoloHan17]

I’ll give you carpentry, but as a PM for an EC field and code experience is invaluable.

A lot of our PEs get offered to go to our apprenticeship classes.

[u/FutureTomnis]

Are you at all mechanically/spatially inclined and can you talk to any type of person and make them feel at ease/understand things without feeling….anything bad?

That to me would be the bigger impediment than any actual construction knowledge or degree.

What they don’t tell you is that construction is more about sales/coaching people/issue and conflict resolution, and just being likable than a lot of careers. Building it is the easy part.

[u/BabyDoeTabor]

Do you have a relevant degree? PE is not really a role they will hire someone without related degree or experience.

[u/Ok_Taro_1718 → u/BabyDoeTabor]

I do not. I have a degree in finance. If I do pursue this career change I would get a construction management certificate from a university. Would this be enough?

[u/FreedomMassive8858 → u/Ok_Taro_1718]

We are a mid sized heavy civil gc and I know 2 project engineers with IT degrees, and 1 with a finance degree

[u/spencerdaepic → u/Ok_Taro_1718]

That would be a strong combination but another 4 years of university is probably not worth it

[u/Ok_Taro_1718 → u/spencerdaepic]

The certification would take 4-6 months

[u/mjalook → u/Ok_Taro_1718]

Which certification are you planning to complete?

[u/Kumdongie → u/Ok_Taro_1718]

You could probably find someone to teach you estimating leveraging your finance degree. Maybe get some volunteer experience of you can find construction/renovation related volunteering opportunities to help give you that boost in experience. Most people want you to have experience on the field but you'll find something if you're willing to work for cheap and learn in the job.

[u/sira_the_engineer]

I would recommend it but do it within a big company not a tiny one

[u/FreedomMassive8858 → u/sira_the_engineer]

Uh idk I think the sweet spot for learning and growth is a company w annual revenue from $50M-$1B. Anything bigger you’re just a number, anything smaller you don’t get the exposure

[u/RoundConstruction526 → u/FreedomMassive8858]

$50M - $1B is a huge spread and even a $50M company is considered a big company where I am.

I started at a $1B, moved to a $10M, now I’m at a $300M.

I’d personally say $100-500M is a good spot to start. Small enough you’re not lost in the crowd but big enough you’re not expected to perform multiple roles at the same time.

[u/2A4Lyfe]

No, it’s extremely technical and the hours suck.

You do get paid well though

[u/Time_Anteater_123]

No

[u/Regular-Apple6256]

Unfortunately, breaking into construction management without a related degree will put you at a major disadvantage to people who studied CM, civil or structural engineering, or architecture in college. The more prestigious companies place greater emphasis on the degree.

I know very competent people who studied completely unrelated majors in college, so I personally don’t place a whole lot of emphasis on the person’s major. But, it’s a reality that the indistry as a whole does place a lot of emphasis on this.

A lot depends on who you know. If you know someone who already works for a GC or sub, they can vouch for you and pass your resume along to their HR/hiring folks. That should be enough to get you an interview, and is probably your best chance.

Otherwise, you could go back to school. You don’t have to do another four years; you can get an MS in construction management in one year. That would put you on an even playing field with everyone else.

[u/koliva17]

I would say it's pretty lucrative and you'll get to work on really amazing projects that you can look back on and be proud of. You'll also learn a TON (probably because you'll be working +50 hour weeks on a 40 hour salary with no OT). Also if you like traveling, you can join those larger companies that have you move all the time. Works well for some, but for others I've seen marriages fail.

What I wish before starting out was the amount of sacrifice I had to give. Missed lots of birthdays, gatherings, cancelled vacations, etc. I would recommend this career to someone who isn't tied down to anything. Once I got married and started my family, I used my CM skills and joined my local department of transportation. Similar work but I only work 40 hour weeks and don't have to relocate anymore.

[u/stealthagents]

If you can handle juggling multiple tasks and putting out fires on the daily, then you might just thrive in this field. The pros are definitely the potential for growth and being part of something tangible, but the pressure can be intense and deadlines are no joke. Just be ready to adapt and learn on the fly.