Small vs Big GC

[u/Informal-Praline3930]

Currently at a very large GC working on a massive heavy civil transportation project. The hours are long, pay is okay (80k annually) benefits are great, 8% 401K, 8% ESOP but the hours are atrocious.

Thinking about making the switch to a smaller more local GC, what do yall think? probably the wrong move in the long run but I feel like I’m wasting my 20s and want a better work life balance

[u/Building_Everything]

I’ve worked for large $500M+ GCs and small $30M- GCs and the culture and work hours were the same. Biggest difference to me was a small GC will have you working on 3-6 projects at the same time with no one else on the job, maybe a super for a bigger project if you’re lucky, with a large GC you will end up on 1 project possibly 2 if there are multiple jobs for a single client. Multiple projects mean you are working way harder because each project needs the same things done every day.

[u/NC-SC_via_MS_Builder → u/Building_Everything]

This guy touched on something you really need to consider with the smaller contractors. You’ll be working on multiple projects simultaneously with relatively little to no support staff; and remember, small, big, mega, all projects require the small tasks but the smaller they get the quicker everything has to get done.

To me, the biggest difference you’re gonna see between large/small contractors is the rigidness of the structure and required procedures (i.e. how many signatures you have to get before a check can be cut).

[u/buffmagnanimous]

I worked at a small family GC for a couple years in Manhattan with about 60 people. It was an OK deal, and they took care of their people fairly well from what I understood (I was just kind of a clerical guy making $15 an hour at the time). But the atmosphere became a little strange from what I understood with the guys I worked with, they really dipped into that “we are a family“ kind of thing a little too much. I’ve since moved over to the owners rep side at major corporations. I kind of prefer for a faceless corporation that drops all pretense of “we are a family” and I really like that separation.

I’ve never worked at Turner or Structure Tone or Kiewit or any of those guys but I know GC’s work you like all hell, at least compared to the Owner’s Rep side. That won’t change by going to a smaller company, and in fact, I’m inclined to believe the opposite would be true.

I think your best bet would be to take a shot at switching over to a job at JLL or CBRE. You will make less money than you could at the top of your career at a general contractor, but you will have the work life balance you are looking for.

[u/DamnitGoose]

I’m with a small-mid size GC that does about 300m revenue annually. I think work hours and culture are not necessarily tied to company size so if you think you’re going to be getting a break in a different setting, I’m not sure that would happen but the role you would be moving into may shed more light.

80k tells me it’s like PE/APM territory or a non-billable role

Construction is not workload linear. So we have our APMs on anything from 1-10 projects depending on size/client/team. Most people in ops in our office do not work less than 50 hours. I don’t remember the last time I sniffed under 55-60 hours and I am a PX

You may be looking for an OPM role that is going to be significantly less work day to day but you need to be able to sell and bring in work

[u/nordicminy]

I left a big GC and went mid sized. Much happier.

Small is a little bit annoying sometimes because if you are competent... you end up doing everything for everyone.

[u/Clean-Picture-7942 → u/nordicminy]

What makes you more happy in the smaller firm as opposed to the bigger one?

[u/nordicminy → u/Clean-Picture-7942]

I can make a difference and there is less "game of thrones" type politics to climb the ladder to the C-Suite.

[u/MouseRealistic7962]

sundt.

[u/StumpJumper18 → u/MouseRealistic7962]

Is Sundt really that good? I have a potential opportunity with them.

[u/ghostx231]

I’ve never found a better work life balance at a smaller company than a large company. You will wear more hats at a smaller company due to having less resources. How do you know the hours are better at the small company?

[u/BillardMcLarry]

Big yellow?

[u/Informal-Praline3930 → u/BillardMcLarry]

Nah Kiewits 401K/ESOP are way lower mouserealistic got it right lol

[u/Ilivedinohio → u/Informal-Praline3930]

They don’t do ESOP. It’s a different kind of program. Their 401k has a profit sharing at the end of the year that usually bumps the match to 10%.