Employment Prospects
It is only a matter of time before construction superintendent jobs are on the upswing again. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics asserts that job prospects for construction superintendents have faster than average growth for the next 10 years. This is attributed to the expansion of the variety and level of construction work in new buildings as well as in the retrofitting of older buildings for green design purposes. Add in the replacement of the country's physical infrastructure like roads, bridges and pipes and construction superintendent work will open up in big ways.
However, the job opportunities for construction managers are very similar to other jobs in the construction industry. Jobseekers that possess bachelor's degrees in related fields like construction science and management as well as civil engineering coupled with extensive work experience have an advantage over other applicants with lesser qualifications.
Professional Qualifications
When it comes to qualifications, construction superintendents are expected to be knowledgeable in many areas of laws, technology and standards related to construction from the people employed to the materials used. Furthermore, the professional must also be updated on the latest advances in building technology, techniques and materials so much that the job of a construction superintendent is a continual learning process.
When it comes to learning, more employers are looking for applicants in construction superintendent jobs with a bachelor's or master's degree in a related field as abovementioned. This is because the courses offered in these degrees provide a strong foundation for the responsibilities of the job. Said courses include strong focus on project control and development, construction methods and materials, site planning and design, cost estimating and scheduling, as well as comprehensive instruction on business and financial management, laws on human and building safety, architectural sciences and information technology. Indeed, construction superintendent work is very demanding but very fulfilling in every sense of the word.
However, plenty of construction superintendents do not have the abovementioned educational qualifications. Instead, the practical work experience acquired in the construction industry becomes their edge during the hiring process that, when coupled with education even in a cooperative education program, can trump the most brilliant of new graduates from the 4-year degree courses. Other personal qualifications include flexibility in working schedules, decisiveness under great pressure, ability to multi-task, strong leadership skills, and excellent communication skills. These are very important qualifications in a high-pressure environment as the construction industry.
Working Environment
The working environment of construction superintendent jobs involve two aspects - working in the main office and working in the field. As such, construction managers must travel to their job sites on a regular basis to determine compliance with the work plans, to solve problems as these issues crop up, and to deal with the people involved from the workers to the suppliers and clients. Also, construction superintendent work is almost a 24/7 job while the project is ongoing. Managers are on call 24 hours of the day, in addition to traveling between two jobs sites, when necessary. This is especially true for projects with deadlines to meet and delays to deal with. In many ways, the work may not be physically dangerous but it will take its toll on the mind and body of the individual.
The responsibilities of the construction manager in such a working environment have significant bearing on the dangers of the job. Construction managers must oversee the building construction from the planning to the implementing stages including but not limited to formulation of building plans, cost budgets and human staffing. It is a job that involves close coordination with other professionals like the architects, the engineers and the foremen.
Still, the wages of a construction manager more than makes up for the pressures, stresses and dangers of the job with median annual earnings for May 2008 at $79, 860 with high earners raking in as much as $145,920 in a year. Now, if you are still interested in becoming a construction manager, then we suggest acquiring the education and experience today.
