Duties of a Construction Manager
The first thing that a construction manager must do is keep track of all employees. This will include making sure they have the equipment they need, as well as ensuring that they are actually doing their jobs. From this aspect, one might be led to believe that construction management jobs are babysitting jobs, and in some cases they really are.
In addition to that, you will need to negotiate contracts with potential clients. As the manager, you will need to make sure there is a client lined up right after the current job. If there is not, there might be no paychecks the following week.
Making sure that the job is finished on time is another important aspect of construction management jobs. Sometimes the jobs are financed by a certain bank, and the bank will only provide a payout if the construction has progressed by a certain amount. In other words, if the work doesn't get done, no one will be paid. This can be a heavy burden to bear, but it is part of construction management careers.
On that note, you will need to manage the payroll, as this is another big part of construction management jobs. In order to do this you will either need to keep a ledger, or you will need to acquire a computer program that allows you to keep track of paychecks and salaries. You could just cut checks, but as some point a dispute will arise, and you will need to make sure you have adequate records in order to settle that dispute.
As you can see, this is not the easiest job in the world to do. You will need to be strong, and you will need to be willing to work long hours. Keep in mind that when you are negotiating contracts with potential clients, there may be ten other construction companies doing the exact same thing with the exact same client. You need to be convincing enough to get the job, and if possible, have more than one potential client lined up. You will need to be able to relate to people, because in effect you are a salesman. You are trying to sell your construction services to a company or individual, and you need to provide them a reason to go with you.
Do you guarantee your work? Do you offer something that the other companies don't? These are the questions you need to ask yourself when you are representing your construction company. Construction services are not a rarity, but quality work is. Not only do you need to build, you need to make sure the structure you erect can stand up to wind storms, state inspections, and most importantly the next fifty to one hundred years. Houses are meant to last, or at least they used to be. Are yours?
Construction management jobs will require some education. You will need to have a background in math and science, and you may find that a structural engineering degree helps out quite a bit. These are just a few of the things that you might need to pursue. Among others, you might find that a degree in business helps out, and perhaps a few finance courses to help you out with the money side of the business. As you can see, this isn't the easiest career path, but if you keep up the good work and continue to push, you might find that construction management careers are something that you can pursue and stay in for many years to come.
In order to find one of these jobs, you will need to either use the internet or take a look at some of your local construction companies. Most companies are looking for construction managers, and if you have the credentials, you might be just the person they need. You never know until you try!
That being said, it's time for you to look into ways to expand your career and take up construction management jobs. There are many opportunities and many potential routes to take when it comes to construction management careers.. This isn't going to be an easy job by any means, but who ever said that a worthwhile job would be easy?
