Paul Netscher, a Construction Professional with 30 years experience in construction management who is also a mentor, author and training presenter, shares MY CAREER TIPS for new Construction Professionals looking for opportunities to improve learning and experience.
1.Always ask questions.
Construction managers are poor at teaching people - always too busy. You're not going to learn unless you ask. Learn from your managers, foremen, tradespeople, subcontractors.
2. Choose your employer wisely
Work for a company with a good reputation where you will learn how to do things right. Don't join a company only because of the pay or location. Worry about these things once you have learned the basics and how to do things correctly. It's very hard to unlearn bad habits and bad teachings.
3. Seek out additional responsibilities
Ask for additional responsibilities if you have the time. You will not grow and learn unless you learn new roles. Construction professionals are poor delegators - you often have to ask for new responsibilities.
4. Be patient
It takes knowledge and experience to become a good construction project manager. It doesn't happen overnight.
ALSO READ CAREERTIP: 7 tips for new Construction Professionals - Steve Keightley - Smith
5. Do not stop learning
Continue learning. You are never too old to stop learning. Learn from your manager, foremen, tradespeople, subcontractors. even other contractors. Read construction books and even attend courses. Even read one of my books.
6. Learn from your mistakes
Learn from your mistakes so you don't repeat them, and learn from your successes so you can replicate them. Equally learn from others' mistakes and successes. You will have bad managers and from them learn what not to do, and of course learn from your good managers.
7. Do daily planning
Planning is not something that you only do at the start of the project. Planning must happen every day. Take at least 10 minutes every day to check what must happen today, then think about what must happen tomorrow and make sure that what must be done for tomorrow's tasks are completed in time. Then think through what must happen next week and ensure you will be ready next week.
8. Be a good manager
The most important word in the title project manager, or site manager, or construction manager, is manager. You must manage people, equipment, the project, subcontractors, and sometimes even the client.
9. Respect is earned
You must earn respect. Respect does not come with a title or age. It does not come by being friends with your team, or being lenient with your team. It comes by showing you are knowledgeable and experienced. It comes with showing that you are fair, firm, and consistent. It comes when you show you have good ethics. That you are prepared to work hard. That you admit when you made a mistake. That you back your team when they are right.
10.Communication
Good communication skills are essential in construction.
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