OPINION: Traits of a Modern Construction Manager

Chartered Building Professional Graham Teede did a survey with Construction employers in both South Africa and Australia to find the traits of a Modern Construction Manager through their eyes, he shares his findings and his views on what the findings mean about training future Construction Managers.

In an effort to find out what are the key traits of a modern Construction Manager required by employers I created and sent a survey to 25 Company Managers / Construction Managers in Australia and 25 in South Africa and I have received  a 52%  response:.

Key findings of the survey

• A Construction Management and or Engineering Degree is important
• Students who have had some TAFE / TVET Training often do well in the Degree
• The Work experience provision is always a contentious issue – but a Min of 100 days is preferred.
• Quantity Surveying is the preferred extra Skill. Other: Building Diploma –Trade Skills – Health and Safety along with Commercial Skills – Management and Innovation Skills
• Communication – Team Player – Initiative are key traits and skills that employers are looking for.
• The personal traits of integrity and ethics are the standout traits along with some technical knowledge.
• 84.6%  Companies are only employing 1-10 Graduates annually. This means we are never going to have enough jobs for the number of annual University graduates we produce.
• 50% of those surveyed indicated that Graduates need specific Traits or skills to fit into their Companies.

A Modern Construction Manager will also be actively engaged with their representative Professional Institute where they will do their bit in promoting their Profession to the colleagues and the Community.

Therefore to support and enhance the job opportunities the Modern Construction Manager,, Governments need to do their bit to provide the opportunities. These opportunities can only be underpinned by the appropriate commitment to Public Works and Infrastructure Projects to provide Industry with the ability to provide the much needed employment opportunities for the Modern Construction Manager. Similarly the Private Sector has a Role to play here in providing opportunities.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?

I personally believe the future is good but we must do more for our Graduates as they embark on their Careers as Construction Managers.

There needs to be a stronger focus on Universities and Industry to engage to provide real time and real life experiences. This can be done with the establishment of “Work Experience Programs” where 3rd or 4th year Students are rotated through Companies / Projects for a set period of time to gain experience they could be paid a small amount to cover their Travel and daily expense This will provide an opportunity to gain that valuable experience and knowledge to assist down the track.

Universities could use their Student Groups to start that engagement with Industry through a series of initiatives like “Meet the Boss” or “Braai with the Boss” where senior industry GM’s and Construction Managers are invited to a casual event to talk about their Careers etc. This also give the Students access to the right people in their Company’s.

There is also a great opportunity for the various professions to get on board with these initiatives.

Finally I strongly believe that “Mentor Programs” are an important part of any young Professionals career and need to be encouraged either by the Universities or the Professions.

Personally I mentor a group of Graduates from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya along with a large following on my LinkedIn Page; Construction Management Professionals – Worldwide.

I have assisted the Construction Network SA started by a couple of CEM Graduates who asked me for some advice and assistance. That Group is now flourishing but now it possibly needs some support and redirection.

Graham Teede is an experienced Building Professional with extensive experience across Commercial and Residential Building Projects and Civil Concrete Works including Underground Civil Concrete Works. A Carpenter Joiner by Trade he has continued to study and build his career, successfully completing an Associate Diploma Applied Science – Construction, Diploma in Building and Construction and a Certificate in Construction Management at UCT. He is a Chartered Building Professional and Registered Building Practitioner (WA) and a past Board Member of the Building Services Board of Western Australia. He was recently appointed as Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Building.

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