What are the best ways for Construction Management professionals to advance their careers?

Upgrade yourself in whatever manner I.e. by higher education, specific course, experience, etc. Some attributes can be gained by education, industry courses, management courses. Some you get by experience and Some can be taken by reading/observing mentors/leaders acts.

You can never have enough knowledge in the ever changing industry of Construction. Spend some time getting to know the people doing the work. Be more interested than interesting to people within your circle!

Build your network. Construction is a small world and being the best at what you do goes a long way in opening doors, not necessarily your qualifications.

According to my experience, the 5 key steps to move forward on your path as a Construction Manager are: 1. Integration Skills 2. Assertive communication and conflict resolution skills 3. Relationship with technical experts, we can't be experts in everything, but we can connect with the experts of everything. 4. Develop Risk Management Skills. A goo manager anticipates risks, not always to prevent them from happening, but to approach them correctly when they do. 5. Tools to measure and control your team results. A good manager knows that the results are built and in order to do it you need to measure and control them. 6. Networking time: good relations are blessings.

One thing I have seen over 2 decades is the want and action mismatch ...One's aim should result is concrete steps to achieving end results. Education through additional qualifications duly recognised, offers an unique perspective of new ideas in the field of choice, a way of connecting with fellow working professionals... Finally, getting an additional qualification whilst working, demonstrates ability to handle various aspects of life at same point which is also a quality much desired as we move up in career..

In the dynamic field of construction management, no single professional holds all the answers to every challenge. The mark of a true professional lies in knowing where and how to find those answers. This is where the power of networking becomes evident. The stronger your network, the better chance for success and advancement. Joining and actively engaging in professional organizations offers a robust platform to build your network. As an estimator, mine has been the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE). This organization has not only expanded my professional network but also enriched my knowledge base, proving invaluable in navigating the complexities of the construction industry.

I love my network! Please appreciate your network! Work with your network! Stay in contact with you network! Let your network grow over your career!

Networking: Building and maintaining a strong professional network can open doors to new opportunities. Attending industry events, joining relevant associations or organizations, and connecting with peers and mentors can provide valuable insights and potential career prospects.

Networking is vital in construction management, facilitating opportunity discovery, knowledge sharing, referrals, and collaborations. Engaging with industry professionals through events, associations, online forums, and social media platforms like LinkedIn fosters professional development and career advancement. Building and maintaining relationships with clients, contractors, and peers is essential for success in the dynamic construction industry.

Networking helps in these days , but we need to showcase our quality on these paltforms too ... unless we are skilled and experinced , simply networking will not work. First step is consistent hardwork and showcasing our achivements and skills. Then networking will give us great opportunities.

You have to really know you're build. I spend a lot of time on pre-build, thought of scope and cost breakdown. Then at that point you can accept more task management.

As a mentor, I would like to add that mentorship is a two-way street. While mentors provide guidance and share their wealth of experience, they also stand to learn from the fresh perspectives and innovative ideas of their mentees. This reciprocal relationship fosters a dynamic learning environment for both parties. I encourage professionals to regularly engage in self-reflection. This practice, combined with feedback, allows you to critically assess your own progress, understand your impact in the workplace, and identify areas for personal and professional development. Embracing a mindset of continuous learning and growth is key to thriving in our ever-evolving industry.

We can correct , upgrade and boost ourselves abiding the feedbacks of our seniors. This is what gives us a way to accomplish our goals . We must ask for feedbacks....they are very valuable.

Seeking feedback and mentorship is crucial for growth in any field, and construction management is no exception. seeking feedback and mentorship is a continuous process. Regularly solicit feedback, nurture your mentorship relationships, and actively invest in your professional development. By doing so, you can gain valuable insights, refine your skills, and progress on your career path in construction management.

I’ve heard it said that multi tasking isn’t possible, it’s just a phrase. I get the gist of that thinking but disagree. You can be working on a bid and then get a call about dimensions for metal stairs while ordering lunch and texting your wife about your daughter’s grades. Keep your plates in the air. At all times, it’s a juggling act. There was that ‘song’ in the late 90s called Everyone’s Free to Wear Sunscreen. One of the lines was Do something every day that frightens you. Take that a (I’d say step but I’m about to reference someone who never stops) mile further and think about David Goggins. If you’re thrust into a role and scared that’s good. Only by testing your limits can you ever find where they are. Test them, never settle.

I worked on a particularly tough project early in my career where many things went wrong. I still look back on that time and realise that I learned the most by being exposed to the toughest challenges. So I'd say that the way to learn is to take on the toughest challenges and learn how to resolve the problems that arise. Once you've done the hard ones, the easy ones are a piece of cake.

I appreciate when my PMs will admit their capacity limits. I don't want people overworked or stressed, then every area of work and life suffer and no one wins. Finding the right level of capacity/responsibilityi is a moving target but with great communication and trust we can all move forward in a positive direction.

Taking on more responsibilities is a effective way to advance your career as it broadens your knowledge and skill set but you must also consider the amount or type of responsibilities you have taken on that it doesn't not become too much.

I agree with Rocky Plemons, knowing your limitations and also knowing when to ask for help. Both of these traits are more important in building a career than trying to be superman.

I always loved the Tom Brady quote about his favorite SB ring, the next one. so achievements are good to have, to learn, but be present, be mindful of the job at hand.

Your achievements are great to showcase. In highlighting them if you aren’t able to speak about them in a compelling way it looses its value. Develop your storytelling skillset to really showcase your achievements and leave people with a great impression.

Keep good record of your achievements - small or big. Learning at job are very important and must be seen as achievement when done in a safe, cost efficient and sustainable way. Celebrate other people achievement and this will help others see you or notice you enhancing your chance of being promoted or noticed in a positive way. Invest in yourself - do some short courses or pursue higher education when time and circumstances permit. Be clear - you can be people leader or technical expert- which one are you and why? It is not easy to be both - not saying can’t be done but it has some limitations.

Its always good to highlight your achievements. It increases the changes of Promotions (in current job or new opportunity) and boosts self confidence.

Show casing achievements from my perspective in most all cases involves a team. I have found its amazing what you can accomplish, when you don't care who gets the credit. Most will recognize a team effort and who the leader is without blowing their own horn.

GO EVERY SINGLE DAY TO THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD The best way to earn knowledge, awareness, and respect from your management and peers is to go every day possible to the construction field, this will: - Give you better criteria for duration of activities - Teach you best methods - Give you awareness on Safety - Allow you to know the team perfectly - Show you the correct status of your project - Show your commitment - And lastly, if you are the manager and already have accounted for these abilities, you will see from first hand what is going on in the field so nobody can mislead you through reports. All these will translate into a better professional profile for you, and will push you up in the organization.

As a manager you are expected to manage, in doing that you must work the people instead of letting them work. You set expectations, ask the unreasonable everyone will build a little float into a deliverable, remove it with a counteroffer. Getting a commitment in time for tasks provide results, without that commitment in time you are just having a conversation. The minimum you accept is the maximum you will achieve, strive for excellence. No short cuts, there is no right way to do the wrong thing. Empower your people, showing the tasks are important to you, so the work is important to them. You have to manage your Time and Money, budgets and plans must be written down and communicated, you cannot criticize a blank sheet of paper.

I look at the ability in multitasking. If an employee is doing a good job but shys away from undertaking additional tasks or is reluctant to direct additional resources , he is probably in the right position. In order to get opportunities its best to do the job before it is offered, this takes a good multitasking. Giving the boss confidence in his decision.

Do not sit and wait for the opportunity to present its self. If you want to progress go and make it happen, back up your knowledge and experience with the technical qualifications. Push yourself to find the right role set a plan on how you want to achieve this and work through it step by step. Do not stay with a company that has no route to succession. Once you reach your ceiling with them move on to the next step. Stick to your plan and enjoy the challenge.

Experience is critical to success within the construction industry. Many professionals start in entry-level positions such as project coordinators, construction schedulers, or field engineers. These roles will provide you with hands-on experience in the industry, as well as opportunities to develop technical skills Join professional organizations so that you gain more experience to develop the technical and leadership skills necessary to advance within the ranks of the construction industry. Be prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up in the construction industry