What Does A Construction Manager Do?

July 25th, 2008 by Jason Stollham
Jason Stollham

The construction managers are responsible for supervising the whole construction project including the construction team. They are also responsible for communicating and coordination with the proprietor as well as with the architect from the very beginning of the design. However, the Construction Management Association of America has the chief responsibilities of a construction manager. These include:

  • Quality Management
  • Time Management
  • Safety Management
  • Project Management Planning
  • Contract Administration
  • CM Professional Practice
  • Cost Management

Detailed job responsibilities of a Construction manager:

  • A construction manager evaluates the various plans such as civil, architectural, electrical, mechanical, as well as structural. They also make recommendation in several organizational factors like availability of materials and labor, construction feasibility, time requirements, and project cost etc. Construction manager also provide information for energy management requirements and life cycle cost studies.

  • The construction manager makes the budget of the construction project in accordance to the available information. He also reviews and processes the first cost estimation with the progress of the project. In most of the cases, construction managers set up the final cost estimation after the project is completed.

  • It is one of the responsibilities of a construction manager to recommend for the various purchases and accelerate the development of construction project in order to complete the plan by the required dates.

  • The construction manager prepares a progress schedule at the early stage of the project. This progress schedule incorporates all the project activities performed by him, as well as by the contractor, architect, and the owner. He also monitors the schedule and provides periodic reports as well as status report to the management.

  • He observes the work and supervises individual team member, until the project is completed and accepted by the proprietor. It is his responsibility to assure the owner that both the material provided and the work carried out is in accordance with the specifications.

  • The construction manager is further responsible to set up and preserve an effective cost control system while monitoring the total project costs.

Significance of Construction Project Management

June 30th, 2008 by Jason Stollham
Jason Stollham

The competitive world of the construction industry are in continues need of more and more trained construction professionals who are well-equipped with the latest skills and the knowledge to carry out the assigned jobs effectively. Thereby, if you are considering construction project management as a career, then you need to take up a program that helps you to excel. These courses are specially designed to provide the necessary professional skills, knowledge and expertise.

Course details:

These courses also help the existing constructional professionals working as project managers or project personnel along with those entering the field of construction management. These are also very useful for other service providers such as construction consultants or contractors. The main focus of such courses lies on the essential principles of the project management knowledge while covering the core concepts of managing a project right from the very beginning to final ending.

The course content depends on the college from where you are the pursuing the program. However, they generally include:

  • Plan reading
  • Construction accounting
  • Acquisitions, developments and estimation.
  • Real estate law
  • Field project management
  • Bidding and scheduling

Generally a student needs to qualify eight intensive courses in order to obtain a certificate in construction project management. However, students also have the options to pursue individual classes focusing on a particular course.

The Core Courses of Construction Project Management Program:

  • Construction Accounting: This course helps you to learn to review the accounting theory. It also provides a detailed understanding of the various terminology used in accounting. This includes payroll accounting, lien law, progress payments, construction cost control, sub-contractor invoices, cash flow, back charges and cost of sales.
  • Real Estate Acquisition s: This particular course focuses on the nature of development projects as well as sources of funds. The source may also include mortgages, construction loan processing, and payment.
  • The Estimation course: It helps you to gain knowledge in cost estimating with a special emphasis on pricing and quantity survey.

Job Opportunities for Construction Project Management

June 30th, 2008 by Jason Stollham
Jason Stollham

With the booming of the construction industry, the job opportunities in this field are in high demand, not only in the United States but all over the world. In fact the total construction management jobs available in the market are more in number than the number of qualified individuals who are seeking jobs in this particular industry. Thereby, several schools and colleges are offering various regular as well as online courses and programs in construction management in order to meet this high demand.

Construction management programs are a comprehensive job, where the managers are responsible for each and every aspect of the assigned construction project. Their job responsibility includes managing each and every equipment that are being used, making and organizing the project budget, administrating the employees and the various contractors. Thereby you need to choose a construction project management degree that covers broad course www.

Reasons for such high demands:

  • The ever increasing complications of construction projects needs well trained professionals with management background.
  • Almost in every country there is a need to replace some of the nation’s old infrastructures.
  • The advancement of the methods and materials in construction industry.
  • The huge number of ever growing structures.

Career options:

There are several career opportunities for you once you successfully complete your construction management course. Approximately half of the professionals working in the construction management industry are self employed. You can even be a proprietor of any general construction companies or own specialty trade construction companies. You can also get employed in any construction industry or can even work in the architectural, engineering or in any other related services companies. You may even work in the local government’s construction projects.

Salary Information:

According to the reports of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the average annual salary of a graduate in construction management or even in construction science is above forty thousand dollars. However, the salary of an individual in the construction management industry largely depends on the type and size of the construction project as well as on the geographical setting and economic condition of the country.

Online Degrees in Construction Management

June 30th, 2008 by Jason Stollham
Jason Stollham

Construction management is an important occupation that provides outstanding employment opportunities to those interested to serve the construction industry. If an individual plans to start construction management career, he must have strong experience and know-how in construction industry. Numerous construction management colleges and schools offer 4 year degree programs in construction engineering, construction science and construction management. The curricula of construction management courses and programs develop the skills of individual in the field of construction management.

How to get online degree in construction management

Getting construction management online degree may be quite easy. If an individual want to increase his career options, he can achieve construction management online degrees through very flexible schedules. An individual can attend night classes or classes on weekends to complete his online degree program. An individual can also specialize in construction management online degrees by choosing construction management programs that are focused on areas such as site planning, financial management, cost estimating, contract administration, and architectural sciences.

Construction management online courses

Construction management online degrees are designed to help an individual become successful in the construction industry. Construction management online programs enable student learn design, drawing, construction planning, managerial tasks and much more. Through construction management online courses, students can specialize in commercial construction, residential construction, field supervision, and architectural design theory. The degrees earned after course completion, will enable them to run construction management business efficiently.

Construction Management: A popular career Choice

Recently, construction management has become a highly popular career option for many. This is because construction industry is developing day by day, and they need highly skilled construction managers. Individuals, recruited in the job of construction management, are responsible for the failure and success of the entire project. Construction management degrees train people with interpersonal management and communication skills. Job prospect for construction managers is expected to become superb in future.

Top Online Colleges for Construction Education

June 25th, 2008 by Jason Stollham
Jason Stollham

The Penn Foster Career School :

The Penn Foster Career School is certified by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools and also by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council. This online school offers various associate, certificate, diploma, and degree programs that are designed to give the skills that an individual requires in the contemporary fastest growing fields. In fact it is one of the oldest and largest distance learning educational institutions in the world. There are numerous American corporations and business giants such as IBM, Ford, Xerox, U.S. Steel, and DOW Chemical, who have used the training method of the Penn Foster Career School to educate their individual employees.

Online Civil Engineering Degree:

This distance learning has given you the facilities to earn a civil engineering degree while pursuing your current job or other schedules. The various skills that you will learn in this particular degree include:

· Engineering Mechanics and Land Surveying

· Highway Construction and Design

· Engineering Materials and Technical Writing

· Technology Orientation and Technical Mathematics

Online Electrical Engineering Degree:

This s chool provides supports and facilities for you to complete your online Electrical Engineering Degree. The particular aspects that this course involves are:

  • Electric Motors and Controls
  • Fundamentals of Electricity

New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies:

This institute offers over 1,500 continuing education courses, which are directly related to the several key industries and creative sectors of New York. The courses include the knowledge of top experts in their respective fields and also meet the highest University standards. The NYU offers Real Estate Institute (REI) for the students to take the benefits of a close relationship with the real estate industry. This particular institute features a master degree as well as a graduate certificate in construction management.

Master of Science degrees in Construction Management:

This course offers you with the basics of both business and project management. It further helps you to learn to successfully manage the various components of a construction project such as cost control and estimating, project scheduling and planning, labor relations, and negotiation.

Graduate certificates in Construction Management:

This course endows the students with the various opportunities to widen the specific skills necessary to gain a competitive knowledge about the industry. These include legal principles, accounting, cost management and technologies etc. It provides a firm foundation for your professional practice.

Construction Project Management: What Does The Job Demand?

June 25th, 2008 by Jason Stollham
Jason Stollham

Project management is one of the most essential elements in the construction process. Without any effective project management it is almost impossible to carry out a construction job with efficiency. Project manager is like a navigator that directs the ship towards the destination. Construction of building, roads and any other project is definitely a very demanding job and every project manager needs to give his 100% in showing excellence. The construction industry in the America is considered to be a microcosm of the entire American Economic System. It provides job to about 5.6 million people in several industries along it construction industry.

Stages of construction project management:

  • Human resources management
  • The organization
  • Decision on the technology to be used
  • Project delivery systems
  • Checking the quality
  • Maintenance of safety and security
  • Increase in productivity and
  • Eliminating disputes that harm production

Qualities of a Construction Project Manager

  • Do not accept the tender blindly but always verify it carefully
  • In the field instruct supervisors to unload the materials and also take care of these.
  • Carefully verify the design, development and drawing before implementation of the project.
  • The project manager is expected to be present on the sight throughout the construction process.
  • This job demands program management services.
  • He is responsible for controlling cost, time and quality all together.
  • The project manager is responsible for financial management. He/she is as responsible for the project funding, cash flow, and cost.
  • He should also be responsible in managing the human resources. Productivity of the labor would be questioned to the project manager and hence he should be responsible for this.
  • Quality of the material. Construction deadline and the other small issues will also have to be managed by the professionals.

Construction Management As A Career

June 25th, 2008 by Jason Stollham
Jason Stollham

Construction management can be a good career option for those individuals who are interested to work in construction industry. It has become a well-known career over the past ten years. A construction manager is an individual who manage a construction site efficiently. The duty of construction manager is to ensure that the workers complete their job properly, and according to the code. Good construction management may break or make a complicated project. Hence, it needs strong level of work, management and communication skills and understanding of industry-based software and technologies.

Steps to become successful in construction management career

If an individual is interested to start construction management career, he must follow some steps to qualify for construction management jobs that are available today.

  • The first and most important step is to search for education colleges which provide construction management degree or certification. Some universities and colleges offer variations of certification, and an individual must also look for those schools which provide online degree in construction management.

  • If an individual has full time job, but desires to enhance his earning prospective without cutting down his present income, he may apply to an institution which provides construction management degree and program online. This would enable him to keep his finances and job in check, while he works towards his construction management degrees.

  • To achieve success in construction management career, an individual must apply to an accredited online school. This ensures that future employers will respect and honor the degree of an individual. Another way to gain success in construction management career is to apply for internship or apprenticeship with a firm that has full time positions in construction management. If an individual does not have much time for internship, he can look for a mentor who can teach about the construction management job.

These steps might be time consuming, however, if an individual follows these steps, his construction management career will become flourishing and successful.

Online Degrees And Certification In Construction Education

June 21st, 2008 by Jason Stollham
Jason Stollham

The continuous growth in world’s population has resulted in a high requirement for more buildings. This has made construction a very lucrative career option. There are several degree programs in the construction field that helps the students to learn a wide range of skills that are necessary for working in construction. However, this largely depends on the specialization and interest of each student. These online courses usually include:

  • The utilization of various tools and machines.
  • Planning and directing the completion of the various construction projects.
  • Laws associated to construction.
  • Electrical systems involved in the construction.
  • Plumbing and Carpentry.
  • Cost estimation

After successfully completing online degree or certification programs in the construction field you can start you career as construction managers, carpenters, or even as cost estimators.

Construction Manager:

These people generally work for major construction companies. Their job responsibilities include administering, directing and managing constructional operations. They are also responsible for supervising a total project or even for a specialized area such as plumbing, electrical installation, carpentry etc. One of their major duties is to ensure that the given task is completed on time and on budget and is according to the client’s specifications. They must also check that the construction does not violate any codes or ordinances. Sometimes, these construction managers are assigned with different job titles that include supervisor, project manager, constructor, or project engineer.

Carpenter:

These are the trained professionals who utilize wood and other related materials for constructing furniture, buildings, performance stages, boats etc. Most of the carpenters, who are working for construction companies, are hired on a contractual basis for the completion of particular areas of work, foe instance completion of exterior or interior trim.

Cost Estimator:

These are the professional whose responsibilities include forecasting the total expenses of a construction project. This forecasting includes the cost of the time, materials and labor.

There are several major construction projects that involve sums over million dollars, poor and improper estimations could result in delayed completion or an over-budget of the project. These cost estimators generally specialize in particular areas of construction; thereby the construction companies need to hire multiple estimators. This helps the estimators to work together and to produce the most accurate estimation.

Getting An Online Construction Education

June 18th, 2008 by Jason Stollham
Jason Stollham

There are several factors that have great contributions to the ever rising popularity of online construction education. One of the major reasons is that this industry has undergone incredible growth over the past few decades. At the present time construction is no more only about cement, steel, bricks and glass, it also involves all the aspects of management. The need for this timely completion of the construction projects as well as in the most cost-effective way has given rise to a new discipline of construction education. To cope up with the demand of such trained employees in the construction industry a large number of universities and other educational institutions that are now offering online degrees in the various segments of construction. The Western Carolina University is one of such universities that offer compliant courses in construction.

The Western Carolina University:

The Western Carolina University provides a Master’s Degree program that takes almost two years for completion. Usually each batch comprises of around 30 students. The course curriculum for this particular program includes a number of initial as well as several advanced subjects. The areas of construction that are taught in detail include:

  • Construction Informatics
  • Construction Marketing and Development
  • Research in Construction
  • Advanced Topics in Construction Management
  • Legal procedures and laws related to the construction industry

The university has fixed eligibility criteria that require the students to be Graduate from any state recognized educational institutes or university with a GRE or GMAT record. Online construction education is the most suitable avenue for a working individual who would like to pursue higher education in construction.

The pros and cons of online construction education:

  • You can pursue them even while continuing with your jobs, internship, and other commitments.
  • The schedules are very flexible and can also be re-scheduled to suit your time table.
  • You will get a lot of emancipation in terms of class timings, project submissions as well as an overall learning atmosphere.
  • Presently several employers are considering these online degrees, so if you can do well in your graduation or post graduation you will also be able to obtain excellent job opportunities.

Construction As A Career

June 18th, 2008 by Jason Stollham
Jason Stollham

There are several different types of skills and training that are required to build a career in construction. These proficiency and trainings include teamwork, communication, and technical skills. The technical skill in construction education is very important as it is essential for operating different kind of equipments and machinery. At present, individuals with electrical construction education and experience are in high demand as they are the people, who install transmissions, deal with electronics, and maintain power throughout the building.

Educational Overview:

The highly paid construction professional are usually expected to have certain type of formal education or training in construction. The educational requirement generally varies and mostly depends upon the needs of the employer and also on the type of job profile. There are numerous certification courses and degree programs that include the various aspects of construction education. If you are interested in working in this construction field then these online courses and degrees will give you an advantage over others in terms of the salary earned. It also helps you to choose your potential career paths. In fact having a formal college or even an online degree in civil engineering or in a related subject is very helpful in order to move ahead to a managerial position.

Career Profile:

After successfully completing their online degrees or certification courses in construction, interested candidates can obtain jobs in the various construction companies. The high intensity companies functioning in the construction field always hire the best in this field with degrees and certificates. You can also pursue the career of private business owners. Construction generally involves several aspects that are related to the building of homes, municipal sites, business offices, and other types of architecture. In addition, it also deals with carpentry, electrical systems, and plumbing. In fact, it demands a greater amount of hands on experience and also a desire to produce and expand according to plans and diagrams.