Careers Help Please! Construction Management Specific
Discussion
Morning all - I'm after some decent careers advice and from reading the QS' thread the advice available on here seems as good as anywhere!
I find myself in a dilemma / at a career crossroads - it has suddenly dawned on me that my current career path is not paying me what I want to be paid and I am starting to stagnate so need a new challenge.
Bit of background;
I'm 28 years old, did my degree in Construction Management and am MCIOB (doesn't seem to have benefitted me in any way thus far!)
I went to Uni at 18, my degree was 4 years as I did a sandwich placement year - the company I did my placement with sponsored me through my final year (whilst working part time) and I have been with them ever since.
My employers are one of the top 5 building main contractors and I have worked in various roles from Assistant Site manager up to my current role as a Project Manager, albeit not in title! I am about to finish my first project in the PM role so it would seem this is a sensible time for me to look at my next step.
One of my life ambitions is to work abroad - this is not possible with my current employers which is a big part of why I'm looking elsewhere, I just don't really know what my options are other than just staying in the UK plodding along as I currently am. I also have no clue about how going abroad works from an employment perspective.
So, over to you guys - any help gratefully received!
I find myself in a dilemma / at a career crossroads - it has suddenly dawned on me that my current career path is not paying me what I want to be paid and I am starting to stagnate so need a new challenge.
Bit of background;
I'm 28 years old, did my degree in Construction Management and am MCIOB (doesn't seem to have benefitted me in any way thus far!)
I went to Uni at 18, my degree was 4 years as I did a sandwich placement year - the company I did my placement with sponsored me through my final year (whilst working part time) and I have been with them ever since.
My employers are one of the top 5 building main contractors and I have worked in various roles from Assistant Site manager up to my current role as a Project Manager, albeit not in title! I am about to finish my first project in the PM role so it would seem this is a sensible time for me to look at my next step.
One of my life ambitions is to work abroad - this is not possible with my current employers which is a big part of why I'm looking elsewhere, I just don't really know what my options are other than just staying in the UK plodding along as I currently am. I also have no clue about how going abroad works from an employment perspective.
So, over to you guys - any help gratefully received!
Strange that I just stumbled across this because I only visit this forum ever now and then and there is rarely any construction related threads.
My circumstances are almost exactly the same as yours. I'm also look for something new. No new challenges or opportunities at this company - but need to be sure there will be at a new employer if I am going to move on.
Abroad sounds good but is there much money in it now???
My circumstances are almost exactly the same as yours. I'm also look for something new. No new challenges or opportunities at this company - but need to be sure there will be at a new employer if I am going to move on.
Abroad sounds good but is there much money in it now???
IOSH is great if you want be a Health & Safety advisor - not for me however!
I've had a look at some of the oil & gas jobs sites posted in the QS thread and there are opportunities in Project & Site Management there, but I have no idea if it is possible to do this coming from a Building background?
I've had a look at some of the oil & gas jobs sites posted in the QS thread and there are opportunities in Project & Site Management there, but I have no idea if it is possible to do this coming from a Building background?
Edited by tleefox on Sunday 9th June 10:51
I have a degree in Construction Management.
I work in oil/gas as a project manager on major projects (typically +$1bn). I've worked all over the middle east, India, North Africa, West Afria & the US. Coming from a building background is not necessarily an issue. You just need to be selective! As an example I'm currently running a petrochem job. I have 2 contruction managers. 1 looks after all the steel, pipe, cable, etc.. The other looks after the 9 buildings & HV electrical fit-out. The guy looking after the buidings now has petrochems experience to put on his CV. The jump is no difficult, it's how you sell it!
I work in oil/gas as a project manager on major projects (typically +$1bn). I've worked all over the middle east, India, North Africa, West Afria & the US. Coming from a building background is not necessarily an issue. You just need to be selective! As an example I'm currently running a petrochem job. I have 2 contruction managers. 1 looks after all the steel, pipe, cable, etc.. The other looks after the 9 buildings & HV electrical fit-out. The guy looking after the buidings now has petrochems experience to put on his CV. The jump is no difficult, it's how you sell it!
OP I'm in exactly the same place as you, age/qualifications and chartership.
I've recently started looking again and would definitely recommend you tidy up your linkedin page. I've applied for couple of jobs and within a few days have noticed persons from that company have viewed my profile.
Good luck with your search.
I've recently started looking again and would definitely recommend you tidy up your linkedin page. I've applied for couple of jobs and within a few days have noticed persons from that company have viewed my profile.
Good luck with your search.
A single project as PM counts for nowt, same a MCIOB. To move on to contract management, you need history, good history. Our CM's are time served got their hands dirty managers. They've done the job with their own hands. We have a standard policy for this.
I have a few friends that have gone to Oman, doing well, but the heat is killing them. At your age, if you've only your dick to keep, i'd be looking there.
I have a few friends that have gone to Oman, doing well, but the heat is killing them. At your age, if you've only your dick to keep, i'd be looking there.
If you can not get your first post with your current employer, then you need to look at places that experienced people don't want to go to as a first job, I.e. West Africa, Saudi, there is loads of work in Aus at the moment on the Chevron projects and I don't know any one with experince who is taking them, because of the location and the tax, but well worth alook as a first job.
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