Construction Management - Advice for a Junior?

[Mitchy88]

Hi all,

I am currently studying towards a degree in Construction Management at Sheffield Hallam University and I am still contemplating which area of expertise within the industry I would like to pursue. My particular interests lie in Site Management, Project Management and Site Engineering.

Im looking for a work placement to start at some point this summer, hopefully for the minimum 44weeks that Uni requires in order for it to count towards my degree.

Just after for a bit of advice from people in the industry really. I have sent my CV and covering letter out to countless construction firms in Yorkshire and throughout the country and so far have only managed to secure one interview, the results of which I’m still waiting for.

If anybody has and advice, recommendations or tips it would be greatly appreciated. With the industry still not on its feet I know finding somebody to take me on is going to be tough, but with a bit of look and a lot of hard work im hoping to get there soon!

Many thanks, Mitchell

[TheArchitect]

im trying to get out of the design side towards management roles and would say get your cv to litterally everyone you can in the country roles are few and far between currently so you need to get yourself out there. if your willing relocate. however saying that the industry does seem to be picking up slowly.

[padgett]

Mitchy

Just wanted to wish you luck.

I was looking for a placement a few years ago (quite a few actually!) during the last recession whist I was studying Building Management.

It was very hard to find a placement, eventually I ended up in Swansea working for a Housing Association - it was not a job I ever considered doing, but I made the most of it and enjoyed it and learnt a lot.

When I left Uni, there were no jobs, so I ended up labouring on site for a curtain wall subcontractor (I didn't even know what curtain walling was!).

The company we were installing for offered me a job 9 months later as a trainee site manager. The rest is history etc, but it got me started and now I'm doing OK.

The point of this.... I know how hard it can be, keep motivated, take anything you can and give it your all. The industry is still pretty quiet, but next year it should pick up a little and then there will be demand for good graduates with experience.

Good luck!

If I hear of any opportunities, I'll let you know.

[Pursyluv]

Try Henry Boot on Callywhite Lane in Dronfield and Eastwood and Partners in Nether Edge, as back in the 80's "when i was a lad" they were renowned for offering jobs combined with the opportunity to study from TEC level to degree level in a variety of construction related courses.

[Mulder]

Hi Mitchell,

I'm currently in my final year studying Construction Management having completed a placement. I'm surprised your uni has not assisted you in finding a placement, as usually they should have good contacts. When applying, I had two interviews and was fortunate enough to receive two offers, however this was fairly on during the year around October time - it is possible all available placement slots have been allocated already. You may have to start getting on the phone to these companies to follow up on your applications. If you are not getting any replies, think about reviewing your CV and ask your tutors to take a look and see if they can offer any advice.

As already said you will have to be prepared to relocate if necessary, even internationally if the opportunity arises. Last year we had guys going out to Dubai, Bahrain, USA and Canada amongst others.

Another point is that it's not the end of the world if you do not secure a placement, as you can just go straight through to your final year as a number of people here have done. As far as I can see the students that have gone straight through aren't really disadvantaged in not having been on a placement. It also may work in your favour if you graduate a year earlier for when the industry picks up again.

The 44 week placement does not count towards your degree, as it is a separate award called a placement diploma, which to be honest means not alot to me anyway.

Good Luck

[TheArchitect]

Mulder said:

Hi Mitchell,
As already said you will have to be prepared to relocate if necessary, even internationally if the opportunity arises. Last year we had guys going out to Dubai, Bahrain, USA and Canada amongst others.

Little bit OT, do you have any information in how they sourced overseas work? Was it applying directly? via agencies?

[GT03ROB]

As someone who did a degree in construction management so long ago I can barely remember it....all I can say is good luck in your search. Main thing is to think with an open mind. Placements are not essential in my mind, I didn't do one. Be flexible. Degree in construction management doesn't just mean being a site manager on an office development. I've worked on 1 civil project in my career, the rest have all been oil, gas, power or mining projects. I've spent half my time on sites the rest in offices.

if you've got any specific questions more than happy to help.

[Mulder]

TheArchitect said:

Little bit OT, do you have any information in how they sourced overseas work? Was it applying directly? via agencies?

I do believe that most used University contacts - we had a few companies come and give us a presentation. Some applied directly. There's nothing to stop you doing your own research into whose working where and getting on the phone.

Obviously while places like Dubai are struggling, Abu Dhabi are continuing with multi billion dollar projects and have just lent Dubai $10bn. Qatar is another place worth a look, I've read that they are looking at GDP growth of 17% this year with plans to build seven cities. Saudi Arabia is where is all happening - they want to spend £600bn in the next 10 years in the public sector alone. Brazil is also heating up due to the Olympics and World cup, and apparently Gordo signed a deal to get UK companies involved that have the experience.

So I believe there's definitely work out there if you are pro-active enough in your approach and start making contact with these firms - you can't wait for them to come to you, you need to go to them.

[TheArchitect]

Mulder said:

TheArchitect said:

Little bit OT, do you have any information in how they sourced overseas work? Was it applying directly? via agencies?

I do believe that most used University contacts - we had a few companies come and give us a presentation. Some applied directly. There's nothing to stop you doing your own research into whose working where and getting on the phone.

Obviously while places like Dubai are struggling, Abu Dhabi are continuing with multi billion dollar projects and have just lent Dubai $10bn. Qatar is another place worth a look, I've read that they are looking at GDP growth of 17% this year with plans to build seven cities. Saudi Arabia is where is all happening - they want to spend £600bn in the next 10 years in the public sector alone. Brazil is also heating up due to the Olympics and World cup, and apparently Gordo signed a deal to get UK companies involved that have the experience.

So I believe there's definitely work out there if you are pro-active enough in your approach and start making contact with these firms - you can't wait for them to come to you, you need to go to them.

Good stuff, I've certainly been looking but not too much, Ive made contact with a few companies usually to be told they dont employ people from overseas etc as they dont want to pay for visa's etc and other bits, but ill keep up looking into it.

[Mitchy88]

Thanks for all the replies chaps, some helpfull info.

Had my CV looked at by tutors and various profesionals in the family, ahd very positive feedback so i do hope that this will work in my favour when it pings up on somebodys screen!


Pursyluv - Called Henry Boot and Eastwood this afternoon. No go unfortunately! Henry Boot have somebody and Eastwood will not be taking on Undergrad students this year. Thanks for the tip though.

Mulder - It seems as though your Uni may have been a little more helpfull with the advice and information they have given to students. Where do you attend (if you dont mind me asking) I assume that it may be somewhere of a higher caliber than Sheff Hallum, we havnt had and overseas offers or contacts! Relocation wouldnt be an issue at all, infact id jump at the chance. Any names you could think of would be much appreciated.

GT04ROB - Any chance you could expand a little on your post? The route you have taken seems very interesting/appealing! The general advice from tutors is very rigid, pointing us straight towards Housing and Commercial Structures. Any thoughts/ advice on an effective way into that part of the industry?

Thanks again, Mitch

[GT03ROB]

Mitchy88 said:

Thanks for all the replies chaps, some helpfull info.

GT04ROB - Any chance you could expand a little on your post? The route you have taken seems very interesting/appealing! The general advice from tutors is very rigid, pointing us straight towards Housing and Commercial Structures. Any thoughts/ advice on an effective way into that part of the industry?

Thanks again, Mitch

The traditional route from these degrees is exactly as you say. We had some very forward looking tutors who were deeply critical of the UK construction industry. It was recommended to me that I should go work for one of the major US contractors. So I got a job with Bechtel based in the UK. I didn't work directly in construction but went into project controls which is cost & schedule management. I did a year in the London office before going to Cumbria on site, then the Channel Tunnel, then Qatar on a large gas plant. The major US contractors (Bechtel, Fluor, KBR, FW) dwarf the UK contractors and operate globally in oil, gas, power, nuclear, civil, mining, infrastructure, defence sectors. All of the major US contractors have UK operations which generally look after the Mid East, Europe & Africa. Consider applying to these companies as they may not be on your radar screen right now. Others to consider are Worley Parsons & Petrofac. You will need to target the project controls side as generally these contractors only recruit engineers direct into construction. We generally take on far larger projects than the British counterparts. I've since moved from project controls, through construction management to project management & now run oil & gas projects taking responsibility for all design, procurement & construction. To give you a feel for the scale of projects, the largest single site I've worked on had 85,000 workers. I've certainly seen the world living in Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Saudi, India, Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea & US. The money is generally better than working for the UK contractors, but the demands are probably higher.

Hope this helps! And good luck, because we need all the young talent we can find, you just need to find a contractor!

[Pursyluv]

Mitch,

If you want to stay in the South Yorks area i'll have a think over the weekend and post a few more companies for you to try, if they still exist that is.