Career Advice for a Construction Manager

Construction managers organise all works on building projects and construction sites. They manage various teams of workers and ensure that all building work is carried out to safety regulations and the specified building plans. Construction managers will travel to the site, oversee work and ensure the project is delivered on time and within the set budget.

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How to Become a Construction Manager

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Construction Manager

Should you wish to work as a Construction Manager you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Construction Manager

  • 2 or 3 A Levels
  • Degree course in Construction Engineering, Estimating or similar
  • Degree apprenticeship in construction site management

Key Responsibilities for a Construction Manager

  • Meeting with architects, engineers, and building team to determine project outline
  • Collaborating with site teams to motivate and monitor progress
  • Ordering all equipment and scheduling delivery at required times
  • Monitoring labour and materials costs
  • Approving purchase orders and organising fulfillment
  • Ensuring project starts at the specified time
  • Overseeing ongoing construction
  • Consulting local planning laws and regulations
  • Carrying out ongoing safety and quality inspections
  • Delivering completed projects to specified deadlines

What to expect as a Construction Manager

Construction managers are responsible for all aspects of building projects. They meet with project teams, manage workers and ensure all tasks are completed on time and to the specified budget. To succeed in this role, you would need excellent organisational skills and identify and prioritise crucial project tasks.

Recommended Construction Manager Jobs

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How to get Construction Manager Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Construction Manager job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Construction Manager application. If you have not held a Construction Manager position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Construction Manager role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Construction Manager CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Construction Manager application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Construction Manager in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Construction Manager 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Construction Manager and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Construction Manager experience.

How to get Construction Manager Experience

What does it take to be a Construction Manager? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Construction Manager jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Construction Manager through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Construction Manager Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Construction Manager part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Construction Manager or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Construction Manager freelance work

If you have impressive Construction Manager qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.