5 Reasons Why I Chose a Career in Construction Management

Discovering Construction Management

No one ever tells you there can be multiple ways to get where you want to go. When I started college, I was in an architecture program, thinking design was for me. My dream (still somewhat is) was to build and design luxury custom homes, and I thought architecture was the only way to achieve that. However, as I discovered, there can be multiple pathways to achieve the same goal.

Nevertheless, I found I actually kind of sucked at design, or at least the design they were making me do. It was not practical for actual things that would get built in the real world, or at least it wasn’t the design I wanted to do.

While I would love to say I knew immediately that architecture was not for me, I unfortunately did not. I only really decided to change my major after my first year of college, which I wavered several times throughout the school year. Unfortunately, I usually decided after it was too late to add or drop classes, so I was stuck for the entire semester.

But I like to say I finally “saw the light” and got out of architecture then. And I still graduated on time, so just cause you to change your major and still graduate on time, it is possible! So don’t be discouraged if this is your first change of major or your second or third. I am a better person because of what I went through and learned about architecture during my freshman year as an architecture student.

I learned much about myself and what I did not want in my career and life. So, for me, ultimately, I decided to change my major to construction management because I felt like learning to become a builder first would, in the end, make me a better designer if I decided to go that path. While I am not currently doing anything remotely close to my dream, I am still young, so there is plenty of time for me.

Lack of Repetition

Management is about problem-solving and managing people. A career in Construction management is no different. There are always new problems to solve daily. Not one day will look the same as another. Do not get me wrong; I do many of the same things daily. I am a project engineer, so I do a lot of RFIs and Submittals daily, but they are always about different things. So, I am learning about something new with each submittal or RFI (which can sometimes be overwhelming).

Something else that also appealed to me about a career in construction management was that it allowed me not to have to work at a desk all day. Again, do not hear me wrong; I spend a lot of my day-to-day at a desk, but I have the opportunity to go out and walk the site daily or multiple times. So, I am not handcuffed to a desk. While I have personally chosen a career path within construction management that keeps me at a desk most of the day, there are multiple options for careers in construction that would allow you to not be at a desk really at all.

I will never build the same building twice unless I move to a company that builds Walmarts or McDonald’s, but even then, each one is a little different. Every project I work on will be different from the last, so I will always be learning something new. While sometimes this gets very overwhelming, and I feel like my brain may be exploding, there are very few mundane, boring days in construction management where I am doing the same thing over and over again, day after day.

Opportunities to Learn from Everywhere

As I mentioned, I knew nothing about construction; I didn’t know how to read drawings, what was in concrete, like nothing naha, and that was interesting to me cause it was a problem for me to solve, a challenge to conquer, a battle to win. It was also interesting to me the more that I learned and was able to understand exactly what went into a building. I had never really thought about what was in this wall, how does my house would get warm, and how concrete would be poured, like none of these thoughts ever went through my head.

And suddenly, when I started taking these classes, I was so interested in every building I walked into and how it worked and functioned. I like to think of buildings like a living and breathing thing. They have functions and systems they are supposed to perform so in a way they are alive, and I wanted know how they are functioning, how were they built, what had to happen to put that in place, I could go on, but I’ll spare you. I began to have all these thoughts when I would go into buildings.

Another great thing about construction is you can go anywhere in the world and learn from the buildings around you. In my junior year, I went on a study abroad to Europe. We basically just went and looked at beautiful old buildings and structures that were, of course, the touristy places that you would look at even if you were not on a study abroad, but that was a learning experience. So, anywhere you are, anywhere in the world, if you are in a building or looking at a building, you can look around and learn something about the building, and that fascinated me a lot.

Relationships in Construction

You will hear this in so many industries, but it’s so true. Relationships are everything. Building good relationships, especially in construction management, can take you from having an average career to an excellent accelerated career that might take you places you never thought you would go. I personally love building relationships. I love having personal one-on-one conversations with someone and getting to know them. And the idea of talking and networking with others really excited me.

The more people I talk to in this industry, the more I see how relationships, especially in construction, can really impact your career. You could end up riding in an elevator with a future employee just because you spoke to them; you could find your dream job from a networking event, or you might find a whole new business opportunity just because you went up and talked to that person in that room. Relationships in construction management can take you places you never might have expected, and that really inspired me because I have dreams of my own. Who knows? Someone I met at an event could introduce me to a new dream.

Like blogging was not something I ever thought I would get into, but I encountered a post on Pinterest talking about it and it sparked my interest, I did some research, and here I am. So, you may not even know your dream yet, and the relationships you build in construction could lead you to it. The possibilities are just so endless.

Lasting Impact on the World

Have you ever thought that buildings usually outlive most people? Well, they do. When I was thinking about a career in construction management, the idea that I could be a part of something that survived after me was super inspiring. Most buildings are usually built to last 50-70 years, and if I am on the project when I am 40, then just think about it. That building will likely outlive me.

Additionally, when I thought about a career in construction management, I thought about the opportunity to improve communities and spaces that would have a bigger impact than I could ever imagine. For example, if I ever get the opportunity to work on the construction of a hospital. The thought of improving a space that will allow doctors to heal people on some of the hardest days of their lives is extremely rewarding.

I think it would definitely give me motivation on those tough days when you are just hitting wall after wall, but thinking about how this place will help people, I think, would get me through those moments when I might want to give up. So, I think making a somewhat permanent imprint on the world was very motivating and rewarding for me to pursue a career in construction management.

Monetarily Rewarding

Last but definitely not least, the elephant in the room: Money. I hate to say it, but money is important when choosing a career. You have to make money to survive, and you want to earn a livable wage. As I’ve mentioned, I had no idea that a career in construction management was possible. However, when I learned how much construction management professionals earn, my ears perked up. The salary potential in construction is real. If you stay in it, you will easily make over six figures in your career, maybe even for multiple decades of your career.

Money is not everything, so if you are interested in a career in construction management do it for more than just money. Liking the money cannot carry you through 40 years of a career, or at least for me, it cannot.

Conclusion

I considered many factors when deciding to pursue a career in construction management. Even though I had several reasons why I thought it would be a good fit for me. I still did not know 100%, and unfortunately, you will not until you try it out yourself.

So, before jumping off the deep end into changing your major, try to reach out to some construction companies in your area to ask if you can shadow or interview someone. Ask them why they love what they do. What they do not like about their job? How did they get into construction management? What does their day-to-day look like? Ask them any burning questions you may have.

The best resource I have learned in my short career in construction management thus far is that people are your best resource. You can read all the research you want to, but hearing from a real person will never be beat.

I confidently say this was the correct career choice for me. Is this what I will do for the rest of my career? I do not know and do not have to know that right now. Would I be okay doing it for the rest of my career? Yes, I think so, and that’s all that matters right now.

Thank you so much for reading! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments or visit my Contact Me page! If you are also in construction management, please share in the comments why you decided to pursue it as a career!

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