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re: Engineering to CM (work not school)
Posted on 9/1/20 at 10:06 am to fkmonark25
Posted on 9/1/20 at 10:06 am to fkmonark25
I work for a big commercial GC in Houston. Pretty much all of our upper level management have CE degrees.
You would start as an APM/PM depending on size of the company, probably in the 75k-100k range.
You would be first in line for promotions though if you perform. That upper level Project Executive or VP position in my company would bring you 200-250k. Probably take you 10 years to get there.
You would start as an APM/PM depending on size of the company, probably in the 75k-100k range.
You would be first in line for promotions though if you perform. That upper level Project Executive or VP position in my company would bring you 200-250k. Probably take you 10 years to get there.
1
Posted on 9/1/20 at 11:15 am to fkmonark25
Industrial: Design Engineer (office) -> Field Engineer (onsite) -> SME -> Project Engineer -> Engineering Team Manager -> Assistant Project Manager -> Project Manager -> Site Manager
Learn the other aspects outside of engineering... performance tracking/reporting/forecasting, resource allocation, time & budget management, safety Safety SAFETY, and communication is key. Learn the various CM softwares and basics of Primavera, SAP, etc. Don't ever EVER burn a bridge or fail a drug/background check.
In my opinion, the biggest challenge I see from PE -> CM is people skills. CM must deal with people of all walks of life in all types of situations (even tragic/personal situations). Engineers, for the most part are cut from the same cloth and spend time around others like them. Engineers with sales skills often transition well to CM.
Learn the other aspects outside of engineering... performance tracking/reporting/forecasting, resource allocation, time & budget management, safety Safety SAFETY, and communication is key. Learn the various CM softwares and basics of Primavera, SAP, etc. Don't ever EVER burn a bridge or fail a drug/background check.
In my opinion, the biggest challenge I see from PE -> CM is people skills. CM must deal with people of all walks of life in all types of situations (even tragic/personal situations). Engineers, for the most part are cut from the same cloth and spend time around others like them. Engineers with sales skills often transition well to CM.
Posted on 9/2/20 at 11:03 am to elprez00
PM experience is on engineering design projects and some construction administration (bidding and specs) for municipal type work. I would need to brush up on my scheduling skills...haven't messed with that since my first job out of college
Posted on 9/2/20 at 11:11 am to elprez00
quote:
I love engineers that think CM is a bullshite major until they get into projects and realize there’s a lot more to being successful than making phone calls.
There's the all important fish fries on Friday afternoons too.
Posted on 9/2/20 at 11:14 am to lostinbr
quote:
quote:
But why not get in to project management at the engineering firm?
This was my initial thought as well. If he’s dead set on construction, I would look at small projects roles with the E&C or specialty firms. It’s a more logical transition from a pure engineering role, less travel than many pure CM jobs, and the multi-disciplinary exposure opens a lot of doors.
I see the PM of Engineering Design being limited...you basically manage getting the calcs. done and plans/specs drawn up. Coming from doing the design work, I am of the opinion that the design engineers can do what I do plus do their engineering calcs. The more I stay in PM the more I lose familiarity with the IBC, ADA standards, steel manual and concrete manual. Where as those designers are multifaceted therefore worth more $$ to an organization - just my opinion. I transitioned from Eng. Design to Engineering PM with no raise in pay also...
Posted on 9/2/20 at 11:17 am to fkmonark25
I take it you didn't go into project management?
You say design work, but that could indicate a pure design engineering role.
If you are a PM, then there are skills that may transfer. But, you will be facing a learning curve.
Have you tried your hand at business development? Its a talent most true engineers lack because it requires some extrovert personality traits.
Were you in private or public?
You say design work, but that could indicate a pure design engineering role.
If you are a PM, then there are skills that may transfer. But, you will be facing a learning curve.
Have you tried your hand at business development? Its a talent most true engineers lack because it requires some extrovert personality traits.
Were you in private or public?
Posted on 9/2/20 at 11:20 am to fkmonark25
quote:
I would need to brush up on my scheduling skills.
do you know Primavera?
Posted on 9/2/20 at 11:21 am to baseballmind1212
i love reading accurate posts 
Posted on 9/2/20 at 11:22 am to AutoYes_Clown
quote:
In my opinion, the biggest challenge I see from PE -> CM is criminal skills
FIFY
Posted on 9/2/20 at 11:31 am to Ssubba
quote:
I lucked into a project engineering role my second year out of college at a industrial site. Not only is the money good, but it's extremely laid back with a 4-10 schedule. My busy days are Monday and Thursday with meetings and scheduling, with Tuesday and Wednesday consisting of trying to look busy and messing around on site.
Y'all hiring?
Posted on 9/2/20 at 11:32 am to lsu777
quote:
If you want to make money, go industrial route. With an engineering degree,
When you say this, what type of job does this mean? I think I'm going to try something outside cube life.
Posted on 9/2/20 at 11:35 am to fkmonark25
quote:
I am of the opinion that the design engineers can do what I do plus do their engineering calcs. The more I stay in PM the more I lose familiarity with the IBC, ADA standards, steel manual and concrete manual. Where as those designers are multifaceted therefore worth more $$ to an organization -
100% accurate.
Posted on 9/2/20 at 12:21 pm to fkmonark25
The only advice I could give is try it out with offshore construction. Those guys bust their arse, but if they’re doing it offshore they get roughly half of their life off.
Posted on 9/4/20 at 2:02 pm to Hu_Flung_Pu
quote:
When you say this, what type of job does this mean? I think I'm going to try something outside cube life.
Well for most in my area, unless your an engineer in operations in the plants, it means being an engineer over capital projects. You dont actually do much true engineering, you farm that out, manage the budget and deliverables and you review the work of the firm. Once ifc's are delivered you simply execute the project.
It's extremely laid back 98% of the time. Work a 9-80 schedule or 4-10s and get paid awesome with awesome benefits. Also allows freedom in most places to come and go if needed for like kids school stuff etc.
Posted on 9/4/20 at 5:09 pm to Sid in Lakeshore
quote:
100% accurate.
Not even close IME. Most design guys can't do anything outside of design and most of the time needs lots of guidance from the designers themselves.
A true project manager with a pe stamp and PMP is much more valuable imo.
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