Engineering to CM (work not school)

Small rant not necessarily directed at you, OP.

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.

/endrant

OP, do you have any experience with project management? Can you read and assemble a CPM schedule?

How much experience do you have managing people and working on unrealistic timelines?

Everyone thinks CM and Superintendants just dick off all day but it couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality it’s putting out fires constantly and trying to anticipate where the next ones coming from. You’re always on call and if you plan on making 6 figures be ready to work 60+ hours a week.

What sector are you interested in? Industrial, Commercial or Residential

I've switched over from architecture to project management... and I can tell you that the CMs I work with bust their arse. You had better be very organized, very flexible, on call 24/7, and ready to deal with a lot of BS.

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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.

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CM is a bullshite major for people who are hard workers but can't or don't want to finish the engineering degree grind. If you're willing to work 70 hr weeks to make a decent living for the first half of your career its a good option.

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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.

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CM is a good field, but the major is still bullshite. Just get a civil degree. Every young kid hired for a project engineering role will have one these days. You also get the ability to become licensed, something a CM degree doesn't net you. Civil isn't even difficult, hardest part will be whatever baby Thermo or EE course it will require.

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If you're willing to work 70 hr weeks to make a decent living for the first half of your career its a good option.

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I have an associates degree in CM. BS in unrelated field. Had a decent job right out of BRCC. 40 hour weeks, OT if I wanted, made enough to pay my tuition. CM has been good to me.

I’m doing project management of Const projects, came from engineering, had 5 years exp and swapped right after I got my PE.

I find it much more rewarding than cubicle design life.

Be prepared to travel If you want a top paying job, I’m not traveling but still making more than I was as an engineer.

It’s often more work, longer hours but more pay.

Larger projects are same/less work than smaller stuff. The big projects come with a budget for a team, small ones your the guy.

BR market seems to be pretty good, I get recruiter calls regularly still, but much less than in the spring.

If your in Lafayette: Lake Charles area will be booming with jobs shortly. Give it a few weeks and call up whomever has the disaster contracts. They will work your arse off but as an engineer you should at least get an interview.

You can totally do it. After 10 years CM experience, you will be good and ready for Sales.

Everyone’s unrealistic - my clients, my bosses, the operators and company guys.

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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.

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Project management, as a career, is a stressful job. But let’s not make out the CM major to be some kind of meat grinder. You don’t think engineers can learn P6?

The best PM’s I’ve worked with have almost all been PE’s.