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Construction Management & Career Change
Posted on 7/21/21 at 7:31 am
Posted on 7/21/21 at 7:31 am
Currently working in industrial construction as an assistant project manager. I have been fortunate and have made excellent money over the years, which I have definitely worked for such as moving around constantly, away from family etc. Needless to say, I am over it and feel like I'm digging myself into a rut.
I would like to eventually work for myself one day, which is easier said than done but I feel like I can achieve this one day. If this is the case I feel like commercial would be the route to go. Although it is a 50% pay cut, I am 28 and debt free, which won't last forever. I could look at it as getting paid to go back to school. I can apply that knowledge to eventually get into my own thing one day hopefully.
Any one ever made the switch from industrial to commercial and were there any regrets? Would you recommend going to a commercial GC or commercial Sub or get TF out of construction. All advice is appreciated
I would like to eventually work for myself one day, which is easier said than done but I feel like I can achieve this one day. If this is the case I feel like commercial would be the route to go. Although it is a 50% pay cut, I am 28 and debt free, which won't last forever. I could look at it as getting paid to go back to school. I can apply that knowledge to eventually get into my own thing one day hopefully.
Any one ever made the switch from industrial to commercial and were there any regrets? Would you recommend going to a commercial GC or commercial Sub or get TF out of construction. All advice is appreciated
10
Posted on 7/21/21 at 7:59 am to Tigerb869
If you want to eventually own your own construction company, you’ve probably gotta get out of the travel game and settle into one location(seems like you already know this)... that way you can start building relationships with owners/developers, architects, sub market, and get a feel for potential competition... I don’t really know anything about industrial, but gotta think a pay cut won’t be that big (unless you’re factoring in per diem).
There’s a real need in the industry for mid-career PMs with good experience... at least around here anyway. Lots of folks either got out after 2008 or never got in... assuming resume is solid, you should be able to find a really good job in most major markets I would think.
There’s a real need in the industry for mid-career PMs with good experience... at least around here anyway. Lots of folks either got out after 2008 or never got in... assuming resume is solid, you should be able to find a really good job in most major markets I would think.
Posted on 7/21/21 at 8:08 am to lowspark12
Commercial is a massive paycut from industrial, but tends to compensate with better hours and a much more stable work environment.
Posted on 7/21/21 at 8:39 am to Tigerb869
Why not consider staying in the industrial field but working for a company that doesn't travel so much? I'm a PM for an industrial construction company, work 5 days a week, and am home every night. Needless to say when I first started for this company 11 years ago I did work out of town (still in state) for a few short runs, and I did work alot more weekends than I work now. I had to put some time in to get to this point. Every now and then we get involved with a commercial project and I'm always thankful to not have to do that every day 
This post was edited on 7/21/21 at 8:40 am
Posted on 7/21/21 at 8:54 am to Mark Makers
In industrial, 5 days a week, 40 hrs, good pay.
Projects aren’t fancy or exciting, nothing is mission critical and often it can be a grind.
I took the job to be home with my kids and enjoy life.
Also - I’ve looked at going to commercial as well, even have a family member offering to give me his company in my hometown. Catch is he can’t afford to hire me to come work for 2-3 years until I’m setup to take over.
I can’t take the big risk because I’ve got kids though, if I was younger with no kids I might do it.
Projects aren’t fancy or exciting, nothing is mission critical and often it can be a grind.
I took the job to be home with my kids and enjoy life.
Also - I’ve looked at going to commercial as well, even have a family member offering to give me his company in my hometown. Catch is he can’t afford to hire me to come work for 2-3 years until I’m setup to take over.
I can’t take the big risk because I’ve got kids though, if I was younger with no kids I might do it.
This post was edited on 7/21/21 at 8:57 am
Posted on 7/21/21 at 8:54 am to Mark Makers
quote:
I'm a PM for an industrial construction company, work 5 days a week, and am home every night.
Is your company a GC?
Posted on 7/21/21 at 8:58 am to Tigerb869
No, I’m on a multi year contract as a seconded PM to the owner. My boss is at corporate not on-site, I do random Maintenace projects that the site hates and sees only as a nuisance.
Has not been a bad spot for the last 5 years.
Has not been a bad spot for the last 5 years.
Posted on 7/21/21 at 9:35 am to Tigerb869
quote:
Is your company a GC?
Yes and no. Our marine group primarily acts as a GC. We have a couple other groups/services that usually are subcontractors.
Posted on 7/21/21 at 12:00 pm to eng08
quote:
In industrial, 5 days a week, 40 hrs, good pay.
When I worked industrial, the pay was good, but I worked 70+ hours/week most of the time. If I could work 5 8’s or 4 10’s, I’d leave law and go back to industrial construction in a heartbeat.
This post was edited on 7/21/21 at 12:02 pm
Posted on 7/21/21 at 12:06 pm to Tigerb869
I prefer the 10 to 2 schedule, so I went into Banking...haha
Posted on 7/21/21 at 1:27 pm to kingbob
I did that for 4 years, ran a $200+ Million project. Applied to a random pm job in BR and lucked out.
Posted on 7/21/21 at 3:48 pm to Tigerb869
can I have your job when you quit
Posted on 7/21/21 at 4:58 pm to Tigerb869
started a commercial construction company from a cold start, with no experience whatsoever, with one customer & 250,000 dollars. if i can do it, you certainly can do it
get (or hire) a mentor/experienced commercial GC to help, and do your thing.
you can either sell or you can't
if you can't, well...
get (or hire) a mentor/experienced commercial GC to help, and do your thing.
you can either sell or you can't
if you can't, well...
Posted on 7/21/21 at 5:42 pm to cgrand
After reading the OP I was going to “paging cgrand”. Haha, beat me to it.
Hope all is well. I know you gave up your season tix but you going to try to come down from the land of strawberries to make a game?
Hope all is well. I know you gave up your season tix but you going to try to come down from the land of strawberries to make a game?
Posted on 7/21/21 at 7:14 pm to Tigerb869
not sure what your pay is as an assistant PM but industrial scheduling/project controls can pay pretty well without all the stress or long hours (unless working a turnaround)
Posted on 7/21/21 at 7:17 pm to Stiles
stiles grab the ole lady and we can go get a good meal.
if you feel like driving to gods country we can go to gnarly barley and then cena in hammond
if you feel like driving to gods country we can go to gnarly barley and then cena in hammond
Posted on 7/21/21 at 7:31 pm to Tigerb869
Post on the OT. Lots of baws lurking there will comment
Posted on 7/21/21 at 9:44 pm to Tigerb869
I made the switch from commercial to industrial.
There was a lot about commercial I loved and miss. I love building and I loved the challenge. But south Louisiana isnt the greatest place to make money in commercial. And the only way you make money in commercial is to travel or move to a market that’s got the capacity to support large firms.
I was working 7 days a week. I twice gave back vacation days and I only got 10 personal days total. One year I have back 6. You know how stressful it is to work a year where you only had 4 days off? The last vacation I took I spent most of my trip in the phone with work. My wife and daughter were miserable. It was time for a change.
Industrial, especially utilities, has all the same nonsense. The difference is you make way more money, get better benefits, and can actually get away from work. bullshite tolerance is directly proportional to salary. I’d much rather be frustrated and actually get to take my family places and have a break from work. That’s something I was never going to get in commercial.
There was a lot about commercial I loved and miss. I love building and I loved the challenge. But south Louisiana isnt the greatest place to make money in commercial. And the only way you make money in commercial is to travel or move to a market that’s got the capacity to support large firms.
I was working 7 days a week. I twice gave back vacation days and I only got 10 personal days total. One year I have back 6. You know how stressful it is to work a year where you only had 4 days off? The last vacation I took I spent most of my trip in the phone with work. My wife and daughter were miserable. It was time for a change.
Industrial, especially utilities, has all the same nonsense. The difference is you make way more money, get better benefits, and can actually get away from work. bullshite tolerance is directly proportional to salary. I’d much rather be frustrated and actually get to take my family places and have a break from work. That’s something I was never going to get in commercial.
Posted on 7/22/21 at 12:12 pm to Tigerb869
I've done both. Major Commecial Projects($600MM+) and Major Industrial($7MMM). If salary wasnt an issue I'd take commercial everyday! Commercial work is much more satisfying, you get to work on facilities that people enjoy and utilize. Commercial was interesting, fun, unique, etc. Industrial is just a bunch of structural steel, pipe, and pumps...over and over again. I loved my commercial experience but the money is in Industrial so that's where I reside.
You can make good money in commercial but for it to compare to industrial you're going to have to follow the big work or be at the top of a local company.
You can make good money in commercial but for it to compare to industrial you're going to have to follow the big work or be at the top of a local company.
Posted on 7/22/21 at 1:36 pm to arcalades
quote:If he's anything like me, it's taken him years to get his schedule and the expectations of others' like this, why would he want to quit now?
can I have your job when you quit
(Not in CM/PM but been in my field for three-plus decades)
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