Construction Project Management Course

Learn more about Construction Project Management Course at the website RouhNeckChronicles.com.

Q: as a young graduate of a project management course in construction how do i prepare a portfolio for employers?
i’m trying to get a job as a project manager or a project planner in the construction industry however i just graduated and every where i go they keep asking me to come up with a portfolio of works. this is a bit of a puzzle for me as i have not don any live works. so pls tell me how do i go about preparing on for prospective employers. thanks

A: Buy a Portfolio Case
(2)
Your portfolio case may come with some starter pages. These pages are protective plastic over a black page.
Go ahead and purchase a small pack of additional portfolio pages so you don’t have to worry about running out. You never know when you’ll need to add a new writing sample in a pinch and you don’t want to be without some extra pages.
(3)
Your resume should be the first page of your portfolio. Even though you’ll send your resume to potential employers or clients, you’ll still want your resume in your portfolio. You could be one of hundreds of prospects so it never hurts to reintroduce yourself and your qualifications with the first page of your portfolio.
(4)
Even if you don’t have many writing samples to your credit, you’ll need to pick out your best work for your portfolio. Don’t be afraid of using text on paper as some of your writing samples.
Many times, copywriters have a great project they’ve finished but the project is still in production and hasn’t gone to print yet. You don’t have that full-color brochure or that glossy print ad to put in your portfolio but you’ll want to show off your copy so you can land the next assignment.

This is also a similar case for the budding copywriter who has no official samples to showcase at all. You can create SPEC ADS, which are ads you’ve created on your own. In other words, you can rewrite an ad for a major company with your own style, label it as a SPEC AD and industry pros automatically know you’re showing your ability to write without you trying to mislead them into thinking you really wrote that Nike ad, for example.

Choose the work that best shows your copywriting talent, even if it is simple text on a piece of paper.
(5)
Let’s say you’ve got three commercials, four samples of print (both brochures and print ads) and three samples of Web site copy you want to include in your portfolio. Create divider sections to help your work stand out and not get lost in the clutter.
In our example here, we would create a divider page with a heading for Commercials, one for Print and then another for Web (or Internet). Remember, copywriting is a creative talent so don’t be afraid to get creative with your own portfolio.

Dig into your old magazines and cut out various pictures from ads. Arrange these so that your divider page appears like a collage, just like the picture above shows.

This helps your sections stand out on their own and shows your creativity at the same time. It really helps your portfolio become more memorable, which is a huge plus when you’re competing for a job or a client.
(6)
Don’t think your text ad isn’t worth putting in your portfolio. You can dress up these ads and make them every bit as appealing as a full-color ad.
For copy you don’t have in final “pretty” form, you can simply put at the top of your page, “In Production.” For copy that is written as a SPEC AD, meaning you wrote the ad on your own to show your writing ability, title it “SPEC AD.”

Remember, employers viewing your copywriting portfolio are looking at your ability to write. They’re not hiring a graphic designer so don’t try to pretend you are one by wasting all of your time designing a mock-up ad so that your copy looks more finalized. Even seasoned copywriters put their best work in their portfolio and that doesn’t always mean they have the final printed version of the material so they use plain text on paper.
(7)
Don’t glue your brochure down to the portfolio page and then hide it behind the protective plastic. Be willing to cut into the portfolio page so that the person looking at your portfolio can have easy access to the materials. This means you may have a brochure flap sticking out of the protective plastic but your prospect can easily see your work.
Your portfolio pages are also designed to protect your work. The last thing you want is a prospect wanting a closer look, so they start trying to feel the protective plastic back to get their hands on your materials.
(8)
Never be afraid to adapt your portfolio’s pages to a client or employer’s specific needs. If you’re interviewing for an agency position that exclusively handles direct mail, load your portfolio up with direct mail samples. A hodgepodge of samples won’t do you as much good as the types of materials the agency specializes in.
Same goes for freelancing clients who need something specific. Your portfolio is your calling card and it will change with you and your prospect’s needs.
(9)
Yes, you’re in the employer’s office because he or she looked at your resume and called you in for an interview. As mentioned before, you could be one of hundreds of people going after the same gig.
Stuff some extra copies of your resume in the back flap of your portfolio case. Now you’ve got your first page of your portfolio with your resume as described in Step 3 and you can also hand a copy of your resume to the prospect for them to keep. This is especially handy in interviews when the employer or client just can’t seem to find your resume!
(10)
s the best portfolio I’ve ever seen! I just have to show it to my business partner.”
What a great compliment. But never, ever leave your portfolio no matter how much you want the position.

Once your portfolio is out of your hands, you have no idea how it’s going to be handled. Portfolio cases can easily get damaged and even lost in an office. You don’t want your portfolio to end up stuffed in someone’s inbox with papers all over it while it also serves as a coaster for morning coffee like the one in the picture above.

You have a couple of options so you don’t offend anyone. You can say you would love to schedule another appointment to show your portfolio. Or you can even say you’ll be happy to fax over a copy of your portfolio, which is basically a black and white copy of all of the materials you’ve shown in your portfolio.

Q: I want to do a course in construction project management can anyone guide me ?
I am civil engineer and want to update my education qualification. Pl help me.

A: get into
CONSTRUCTION TECH. & MANAGEMENT course
available in some engineering colleges

Q: what’s the difference in construction management & project management??!?
planning to take up a course, came across something as Construction management & Project Management… am lost here, need practical advise from u all … and not answer from the sales person who’s trying to sell me the course ‘package’… thanks a million….

A: Project management is not industry specific – these courses should talk about how to manage projects in any industry.

Construction management should include a lot of project management, but will be focused specifilly on construction projects, and would also include topics such as legal construction issues, code implications, working as general contractor versus being an owners rep etc.

Q: Is this considered Construction/Project Management, General Contracting, or what?
I’m friendly with some people who want houses built and a lot of real estate agents who sell vacant lots and houses that are rebuilt. I’m friendly with a few builders also.

I want to set up the home buyer with the right builder or when my real estate friends sell a home have them recomend one of my builder friends. Of course I’d want some consideration. I don’t know if it’s a percentage or how it works.

I don’t know a lot (anything) about construction but I learn quickly and one of the builders invited me to his sites and offered to show the ropes. Eventually when I’m more knowledgeable I’d like to hold the home buyers’ hand from concept to fruition.
This doesn’t quite seem like a construction manager or a general contractor… or is it?

My question/s: What’s the title of the guy that brings the builder and the home buyer together? What’s his cut? What books can I read and what steps do I take? If I start a business what does my business model look like?

A: A construction manager “manages” the construction of the job, hires the contractors, etc. General Contractors hire the subcontractors, subcontractors hire the vendors. It sounds more like you would be a buyer’s rep. Unless, of course, you plan on hiring the architect and general contractor and overseeing the construction of the project, then you would be the CM.

Q: How easy/hard is it to work up to a project manager from a CET?
I am planning on taking a Civil Engineering Technologist: Construction Management course in the fall and I also have a Bachelors degree in Business (major in HR with project management electives) and I am wondering if anyone knows how hard (or long) it would be (take) to work up from a CET to a Project Manager?

A: well it all depends how big te project is and what you get hired to do in the first place.

Q: Project management/Construction management – Construction – Help?
Basically i want to get involved in Project management in the construction area, i have seen that their are several courses at university however i want to take a a route other than completing A-Levels such as an apprenticeship etc. I have left school with a good amount of good GCSEs.

So my question is what ways are there to get into project management and surrounding subjects?

Thanks People

A: As an architect, I can tell you the best construction managers are guys who have been in the field actually building buildings. A construction management degree and training are helpful but actual field experience is what makes you a good manager. It is a job that you can’t learn from a book – you can learn the scheduling and software programs. I knew nothing about construction management coming out of architecture school, but was thrown in the deep end 4 months out of school, representing a client during construction of a church addition. The construction superintendent and project manager for the construction company were solid guys and helped me learn how we could all be successful by a team approach. I have used those lessons for almost 20 years.
The bottom line – find a good construction company and go to work, take classes or continuing education courses and latch on to a good superintendent or foreman and see how he handles his job, and make him explain his approach to his work.

best of luck

Q: What is Project and Facilities Management course?
I am being offered the course BSc Project and Facilities Management in Singapore, Asia. I want to know a few things about this course before enrolling.(preferably those who studied this course and working now)
1) What are the career prospects and do they pay well compared to the likes of engineers, architects ?
2) Is this course( and the jobs as well ) in great demand ?
3) I expect to be dealing with construction, does it mean I can be a land developer too ?
4) Does it provide some challenges in one way or another?
5) Finally if you can tell me more about this course, its importance, things to be studied, who are greatly suited to , etc just anything please… TQ.

A: If interested please visit the internet forum for management students: http://www.PaGaLGuY.com

Q: Construction Management question?
I am working on some questions I have for my construction management course and there is one I am stuck on.

“3.You are a Contractor submitting a proposal for a large project that contains over 250,000cy of rock removal. Discuss your approach to determination of means and methods of construction for this item.”

Can someone better explain what the question is asking and guide me as to how I should answer this? I would really appreciate it, I have been stuck on it for quite some time!
Thanks so much!

A: Ideas: Evaluate the alternatives and expenses for the rock to be removed. (methods to remove rock, e.g., explosive, backhoe (if able) etc. Hauling distance for disposal, types/cost of trucks for disposal, manpower/equip costs/schedule for options. (Example, can’t use explosives during certain hours in certain populated areas, property and noise issues.)

Q: How to make a career switch from Real Estate Development to Construction Management?
I hope to make the transition from Real Estate Development / City Planning into Construction Management after the completion of my MBA. I’m currently attending the Univ. of Ill at Chicago full time and hope to finish my coursework by January 2010.

Hopefully I can find an opportunity since I have done some project management while working for a developer after college (materials purchase orders, preparing subcontract agreements, trades coordination) and had a chance to take some Architecture courses in college.
Anybody have advice here? Can I do it without an Engineering Degree?

A: I love this question. Because I am a construction management major and have been in the business for almost 8 years and have thought about going into real estate development and city planning.

You have a pretty good start. I assume you want to become a project manager. I would try to find a general contractor in the area who has a project engineering opportunity or a field engineering position. Make sure you get exposure to cost, schedule, and budgetary management as well as the details of the flow of work where you have interest (Commercail, Residential, Civil, Industrial). If you have a background in real estate, I would say a combination of residential and commercial would be where you would want to focus.

Be honest with the general contractor. Tell him/her where you have interest and what experience you have and don’t have. They just want to know you have interest in the industry and are curious. You definitely have enough experience to get your foot in the door.

You don’t need an engineering degree to become a successful project manager. In some cases it is extremely beneficial…if you are interested at working at an oil refinery or industrial setting they prefer people with a mechanical and chemical engineering background. It really depends on the nature of the work you are going to be involved in. But working for a general contractor where it’s more construction driven than engineering driven…there is no need for an engineering degree.

After a couple of years in the field you will want to make sure and get your PMP. Right now you need field experience more than formal schooling.

Make sure you are familiar with software programs like Primavera and Project, and extremely proficient in Excel and Access.

Q: wHAT DO YOU DO WITH A HND/HNC Architectural Design (011K /ADes)HND Construction Management (022K E HND/CM) ?
Course Topics:
Year One:

Construction Technology and Environmental Design
Construction Technology and Materials
Project Evaluation and Design
Building Law and Contract Administration
Assessment and Management of Risk
Final Year:

Project
Management Principles
Three options chosen from:
Measurement, Tendering and Estimating
Quantity Surveying Practice and Management
Building Design and Maintenance Studies
Building Conversions and Adaptations
Design Studies
Design History
Construction Economics and Finance
Computer-aided Design
Site Engineering and Surveying
Innovative Construction and Design
IT in Property and Construction
Construction Management

ARE THEY RELATED TO BEING AN ARCHITECT OR PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT?

A: You use it to get into a university degree course. See my other answer to your other stupid questions. Architecture is one of the higher arts and not something that can be undertaken by someone who cannot balance creative thinking, design creativity, mathematical modelling, numerical literacy and artistic flair. I suggest you carry out some sort of psychometric test to see if you will be able to pursue this career. Unless of course you want to be a ‘property developer’. This lamentable ‘occupation’ is usually carried out by shysters and con-men and also the hopelessly optimistic layman wanting to make a quick-buck. Just grow old enough to get a mortgage and get trademen to do it up. In the meantime get a trade yourself and join the university of life.

Q: What is the payscale for civil engineers with 9Yrs of experience in the construction industry in UAE?
Do professional project management courses help get better jobs and salaries for experienced engineering professionals ,especially in UAE?

A: visit this site
www.salary.com
to compare salaries and industry standards

Q: Is there a school in the philippines which offers a course in primavera for engineers & architects?
primavera is a program used by architects & engineers for construction project management

A: This is special education for those with additional needs. Try posting your question in studying abroad.

Q: What will be average cost of Masters from average rated univeristy in USA.?
Course:
Masters in ‘Project Management or Construction Management’

A: it willl be around 15000 to 25000 U.S dollers

Q: Does “performance management” provide accolades for good work well done, or does it just allow people to ..
.. stab others in the back (metaphorically of course).

Take the Collins australian new construction submarine project – has ANYONE been complimented for good work well done.
It’s starting to look like the project was undone by performance management – that if there was poor quality work it was CAUSED by new fangled “performance management”.
Terrific insight.

Thanks.

I heard a top person say “You’re surrounded by yes men”.

A: Good observation.

The whole concept of “Performance Management” is the brainwashing of a group of lame brained yes-men and yes-women who pat themselves in the back for finishing a project by 1. getting cheapest labor 2. bullying the poorly paid workers and 3. Chintzing on parts cost and quality.

Now I am not saying this applies to any corporate project in particular but the theme is repeated ALL over the world, not just Australia.

One gets what one paid for.

Q: i was majoring in construction science because i ultimately want to be a custom home builder.?
i have an associates degree in construction management. now – due to “funding and enrollment” the school i planned on transfering to [and commuting to] does not offer courses at night. quitting my job is not an option; i work for a low-income home builder in dallas.

it seems to me my only option is to change my major as NO OTHER SCHOOL near me offers that specific degree. i was thinking of changing to a BS in Business Administration & Management. supervisors and co-workers have said it would make me “more marketable and well-rounded”. ive been looking at UTD [because its super close to home] or UTA [because i studied architecture in HS and alot of co-workers are in their architecture & engineering programs]

does anyone have any suggestions as to a simliar degree? i was looking into management, project management and operations management [but that seems more geared toward factory lines/product]

please help. id love some honest, intellegent responses.
i dont want to be in an office all day long. i enjoy being outside, rain or shine. i want to be a residential construction manager.

A: many civil engineering schools offer classes/specialties in “construction engineering”, which with the right electives is about the same thing as cm except your diploma says bs instead of ba. call around to local schools and ask about programs that will let you work too (it is best to speak directly to the departmental counceler). some may require you to go to class 2 days a week. at least around here in seattle it is easier to get an internship which pays decently with an engineering major than with an architecture major.

some large california community colleges offer online programs where you can get your bachlors degree strictly online. have a look, but i doubt they have anything as specific as what you are looking for available.

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