5 Steps to Success in Construction Management
Construction management is one of the most important roles in the building and construction industry. To achieve success in construction management, you need a special combination of highly valued education and experience.
Still interested? In this article, we look at the five steps you need to take to have a successful career as a construction manager!
How to become a successful construction manager
1. Get a construction management degree
To become a construction manager, you need to get educated. For many, this starts with an apprenticeship of some kind, where you’ll learn the basics of your trade, build up your experience and get familiar with the construction industry.
But it’s the higher-level building and construction courses that will give you the theoretical knowledge you need to reach that next level.
Once you’ve completed an apprenticeship, your next step to success in construction management would be more study. For example, our CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) will give you the skills and knowledge needed to obtain your building licence with the Victorian Building Authority and work as a construction manager on residential sites.
From here, you can then take it up a notch with our CPC50120 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building), which will help you go for construction manager roles in residential and commercial settings across a range of fields.
Being properly educated is one thing — but it’s important to stay that way and maintain and build on your knowledge. It’s worth looking into Continuing Professional Development, to keep up with changes in the industry and improve your construction management skills.
2. Build up experience in the building and construction industry
Your education needs to go hand in hand with your practical experience — both on site and behind the scenes. The more experience you have as a construction manager, the more authority you’ll gain, and the higher you’ll be paid.
Success in construction management is often about variety. That’s why it’s important to broaden your experience. Working on different building projects across different sectors (civil engineering, commercial, residential, agricultural, institutional, industrial, etc.) will expand your knowledge, and give you insight into different parts of the construction industry.
3. Know your role in building and construction projects
Being a construction manager is a high-pressure role. You’ll play a crucial role in building and construction projects, and be expected to juggle a huge number of responsibilities. These include:
- Setting calendars
- Reading blueprints
- Coordinating workflow
- Supervising and advising staff
- Ensuring health and safety regulations are up to code
- Ensuring materials and machinery are delivered on time
- Handling subcontractors
- Liaising with homeowners and investors
Effective construction management calls for proficiency in handling all of these responsibilities and more. But this is a skill you’ll learn through years of study and on-the-job experience.
4. Work on your leadership skills
Construction managers are leaders. Not only do you need the right level of academic qualifications and industry experience, you also need specific qualities to manage other people. While you might already have natural leadership skills, you’ll have to continually work on them to achieve success in construction management. Here are some of the main skills you’ll need.
- The ability to keep your cool under pressure
- Superior communication skills
- Superior problem solving skills
- Great time management and organisation
- The ability to negotiate
- Crisis management skills
While leadership is one of the main construction management skills to cultivate, it’s also important to listen to the people around you. Be open to learning from others’ expertise, and try to be as hands-on as possible by making sure you’re regularly seen on site.
5. Adapt to modern methods
The building and construction industry is fast-moving. Thanks to new technologies, software systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated. As a construction manager, it’s better to keep on top of the changes; otherwise, you risk falling behind.
From workflow software, virtual reality and 3D printing to sustainable technology and construction-site robots, the industry is constantly progressing and discovering better ways to work. Being a construction manager often means keeping on top of these trends and changes, and making the most of them when you can.
Start Your Journey Today: Study Construction Management with Builders Academy Australia
For those looking to make a real impact in this industry, becoming a construction manager with study at Builders Academy is a great place to start. We offer a range of courses and programs that are specifically designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the principles of construction management.
To learn more about our building and construction courses, how they’re structured, admission criteria, entry requirements, or what it takes to succeed in construction management, get in touch today — we’ll walk you through the details.