Working in Construction Management: A Guide

Working on construction sites doesn’t have to mean heavy lifting. There’s a whole world of construction management, which oversees and keeps major projects on-time and running smoothly. 

Learn how to become a construction manager, what type of Construction Management program you should look for and why to pursue this exciting career.

What Does a Construction Manager Do?

Construction managers are sometimes also called general contractors or project managers. They help to ensure that a construction project goes smoothly from start to finish. Construction managers work on many different projects, including the construction of residential, commercial, and public structures, plus roads and bridges. A construction manager typically helps to plan a project, coordinate the work that will be done on the project, manage the budget to ensure that the project’s cost stays on track, and supervise the project’s overall progress. 

There are many detailed tasks essential to keeping a construction project running smoothly, and a construction manager works with many other professionals during a single project. A construction manager might consult with the client to refine design plans and go over the budget. They’ll also work with specialized contractors as well as other specialists, like architects, electricians and stonemasons. Sometimes a construction manager might need to work with lawyers and government officials, like city inspectors, to make sure that a project meets the local regulations and requirements. 

While a construction manager might oversee an entire project on their own, some projects are too large for a single person to manage. For instance, when overseeing the construction of an office building or industrial complex, the lead construction manager will hire other construction managers to help share the workload. Each construction manager typically manages a different aspect or phase of the project, but they’ll also all collaborate with the top-level construction manager to ensure the entire project goes smoothly.¹

Typical Day of a Construction Manager

A construction manager’s daily tasks can vary depending on the phase that a construction project is in, but in any one day, a construction manager might:¹

• Prepare cost estimates and compare them to the project’s budget
• Review contracts and technical information, and relay that information to other professionals working on the project
• Choose subcontractors, schedule their work, and oversee their progress
• Work with architects, engineers, and other professionals to keep the project moving forward
• Review legal requirements and safety codes to ensure the project adheres to all regulations at all stages
• Identify work problems or emergencies and come up with solutions
• Update the client with information about the project’s progress and current budget

Why Become a Construction Manager?

Is construction management a good career? Well that depends on many factors. One to consider is the construction manager job outlook. Construction manager employment projections indicate that this is a promising field to pursue. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), construction manager employment is projected to grow.²

Multiple factors contribute to this expected growth. Population and business growth is predicted to increase demand for the construction of new homes, offices, hospitals, schools, and commercial buildings. National infrastructure improvements may also increase the demand for road, bridge, and sewer system construction projects. There’s also increased emphasis on making existing structures more energy efficient, and this could lead to additional construction projects and construction manager employment opportunities.²

Best Places to Work as a Construction Manager

The BLS reports that the following states offered the highest construction manager employment rates in May 2020:⁴

Construction Management Jobs

There are different types of construction manager jobs that may have slightly different duties. These can include:

• Concrete Foreman 
• Construction Area Manager 
• Construction Foreman 
• Construction Manager 
• Construction Services Manager 
• Construction Superintendent 
• Job Superintendent 

No matter their title, construction managers often work in multiple locations. They may work in a main office located away from the construction site, or they may work in a field office located right on the construction site. If a construction manager is simultaneously overseeing multiple projects, they may need to travel from site to site, and that may involve travel out of state. Construction managers who are working on projects located in foreign countries typically move to that country temporarily until the project is completed. 

When working on job sites, proper safety procedure training is important. Job sites typically involve uneven ground, noisy equipment, and large machinery, so it can be a distracting environment. Construction manager responsibilities include monitoring these conditions and keeping the crew safe. Construction managers may also need to deal with bad weather conditions when assessing or monitoring a site.⁵

While a construction manager typically oversees an entire single project, larger-scale projects may require multiple construction managers. In these situations, the top-level construction manager hires and oversees additional managers. Those additional managers may be tasked with overseeing a specific project phase or aspect, ensuring the whole project gets the attention it needs.¹

What Will I Learn in SJVC’s Construction Management Courses?

In SJVC’s Construction Management program, you’ll learn the skills and knowledge that you’ll use daily in your new career. You’ll take a variety of courses on topics like the computer applications and software packages used in the industry, strategies that can help you to schedule and plan projects, and best practices when estimating and bidding on commercial construction projects.⁹

Construction Management Classes

SJVC’s construction management classes provide a comprehensive and detailed foundation for your career. You’ll take the following classes during your program: 

• Computer Applications in Construction Management
• Construction Materials
• Design Theory
• Blueprint and Plan Reading
• Construction Business, Accounting, and Financial
• Management Construction Methods
• Scheduling and Control
• Labor and Construction Laws
• Quantity, Survey, Estimating and Bidding for Construction
• Construction Management Supervision
• Construction Project Management and Contract Documents
• Competitive Business Presentation and Strategic Communications
• Composition and Reading – Part A
• Composition and Reading – Part B
• Course Algebra – Part A
• Course Algebra – Part B
• Introduction to the Natural Sciences
• Ethics
• General Psychology
• Introduction to Sociology

Prepare for a Career in Construction Management With San Joaquin Valley College

SJVC’s Construction Management program can be a key step in preparing you for an exciting and rewarding career in construction management. You’ll develop key skills and acquire knowledge that are the foundation of a construction management career. Whether you decide to pursue an internship, gain work experience, or get certified after earning your degree, this program can help you to get started on your career path. 

Available both online and in person, the Construction Management program can be completed in just 14 months. Contact us today to get more information and be one step closer to becoming a construction manager. 

Construction Manager FAQ

How long does it take to become a construction manager?

There are many paths to becoming a construction manager, and each will take different amounts of time. Some people acquire decades of work experience in construction before becoming a construction manager. Others may pursue an associate degree or bachelor degree, then gain work experience and become certified. When first hired as a construction manager, you may complete months or years of on-the-job training before fully moving into the role.⁷

Do I need a degree to be a construction manager?

Most employers will require a construction manager to have at least a high school diploma, but beyond that, there aren’t hard-and-fast education requirements. More employers are requiring bachelor degrees in a construction-related field. However, it’s also possible to prepare for a construction manager position by combining an associate degree or construction program with work experience, internships, and certifications.⁷

Can I work in construction management with an associate degree?

An associate degree provides a great foundation for construction management. It is possible to earn an associate degree, supplement it with work experience and/or a certification, and work in construction management.⁷

Is construction management a good major?

Construction management can be a rewarding major, preparing you for a career that has promising employment rates and that offers high salaries. With more opportunities projected to emerge for construction managers over the coming decade, this is an excellent field to explore.²