What you need to embark on a site management career
If you have experience and skills in the construction industry and you are looking to move your way up the ladder, a site management career may be the logical next step.
Have you been working in construction for a long time? Are you looking for the next step in your career? Do you have skills, experience, and knowledge combined with team leadership skills? Then site management may be the right path for you.
Skills and Qualifications
On site experience is important when you are considering starting a career in construction site management, although a relative degree can also be enough in certain cases.
A foundation degree, a relevant degree, a HNC/HND or any combination of these can make up for several years of experience on building sites, although many believe that hands on experience is vital to some extent, regardless of qualifications.
Several universities now offer Construction Management, Construction Engineering Management and Construction Project Management degrees, which are ideal for those who wish to go direct into management. See WhatUni.com for a list of the best construction management degrees in the UK.
There are also many routes to obtaining a suitable diploma, such as a City & Guilds NVQ Diplomas in Construction Site Management or CIOB Level 4 Certificate and Diploma in Site Management. These can usually be studied in evening classes.
Whichever way you have gained the necessary experience, you will need to prove your knowledge of construction down to the smallest detail. But there are also other key skills you need for this tough and rewarding occupation.
Key Skills
Organisation and planning skills and attention to detail are a must, as is the ability to manage a team and maintain good working relationships with all of the staff who work under you. You must also be able to solve problems in an efficient and creative way when necessary.
You have to be a people person, not only due to your contact with those who work for you, but also for liaising with contractors, surveyors, and other professional staff and clients.
A good working level of English and Maths is vital for construction management jobs, as you will be expected to understand construction drawings, liaise with architects and civil engineers, and read and produce reports.
Due to the need to check site reports and designs, ensure quality control procedures are followed and using specialised computer applications, you don’t only need to know the industry, you need to genuinely enjoy working in it.
Health and Safety
If you have worked in construction for an extended period of time, you will be aware of how important health and safety is. As a site manager, it is an even higher priority.
Your knowledge of health and safety could make or break your career in site management. You need the ability to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that you have the combination of skills, experience and common sense necessary to ensure that the correct health and safety measures are put in place at all times.
However, beside this knowledge, it is also necessary to know that there are times that you will need help. When it comes to complex paperwork and advice on general health and safety practices, it is worth seeking extra assistance.
Hiring a company who can offer unbiased and detailed health and safety advice can make a huge difference to you and make your career as a site manager run much smoother and prove your ability to seek help when is necessary, which is as important as your ability to take charge of a situation.
If you have spent many years working in construction, or you have just finished your studies and have gained the qualifications necessary, then there should be nothing in the way of you seeking a career as a site manager.
Site management is a challenging role, but if you are the type of person for whom such a role is a good fit, then it can be incredibly rewarding, well paid, and the ideal next step in your career in construction.