Civil/Construction Management Major...

ken285
Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:05:56 +0000

What is your work environment like? Mainly outdoors? A mixture of both? I have heard that the stress level in the field can be a real killer. Would you agree?



In terms of the physical work environment, it can really vary a lot, depending on your position. Some people work as estimators in the corporate office. Some work as superintendents; their environment varies as the project progresses. The company I work for is pretty big, so people end up specializing in certain areas. If you’re a foundations/superstructure super, you’ll be outside in the heat/cold a lot. If you mainly do interior fitout and interior finishes, then you’ll of course be indoors most of the time. I did this on my last project, and we had heating/AC running about a month or two after I got there. Project managers’ work environment can vary a lot as well. Right now, I’m working from a trailer at the bottom of an excavation. The PM’s on my previous project worked from an office that they leased near the job site. So, yea, it can be pretty different, but I wouldn’t go into construction if you don’t want to get your hands dirty.

In terms of the people environment, it’s good for the most part. Those who work in this industry love to play pranks and have fun. Around Christmas last year, I was working a few floors up and I hear bells and a guy yelling “ho ho ho!” I look out the window and lo and behold, I see my labor foreman dressed in a Santa suit… sitting on a chair on a dolly… being pushed all around the block by his guys… in the middle of NYC. I couldn’t stop laughing!

Of course, there are times when people do get frustrated, and people do yell and scream and curse and everything. It happens. Everybody’s being pressured to perform because there’s just so much money on the line (my last building generated $2 billion in sales for the developer). People have short memories though. Today, two people can be at each other’s throats for whatever reason, and tomorrow they’ll be best friends.

I’d say the job can be stressful, but I wouldn’t say it’s a killer.