How Do You Get Construction Management Work?
Written By: John Poole on October 17, 2013
3 Comments
The title of this post is very important. If you just glanced at it, you may think it reads,
“How To Get Construction Management Work”. But of course this is not the case. It reads, “How Do You Get Construction Management Work?”….with a question mark! (And yes, that was an exclamation point) And it isn’t one of those questions that is asked with the intention of later providing the answer (is that what you call a rhetorical question?). But rather, it’s a REAL question, and I’m looking for some REAL answers. So please, if there is anyone that can enlighten me along with the other members of our illustrious industry, please feel free to do so.
“How To Get Construction Management Work”. But of course this is not the case. It reads, “How Do You Get Construction Management Work?”….with a question mark! (And yes, that was an exclamation point) And it isn’t one of those questions that is asked with the intention of later providing the answer (is that what you call a rhetorical question?). But rather, it’s a REAL question, and I’m looking for some REAL answers. So please, if there is anyone that can enlighten me along with the other members of our illustrious industry, please feel free to do so.So yes, I will occasionally get discouraged with the “system” and I’ll be the first to admit it. It appears to me, at times, that without family connections, political ties (kickbacks), or minority affiliation it’s damn (darn) near impossible to get a steady flow of work especially as a new company. And public RFPs are like playing with fire. There is so much risk in doing hard-bid public construction projects that, in my opinion, if you can’t get a very large profit margin (which you can’t) along with a healthy contingency (non-existant), the situation become so risky that it is not even worth doing.
Acting as a CM project manager or construction administrator for public projects actually seems like a pretty good gig, but how you get in front of politicians and school administrators in order to get that work, I honestly have no clue. I imagine, just like anything else, it boils down to connections. Are we talking about you scratch my back, I’ll scratch your’s type stuff? Well, perhaps. But I’m not necessarily complaining about it.
I’m not under some illusion that this World is a fair place and that the best and brightest always get the work they deserve (God forbid). Look, if I need to start scratching backs to get work, I’ll grow my fingernails an inch long. But first I need a back to scratch.
Anyway, let’s collaborate about how to get construction management work. I’ll share my ideas and you’ll share yours’…or vice versa! You’ll throw some useful tips my way, and I’ll throw some your way. Perhaps you can introduce me to someone helpful and I can in-turn introduce you. Before you know it, we’ll be back-scratching our way to a steady flow of construction management work. Maybe that’s just the system.
So please leave commentary and suggestions to not only scratch my back but the backs of the others that visit this site as well. Perhaps you’ll get a back scratch in return.
Unfortunately, there is no secret to this: it takes time and effort. You have to go out and build relationships. I agree that it can be challenging, but sometimes it takes meeting someone 5-6 times and demonstrating a core competetency to get them to give you work.
Thanks for the comment Josh and I’m glad you got the WordPress thing figured out.
Anyway, I think you are correct – It’s a long slow process.
Thanks again for the comment – jp