I coordinate work on construction projects, reviewing architectural drawings, scheduling work to be performed, and tracking costs to keep the job on budget. Projects include managing the construction of a thirty-story high-rise building.

EDUCATION | I have a BA in Political Science from Washington State University. I worked for a land surveying company during a summer break and continued working there after graduation.

HOW TO GET STARTED | The typical individual working in this industry has a bachelor's degree in construction management, architecture, or structural engineering. However, this is not the only way to get in as my experience proves: I had skills that were applicable to the industry, and because I had a bachelor's degree, I was able to transition to my current role.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | Flexibility, patience, and people skills are all very important traits to have in the construction management world. An attention to detail is also a benefit: I saved my company tens of thousands of dollars on our latest project by keeping organized and accurate records which helped me prove we had been overcharged for certain services.

how I got started | My roommate in college got me a job with his father's civil engineering/land surveying company during a summer break. Once I graduated, I continued working up the ranks with that company until I had the necessary skills as a surveyor. I was hired by my current employer to be their surveyor.

why this job?| I transitioned into the role I have now by taking on small tasks and eventually was given more and more responsibility. I truly believe that you can learn to do anything, you just need to be given the chance.

why I love this job!| It is amazing to take someone's ideas on paper and bring them to life. Where there was once just an empty lot, there is now a forty-story skyscraper.

my typical day| A large part of my job is coordination and planning. I am constantly on the phone, writing emails, and talking with people. Depending on the stage the project is in, the days can get quite long and busy. There are some days I never sit down and others that are more relaxed.

what they are | One of the biggest challenges of my job is getting people to work together and cooperate to get the job done. Construction is fast-paced and another challenge is that you need to be able to operate efficiently in this type of busy atmosphere. The typical work hours can also be long.

all about growth | I will eventually grow into a project manager, with responsibility for entire construction projects. A project manager position has less to do with the everyday work, and more to do with the overall big picture of the project.

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