1.1 Professionals in Construction Industry: Career Mapping

Everyone wants to feel proud of their achievements in life, and fortunately life gives ample opportunities to display it. One of the easiest ways to achieve pride of becoming a good professional in the Industry is by utilizing gained knowledge and experience with professional ethics.

Following analysis is based on 31 years of experiences in the Construction Industry, while working with 10 different Organizations in the Private Sector at all 3 levels.

Aim here is to know how to make decisions? for which R.A.M. will be explored.

Let’s begin by,

Learning about the different types of projects in the Infrastructure & Real Estate Sector, wherein 22 Organization at 3 levels create 55 opportunities.
Understanding of Key areas of the 22 Organizations.
Carrying out R. A. data & create M.

See video or continue reading

Projects – Infrastructure & Real Estate

Roads, Bridges, Power plants (Thermal, Hydro, Nuclear, Wind, Solar) Railways (Broad gauge, Metro, Mono), Airports, Seaports

Terminals (Truck, Bus), Treatment plants (Water. Sewerage), Sport complex, Market buildings (Fruit, Cotton, Grains)

Factories (Chemical, Automotive, Textile, consumer durable), Refineries, Logistics (Warehouse)

Institutional structures (Educational, Research, Financial)

Residential (Affordable, Luxury, Premium, Designers, Skyscrapers, Villas, Bungalows) Commercial, Retail, Offices, SEZ (Special Economic Zone), Hospitality (Hotel) and Hospitals

Opportunities in Government and Private Sectors

Government Sector	Private Sector
Central, State, Public Sector, Autonomous, Others (Municipal councils)	Ownership, Services, Specialized Fields

Private Sector – Organizations: 22 (9+11+2)

Organization	Number
Ownership based Organizations: Developers, Infrastructure Companies, Industrial Institutions/Factories, Private Institutes, Financial Institutes (Banks, Funds, Investment banking), Research Institutes (Innovations, Material Testing, Quality control laboratories), Educational Institutes, Software organizations (ERP, Design, Planning, Cost Management), Manufacturing organizations, (Marketing & Sales, Implementation, Application of building products)	9
Services based Organizations: Contractors, Sub-contractors, Project Management Consultants, Construction Manager, Development Manager, Cost Management Consultants, Property Management Consultant, Architects, Structural consultants, Liaisoning Consultants, Land & Building Surveyors/Consultants	11
Specialized fields: Precast yards, RMC plant & Entrepreneurs	2

Working Opportunities can be explored at 3 levels-Local, National & International levels.

Local Level: Generally these are owner based organization wherein the staff strength depends on the number of projects, quantum of projects (million sqft), stages of projects (In hand, completed, ongoing, at design level or discussion level) that are being developed by the Organization.

Expected learning is based on the organization’s band width of having multiple departments at the head office as well as at the respective project sites. Individual development depends on one’s own capabilities and performance. A lot of learning and career progress will happen at various levels in the organization. Opportunities to learn about the full organization’s functioning in one city, the general execution practices adopted.

National Level: These are also owner based organizations but with processes and systems in place. Centralized office monitors and controls developments in well defined intervals and senior management are involved in the decision making. The head office operations may be divided and major responsibilities of a particular region will be assigned to branch/regional office, however all business decisions lies with the senior management at head office. The benefits of working with national level organization are, one can learn all relevant processes and systems implemented in the construction industry, there is a possibility of exploring different cities, various departments, multiple responsibilities, working on prestigious projects, skyscrapers. The magnitude of individual’s contribution determines chances of getting various opportunities for faster growth in career.

International Level: It is a dream job working with an International level organization, mostly owned and operated by professionals with processes and systems. One is able to, learn and follow world’s best practices, provide intellectual contributions through high quality of knowledge sharing, work with International architects/Consultants/ contractors/suppliers. There are chances of getting working experience in different countries on amazing as well as challenging structures. However, lots of efforts are required to adhere to international standards of working and that is possible with constant learning and regular upgrading of one’s knowledge of multiple disciplines. Excellent communication skills both written and verbal is important. Apart from the head Office, there will be regional offices, maybe either in any particular country or particular continent. (Different regional offices in the USA, Europe, Middle East, Asia)

Putting Logic to 22 Numbers of Organizations at 3 Levels, one will come across 55 opportunities (preview in PDF).

SN	Organization	Local	National	International	Total
1	Developer	1	1	1	3
2	Infrastructure companies	1	1	1	3
3	Industrial Institutions / Factories	1	1	1	3
4	Private Organizations	1	1	1	3
5	Financial institutes	1	1	1	3
6	Research Institutes	1	1		2
7	Educational Institutes	1	1		2
8	Software Organizations	1	1	1	3
9	Manufacturing Organizations	1	1	1	3
10	Contractors	1	1	1	3
11	Sub-contractors	1	1		2
12	Project Management Consultant	1	1	1	3
13	Construction Management Consultant	1	1	1	3
14	Development Management Consultant	1	1		2
15	Cost Management Consultant	1	1	1	3
16	Property Management Consultant	1	1	1	3
17	Architects	1	1		2
18	Structural Consultant	1	1		2
19	Liaisoning Consultant	1	1		2
20	Surveying (Land, Building)	1	1		2
21	Special Constructions	1	1		2
22	As an Entrepreneurs	1			1
	Total Opportunities				55

About 22 organization’s Key areas:

SN	Organization	Key Areas
1	Developer	Design, Execution, Marketing & Sales/Lease
2	Infrastructure companies	Engineering Design, Methodology, Execution
3	Industrial Institutions/ Factories	Co-ordinations with different streams of engineering, Civil/Electrical/Mechanical/Chemical
4	Private Organizations	Strategy and Management
5	Financial institutes	Due diligence, Monitoring & Control, Audit
6	Research Institutes	Innovations, Analysis, Laboratories
7	Educational Institutes	Teaching, Guidance
8	Software Organizations	Technologies, Artificial Intelligence
9	Manufacturing Organizations	Production, Marketing, Sales, Applications
10	Contractors	Execution, Resource allocations & Management
11	Sub-contractors	Resource management
12	Project Management Consultant	Representing client from design till handing over
13	Construction Management Consultant	Representing client but for execution only
14	Development Management Consultant	Representing client in totality except funding
15	Cost Management Consultant	Budget, Tendering, Contracting, Billings and Cost Report
16	Property Management Consultant	Management of structure and maintenance
17	Architects	Creativity, Design management & Coordination
18	Structural Consultant	Design, Coordination and execution monitoring
19	Liaisoning Consultant	Coordination and follow ups
20	Surveying Consultant	Land, Building, Geo technical, In future Aerial
21	Special Constructions	Precast yards, Ready Mix plants
22	As an Entrepreneurs	Ownership or Part of family, Partnership

Download 22 organization’s key areas in PDF format.

How to make a Decision? Which opportunity is best?

Do you know RAM? In Computers? Random Access Memory

Let’s find out what R.A.M. signifies.

Yes, it’s Research, Analysis & Matrix

The three simple steps to select a field of one’s choice,

By carrying out Research, doing a careful Analysis and creating a Matrix. To decide which option is the best for oneself, find out the available fields of opportunities, study the permutations and combinations for a careful analysis and then create a matrix by linking one’s qualities such as strengths, liking, skills.

Let’s explore the following 3 steps.

Step 1: Carry out Research by exploring various options, such as, internet (read all available materials), attend seminars and workshops, talk to experienced and knowledgeable personnel in various verticals. Interact with at least 10 personalities at different positions, 5 from government institutes and 5 from private institutes. One should visit different organizations, types of projects, offices, understand organization’s function, various roles, work locations, skills requirements

Step 2: Carefully Analyse the collected data based on one’s requirements. Either select real estate or infrastructure, residential/commercial/office or roads/dam/airports, project level or office work, working in a city or in remote areas, whether prefer a challenging job profile or regular office work, wants to explore decision making skills, logical, analytical or research.

Step 3 : Create a Matrix, which will be helpful for making a right decision.

Link one’s Strengths, Interest and Love to the above analysis for creating Matrix.

For example: If one’s strength is decision making, then Matrix for Infrastructure project level exposure will be execution, tough life with lots of challenges, adverse working conditions, mostly remote areas, leadership qualities will be at it’s best, detailing, coordination. Large magnitude of the project with multiple checks which means lots of processes and systems to meet desired quality standards.

Second Matrix for the same strengths but for real estate, a person enjoying decision making skills will get involved in project level execution work. At project level, apart from processes & systems, one has to get involved, with multiple coordination, (Internal as well as external teams, due to time and space constraints), interaction with marketing and sales department for effective communications for cash inflow.

Whereas if one’s strength is in logical thinking with the inclination towards technology then In the planning department of head office of Infrastructure organizations. Software knowledge is compulsory, as in some projects, may have to deal with around 10,000 activities addressing responsibilities, resource (men, materials, machinery) allocation. It’s an overall knowledge of the project with lots of engineering and technology inputs, supporting the project team with a detailed schedule. Love for perfection will create an image with experienced seniors resulting into gaining additional knowledge directly from respected stalwarts in an Industry.

For real estate, the planning team owns multiple projects from the land stage till financial closure and gets involved in monitoring and controlling projects. There are chances of handling MIS (Management Information System) wherein task is of collection of all relevant data from respective projects and sharing abstract with senior management for making decisions. Also possibility of involvement during the design development stage with architects and consultants for smoother transition of knowledge to project teams.

Create your own matrix to achieve desired results.