Five Ways Practical Education Can Grow Your Construction Management Career

What is Practical Education in Construction Management?

What does “practical” even mean? Let’s define it:

Definition of Practical /’praktǝk(ǝ)l/

adjective

1. Of or concern with the actual doing or use of something rather than with theory and ideas.

2. (of an idea, plan, or method) likely to succeed or be effective in real circumstances; feasible.

Similar Words: feasible, realistic, workable.

-Definitions from Oxford Languages

In Construction management, practical education focuses on the subjects that don’t always get taught but they definitely affect you as an individual impacting the construction industry. This knowledge is not directly defined in books or institutionalized teaching. It’s the knowledge that combines real-life, circumstances and experiences with the theories and ideas of construction project management.

Construction managers and those aspiring to be construction managers need comprehensive and practical education in order to ensure their success. They will need to know all about the building process, how construction materials work, and how to lead their team. This prepares them to be responsible for all aspects of a construction project from beginning to end. This includes an understanding of budgeting, risk management, and time management skills.

Staying in tune with the market trends is just one practical application of survival in the industry. Wouldn’t you like to be able to manage your risk by locking in the project’s steel buy-out at the beginning of the project? Let’s explore the five ways practical education can impact your career in construction project management.

1. Gives You An Edge Among Your Co-Workers

Do you know what you don’t know? A lot of us don’t, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of, especially early on in your career. A practical learning experience can help you learn the things you didn’t know you needed to know, allowing you to overcome project challenges that others simply cannot.

In construction management, project managers are responsible for overseeing the entire construction process from start to finish. This means they must be well-versed in a variety of skillsets. And, so learning new practical skillsets can give you more edge by staying relevant to the world of construction today and in the future. Don’t be afraid to learn what you need to know to get that edge to make you more successful than others around you.

2. Boosts Confidence

Let’s face it, we all need a confidence booster from time to time. Knowing how challenging the construction industry is, why not invest in yourself? Get that practical education to help your confidence to dance better with those challenges. Get your hands dirty with useful, new practical skills. Sometimes confidence is the only thing you need to accomplish something. Imagine having that confidence throughout your career.

Let’s say we can all agree that practical education can help you become more confident in your construction management career; but would you also agree that it feels good to know what exactly you’re talking about and feel comfortable taking the lead on more challenging tasks at hand?

3. Become Comfortable Tackling Complex Tasks

Whether you’re a seasoned professional, or just starting out, building your knowledge base can help you handle more complex tasks. Thus helping you grow, way beyond your imagination. A construction manager needs to be resourceful and think on their toes in order to be successful. Utilizing practical knowledge, they will be able to handle any situation that they may face on the job.

4. Provides the Chance For You to Learn What You Want, When You Want

Who said you have to learn advanced construction management techniques and skills later on in your career? Gaining that practical knowledge can help you get where you need to be much faster. Be diligent enough you may be more educated once you do get there. Some skills come naturally for some of us. But, learning practical skills such as communication can make or break your career. Change order negotiation meetings, contract negotiation, request for information (RFI’s), planning, and scheduling meetings all utilize communication skills. There is absolutely no reason why you can’t learn practical skills ahead of time, at your pace.

5. Make Proactive Decisions In Times of Urgency

The world of construction will always have an urgency. Project owners and teams strive to meet deadlines. And construction project managers have to be able to work well under pressure. Learning practical skills such as time management can help us work well under pressure. This can have a major impact on your construction management career. As the saying goes, “Time is money” (Benjamin Franklin).

No one is born with all of this practical knowledge. People need to be able to learn new skills and adapt to the changes in the industry. It’s vital that we’re constantly learning new skills or refreshing old ones, as well as challenging ourselves with new experiences. Practical education provides us with those opportunities both in and out of the workplace; through workshops, seminars, conferences, or even volunteering opportunities!

Yes, you’ll be investing in yourself and your future career. But it’s worth it when you realize you can successfully take on any project.

Practical education is a must for any field, and construction management is no different. You need to be able to flex your skills in order to stay at the top. The construction management profession is always changing and evolving as new technologies are introduced. With these changes, there is a need for construction professionals to continue their education to stay relevant in the industry. We are in the process of being upskilled and out-skilled at the same time. Practical education is a growing trend among construction management professionals. It is an increasing demand to stay competitive and relevant in the workforce.