If you are considering a return to study, it is important to know how and why you will stand out as a qualified construction project manager.
Dozens of trades and professions make up the construction industry and project managers are among the most sought after for leadership positions. Competent and experienced professionals are financially rewarded for pursuing exciting career opportunities. The average Australian Project Manager wage is upwards of $85,000, but the best and brightest construction project managers with up-to-date knowledge can easily earn more than $140,000.
There are few careers where you can prepare the groundwork for a project and oversee every stage of the process right through to completion. Many project managers describe the completion of a job as the most satisfying part of their work. A post-tertiary qualification such as a Diploma of Project Management (BSB51415) and Diploma of Building & Construction (Management) (CPC50320) can be the best choice to set you on the path to the most rewarding of careers.
Are you wondering how far away you are from your next promotion? Take our quiz to assess your management career pathway.
GO TO QUIZ
Construction project managers are ultimately responsible for the completion of expensive projects. The oversight and decisions of construction managers are crucial to success. The best in the field use every tool at their disposal to coordinate dozens of tasks that all need completing to strict deadlines. Every day they turn to the latest technology to help them. Their vision is shared with dozens of people to reach milestones and see progress. The right educational qualification can give leaders the confidence to know they’ve got the skills to help them to succeed, and allow the team to trust the leaders.
No two days are the same, and you’ll be dealing with a variety of people and challenges. There are costs to plan, budgets to manage, subcontractors to hire, frequent briefings with stakeholders, and a multitude of other tasks. Competent people management skills and patience are required in equal measure, as every decision is ultimately geared to delivering projects on time and budget.
CAL has received endorsement for our Diploma of Project Management (BSB50820) and Diploma of Project Management (specialising in Construction) (BSB50820) courses from the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM), the premier, longest-serving body for project management in Australia.
Having passed a rigorous review by AIPM auditors, adding an AIPM-endorsed diploma to your repertoire demonstrates your commitment to project management professional development and the elevation of industry practices.
Gone are the days when a construction manager might leave school at age fifteen for a building apprenticeship, and spend 25-30 years climbing the career ladder towards their first project management role. Now, a qualification can quickly set you apart from the crowd, giving you a foot in the door that might otherwise take years or even decades.
One of the advantages of a qualification like a Certificate IV in Project Management Practice (BSB40920) is that it opens up a world of opportunities. Virtually all construction project management skills translate to any work site. Employers also understand the value of engaging qualified individuals.
Employers also look for their employees’ ambition, endeavour, adaptability, and flexibility. When it comes to standing out in a field with equally qualified candidates, those are great assets for any construction project manager.
Construction offers plenty of opportunities for career progression, with high job growth across the country. According to Labour Market Insights, Construction Manager roles are set to grow by 10.2% in the next 5 years, making it a lucrative career to become qualified in.
Project management skills in any industry can be similar in many respects. While experience counts, good communication and planning skills are critical, as is a good work ethic. Flexibility is also vital. For example, a busy construction industry means it’s harder to source labour, like tradespeople. Conversely, a quieter period means a manager’s focus will shift to sourcing projects rather than subcontractors.
A Certificate IV in Project Management Practice (BSB40920) will teach you the project scoping and planning skills to take the first step into a project management position in construction. If you already have extensive experience to upskill into a senior construction management role, a qualification such as the Diploma of Project Management (Specialising in Construction) (BSB50820) will fast-track you there.
Do you want to learn more about construction management skills employers demand, emerging job roles and salaries, and recent industry insights?
Discover your career in construction management.
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CAREER PAGE
