As Africa’s construction industry continues to boom the demand for skilled labor has also been on demand and despite the fact that most professional are graduating there is still a gap for best construction managers.
Whether you work on a small residential project or a large commercial project, the smallest details can make a big difference.
If you forget a permit on either project you’ll face delays and possible fines, but good organizational skills can help you manage all the aspects of a project from the initial bid to the last day.
Construction review sort to do a detailed research on how one can become a successful Construction manager so that he/she can be able to run a number of projects that are on the rise in the African market.
Education
In the past most of the construction Managers in Africa were appointed by the engineers, project owners and most of them didn’t have any skill, however the trend has now changed as projects are getting more complex hence getting to learn is needed,
You’ll learn the complexities of the construction industry that you might not come into contact with if you’re working as a carpentry foreman, such as estimating, cost control, risk and safety management, and contract administration.
Experience
After acquiring the best education of project management the next level to have a look at is how to gain experience on the field.
This is where most project managers in Africa fail to attain as they cannot handle complex project with less than a year experience on it, hence creating a gap and forcing many project owners to hire project managers from other Continents.
In some cases it’s the only way you’ll get the job. But practical experience in construction can lay an important foundation. Even a summer job as a general laborer while you’re in school can give you valuable exposure to how job sites are managed as well as experience to put on a resume.
Internships with general contractors and architects are also important. The broader your knowledge of and experience in the industry, the more likely your success as a project manager.
Skills
A project manager spends as much time, or more, in the office as on a job site. Scheduling and managing subcontractors, creating project timelines, tracking the permitting process, keeping track of change orders and managing a complex budget require good computer skills.
While most companies have project management software to help manage these things, skill with spreadsheet software is invaluable. Math skills and knowledge of accounting are vital to working with budgets and billing.
Having someone to overlook the process of constructing a structure is what makes that whole project work out. The accountabilities of a Construction Manager are extensive in so many ways.
Comment:great information. experience is key,from as low as a labourer.helpful
I love your tip about appointing the right engineers. That makes sense considering you want to measure everything correctly. I’ll have to consider your tips so that I can be good at construction.