Career Advice

[tambi]

Hi Guys,
Have just recently found this forum and Skyscrapercity and really regret not finding you earler. I am about to graduate with an architecture degree from Unisa and am trying to decide upon which direction to take in the building industry. I've increasingly become interested in property development and project management and would much rather get into this side of things as opposed to working in an architecture office. Can anybody advise me on what would be the best way get into this part of the industry?
Cheers

[AG]

Wow, tough question. I myself am trying to get into this part of the construction industry and also the property industry, but I am studying Civil and Structural Engineering and Finance (double degree) at Adelaide Uni. I'm sure as an architect, working alongside many others in the construction industry that you may be able to gain some knowledge and experience that way. I know a couple of people who are taking a course at UniSA called Construction Management and Economics, which is a 4 year full time course. You may want to consider taking up this course while working as an architect. It isn't as intensive from a mathematical point of view as Civil Engineering is at Adelaide (from what I've seen of it) if Maths isn't exactly your forte.

Hope what I've said above doesn't sound like a load of ramble.

[Diamond]

AG, what year are you in? I was in 1st year of Civ Eng in 05, but have since tranferred to another course

[AG]

I am currently in 1st year.

[tambi]

Thanks AG. I'm considering doing something like you mention, after 5 years of study though it isn't so appealing at the moment. I'm likelytaking a job in Brisbane with a large roofing company which will give me some intial experience in construction and project management and after a year I'll probably look to some further study.
I'd really like to create a company which operates along the lines of something like http://www.formeprojex.com.au so if anybody has anymore advice I'd greatly appreciate it.
Cheers

[Buildit]

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Construction Management & Economics at Uni SA, (4th Year Honors). This is definitely the course you need to do if you want to get into the following fields

- Construction Management
- Project Management
- Cost Planning
- Quantity Surveying
- Building Estimating
- Building Surveying

All the big builders and developers are highly aware of this degree and are always head hunting, usually via the Uni. You will find from an engineering or architecture background (Degree or a form of Study), you will be able to get some of this degree credited.

Hope this helps.

[tambi]

Thanks mate, I'm gonna look around and see what postgraduate degrees are offered. I know there is a Graduate Diploma and Masters in Project Management so maybe I'll end up doing something like that.
I'm hoping to find some sort of practical experience somewhere in the meantime though as I'd like a break from study for a while. How would you rate the construction management course?

[Buildit]

Mate it is a great course. It looks mainly at the theory sides of the construction industry and the management skills required. There is some amount of technical learning involved but when you team this degree up with the actual industry, your knowledge is 10 Fold and everything you have learnt becomes useful.

Its a 10/10 for me

[bmw boy]

like Tambi... i have only recently found this forum and am wishing i found it earlier.

I started uni this yr doing marketing at uni sa... but am now thinking of transfering to something in the property developement area, as it seems like a thriving & exciting industry with alot of potential for the future.

I dont want to get into the construction/engineering side of things, but more the business or planning... but the only degrees available in SA that ive found are either
- a bachelor in property... which i think is more suited to real esate industry...
or
- bachelor of urban and regional planning (Uni SA)

is anyone doing either degree and can give me incite into them regarding the matter

I cant seem to find a course (in SA) which has a balanced mix of the business and developement/planning side... rather i can just chose one or the other

this course in NSW seems great and is a mix of the 2 although at this stage i'm not prepared to move interstae.
http://www.fbe.unsw.edu.au/degrees/mpd/program.asp
as far as i know nothing like this is offered here, unless a do 2 degrees... but the uni sa urban & regional planning is a 4 yr course and doesn't go as a double with any business or property degree

[Pistol]

I am studying logistics and supply chain management at Uni SA which has a large component of project management within its' core subjects. I don't know whether it is possible to study a management degree and major in project management, but there are a lot project management courses available within the school of business that you could at least make project management a minor.

[tambi]

Mate it is a great course. It looks mainly at the theory sides of the construction industry and the management skills required. There is some amount of technical learning involved but when you team this degree up with the actual industry, your knowledge is 10 Fold and everything you have learnt becomes useful.

Its a 10/10 for me

Sounds great. The architecture course is very good also and has earnt itself a good reputation nationally. I have a real love for the subject but have been disappointed by the lack enthusiasm from recent graduates in the industry and the amount of negative comment about the role of the architect in the building process. I've had a look about and there are various project management post graduate degrees but nothing specifically construction related it seems.