Construction is a field that goes up and down with the real estate market and the economy. When both are a solid place, more buildings are constructed, but when either is down, the industry suffers. The construction industry is in a state of limbo at the moment, but the need for construction management jobs is still great. Because the need for building new commercial and residential properties is rare, construction managers need to put together convincing proposals for new structures.

Commercial and residential real estate need construction managers, but the requirements for these positions vary. Like most industries, construction gives the opportunity for someone to move up from a lower, entry-level position into mid- or upper-level management, provided he or she has the appropriate skills and knowledge. Someone in a commercial or residential general contractor position, for example, may move up to become a construction project manager.

Education is nearly as important as experience in this field, however. Although someone, over time, may move up into management, an associate or bachelor degree is extremely helpful. On the basic level, many construction manager jobs want a candidate to have an associate technical degree, but, in nearly all cases, a bachelor of science in engineering or construction management is preferred.

Why is an advanced degree needed? Typical duties for construction management jobs include making sure a project is constructed and completed according to the plans, schedule, and budget. A construction manager may also need to review designs and plans for each project and should inspect the property – the final result of any project – upon completion.

Aside from the engineering and construction knowledge, job requirements for a construction manager include communication and computer skills. Someone in this position should know Microsoft Office, as well as Prolog and Primavera, and should be prepared to use communication and customer service skills in contract negotiation. A construction manager may also assist with budget preparation for various projects.

Many construction management jobs can be found through ManagementJobs.net. The listings, compiled from many other job websites, provide a comprehensive selection of the many opportunities in commercial and residential construction.

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