Construction Industry

[crgb14]

I'd love to know why, considering we're the backbone of this country, students aren't being pursuaded towards the construction industry.

Everyone is so obsessed with all this marketing and IT stuff that they fail to realise that come 5 years down the line there's going to be such a huge number of unemployable people because of this.

If it's money they're after then there aren't many more big earners than those in building - its not all having to get your hands dirty.

There are so many job vacancies at the moment that you can virtually demand a salary and you'll get.

[january_bug]

Well you've put forward a very convincing case... perhaps you should take that arguement to a few sixth forms. 

I'm 22 and I know two recent architecture graduates (as in they're now qualified, not sure what that means they've done, but they've done it). 

Maybe people feel it's a case of "hands dirty" or "be arty".  I'm certainly neither, but I'll happily learn to handle the legal side of it, and the accounting graduates will look after the money etc. 

[Octavius]

Well I am a chartered surveyor in the construction industry and I agree that the industry is not exactly attractive is it.  And where on earth do youget the idea that you can command a salary?  Career trends follow perception in the media, remember Ally McBeal and all those kids who wanted to be lawyers, Chancer and everyone wanted to be a stockbroker, now there is no end of programmes about media/advertising execs who drive Porsches and hobnob with celebrities.  And what do we get?  Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.  Don't get me wrong, I loved it, but glamorous it aint.

The construction industry is also very vulnerable as when money os tight, people don't build, so some skills are not needed.

Architects, only the very very tip top architects (Foster, Rogers, Allsop etc) command 'appealing' salaries and other than high flying property developers and the owners of major house-building firms the money for the rest of us is really rather average.  And we work hard for it.

Admittedly the perception is the key and if we can convince people that it is not just about brick-laying, plumbing or mixing cement in the rain then we might gain some level of interest.  

[january_bug]

In all fairness though, and sorry to go off key, you find out pretty darn quickly if you can't cut it as a lawyer.  Needing at least AAB to get into uni and needing to work your butt off once your there is a big clue. 

Not sure how that works in construction... how quickly you'd find out that the dream is pretty hard to grasp.  Would be interested to know. 

[crgb14]

I guess many people only join the industry through family cpnnections - and as Octavius will be aware there are many family run builders.

As for the salary, I've been working for 4 years doing the hard slog of day release as Quantity Surveyor. I decided to up and leave that company after being approached by an agency but the condition was that I'd only leave on my terms and only if I got the salery that I stated (which was high considering my age) - low and behold I got several offers at my requested price and haven't looked back since. I do know that this is a regular occurance.

Maybe the 'demand your salary' argument was a little OTT.

I'm already not far off the average that the books stated for a senior some 6 years ago and that's with one of your major developers.

Many of my graduate mates who were promised all these amazing salaries at college are now struggling because of the number of that graduate with fashionable degrees.

As for the legal side of it, you'll find that most of the larger developers have their own in-house legal teams - especially at the H.Q's. Ok, the money probably won't be as high as the big city centre practises but it gets you in there surely.

[Octavius]

crgb14- you followed the dedicated route (day release) as did I and as an Associate Director (PQS designate) in a large prfoessional practice in Central London this is valued more than full time education.  With so many offers on the plate, I would have upped the asking price and see who really wanted you!  It is a practical industry, and it just seems that there are very few who are prepared to go the hard slog for a career in construction, preferring careers in media and IT.

I wonder now (with all the CSI drama's) whether there wil be an increase in students seeking careers in forensic science.. oh the glamour!

What we need is a good drama/doc/comedy set in a large multi-disciplinary professional construction consultancy practice to glamourise our work!  

[Andy008]

If it's money your'e after in construction you have to own the business.

If it's money you are after in any business, you have to own the business. If you want to become wealthy you have to become self-employed.

With the exception of Anna Nicole Smith, lottery winners, and the Royal Family, we all have to work hard and OWN THE FIRM if it's money we want.

Do not get "earning money" confused with "making money", they are two entirely separate things.

Be it construction, global drug trafficking, circuses, smuggling lucky charms, prostitution, recruitment consultancy or delivering meals on wheels, in any industry you will only become rich if own the business.

Sorry to sound abrupt but I can attribute that to my idolisation of Alan Sugar - the man, the legend.