Running head: CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT-PROJECT MANAGER 1

Construction Management - Project Manager

Lucas Rydalch
Salt Lake Community College
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Construction Management - Project Manager
Job Description
A project manager in construction is someone who oversees and runs a job site. They are
in charge of making sure that the jobs that they work on finish on time and on budget. Luckily
project managers don’t have to do this all on their own because they have Project Engineers and
Superintendents to help them along the way.
General Career Path
To get to my goal of project manager I am going to have to take on a couple of different
roles. The entry-level position for this job is a project engineer. The role of a project engineer or
PE is to be an extension of the project manager and to ensure that the foreman and construction
crew have the material necessary to complete the job and depending on the contractor the project
engineer may also have to participate in construction meetings and take notes during those
meetings.
After being a Project Engineer an individual can go one of two directions. They can
either become a superintendent and then a project manager, or they can go straight into being a
project manager. Having the role of superintendent can be very beneficial when someone
becomes a project manager. Because a superintendent is very hands-on when it comes to
working on the job site, they can get a good understanding of materials and also the time it takes
to complete various tasks. Not having this understanding can be harmful. A project manager who
doesn’t have a good understanding of materials and time management can push those who work
on their job site to the breaking point. Working construction, especially on large job sites,
requires teamwork and patience.
General Education Experience
Here at Salt Lake Community College, we have the opportunity to obtain a degree in
construction management. Here there are two routes you can go. There is the Associates of
Science and also the Associates of Applied Science. In the Associates of Science program, it is
more classroom-based courses and is a building block to go on a receive a Bachelor’s Degree in
that field. The Applied Science Degree is more hands-on as helps the student to obtain a
contractors license. These two degrees at Salt Lake Community College Require between 67
and 68 credits depending on which route you decide to take.
If someone were to attend a four-year university, such as Utah Valley University, they
would be required to take 120 credits. This includes general education and elective courses. Once
you complete the required courses you can obtain a Bachelors of Science in Construction
Management.
UVU is where I hope to attend after I graduate with my Associates in General Studies
this Spring. This is the university that I feel that can have the best success at academically. Many
of the classes that I took here at SLCC will transfer over so that I don’t have to take the 120
credits that I mentioned above.
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Average Salary
According to Indeed.com, the average salary for a project manager in the state of Utah is
$82,501 per year, which meets the national average across the United States. I believe that by
becoming a project manager, I will be able to provide a substantial amount of income for my
family so that we might be able to live comfortably. This salary amount will provide me with the
financial means to be able to afford a house payment, car payment, insurance, and all of those
other important necessities in order to create a good home and environment for my family.
Career Outlook
The career outlook for this field of work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics is
optimistic. Between the years 2016 to 2026, there is supposed to be an 11% increase in jobs.
That is almost an additional 45,000 jobs and it is a rate that is faster than the average rate.
Bio of Ryan Bevan
Ryan has been working construction for twenty plus years. He obtained a construction
management degree from Brigham Young University and went on to work for Okland
Construction as a Project Engineer and quickly moved up to the ranks of Project Manager all
within the span of fifteen years. He started a new career at the Gardner Company six years ago
and holds the title of Vice President of Construction. At Gardner, Ryan manages millions of
square feet of new construction as well as tenant improvements in older buildings.
Pros and Cons
The pros for me to work in Construction Management as a project manager are many, but
to name a few that are important to me, I get to do what I love and that is building things, I will
have a job that will provide well for my wife and hopefully, future kids, and the schedule is laid
out for me.
There are a few cons, but nothing to deter me from working in this profession. The cons
are that sometimes the owners you are building for can be difficult, and in my opinion, this is the
only con. The most frustrating thing is when an owner can’t make up their mind, but still, expect
the project to finish on time. When this occurs, this can cost the contractor as well as the owner a
lot of money.
My “Fit” With This Career
Ever since I was a little boy, construction has always been something that has interested
me. One memory that comes to my mind is when my dad was finishing our unfinished basement.
I was always wanting to help him build things. I had good intentions and wanted to be helpful,
but I really was just getting in the way. My freshman year of high school, I was fortunate enough
to have the opportunity to help my dad build homes. (Including the home that he lives in now.)
However, unfortunately, that opportunity came to a close shortly after. Once that opportunity
ended, I started to work for my family’s electrical company, Rydalch Electric. One of my daily
tasks consisted of installing wire and conduit in large commercial buildings, and this is what
really spurred my interest in understanding the big picture of what my dream job would be in the
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future. I began researching and came to the conclusion that what I wanted was to get my degree
in construction management.

References
Benefits of a construction management degree. (2019, February 22). Retrieved April 22, 2019,

from ​https://in.nau.edu/construction-management/benefits/

Construction Management. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2019, from

https://www.uvu.edu/catalog/current/departments/construction-technologies/construction-

management-bs/

Construction Managers: Occupational Outlook Handbook: (2019, April 12). Retrieved April 22,

2019, from ​https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/construction-managers.htm

Gaikar, V. (2017, February 1). The Pros and Cons of a Career in Project Management. Retrieved

April 22, 2019, from

http://www.beinggeeks.com/2017/02/pros-cons-career-project-management.html

Salaries. (2019, March 22). Retrieved April 22, 2019, from

https://www.indeed.com/salaries/Construction-Manager-Salaries,-Utah

School of Applied Technology and Technical Specialties. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2019, from

http://www.slcc.edu/satts/programs/construction-management.aspx