Professional Title:
Construction Estimator
Can you share your career journey and how you arrived at your current position? Please include education, volunteering, work experience, etc.
I started my career by going to school at Fanshawe College for their construction management course. This is a 3 year course that has a 4 month and a 8 month coop. Through this coop i began a job as a general labourer working on a large construction site. It was quite fascinating to see a building go up at that scale and only increased my interest in construction. I soon became a foreman for that site and later was offered a job as an estimator for the same company once i was finished my schooling. Worked on site for 1 year as a general labourer and 2 years as a site foreman/site supervisor throughout school and once i graduated i began working in my current position as a construction estimator and have been for 2 years now!
What motivated or inspired you to pursue this field?
My father-in-law in a huge driving force in my motivation to pursue this field. He was a very accomplished Project Manager for one of the largest construction companies in Canada dealing with hundreds of millions dollar jobs regularly. Construction has always been an interest to me in how buildings are built, but having this conversation connection as a family member allows be to indulge in the field even more trying to "beat" my father-in-law (said in the best way possible haha!)
Were there specific challenges or obstacles you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?
School has always been a challenge for me in terms of being able to focus in a classroom, college was tough as it was long days in a classroom being lectured at. My, now wife, was a large motivation to help me want to push through and graduate, honestly without her i may not have even gone to college at all. Her support help me want to get the best grades i could.
What aspects of your job do you find most rewarding?
Getting a job that you spend an entire month putting together a price for.
What aspects of the job do you find challenging or less enjoyable?
I am not a huge people person (not the best profession given I have to speak with different companies to gather quotes every day) so that for me is not a very enjoyable thing to have to do but it is part of the job!
What advice do you have for someone starting in this field?
Have an attention to detail, in any career within the construction industry, have an attention to detail. Do not buckle under the pressure.
How do you stay current in your field, or do you engage in ongoing professional development?
No two tenders are ever the same, in terms of how you submit them or what is required. Constantly taking off different projects is the only way to stay current and engaged in professional development as an estimator.
Did you have any mentors or role models who influenced your career choice?
My father-in-law
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