PM Essentials

Construction project managers plan and direct the building and maintenance of everything from bridges to high-rises to wastewater systems. They usually have the satisfaction of seeing a job through from start to finish. In a typical day, project managers might meet with owners, examine a work breakdown structure (WBS), negotiate with sub-contractors, and directly supervise crews. Their qualifications include both formal education and in- formal on-the-job training, and their knowledge encompasses construction materials and methods, mathematics, communications, safety, human resources, scheduling, and customer service, among other areas.