Transition from contracting to consulting in public works
Transition from contracting to consulting in public works
(OP)
Question for Civil Engineers involved in public works.
I've been a road construction contract administrator with a consulting firm, for 6 months. Got laid off due to shortage of work, now I'm considering working for a paving contractor doing estimating/project coordination.
I would like to work for a contractor to see how things get done in the field, BUT I also want the option of switching to consulting 3-4 years from now,doing construction management or design. Is this wishful/naive thinking? I'm not confident I can get another consulting job right now, because of my limited experience. I'm in my mid twenties.
I've been a road construction contract administrator with a consulting firm, for 6 months. Got laid off due to shortage of work, now I'm considering working for a paving contractor doing estimating/project coordination.
I would like to work for a contractor to see how things get done in the field, BUT I also want the option of switching to consulting 3-4 years from now,doing construction management or design. Is this wishful/naive thinking? I'm not confident I can get another consulting job right now, because of my limited experience. I'm in my mid twenties.





RE: Transition from contracting to consulting in public works
My experience with consulting firms is that the firms are primarily interested in hiring people that will bring work in with them. If you can do that, you can punch your own ticket with any consulting firm. To understand what I am talking about google "Client Manager". Firms don't care if you can do the work, they want you to bring the work to them.
RE: Transition from contracting to consulting in public works
If the only way of getting into a consulting firm is by bringing over clients, well, then I'm out of luck. I'd like to know someone who has made the transition from contracting to consulting.
RE: Transition from contracting to consulting in public works
However, if you want to succeed and get promoted in consulting, then yes you are expected to bring in the work.
RE: Transition from contracting to consulting in public works
Estimating isn’t a waste of your degree, as long as that isn’t all you do on piddly little projects. At the moment it is gainful employment. Tell them you want to learn all phases of the construction business, including project management, etc., and then really work at it. Your degree should stand you in good sted for such a position, because you have some feel for the engineering reqm’ts. of the work. And, understanding how things actually get built should make you a better designer when and if you go back. There is plenty of evidence that many design engineers don’t have the vaguest idea how things go together, and what can and can’t be practically built; and where they design difficulties into a project.
But, also remember, you may have trouble getting registered and qualifying for that testing if you haven’t worked directly under a Registered Engineer. However, this is an opportunity to get a bit of a taste of the other side of things, and maybe you’ll discover which area suits you best.
Good Luck
RE: Transition from contracting to consulting in public works
RE: Transition from contracting to consulting in public works
Maintenance experience would be even better, since we'll have to maintain what they design, but I don't see that very often.
RE: Transition from contracting to consulting in public works