Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Senior Estimators at McCarthy Building Companies
Entry-level construction positions for undergraduates include "project engineer," "field engineer," and "estimator" on the pre-construction side; field engineers focus on "real issues on the field," while project engineers handle management and communication, and estimators, often starting with smaller projects, develop budgeting skills.
Project Management, Entry-Level, Job Search, Career Exploration, Communication
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Trey Novara
Senior Estimator
McCarthy Building Companies
Santa Clara University
Engineering - Civil
Architecture, Construction & Design
Operations and Project Management
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level positions in construction estimation include project engineer, field engineer, and estimator.
2. Field engineers work on-site, resolving field issues, while project engineers manage paperwork and communication.
3. Estimator roles often start with smaller projects, allowing growth and learning opportunities before handling larger tasks.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
Entry-level positions in construction, in my field, are fairly simple. You're either a project engineer, a field engineer, or you can be an estimator on the pre-construction side.
A field engineer spends more time out in the field with the superintendents and laborers, figuring out the real issues. The project engineer, on the other hand, works more on the management side.
This involves making sure change orders are processed, everyone gets paid on time, and that any questions from the field team or trade partners are relayed to the architect. It's essentially the two sides of the coin on a project.
For the pre-construction side, not every company allows you to go straight into it. However, for those that do, you'll usually start as an estimator.
Sometimes, companies have a cost consultant or cost engineer role. This position typically involves doing the takeoff and budgeting for smaller items. It's a lot of learning from senior staff and working on smaller projects to put together budgets. This allows you to prove you can handle larger projects.