Are you thinking of pursuing your Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) Degree in Construction Management at ITI Technical College? Are you ready to move forward with your life and jump into a brand-new career? If so then you have your work cut out for you. However, did you know that there is some common confusion between construction managers and project managers? The two terms are often used interchangeably, but the truth is that they are two very different jobs. Today we’re going to take a quick look at the difference between the two and discuss what they mean.
Construction Managers Only Manage the Construction
A construction manager is just that: someone who will handle the construction of the project. As part of your construction manager training, you will become an expert in the building trades which include:
* Electrical
* Carpentry
* Plumbing
* General Construction
In this rather lucrative line of work, it will be your responsibility to take care of the day-to-day operations which begin in the pre-construction phase and end with the completion of the project. To put it another way, a construction manager is someone who has very specific areas of knowledge and uses that knowledge to ensure that the job is done right. It’s a lot of responsibility but it’s well worth it.
Construction Managers work in Personnel Management
As a construction manager, one of your roles will be to work with the personnel at the construction site. For example, you will work to make sure that all the necessary resources are allocated, and that the right tools are available for the job in question. This includes tools for all stages of the job or at least the ones that your team is responsible for. If you are only working on the framing and roofing, for example, you would not need tools that relate to electrical work.
The Job of the Project Manager
Now we’re going to move on to the job of the project manager. What is it exactly? What does it involve? Project management roles are a much more complex job than construction management roles, so let’s take a quick look at what you need to know.
Project Managers Run the Entire Project
A project manager is someone who literally runs the entirety of the project. This means everything forms initial planning all the way to site selection, analysis, design, and everything else related to construction. The project manager is also responsible for the budget and must be very aware of anything that could inflate it. It’s a tough job and it needs the right person.
Project Managers are There from the Beginning
While a construction manager will only step in once the project is underway, the project manager will be there from the beginning. They will be there to work with the client and gain an understanding of the project in question from the physical space to the very specific needs. In the end, the project needs to be exactly what the client wants, and that can be a very tall order.
Project Managers Have more Authority
In the end, the project manager will have much more authority than the construction manager. As a matter of fact, it will be the job of the project manager to supervise the construction manager and ensure that the project is built to spec.
As you can see, there are quite a few differences and the job that you take on will usually depend upon how much authority you want and of course how much responsibility you want. For more information on the role of a construction manager, don’t forget to visit ITI Technical College’s website and ask about enrolling in one of our programs.
Disclosure:
For more information about graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website: https://iticollege.edu/disclosures/
