There are so many facts and assesments on this site and they helped me get a realistic picture of things to face on landing. Now there is another query which hopefully some of you can help me out with. I hope to upgrade my construction skills (being a civil engineer from India)to Canadian standards by doing a course in construction management from some good institute on the west coast. Is this practical? Could someone please suggest a good and preferrably short course for this.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
landed rearriving soon

Hi,

I read ur posts in a thread related to Exports too.

Good that you are a Civil engineer. Are you a product of Thapar College?

Any specific interests in West Coast !

By the way when are u landing in canada ! And how is modern Maharaja Patiala doing these days badshao !

Best wishes

Hi,

Landed in April but am back in Maharaja's city to wrap up my affairs here.

You guessed right I am a Thaparian.

While I was in Canada I visited & stayed in Vancouver, Abbotsford, Toronto, Montreal. All nice places but Vancouver was a feast for the eyes.

Personally,
there seemed to be more oppurtunitioes there too, in trading and building.


Hope to be back sometime in August.

Wher are you based, any advice on Construction management?

-----------------------------------------------------------------
landed rearriving soon

Izzatsethi,
This is a late reply to your post but since i m in this field here is my 2 cents.

To get into Construction Management cirlces i'd suggest 2 places to start with .
1. Get involved with the Project management institute and be involved with their Toronto chapter and be a part of their monthly seminars.. This is a good place to start networking. http://www.pmi-lakeshore.org/ ....you can also start with the construction institute ...they offer short courses and can give you an early start. http://www.theconstructioninstitute.com/

If you are in Construciton Mnanagement then north America is the best place in the world for this profession . I'd highly encourage you to try to pursue this profession here. Even tho from outside it may seem hard to get into this field , it is a fast growing field and there is a shortage of skilled people. GTA and Vancouver is experiencing a boom in construction activities these days and is forecasted continue to grow in the coming years.

Unlike india and middle east where this field is tarnished with corruption and lack of professionalism , construction industry here is as good as one can imagine, and most importantly it leads all other industries in setting standards for project management.

I do not know where are you now, if you are stil looking than send me your resume, i'd be glad to pass on your resume if any opportunities comeby.

Good luck

-----------------------------------------------------------------
What can be imagined, can be achieved.

Hi Mishtar India,

Great Information. Thanks.
I request you to provide me some guidence as my Son, who is in grade 10 is interested to study for Constructuon Industry.

He is studying Construction Technology presently, has a plan to take the opportunity of OYAP and work with reputed Builder of the area- DeSantis, for six months gaining experience and high school credits at the same time.

From here what path he should choose that is a confusal ...will be great if you can advise us on this, the options he has are as follows :

1. He can continue with Apprenticeship program after his schooling for four years, which will give him skills which are in high demand , will gain experience and will have guaranteed job at the end of the program as the employer invest four years for training ! But from here, how he can rise the ladder and go up in the field of construction management ? Please advise...

2. He can join college to study Civil Engineering Technology program and then join the work force, here he does not enjoy that hands on, high demand skills learnend while earned, and job guarntee which Apprenticeship program offers. What is a better option ? Please advise..

( Since Construction is more practical , "hands on" and less theoratical, hence college program or apprenticeship programs are more preferable than Univesity degree program - Somebody advised us , is this advise true ? )

As we have immigrated to Canada just few years back we are not much familier with the system and go by the informations provided by "Student Guidence Teacher". Hence an advise from a veteran like you from the field itself will be very much important for us.

Thanks.

Namaskar

Namaskar, If your son was in india the choice would be very clear on which route to take, get a degree in civil engg and step into the construction industry. Here his options are much wider.

The beauty of Construction industry in this country is that it is very professional and anyone can pursue and rise in which ever line of specialization one choses, wether it is thru skilled trades or by getting a univ degree and get into design and construction management. It is a very satisfying profession, you become a dreamer, and your work is there for everyone to see.
the design engineer whom i work with has this quote hanging over his desk and i think it conveys the feeling very well.

"I feel happy not by what I do today, but a 100 yrs from now people will still use and admire my fine work.And that is enough to make my day. Everyday. "


To answer your question
------------------------------------------------
1. He can continue with Apprenticeship program after his schooling for four years, which will give him skills which are in high demand , will gain experience and will have guaranteed job at the end of the program as the employer invest four years for training ! But from here, how he can rise the ladder and go up in the field of construction management ? Please advise...
--------------------------------------------------
There is no such thing as a job guarantee, but the the market conditions right now are such that there are no apprentices sitting idle for many trades. I think the answer lies in the mindset, what would he like to do ...as an apprentice he can start earning right away in the field while learning the trades. Salaries for skilled trades are very good , a college level kid at the end of his 4th yr he can easily be earning over $25/hr with unionized trades . The next step for apprentices is that they get in as regular tradesmen and rise up to foreman level then supervision, site management and then step into construction management and office related jobs. For some people they transition from field to office fairly quickly within a few years some just stick to the field , some chose to stick in the field as the salary earned by a degree holder and a skilled foremen is almost equal.
I'll give you an example, I have a site foremen for sheetmetal trade on our site , he has spent 30 yrs in the field he is around 55 old...after this project he plans to retire for good in his property in Carribean....i once asked him whyhe did not try to transition into management , he replied he perfers to be in the field .....because of benefits of staying in the union...he works tension free for 4 days 36 hrs a week( most trades work 4 days a week only 5th day is double time ) .....he accumulates handsome pension plan and benefits with the unions ...to a point now that after being with the unions for 30 yrs he can retire with over $60k pension every yr.
Some trades people get into management after few years , then they rise up ...many of my senior bosses including the VP rose up from the skilled trades, but i'd say about 70% people eventually endup staying in the trades .
The drawbacks are that in the beginning it is physical work ( tho not heavy) and that come with the hazards of working in construction zone. Construction safety is taken very seriously here but it comes with its hazards.

now the next question
---------------------------------------------------------------------
2. He can join college to study Civil Engineering Technology program and then join the work force, here he does not enjoy that hands on, high demand skills learnend while earned, and job guarantee which Apprenticeship program offers. What is a better option ? Please advise..
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a great option too . it lacks the early financial benefits but the when a graduate engineer steps into the field, he/she usually joins in junior management positions right away. Over a career length , he can rise up much higher without having to ever work with hands. But he will lack the hands on skills which he will learn in the trades. ( i feel it is always good to know some trades by hand, i want to learn a trade too )
The working conditions are much nicer (office work mostly). There is much greater pride and satisfaction. If you are a part of a design/construction team of a building structure which changes the skyline of the city you live in , it is will always keep you filled with pride.

The scopes and applications are immense, have you ever watched super structures on discovery channel? I came into construction industry by accident and i have come around to love it . i wish more and more indians come into this field and enjoy all that it offers.

Good luck.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
What can be imagined, can be achieved.

Thanks Mishtar India, You have provided us invaluable information. Much appreciated.

Namaskar