Well, entering the construction industry was a far cry from simply building something with my childhood erector set! I had taken on a lot of on-site jobs over the past 10 years as a fairly successful carpenter and electrician. But as I rose up through the ranks to assistant foreman, it became evident that, with all the incredible technology out there these days, I had to go back to school if I wanted to keep up. This is a very competitive industry, especially now during this challenging housing economy. So, with a lot of prodding and encouragement from my wife, I decided to look for the right school.
Obviously I had to find a school that fit my demanding work schedule. A brick and mortar campus was out of the question. Fortunately one of our workers had just completed her plumbing diploma at Ashworth College…online. She was thrilled with her experience and recommended that I check them out. I found they offered an accredited Construction Management Associate Degree. Sounded perfect, so I enrolled.
As I suspected, I had more to learn beyond what my prior 10 years had taught me. Fortunately my instructor was right on top of all the latest developments in the construction industry. His experiences and contacts allowed me to get a real insight into many of today’s construction disciplines such as site surveying, cost estimating, scheduling, material ordering, safety planning, and a whole lot more. The tutorial assistance that Ashworth offered was also a big help in successfully completing each course.
I'm just a few months away from graduation, but I feel like I’m already offering up a lot of great ideas to my employer. They have already told me that I can expect to take on more complex projects in the coming year. And that’s a win-win for everyone. In conclusion I’d like to thank my wife for her unending support. She was my real foreman, ah forewoman, throughout this valuable career transition.
James
