Indeed Editorial Team
Updated October 4, 2022
Construction consultants possess strong managerial skills and use those skills to guide projects from start to finish. Their expertise often helps streamline projects, and they may provide input on upcoming projects in order to encourage best practices. Working as a construction consultant may be a good career option for those who are interested in working in construction but want a leadership role. In this article, we discuss what a construction consultant is, how to become one, useful skills for this role and salary and job outlook information.
What is a construction consultant?
A construction consultant is someone who helps oversee construction projects. A business or individual may hire a construction consultant as a project management resource. Others also hire construction consultants to help reduce costs or building times. Construction consultants typically have a background in construction or construction management, and they may work directly for an organization or as an independent contractor with their own clients.
Related: What Are the Different Types of Construction Jobs?
What does a construction consultant do?
On a typical project, a construction consultant may perform the following tasks and responsibilities:
- Traveling to potential construction sites and determining project viability
- Creating cost estimates
- Working with vendors to secure adequate supplies at a reasonable price
- Analyzing and interpreting building blueprints
- Explaining technical aspects of a project to their clients
- Preparing contracts for contractors and vendors
- Resolving differences between contractors and clients
- Developing project timelines
- Overseeing project updates to ensure the project is on schedule and within budget
- Answering questions and providing professional recommendations to clients
Related: 12 Jobs in Construction That Pay Well
How to become a construction consultant
Here is a typical career path of a construction consultant:
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
Many construction consultants start their careers by first earning a bachelor’s degree in either architecture or civil engineering. These programs provide students with foundational knowledge in construction-related topics, such as project management and design principles. Construction consultants have in-depth knowledge of how the construction process works, and they learn much of this information in a bachelor’s degree program.
2. Obtain related job experience
Another way to gain knowledge of the construction process is through related job experience. Many employers prefer construction consulting candidates who already have experience within the industry. Consider looking for jobs that either require you to perform construction tasks, such as operating heavy machinery, or work within a construction company in an administrative role.
During this time, study how the entire construction process works, and look for opportunities to increase your responsibilities. For example, you could apply to become a site manager after working as a builder for some time. Obtaining related job experience also helps you to meet people within the industry, which may help when you are looking for a construction consultant position.
Related: Learn About Being a Construction Manager
3. Pursue an advanced degree
You may help improve your chances of obtaining a construction consultant position by earning an advanced degree. Earning a master’s degree in civil engineering or architecture shows a strong proficiency in construction-related topics, like how to use the latest software tools. Earning a more advanced degree may also lead to higher-paying consultant positions.
4. Obtain a certificate
There are certificates available within the construction industry that may help enhance your resume. For example, you can become a Certified Professional Constructor, and by obtaining this certificate, you can show your advanced knowledge in developing construction projects, controlling costs and managing resources. While earning a certificate is not typically a job requirement for becoming a construction consultant, it may help a hiring manager more effectively assess your relevant skills and qualifications.
5. Begin the application process
Once you feel you have the required skills, knowledge and experience to work as a construction consultant, you can begin applying for open positions. You can find open positions online or by talking to people in your professional network. After finding a position, you may likely need to submit a resume. Include your educational background, your work experience and your skill set on your resume. It’s also a good idea to create a customized cover letter for each position you apply to, as this can demonstrate your qualifications and enthusiasm for that specific workplace.
Construction consultant skills
Below are some of the most common construction consultant skills:
Project management
As construction consultants oversee large construction projects, they use strong project management skills. Proper project management ensures the project doesn’t deviate from the schedule or go over budget. Construction consultants also make sure that the project has all the resources it needs and that team members use these resources efficiently.
Related: Top Construction Skills and How To List Them
Communication
Construction consultants communicate complex construction concepts to their clients. They use their communication skills to discuss the needs and concerns of clients and explain the reasoning behind a decision. They may also communicate with suppliers either in person, over the phone or through email. The success of a project often relies heavily on how well a construction consultant communicates with everyone involved.
Some construction consultants also help to negotiate contracts between contractors and the construction firm. To do this, the consultant uses their communication skills to understand the position of each party and factor those positions into negotiations. They may deliver messages from one party to the other as negotiations proceed, requiring the ability to fairly represent someone else’s position.
Teamwork
Construction consultants work with a variety of people to help complete a construction project. During any given project, they may work with contractors, vendors, architects, CEOs and lawyers. The ability to collaborate across disciplines helps construction managers identify key resources and leaders for their projects.
Leadership
A construction consultant makes decisions regarding the project and delegates tasks for others to complete. While there may be others who have more authority on the project, the construction consultant typically has leadership tasks of their own. For example, it may be up to the construction consultant to find appropriate vendors for materials and to negotiate prices with them.
Computers
Many of the tasks that a construction consultant performs take place on a computer. They use computer software to manage project tasks, track budgets, order supplies, inspect project designs and more .
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Construction consultant job outlook and salary
The average salary for the related role of construction project manager is $81,357 per year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics includes construction consultants similar to construction managers, and it expects job opportunities in this occupation to increase by 8% by 2029. This rate of growth comes from the increased need for new infrastructure as the population grows and the need for repair as old infrastructure ages.
