The first thing you need to do is make sure you have a good understanding of construction management techniques. Guide your education toward areas that relate to this particular subject - construction and mathematics. Remember that each individual job will have its own special requirements, and take the time to learn what you might need. In addition, check out degree programs relating to construction management. They'll help you get the education you need in order to become a professional construction estimator. You may need to take specialized courses in this field. These can be offered by tech schools and community colleges. There might even be a good one in your area.
Take the time to learn about how construction costs are figured, learn about materials and techniques, and find out what procedures are used. Remember that the major point of this job is analyzing the information you have available. This means you need to be confident and good at math. You also need to have the ability to do work precisely and have a good eye for detail. You'll need a basic understanding of computer software and a good understanding of architectural drawings and blueprints as well.
Realize that you're going to have to work your way up. This can actually be a benefit - some people can work their way into an estimator position by starting out as an assistant. This can allow you to get into the position without already having a college degree in the field. Remember that this can take a while, and you'll have to compete with those who already have degrees, however.
Make sure you're good at going over figures for accuracy, and you have a good facility with common software programs. Remember that working with a seasoned estimator can actually be more involved than the usual apprenticeship. You'll need to learn how to measure and calculate information to arrive at the most accurate result every time. The more you learn, the better you'll be at cost estimation. Realize that you're going to need to deal with a lot of different materials and job types if you get into this field. This means that versatility is a must, and that you have to be able to stay accurate at the same time.
Eventually, you'll become a really effective estimator. This is one of the lesser known, but most important jobs in construction. After all, inaccurate estimation could end up costing your company thousands of dollars, while good estimation could help you save a lot. You could end up being promoted to project manager, or even become a self employed consultant for firms that don't employ estimators of their own. Just keep in mind that the construction industry isn't growing quite as quickly as it was, and that you may need to check out a few organizations in order to be really competitive for this kind of job.
Becoming a construction cost estimator could be the best career decision you ever make. This field has the possibility of promotion, offers potentially lucrative pay rates and gives you the chance to make a real difference in projects. If you love numbers and want to make sure that everything comes out right, you might want to check this kind of job out. Construction cost estimators help companies decide what to charge, who to hire, and what supplies to buy. Without them, we'd never get anything built at all. Take the time to find out more about becoming a cost estimator and see if this job is right for you. It might just be the perfect career.
