“If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you . . . Yours is the earth and everything in it.”
So said Rudyard Kipling in his much-quoted poem, If. Such composure might also explain why his cakes are so exceedingly good.
The ability to keep calm under pressure is a skill to be prized, especially if you’re seeking a role as a site manager in the world of construction.
In management any number of things can go wrong. Unlike many office-based bosses, however, a Site Manager has the added pressure of daily health and safety issues to consider. A wrong calculation on a building site could have serious consequences from injury to an unsafe building.
A site manager, also known as a construction manager, building manager, or site agent, oversees the day-to-day operations on a building site.
When it comes to ensuring the job is done safely and to the highest quality, on time and within budget, the buck stops with you.
On larger scale developments, you could find yourself in charge of a particular project and one of several reporting to a senior site manager.
The job starts before the first foundation is even marked out, with responsibility for recruiting a team and installing temporary offices for them to work on site.
There is usually preparation work to be carried out on the ground.
A detailed plan must be put in place to provide a blueprint for all work to be done.
Once the job is under way, the site manager is the main point of contact for members of the public or other visitors, including sub-contractors.
In common with most construction roles, the working day starts and ends earlier than most. Some overtime may also be required to meet deadlines.
The rewards, however, match the demands with the salary averaging between £35,000 and £45,000.
Personal skills? Yes please! As the linchpin of the operation, effective communication is essential to ensure everyone is clear on their role and potential problems are nipped in the bud.
A head for numbers (and heights!) will also serve you well.
Arguably the most important skill, however, is being super-organised and methodical in your approach.
There are a variety of management vacancies on s1jobs from well-known private construction firms, specialised sub-contractors and local and national government bodies.
And don’t forget this is a career that offers exciting onward paths. You could become a health and safety inspector, a contracts manager or move into training.
Check out the current Construction vacancies at s1jobs.