Management careers may begin with certification as a construction worker or with on-the-job experience, but in most cases some post-secondary study is essential.

Many managers start in unrelated fields such as business, marketing or accounting. Sometimes they work in other industries before discovering construction.

Consider this example of an uncertified labourer that went on to an apprenticeship as a driller/blaster. Already experienced on site, she decides to take construction management courses. After proving her abilities in a series of jobs with greater responsibility, she is offered the project manager position.

In this alternate example, she enters a technical college after high school and studies surveying. After gaining some work experience, she decides to expand her opportunities by taking a business degree at university. After working as a scheduler and assistant project manager, she is offered the job of project manager.

Next: Sample technical/administrative career paths