Career shift.

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jes25

Senior Member
Location
Midwest
Occupation
Electrician
I'm about 50% finished with an associates degree in construction management. My desire is to become an estimator. I have noticed most of the jobs on Monster require experience with Accubid. How can I get such experience? I haven't taken any estimating courses yet. Maybe they will have the software in the classroom. Do you guys think I will be able to get a job with the associates and a masters license? Of course the economy stinks now, but I won't be done for at least a year anyhow.

Any thoughts or advice would be great!
 
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12345rsmith

Member
Call various electricians in your area ask them if you can come in some time and practise on their system at some point when they are not up and running with it. There is a tutorial in the help section that is very basic, but will at least get you started.

You can also print off the help sheets from the tutorial and study them.

Any of the major software programs take some practise before you get used to them. None of them are "intuitive" until you have spent a lot of time with them.

The key with most of them is that you need a "key" to run them. If there are nock-off copies out there, I have not seen them.
 
K

khixxx

Senior Member
Location
BF PA
I have no problem spending $3k on a training class. If that class can increase your pay $300 a year that's a 10% return. I'll take that all day.
 
J

jes25

Senior Member
Location
Midwest
Occupation
Electrician
Thanks for the comments. I think I will take a class when I get a little closer to actually looking for a job.

Any contractors or estimators out there? What are your qualifications, or what qualifications are you looking for?
 
1

12345rsmith

Member
In the field work experience is a big plus.

The additional classroom experience is a plus as much for the fact that you went to the extra effort as much as anything else.

Actual experience with the estimating program would be a huge plus. In some cases it will be close to the only criteria. In this environment most companies cannot bring someone in and then give them a couple of weeks while they figure out the programing basics.

Some companies may be happy to let you do a manual take off and then they will plug the numbers into the program. But that will very much put you into a junior position within the heirarchy.

My recommendation to a laid of estimator (GC type) that I know was to offer to work part time. Much lower risk for the company, and it gets you experience. In his case he was able to do the leg work for three different companies who are bidding in our area, but don't have a nearby office.
 
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