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Estimating
- Thread starter mannyb
- Start date
Mike Brady
Member
- Location
- United State
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Good Reasons to Be an Estimator:
High Demand: Estimators are essential in various industries, ensuring job security and career growth.
Competitive Salary: Estimators often earn competitive salaries due to the specialized skills required.
Career Advancement: Experience as an estimator can lead to higher positions such as project manager or cost manager.
Skill Development: The role helps develop analytical, problem-solving, and mathematical skills.
Variety of Work: Exposure to different projects and industries keeps the job interesting and challenging.
Impactful Role: Estimators play a crucial role in the financial success of projects, contributing to efficient resource allocation.
Bad Reasons to Be an Estimator:
High Pressure: The role involves significant responsibility and pressure to provide accurate estimates.
Detail-Oriented: Requires a high level of attention to detail, which can be stressful for some.
Continuous Learning: Must stay updated with industry trends, materials costs, and technology, which can be demanding.
Blame for Inaccuracies: Estimators may face criticism if estimates are inaccurate, impacting project success.
Work Environment: Often involves long hours and tight deadlines, especially during the bidding phase of projects.
Responsibility of Estimators:
When Things Go Well: Estimators share credit for the success due to accurate budgeting and resource allocation. Their work directly impacts the profitability and efficiency of projects.
When Things Go Bad: Estimators bear a significant portion of the responsibility if projects go over budget or experience delays due to inaccurate estimates. However, it's important to note that unforeseen circumstances, changes in project scope, and external factors also play a role.
In summary, being an estimator comes with its share of rewards and challenges. The role is critical for project success, demanding precision, and continuous learning, with significant responsibility for both positive and negative outcomes.
High Demand: Estimators are essential in various industries, ensuring job security and career growth.
Competitive Salary: Estimators often earn competitive salaries due to the specialized skills required.
Career Advancement: Experience as an estimator can lead to higher positions such as project manager or cost manager.
Skill Development: The role helps develop analytical, problem-solving, and mathematical skills.
Variety of Work: Exposure to different projects and industries keeps the job interesting and challenging.
Impactful Role: Estimators play a crucial role in the financial success of projects, contributing to efficient resource allocation.
Bad Reasons to Be an Estimator:
High Pressure: The role involves significant responsibility and pressure to provide accurate estimates.
Detail-Oriented: Requires a high level of attention to detail, which can be stressful for some.
Continuous Learning: Must stay updated with industry trends, materials costs, and technology, which can be demanding.
Blame for Inaccuracies: Estimators may face criticism if estimates are inaccurate, impacting project success.
Work Environment: Often involves long hours and tight deadlines, especially during the bidding phase of projects.
Responsibility of Estimators:
When Things Go Well: Estimators share credit for the success due to accurate budgeting and resource allocation. Their work directly impacts the profitability and efficiency of projects.
When Things Go Bad: Estimators bear a significant portion of the responsibility if projects go over budget or experience delays due to inaccurate estimates. However, it's important to note that unforeseen circumstances, changes in project scope, and external factors also play a role.
In summary, being an estimator comes with its share of rewards and challenges. The role is critical for project success, demanding precision, and continuous learning, with significant responsibility for both positive and negative outcomes.
Good summary....in my 42 years of estimating, every boss, project Mgr, estimator in our offices were Master Electricians, ex-owners, engineers with tons of experience in vetting projects to bid, analyzing project estimates, holding pre-bid meetings, post -award meeting to turn over to PM's, the field and flush out problems of the estimate before construction. This was done on every job. That builds confidence in your estimating skills from your peers, confidence in your pricing from GC's, confidence in your vendors of your counts/quote requests, etc.In summary, being an estimator comes with its share of rewards and challenges. The role is critical for project success, demanding precision, and continuous learning, with significant responsibility for both positive and negative outcomes.
It's a great and valuable part of the trade. If you can't estimate in this business....you can't do anything