The Skills to Meet the Construction Estimator Job Requirements

Have you looked at the building, wondering how they decided the resources, size, and the complete details of the structure to start building it? The contractor or builder themselves are not involved in that procedure. The task of rolling out the cost for the construction project is left in the hands of a construction estimator.

A construction project has a team assigned with various tasks, but the success of those tasks and the construction itself depends on how well the estimator performs. If you are interested in the work of a construction estimator and want to make it a full-time job, the chances are it will become the best career option. Therefore, it is vital for you to know the skills demanded to meet the construction estimator job requirements.

The Job of a Construction Estimator and Its Value

The main thing needed from a construction estimator is to accurately figure out the complete price of a building project. The total expense includes calculating the estimates of material expenses, labor fees, equipment expenses, waste factors, time management, contingency expenses, and other expenses the project calls for. They need to ensure the project’s estimate and total cost meet the set budget, use good quality material, and the project has a profit margin.

This job holds a lot of significance because one error in calculation can lead to a costly mistake in the construction. A construction estimator delivers an opening to the builders by providing them with a financial direction. The estimations that the estimator calculates are done with deep research and the help of new pricing in the local market to save money, waste, control uncertainties, and follow a timetable. Hence, making the position the most consequential aspect of the construction project.

The Requirements of the Job

A construction estimator’s job is demanding. Likewise, the requirements also require a great deal from candidates applying for it. If you check the following conditions, or most of them, applying for the job is the next step.

1. When applying to a company, the first requirement will be the educational background. The candidates must have a college/university degree in civil engineering, architecture, building science, and construction management.
2. You should know all about what is included in an estimation of a construction building- residential, commercial, and industrial. Be updated with the local market, current pricing, and the quality of materials. Furthermore, the candidate needs to have knowledge about the construction process and what type of materials are used.
3. As the job revolves around numbers and calculations, the candidate must have mathematical skills. The estimator should know how to work with different formulas, how to measure accurately, and research everything to make precise cost estimations.
4. Construction estimation in current periods is done on software. The estimation job requires the estimator to have the skills of using software for estimations, project management, budget planning, and more.
5. An estimator’s task is not just creating estimations for a cost-effective budget, but making accurate estimations. Without accuracy in the numbers, the job has no meaning. Therefore, the candidate must have a good attention span that focuses on each cost estimation, ensuring they are valid for the project.

There are other skills that are included in the construction estimator job requirement, and the estimator should be an expert in such areas are teamwork, organization, time management, and communication.

1. Teamwork is also the key to accurate estimations because a construction estimator works with different teams involved in the project to get their opinion and data.
2. Strong communication skills are a requirement so the estimator can explain how the calculation is done and speak professionally to the stakeholders, explaining the cost breakdown.
3. The job demands organization. There are several aspects to undertake at once, and even the cost estimation report needs to be neat, understandable, and organized.
4. The last talent the job needs you to have is time management skills. You need to know how to manage the time you are given to research and calculate estimations, ensuring that the cost report is completed on the deadline.

Do Construction Estimators Work for Someone?

A construction estimator does not do cost analyses of a project and proceeds to present it to the client; they are always working for someone. If you want to make this job a career, then you will be working for general contractors, subcontractors, engineers, architects, developers, and sometimes even for the government for industrial projects.

Is a Construction Estimator An Office Job?

Construction estimator work primarily from their offices, but there are a few firms that permit them to operate from home, as all the information about the project is provided to them. However, the estimators do need to go to the location occasionally, if it is necessary, to get more information and understand the project better.

Can I Apply Without A Degree?

For those who lack a college degree but are still passionate about the estimation job can apply without a degree! If you have mathematics skills and knowledge about the field, you can get the role as a junior and from there, after gaining more learning regarding the work, you can be promoted to a higher position.

Are Any Certifications Required to Show?

It is not included in the job requirement to show certifications. The certifications can still help a great deal in getting a job in large companies, which include having the Certified Professional Estimator (CPE) and Associate Constructor (AC) certifications. Remember, they are not a requirement, and most companies do not ask for them.

Read more: Construction Estimating Software for Small Business.

Final Words

In conclusion, the construction estimation job requirements are a lot to meet, but there are great benefits of making such a field a career. The construction world keeps growing, boosted by demands, making it a fine job for a more profitable future. Educational background, knowledge of the field, mathematical skills, software usage, attention to detail, communication, teamwork, organization, and time management are the requirements you must meet to land a job as a construction estimator.