Break out of boredom

Mind you, things have got better. Remember a few years ago? At 30, your back in pieces, eating sandwiches in the back of a van with a trainee carpenter who drank 20 bottles of Bud a night and laughed his head off at the Daily Sport.

You got on the ladder. The one that led into the site hut, with a place by the convector heater and a set of Vectra keys in your donkey jacket.

Reality bites
But now the Vectra's looking a bit tatty, and your neighbour who sells insurance is running a BMW. You know the boss is handing the business to his kids and the only way up is to get on another ladder.

So what do you do? For a start you've noticed that your HNC in building, which used to be the passport to management, is now getting as grubby as the Vectra. You need the turbo charged version. Yes! You need a degree! And if you already have a degree you need one on steroids.

You need a Masters!
But why bother with more qualifications? Especially since universities are giving degrees away these days. Quantity, not quality, is all the rage in today's ivory towers and consequently the qualification has been devalued.

Still, while there will always be stars that rise through the ranks through ability alone, for Joe Schmoes like you or me part of the struggle to the top will always be fought on paper. If every other applicant for the post has a degree then you'll need to buy… sorry, study for… one as well. It also helps to be a member of a professional institution. With the CIOB designation, for instance, an employer will likely to see you as an income-generator from the word go. You will have the fun of writing your professional report.

New directions
This apparently simple task will take on epic proportions. We may only be talking about 2000 words (which my wife considers about right for cat-feeding instructions), but it can take an age. Get it out of the way, because the longer you leave it the worse it gets.

LEARN TO BOAST WITHOUT BEING A BORE

Peter Gracia

But getting a degree is not enough. There are plenty of masters grads paying homage to the Burger King. Look at your profile and attitude.

The best way to get any job is by recommendation. Send off lots of CVs, by all means, but you'll stay a piece of paper unless someone has heard how well your previous projects have run. So let people know what you can do. Go to CIOB branch meetings. Try out for the Construction Manager of the Year awards. Learn how to boast without being a bore.

You will also need to sell yourself in interviews. People take three seconds to form first impressions. You don't stand a chance if you seem shifty, aggressive or weak.

Leave your sovereigns at home and ditch the fake Rolex your mate bought you in Ibiza. Minimise the effect of tattoos, and if you have the words Quantity and Surveyor across your knuckles just keep them under the desk. Suits for both men and women are best. Stick with low-key colours. You can unleash your personality when you have few good projects under your belt. As for your CV, beware the adage: "You are what you fake." In this business you will be exposed, and that isn't pretty.

Talking the talk
At interview you probably won't be asked technical questions. They will try and assess whether you will slot into the team. Don't be aggressive. Try not to get too worked up when answering your questions, and vitally important, have your own questions to ask them. When speaking, maintain a healthy amount of eye contact, but you don't have to stare them down.

Communication is an absolute must-have for any project manager. You should be able to chat with the chippies in the Prince of Wales and confer with the client in le Pont de la Tour.