Warrner, J (2018) Transitioning from college to career: Skills needed for success for construction professionals. EdD thesis, Ball State University, USA.
Abstract
The purpose of this comparative case study was to identify skills that are essential for construction management baccalaureate graduates to possess to have a successful transition from college to career. This qualitative study included interviews from twenty participants. The first set of participants included 10 alumni who recently graduated from a baccalaureate construction management program. The second set of participants included 10 professionals in the construction industry who have the responsibility of hiring or onboarding new construction management hires. During the interviews, the participants identified both soft and technical skills that are crucial for graduates to possess to have a successful transition from college to an entry-level position in the construction industry. Six soft skills and three technical skills needed for a successful transition from college to career were consistently discussed by both groups of participants. The soft skills that were consistently identified were communication, asking questions, time management, developing systems and organization, having mettle, and work ethic. The three technical skills that were consistently identified were use of technology, knowledge of construction documents and technical writing specific to construction. Additionally, participants also discussed the need for graduates to find a career path that is the correct fit for their skills and interests and the importance of having a strong work ethic and having grit and passion in order to be successful in the construction industry. The information from this study can help prepare future construction management baccalaureate graduates for a successful transition from college to career.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Glowacki-Dudka, M |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | case study; communication; skills; time management |
| Index terms: | technical skill, interview, documents, program, career, case study, time management, qualitative study, construction professional, construction industry |
| Subjects: | research design and methodology, data collection methods, project controls, industry analysis, software systems, professional development |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Time Control, Information Management, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here