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by Christine Nenadovic
[ More Job Q&As ]
Aidan Foley is a cost estimator at Hanscomb, an international construction consulting firm. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Aidan completed a bachelor's of science in construction economics and recently moved to the United States to work at Hanscomb's Boston office. In this interview, Aidan talks about his transition to the U.S. work world and offers advice for non-natives seeking jobs in the U.S.
Monster.com: What does construction economics entail?
Aidan Foley: Giving pre-contract cost advice -- advice given before a contract is signed for a builder to build a project. We work with architects through the design process. The post-contract would be the owner's cost representative (the builder is putting in monthly or bimonthly bills). We'll advise the client on whether the bill is justified.
And we handle change orders. For example, if clients wanted to have a room painted blue but then changed their minds and wanted it to be painted yellow, the builder would be entitled to extra money for changing the paint to yellow. The change order could be worth $5 or $5 million. There is no contract for this work. You can't put out a competitive bid, because you already hired the builder. It's good to have a cost adviser to handle your case in that situation.
Mc: Have you ever lived in the U.S. before getting this job?
AF: I lived here for three months while in college (on three separate occasions).
Mc: What made you decide to move to the U.S.?
AF: A certain element of it was new experience. A more important element may have been the standard of living. There's good work experience in America that I wouldn't get in my home country.
Mc: Did you find it difficult to make the transition from Ireland to the U.S.?
AF: It wasn't so difficult. There was a personal change because I was away from my family and friends.
Mc: What was the hardest part of the transition?
AF: There's a stronger work ethic here, and a less strong social life ethic. I suppose I got used to it very quick. I was concentrating more on work and less on having fun.
Mc: How long have you been at Hanscomb?
AF: Six months.
Mc: How long did it take you to find this job?
AF: Six weeks.
Mc: What were your search methods?
AF: I used the Internet a little bit, personal contacts and a recruitment agency. The job [at Hanscomb] was through a friend.
Mc: What was the most difficult part of the job search process?
AF: Being out of work for six weeks -- the financial aspect; being fairly unproductive over [that] time; waiting for people to get back to you.
Mc: What made you decide to pursue a career in construction economics?
AF: I had an original interest in economics. I felt that a general business degree would not particularly be what I wanted. I wouldn't have control over what kind of organization I worked with because it was a time in Ireland when the economy wasn't that great.
I worked with my hands, and it was something I enjoyed. I had a convenient marriage of two things I was good at by taking a course in applied economics, dictating where I'd ultimately work. It was easier to find a job in construction economics than in general business. There's a very high demand in Ireland, England and in North America for construction economists. One of the reasons I was out of work so long was because it was difficult to decide which job to take.
Mc: What background is necessary to get into construction economics?
AF: Construction, business and law. Construction technology is crucial, as well as the ability with the financial end of that technology. It's useful to know about how construction projects proceed on site. A basic economics or business degree wouldn't be valuable unless there's knowledge of the technological side.
Mc: What advice would you give to people seeking to pursue a career in your field?
AF: I took a job that didn't pay the best, but would give great experience. I made a personal sacrifice, which I'm really glad I made at this stage. Think [more] about what experience you'll get at your first job than where it's going to be or what it's going to pay. I wouldn't leave tomorrow for double my salary -- well, maybe for double.
One of the things about [Hanscomb] is that it's an international firm I could move around the world with. We do mostly public work, which I find more fulfilling than if I worked for a mall developer.
Mc: What advice would you give to a non-native trying to find a job in the U.S.?
AF: For somebody coming to America, go a little bit along the way of job hunting before you get here. Register with a couple of agencies (call before you get here).
One note of caution I would give is that recruitment agencies are like used car dealers or real estate agents. They're not your best friends.
The job I got was through a personal contact. The other jobs were through recruitment agencies that didn't stand to gain from me taking the job I [ultimately] took. I found it difficult because the job I was most drawn to was the one I was almost talked out of taking.
Mc: Did you find it harder to find a job because this is not your native country?
AF: No. A large proportion of the [Hanscomb] staff is foreign. The marriage of construction and economics is rare in the U.S. and common in the rest of the English-speaking world. The company imports a lot of people because it's hard to get qualified personnel in America. My nationality and educational background from abroad were sought after. The fact that I was foreign wasn't an issue to me at all; it caused no problems. It opened doors, almost.
Mc: Any closing comments?
AF: Again, watch out for recruitment agencies. Their agenda is not necessarily your agenda.