Pros
In general, construction management is a fascinating and rewarding career. There are a broad range of opportunities in the industry, and every employer has a distinct culture and policies. It's all about what fits, and the skills are highly in demand. Try not to get manipulated into believing that all industry is a meat grinder. I worked here for 4 years and was hoping to make a career here, but it didnt work out. My favorite part of the job was collaborating with our trade partners and craft to put work into place in the field. We trusted each other with our lives and supported each other through so much and overcame many challenges. I made a lot of lifelong friends and colleagues with a lot of really diverse people, and those authentic relationships continue to bear fruit for me in profound ways. The professional and technical trainings were outstanding, and I'll always be grateful for HP for propping me up and taking a chance on me while I was so young. Awesome way to launch your career. Recruiters know all about HP, and they're relentless about snapping us up. It's really hard to leave because we get so committed to our projects, but it was honestly very easy to pivot into another job. If you're young and healthy and have too much pent up energy, absolutely take the opportunity to work here a few years. Please don't take it to the point of a physical breakdown and be gentle towards yourself when you inevitably burn out. Everyone does, it's just that kind of place. It's not unusual for former employees to need a year or two to wind down from the stress.
Cons
60-80 hours required every week, but they only pay you for 40 of those hours. Funneling the stolen wages of expendable junior employees into the S-units of senior employees is a pretty sweet deal for the Board of Directors, but on the ground, it pits the staff against each other. The federal contracts play by their own rules, which can oftentimes skirt standard health and safety workplace protections. When the unions refuse to do the work, the FE's and AS's get strong armed into overtly dangerous situations. Don't count on the benefits package. Frankly, it's pretty bad because the long vesting schedules screw the majority over. Also, you have to work most holidays. There's no sick leave accumulation, and the procedure of "just communicate with your supervisor" doesn't work because everyone's so obsessed with perfection and so terrified by the empty threats of blacklisting and layoffs that asking for sick leave can be insurmountable. Same goes for rest breaks and meal breaks, you really dont get those either. I lost my job at HP (which I honestly loved, despite the egregious staffing policies) because I got sick and sleep deprived and couldn't resolve a week of sick leave with my boss. There was a very awkward shaming, and I ended up stranded in the middle of nowhere, so, that's where this review is coming from.
