Pros
- Fast paced environment where everything is different everyday and you learn a lot. - Learn a lot of skills applicable to most other careers. - Encounter and work with a variety of people from laborers to CEO's. - Usually a pretty fun work culture on project sites. This definitely varies by each project, but most are pretty laid back. If the project is behind schedule, the culture will likely wither. - I was able to transfer offices. - They like to promote from within, they basically hire everyone right out of college and everyone works their way up. It is good for career trajectory, but I also think people are managers that shouldnt be because they dont know how to manage people (not necessarily that they are bad from project numbers POV). - Internal Women in Construction groups and meetings by office. They have a diversity council and have had diverse speakers come by our office meetings. I will say they obviously have mostly white males working here, but I have never been the only WT woman on a jobsite.
Cons
- Overall stressful job. - Team meetings are an overall negative experience. - Work life balance while working on a project site? LOL no. Even if I had my work completed for the day, I always felt judged if I left on time (7:30 to 5:00). - Sexism experienced in the Colorado office. I will say WT has been very proactive with dealing with this. I have had multiple calls with upper management since quitting and there have been direct conversations and additional trainings planned. - PM's just look like they hate their life, but they have the golden shackles with internal stock so they stay. - You will be asked to switch sites in days notice. I received anywhere from 2 to 7 business days to transfer sites (in different states - 2 hour + commute). Sometimes you can decline, but being a young single person, I always felt it was something that was 'a part of the job' but was very stressful (subleasing, moving, etc.). - High turnover with employees because it is stressful. - Understaffing jobs so the PM barely has time to help and train because they are also managing major trades. I feel l like I really missed out on training experiences in Baltimore due to this. - I dont think the money and benefits are worth the stress of this job. Unless you really love construction, I recommend getting out after a couple years. Run, run before the golden shackles take you.