General contractors who run around doing the client’s work and pass the tedious tasks off to subcontractors (from “The God of Construction”)
Just Pass the Tedious Work Off to Subcontractors This happened at a construction site for a general contractor where I used to work. I was in charge of construction management, and my job involved reviewing plans for upcoming work with my supervisor and preparing the necessary paperwork, such as progress inspections. At that time, a proposal came from the site…
A construction company that repeatedly carries out massive layoffs whenever its business performance slumps (from "The God of Construction")
I had been working as a construction manager at an overseas construction site, and after completing my one-year assignment, I returned to Japan the other day. It’s only been about a month since I came back, but it already feels like something that happened a long time ago. Strangely enough, the unpleasant memories don’t come to mind; most of what I recall are the fun times, the moving moments, and the things that impressed me…
A Story About the Resignation of a “Top Performer” That I Heard from the President of a Construction Company (From the God of Construction)
The other day, I heard a story from the president of a construction company about a young employee who had resigned. It was quite an interesting story, so I’d like to share it here. I’ve edited it slightly, but it’s, of course, a true story. A Special Talent with Skills in Both Construction and ICT The employee who resigned was about five years into the company, 24…
A General Contractor Employee or a Temp Worker? Reasons for Working as a Temp in the Construction Industry (From "The God of Construction")
How I Find Work as a Temp Employee I work as a temp employee at a construction site. I imagine most temp employees are affiliated with a single staffing agency and take jobs referred by that agency, but my situation is a little different. I always work with a few trusted staffing agencies…
The construction industry has the most "old-timer problems" (according to the God of Construction)
The Construction Industry Has the Most “Old-Timers” I’ll say this even though I expect criticism: I believe the construction industry has the most “old-timers.” While people may not say it out loud, I suspect many feel the same way. This is a reality the construction industry must accept. The high turnover rate in the construction industry…
"You shouldn't get into the construction business, right?" (From the God of Construction)
"You shouldn't go into the construction industry, right?" Just the other day, I happened to walk into a restaurant and overheard this conversation: "You shouldn't go into the construction industry. And construction management is definitely out of the question. There's a lot of overtime, and it's bad for your physical and mental health." My honest reaction upon hearing this was still…
Behind the Scenes of Order Acquisition: [The Truth About Client Support Services] (From the God of Construction)
Behind the Scenes of Winning Contracts for Client Support Services In this article, I’d like to discuss the “behind-the-scenes” aspects of winning contracts for client support services. The requirements for client support services stipulate that the designated technical engineer must be a Certified Professional Engineer, a Class 1 Construction Management Engineer, a Public Works Quality Assurance Engineer (I) or (II), an RCCM, or hold an equivalent qualification…
I want to leave the construction industry, quit working on-site, or stop doing construction management. Options to consider when you feel this way (from the God of Construction)
Working in the construction industry is so tough that it makes you want to quit. “I want to quit working on-site.” I’ve thought that many times myself. It’s only natural. On-site work is grueling. Not only does it require physical stamina, but the amount of paperwork is also overwhelming. I’m not sure if I, as someone in the industry, should say this, but working in the construction industry makes you want to quit…
Another new site supervisor has quit… Was it really just a matter of “lacking grit”?
Is it just a lack of grit that causes new hires to quit? With the arrival of new employees, our workplace has become more vibrant. It’s a source of immense joy to see the younger generation joining our industry. On the other hand, quite a few of them end up quitting early on. Seeing them, I think, “Grit…”