Danny Holstein: My construction career path — from blowing up a bridge at 12 to 4 job offers in college
Business Tools
On: November 04, 2019 | By:
I blew up a bridge at a construction site when I was 12 years old, it was at that moment when I knew I wanted to work in construction.
Ten years later, I am well on my way. I am currently in my fourth year in the construction management program at the University of Cincinnati, which combines working semesters with on-campus semesters. To date, I already have four job offers.
Knowing I have a career path upon graduation is a huge relief, especially when you consider that of the nearly 70 percent of high school graduates that go on to college, only 41 percent earn a degree in four years and roughly one in three college graduates (34 percent) are underemployed (meaning they work in jobs that do not require a college degree).
That’s why I think it’s important for young adults to understand that getting into college is only the first step -- and it’s important to be aware of college programs that can provide a more certain career path upon graduation.
Cutting-edge opportunity
Some people think construction is a dirty job, but that’s far from the truth. The industry is changing. We have robots that can lay brick, drones completing jobsite safety checks, 3D-print materials and other exciting, cutting-edge technologies.
Some people think construction is a dirty job, but that’s far from the truth. The industry is changing. We have robots that can lay brick, drones completing jobsite safety checks, 3D-print materials and other exciting, cutting-edge technologies.
You also get to work with your hands and build our nation’s roads, bridges, buildings and parks.
The classes I’ve taken on campus focus on technical work in the construction industry as well as the business aspects, like macro-economics, personal finance, business law and management. By the time I get my diploma, I will know how to run large, multimillion-dollar construction projects, including how to create in-depth project schedules and manage complex project budgets and financials.
I’ve also spent three semesters working at construction companies in Miami and San Francisco, where I’ve gained hands-on experience in the day-to-day operations of construction project management — the exciting aspects as well as the more tedious and challenging parts. And, I’ve stayed engaged with employers through my school’s Associated Builders and Contractors Student Chapter, which builds connections with construction firms, mentors and professional development opportunities.
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