Digital construction career progression is a minefield. With some employers unable to spell BIM and others adept at dangling large carrots filled with hot air, you have to stand back and see the bigger picture if you don’t want to waste time progressing your career in the wrong direction.

It is also important to be on the right path early enough in your career. You need to avoid getting caught in the salary trap where you end up being paid too much to transfer across to the right sector.

Here we briefly compare, and discuss with those who know, the 4 primary directions – DESIGN, BUILD, ADVISE and OWN – to help you understand the differences and define your route.

DESIGN: For those who love designing – stay with the design teams.

Career progression: may be more linear than with others but this doesn’t matter so much as the love of design matters more.

Projects tend to be office based, increasing the opportunity for flexible working although many prefer the dynamics of local communication.

Comments from Trevor Strahan, BIM Director @ Baker Hicks:

“If you love using technology and problem solving, then a design role is the one for you.

You’ll get to use the latest technology to develop quality design models, improve efficiency and coordinate solutions. And you don’t just review the models, you, and the team around you, are responsible for creating the model, the design deliverables, and their coordination. You’ll get to realise your vision on site using technology tools such as VR and AR to deliver outputs and aid collaboration with your fellow design disciplines.

Your career will have a natural and defined path that will enable you to develop through the ranks as far as your potential takes you.

Along the way you’ll be exposed to various projects, sectors and building typologies, transferring your learning and experience from each to build your expertise.

And at the end of the day you’ll get to experience the huge satisfaction of knowing you played a significant role in a building’s design.“

BUILD: For the Lego Technic enthusiasts who enjoy seeing a project through to completion and using advanced tools to ensure good IM is delivered.

Career progression: as the major Contractors have multiple projects in multiple regions and deploy a wider range of technologies, career options are good. Expect to be project focussed for a couple of years at least and understand there will be others in the queue ahead of you waiting for promotion opportunities.

More chance to rub shoulders with your peers. Projects tend to be site specific limiting the option for flexible working.

Good for those who like a structured workload.

Comments from Nick Leach, Head of Digital Construction @ Sir Robert McAlpine:

“Our industry is exciting; being part of digital construction and BIM within a Main contractor allows you the opportunity to make your mark, have real career development and an impact on delivering something tangible through your contribution to that process.

The variety of projects that you get exposure to across multiple sectors and being at the forefront of driving technology adoption and best practice will enable diversity within your working environment.

To make a difference you need to be proactive and not afraid to approach people on a project across all levels including interaction with our supply chain and our clients.

The opportunity you gain through understanding how other roles/functions work within the built environment, provides fantastic exposure for  your individual progression providing a great learning curve and rounded knowledge base.

The camaraderie and team ethos through site experience will provide long lasting relationships and the experience of all sharing in the same goal and success.

Working within construction will allow you the opportunity to build on your individual development through courses provide, qualifications to gain, industry engagement and allow unique opportunities to diversify into other roles within the business as your career progresses.”

ADVISE: This for the self-confident, career centric, with strong communication skills and a desire to help a diverse portfolio of clients maximise the benefits of digital construction.

Because projects can be with Designers, Contractors or Clients and at different stages, an advisory role suits those who prefer a more ‘dynamic’ environment.

Career progression: the fast changing, global, landscape of digital construction forces the best Consultants to be ahead of the curve whilst still keeping a finger on the pulse to help Clients achieve current best practice. This creates opportunity for the business and a wider variety of career opportunities for individuals. With diversity and opportunity comes the potential for faster career progression.

Note: Some of the Design Teams have / are creating in-house Digital Consultancy to provide internal and external solutions. These are, essentially, advisory teams but with more emphasis on the Design and Own sectors.

Comments from Chris Crookes, MD @ BIMBOX:

“Choosing a career at a digital construction consultancy means that you benefit from the excitement and variety of collaborating daily across a wide range of projects types, disciplines, sectors and geographies.

In my opinion, this delivers unmatched long-term career value. It provides you with exposure to multiple companies, an array of approaches and the opportunity to continually test yourself – both with your technical skills and more grounded soft skills, such as communication and adaptability.

However, consultancy is not without its challenges. There is no room for an ego and you need to be eager to place your client’s needs and aspirations at the forefront of your work.

If you’re willing to constantly learn, invest time into R&D to ensure you can provide the latest advice and have an appetite to collaborate, then an ‘Advisory’ career route offers unique day-to-day and rewarding business-to-business relationships that are difficult to replicate through other trajectories.”

OWN: This is for those who want to write the Lego instruction manual – working as the Client to ensure good BIM is defined and delivered.

Career progression: can be quick but linear and limited as the primary role is to ensure the supply chain deliver. It can be restrictive if the Client’s agenda is not innovative.

It can be lonely as most Clients don’t have/need a BIM team to ensure good BIM is delivered.

Comments from an industry leader to follow in mid August