International Construction

[a3a]

As a civil engineering graduate from the USA, I have taken my degree to the construction side working with a national Construction Manager (reviewing submittals, doing RFIs, assisting project managers and superintendents, etc.).

With less than 2 years of experience, how difficult will it be for me to find international opportunities where I can apply my engineering/construction background (perhaps as a Project Engineer)? I would like to take advantage of this point in my life (no kids/family). I will also consider other positions, but prefer not to do hard-core design. (Heck, I'll consider other careers!)

Some concerns:

1. I only speak English.
2. I don't want to die (it may sound funny...but I'm not going to Iraq, which are the only jobs I've seen so far).
3. I'm still learning, too. If you throw me to the wolves in a different country, I can only guess the results.
4. I'm wondering if things will be done so differently "there", that the experience will not be worth much when I return.

I've heard of many people who have worked internationally, but they have 20 years of experience. Finding jobs on ENR.com isn't as easy as you'd think for my level.

Has anyone worked in international construction?

5. I was initially intending on finding a US company (Bechtel, etc.). However, do you have anything to say about working with foreign companies?
6. Would you say it was a worth while experience?
7. Is the money better or worse? If I'm in a third world country, do they pay the "third-world rate"?

Possible??

 

[GregLocock]

1) no problem
2) good choice
3) you'll learn fast
4) generally we start buildings at the bottom and work up. Your technique may differ.
5) interesting approach, why in general would they send a new recruit overseas?
6) yes
7) if you move overseas and look for a job you'll get the going rate in that locale. If you do as you propose in (5) you'll probably get USA rates plus a lot of allowances.


Cheers

Greg Locock

 

[a3a]

Thanks Greg.

You stated in #5: "why in general would they send a new recruit overseas?"

That was really my biggest question as I begin exploring, whether or not I could find something at my experience level.

Thought I have some experience, I understand that I'm still a "new recruit". Do US companies merely hire lower-level staff at the locale of the project? Here, they don't like having the Project Manager doing the leg-work that I can do.

Should I interpret your comment to mean that I need more experience before I can do it? What experience range? Have you worked in construction? If there is a slight possibility, do you have suggestions or resources on finding openings (Sounds like I would prefer to work for US firms).

Thanks for the response.

 

[GregLocock]

We get a lot of USAns sent over here (Australia) by their parent companies. Generally they are experienced project managers or specialists. Similarly when we send people overseas they tend to be reasonably experienced, both technically, and in the company culture. Typically they'll be acting as liason, which means they need to know who to contact back at home to get a quick answer.

No I don't work in construction, and know very little about that industry.

Why not apply direct for jobs in the country of interest? Don't pin your hopes on it, but you may get a bite.

By the way, I think working overseas is a great idea, that's why I did it!

Cheers

Greg Locock

 

[zdas04]

"Experiance" is a funny thing. I've seen a bunch of people start with a company, work for a couple of years in a domestic assignment in their home country, and then (once they seem to have mastered the culture of the company) get an ex-pat job as an "experienced" hand.

Remember that the country you are wanting to go to will have requirements that your company prove that you are capeable of doing work that no national of that country is qualified to do. That is a really difficult proof for a raw new hire. Sometimes companies will get around the proof by posing it as a "development opportunity", but they can't play that card very often before it gets trumped with "devlop one of our young engineers".

I've rarely heard of someone hiring into a company for an overseas assignment without decades of industry experience. It is expensive to send someone to work in another country, so companies want to maximize their chances of succes by either taking a long look at a candidate in a less-costly domestic assignment or hiring someone with a proven international track record.

In your shoes, I'd try to get on with a a Bectel-size company in the states, do my best for a "breaking-in period" and then put in for one of their many internal postings for overseas assignments.

Your goals are not unresonable (and not that uncommon), but your time-line seems to be a bit unrealistic.

David

 

[jsummerfield]

1. I only speak English.
Begin studying a foreign language. If you have a target like Russia or China start with those languages. Otherwise, Spanish is very valuable in the Americas, French if in the northeast and Portugese if planning for Brazil.

2. I don't want to die.
Tough. You are going to die. However, you can be selective about job sites. Nigeria is hot and they speak English. You are a commodity. The employer will provide security, and replace you if you die.

3. I'm still learning.
In my field we are always learning. However, you will be in demand once you gain more experience. In fact, "they" want to send you overseas when your spouse is just about to have a baby.

4. I'm wondering if things will be done so differently "there".
Things are done differently with each company. If you work on an offshore platform designed in the US with mostly Scotsmen on the platform, you will be told that it is not done that way in the North Sea. However, who cares unless you are in the North Sea.

5. I was initially intending on finding a US company.
The US companies will hire you. You cost too much for most international contractors. Bechtel, Fluor, KBR, ...

6. Would you say it was a worth while experience?
Yes. Any job site experience is valuable for an engineer.

7. Is the money better or worse?
The money is better. However, there is a reason. This works best for you if you can separate from everything home. No car, no boat, no storage, no house, ... Your W2 will reflect income for an apartment if company furnished and not at a remote construction camp. The US company will pay foreign income tax for you and show that as your income. You will work long yours and long weeks.


John

 

[livingston]

I actually worked for a US company and was sent overseas. I was a new hire with 4 years experience and they hired me as a contractor for that project. Have you thought about contract work?