u/Curious-Ad9256

Wanting to reach out to other estimators. I’ve just started as a junior estimator, and the company I’m with is a GC. What I’m doing at the moment is receiving quotes from subs and organizing them. I’m learning things everyday. I’m also inviting other subs to quote work, and learning our scope of work vs what we sub out.

The boss said yesterday I would be learning quantity takeoffs pretty soon. I’m practicing around on blue beam for foundations getting concrete quantities. Another guy in the company has taught me, but the boss has always done it by hand. I’ve also been practicing by hand.

I’m the youngest in the office. Everyone else is probably 55+. It’s like working in a library. Should I get use to this, or will it change because I dread sitting in a boring environment for 9 hours a day. I come from being a project engineer in the field everyday. It’s my second job out of college, and I left my previous position to be at home. I’m not regretting my decision, because I love being home. But needing information from other estimators. Is this the reality?

Currently my second day as a junior estimator. I joined a company that has maybe 6 people in office. I’m learning the scope of work of what we do, and what we sub out as a GC. I’m also communicating with subcontractors. Asking for bids on work. I started to do take offs on foundations. And I’m cooked. The only person training me is the president. I know algebra, to get quantities but I’m having to know - and come up with different formulas for everything having to do with the foundation for cubic yards and square footage. So excavating, concrete , form work, rebar etc. I don’t just know geometry to figure it out. What should I do ? I’m good once I know the formulas. I feel like I’m bothering the president having to ask every formula. This company was founded in 1970 and things haven’t changed much. The president is patient with me. But I feel so dumb.

Greetings all,

I was recently a field Project Engineer on one of the biggest job sites in America working for a large civil GC in concrete. We completed underground electrical & built foundations. My team also completed a stormwater pipe about 86 inches in diameter, running about 7 miles long. We were building an LNG plant. I was very good at my job being the guy every Forman called if something went wrong. I tracked progress & fixed all issues with managing Forman for all types of civil GC crafts. I managed about 30 Forman from different areas & knew what was happening on an everyday basis. I would look at drawings to progress work to show to the client, or to complete an RFI.

Worked, and left on a good note to better my career after 6 months. I loved the job, and did not miss a day, but did not enjoy working out of state, and missing my loved ones. The jobsite I was on was a 6x10 schedule with an hr 1/2-2hrs buss ride too and from. The jobsite required about 14 hours out of your day to be only paid for 10 with no OT(exempt position). I still made a great amount of money, but it was not worth it.

Accepted a new job as a Junior estimator for a GC. Just wondering what my time will look like being 20 minutes away from my house Mon- Fri. I have a
Bachelor degree in Business Administration, so I am a technical individual on a computer, and have completed hard quantitative classes. But I’m not the best at excel. Open to all recommendations, or advice. I’m pretty nervous having a PM background going into estimating.

The company Im going to likes me a lot from the interview. But I’m just nervous I will not be great at estimating due to not having good excel skills.

Greetings all,

I was recently a field Project Engineer on one of the biggest job sites in America working for a large civil GC in concrete. We completed underground electrical & built foundations. My team also completed a stormwater pipe about 86 inches in diameter, running about 7 miles long. We were building an LNG plant. I was very good at my job being the guy every Forman called if something went wrong. I tracked progress & fixed all issues with managing Forman for all types of civil GC crafts. I managed about 30 Forman from different areas & knew what was happening on an everyday basis. I would look at drawings to progress work to show to the client, or to complete an RFI.

Worked, and left on a good note to better my career after 6 months. I loved the job, and did not miss a day, but did not enjoy working out of state, and missing my loved ones. The jobsite I was on was a 6x10 schedule with an hr 1/2-2hrs buss ride too and from. The jobsite required about 14 hours out of your day to be only paid for 10 with no OT(exempt position). I still made a great amount of money, but it was not worth it.

Accepted a new job as a Junior estimator for a GC. Just wondering what my time will look like being 20 minutes away from my house Mon- Fri. I have a
Bachelor degree in Business Administration, so I am a technical individual on a computer, and have completed hard quantitative classes. But I’m not the best at excel. Open to all recommendations, or advice. I’m pretty nervous having a PM background going into estimating.

The company Im going to likes me a lot from the interview. But I’m just nervous I will not be great at estimating due to not having good excel skills.

I’m currently a field engineer for a large Civil GC. I love project management, but I’m wanting to live in my own house, and not travel anymore. My wife needs me home. I’ve been doing this for about 6 months, and I would primarily say I’m good at the job. I have an opportunity to possibly become a junior estimator by my house. Is this a difficult skill to master? What is the training experience going to look like? I’m pretty efficient in new learning skills, but this would be completely new to me.