u/mrts435

23 M, I have 1 year and 6 mos. of experience in residential conatruction. Small company lang kami and dalawa lang engineers, ako at si boss. I mostly know the ways and process in residential from ground to finish. In 2028, I plan to resign and be a contractor myself. I offset the year so that I have more time to learn about the costing and other technical matters.

To my fellow contractors, what are your tips to a first time residential contractor.

Note: I mostly know problems within the site such as trial and error of manpower, consistency of suppliers, machine and tools investment (eg. mixer, vibrator, etc.)

College graduate ako sa isang engineer program + one-take board passer pa. Pero never ako naging proud sa sarili ko.

Habang lumalaki ako, akala ko normal na dapat kang mag excel sa mga bagay-bagay. With honors or even with highest honor, normal yan sa akin. Ang hindi normal ay yung wala akong mga medalyang nakasabit o mga certificate na hawak-hawak tuwing aakyat sa entablado.

For context, grumaduate ako ng Senior High School na may with highest honor, oo masaya ako para sa sarili ko, pero hindi ko siya ginawang timbangan para umangat yung tingin ko sa sarili. Sa kolehiyo naman, hindi rin ako bumagsak sa kahit anong mga subject ko nung college at na one-take ko pa yung board exam while working.

Kung tatanungin mo ako kung proud ba ako sa sarili ko, sasagot ako ng mabilis. "Hindi". Sa tingin ko wala pa ako napapatunayan sa iba. Matalino man ang tingin nila sakin pero di nila alam yung pagsisikap ko. Hindi po ako matalino o genius. Lahat ng mga medalyang nakasampay sa pader namin, sa likod ng mga 'yon ay yung limapk-limpak na pagkakamali at pagkakadapa ko.

Hindi din nakatulong yung adult life, 6 mos. palang ako at mababa sahod ko. Nothing to be proud of. Tinatry ko lumipat sa ibang kumpanya pero wala eh. Sa loob ng 6 mos. dalawang trabaho yung pinasukan ko, and as always nasa laman ng resume ko "fast learner". Nakakatawa man isipin pero i need to fake it til you make it.

Sa kaka-takbo ko sa karera ng buhay hindi ko napapansin na hindi pala ako masaya. At hindi ako proud sa mga narating ko. Oo alam ko mahirap yung pag-abot sa kung nasaan man ako ngayon. Hindi din biro mga pinag daanan ko. Ilang beses akong umiyak at nag panggap na okay lang ako. Kasi kailangan ko maging okay. Dahil para sa akin normal na dapat okay ka lang.

Kauuwi ko lang sa trabaho ngayon, and sa kapaguran ko napaisip ako bigla na, "okay naba toh, ginalingan ko ba, kaya ko paba galingan" at "may i-gagaling paba ako?" Sa ngayon, hindi ko masagot ng deretso yung mga katanungan na bumabagabag sa isip ko. Isa lang ang sigurado ako, hindi ako proud sa sarili ko.

Context: I passed the CELE on Nov. 2025, my first job was a commercial building and a condominium. However, as I make BOQs and quotes for our company, I noticed that an employee will never get rich if their boss is frugal. Doon ko napagtanto na "Siguro if hindi ako yung contractor, hindi ako yayaman".

I resigned on my job around May and landed a job this June in a residential company. The company is only made up of Two Architects and One Engineer and they are one of the reasons why I am planning to become a contractor. They are not toxic in anyways (except for site problems which is normal) and the oldest in those three is around 32. They are just friends in college who decided to build a company that inspires me to become like them.

I don't think they will allow me to become a "part" of the company wherein we share profits and expenses in the long run. Kaya siguro I will do all learnings here and apply it when I become a contractor. Nakaka-guilty lang isipin na after all of their teachings ay aalis din ako sakanila and there is a great chance na magiging competitor nila ako in the future. Plus, yung isang friend ko kaka resign nya lang and pinupush ko siya mag residential since may balak din siya maging contractor.

Any tips or suggestions in my career path will be so appreciated since I am having mixed emotions sa tatahakin ko.

Napagod ako maging Civil Engineer kaya nag hanap ako ng other careers. Hindi worth it yung stress, toxic environment, and time window na M-S for 2x,xxx pesos.

Scrolling through websites like indeed and jobstreet magandang opening sa data analyst. Aside sa more opportunities in WFH, malaki yung market and well-compensated sila unlike Civil Engineer.

I am currently learning SQL from a website "SQL Climber", and medyo iba yung process of learning from engineer. I know that it will be a huge learning curve but i will take my chance.

Aside from SQL, what other data analyzing method that is used throughout the market that I can learn? And do you have any tips on how to build portfolio? Nakikita ko rin kasi na parang you need to show a portfolio to companies for them to hire you. Lastly, do you have any idea if may mga companies na willing to train its employees?

Any tips and advices will be appreciated!

Napagod ako maging Civil Engineer kaya nag hanap ako ng other careers. Hindi worth it yung stress, toxic environment, and time window na M-S for 2x,xxx pesos.

Scrolling through websites like indeed and jobstreet magandang opening sa data analyst. Aside sa more opportunities in WFH, malaki yung market and well-compensated sila unlike Civil Engineer.

I am currently learning SQL from a website "SQL Climber", and medyo iba yung process of learning from engineer. I know that it will be a huge learning curve but i will take my chance.

Aside from SQL, what other data analyzing method that is used throughout the market that I can learn? And do you have any tips on how to build portfolio? Nakikita ko rin kasi na parang you need to show a portfolio to companies for them to hire you. Lastly, do you have any idea if may mga companies na willing to train its employees?

Any tips and advices will be appreciated!

Background: Yung first job ko is contract-based, so after ng project terminated na. It started on January and ended this April. I have been on many interviews and grabe yung pa-sweldo nila. Minimum wage na 16k. Monday to Saturday pa.

Ayaw ko naman din i-tolerate ganoong sahod since may experience na rin naman ako kahit papaano. I am reaching out to fellow redditors if they know of any company na nag hihire since some companies do soft hiring (refer-refer lang).

I am capable of being a site engineer or office engineer. I am also knowledgable about AutoCAD and MS Offices + introductory estimates.

If ever na you know of other companies that hires Civil Engineer. DM me or you can comment their email.