On this week's episode with Michael Lepage, CEO of Plan Academy Inc. we discuss how Construction Planners and Schedulers can go beyond data entry and be seen as leaders.

Getting a job at a top company can change your career trajectory.

Aside from the top pay and perks, there are many opportunities within the company, you'll be able to work and network with other talented people, and it can make your resume stand out.

Besides working on exciting projects, these companies can expose you to new systems, processes and technology.

The process of applying and interviewing can be exhausting.

To reduce the pain, below are a list of tips I compiled.

Delivering automation is one superpower that can upskill your career.

Construction has so many processes, tasks, and workflows that could be automated to some extent or fully.

Weekly data being entered into spreadsheets.

Monthly progress in the exact same format but different numbers.

Verification of change of one spreadsheet to the next.

Downloading data from one piece of software to upload it to another piece of software.

I guarantee you can come up with at least ten things you do at work that could either be partially or fully automated if you sat down and thought about it for a couple minutes.

But where do you start?

I put a guide together to help you out.

Here are five common mistakes that can lead to a program's downfall. These pitfalls include misconception of the scheduler's role, lack of technical knowledge in management, ignoring other systems, tools and processes, contractual solutions as a panacea, overemphasis on PowerBi / Tableau reporting. Construction professionals can easily avoid each of these if they are aware of them.

The battle over time frames is about to begin.

Imagine this. You're a construction planner on a mission to conquer project deadlines and tame chaos. Having to analyze plans over different time frames, from lightning-fast 30 seconds to marathon-like 3-year timelines, is an epic challenge. Strap in, because we're about to witness the ultimate clash of efficiency, strategy, and speed.

Do you find that your organization is consistently delivering projects late to your clients? You aren’t alone. In fact, one study by KPMG found that only about 25% of projects finish within 10% of their originally scheduled deadlines. Many companies believe their scheduling issues are a result of numerous factors such as not having the latest AI-powered scheduling software or fancy Power BI dashboard, missing the mark on resource loading, or the contract didn’t have the right CPM specifications.

Unfortunately, all of these answers are wrong! Being able to hit your schedules boils down to one simple word — culture. That’s right, culture. Companies that don’t identify planning and scheduling as a critical component of their businesses’ success are destined to fail. By shifting this mindset within your organization, you can start improving the timeliness of your projects.

Earlier this week on the podcast we tackled specifications. We're doubling down on this subject in this week's newsletter.

My goal was to find every Scheduling Specification on the internet. Project planning and success depend on specifications. Well-written specs lead to clear expectations and efficiency. Poorly written ones, however, cause confusion & delays.

Started my journey in AI by experimenting with GPT-4 on a fake scheduling program. The whole process was surprisingly easy. After several hours of testing there are countless workflows anyone in Project Controls could utilize. If you can afford it, I recommend adding it. Even if you save just one hour per month, it pays for itself. In addition to being impressed by the experience, I also have a lot of questions.

Welcome to Beyond Deadlines’ course on becoming a skilled construction planner or scheduler! We are thrilled to have you embark on this journey with us. Whether you're just starting your career or transitioning from another field, this course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to get into the field of construction planning and scheduling.

Over the next several modules, you'll discover the fundamental principles, techniques, and tools essential to landing that first construction planning or scheduling job as we provide you with valuable insights as you work toward your goals.

Remember, learning is a journey, and we're here to guide you through it. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance. Let's get started on this exciting path toward a successful career in construction planning and scheduling!

Google and Facebook are paying Project Schedulers $250,000 per year for a 9-5 job.

In Australia you will get ¼ $million.

In the UK you will get ¼ $million.

And in the Middle East. Well. You can get half a $million per year.

Normal, go-home-to-your-family-each-day, have weekends off, 9-5 jobs.

What exactly does a Project Scheduler do?

At the core, you do 4 things:

1. You create plans

2. You update plans with actual results

3. You run the numbers

4. You work with the project team to do better

So you want to see Scheduling jobs?

Come on, let’s get some.

Find out what they look like and where to find them in this week's newsletter.

Let’s dive in.

Construction projects rely heavily on technology for planning, tracking, and executing various work activities throughout the life of a project.

When it comes to construction-related software, the options are practically endless.

There are hundreds of products designed for scheduling, commissioning, finance, procurement, program management, modeling, estimating, and accounting, not to mention homegrown solutions.

A career in project controls can be a rewarding experience. However, many professionals can experience regrets due to certain mistakes and issues that they encountered in their work.

To have the most fulfilling project controls career, you need to focus on your real priorities, put people first, build effective processes, network with others, and develop a unique career path.