My desired career I have always wanted to be able to do the same job as my father. I have always found it fascinating when in a company there are only a few people who organize, guide and manage the people, materials and construction processes. I always enjoy being outdoors and working with my hands. During the summers I work for construction companies in Palestine and I want to continue doing so once I get out of college. I feel that if I come out of college with a BSBA in real estate and construction management, I will be able to find a good job that will allow me to get my feet wet in the construction industry. I could then move up the corporate ladder, where I can become the owner of a construction company just like my father. Construction managers are the designers and directors of construction companies. They are similar to doctors in that they need to be on call 24 hours a day, something on the site could go wrong and require their immediate attention. There are many ways to become employed as a construction manager. They may be owners or employees of a construction management company or contractor. They may also work under contract as employees for the contractor, developer, owner or management company. They represent the owner or developer on the construction site, although they may not have a direct role in the actual construction. Construction managers determine the labor requirements needed for a particular site. They are also responsible for ensuring that the work is completed on time and correctly. There has recently been a boom in business, requiring managers and professionals from construction and industry. The construction of new buildings will always be necessary. “The construction industry is one of the most resilient industries in a time of economic slowdown, so even with signs of an economic slowdown, there will not be a sharp decline in business as has occurred in previous cyclical downturns,” says Robert A. Murray who is the vice president of business affairs for the McGraw-Hill company. Even if there is a slowdown in the economy, there will always be a need to construct new buildings due to population growth. In 2000, construction managers held approximately 308,000 jobs in the United States.