What type of construction skills are most applicable to being an associate at a real estate developer
What type of skills that a person working for a GC has are most applicable and helpful for development.


What skills are valued most for developers and are the most transferable for transitioning to development and able to give a leg up against finance guys when starting a development job.

Interested to hear your thoughts.
[{"id": "elvczxu", "text": "PM is probably a minimum.  If you have Super experience, especially on a larger project, they'd definitely keep you on a short list of candidates. \n\nIf you keep jumping around companies continually as an estimator that's all you'll ever do. Gotta stick around long enough to gain experience doing something else.", "replies": [{"id": "elvd4sd", "text": "What specific skills are Developers looking for that are most transferable?", "replies": [{"id": "elveo6u", "text": "~~Relationships~~ People skills, management skills. Know what the trends are, what people want.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}, {"id": "elwd316", "text": "A good civil engineer can make or break a project depending on the region. If you hone in on this first you\u2019ll be indispensable later on. Other skills to keep on your radar -\n\n A good understanding of how to read plans, contracts, pay applications, and bank draws will help. Strong management - every dev needs someone to bring their job in on time and under budget. \nYou want to know enough about construction to not get taken advantage of, but it really helps to be skilled in finance and CRE markets. It helps to have a team that can cover both nicely.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "elvee7w", "text": "Understanding and reviewing costs presentations, how to negotiate those costs, understanding the construction process and monitor schedules. RFI/submitted tracking, monitoring, etc.", "replies": [{"id": "elvio26", "text": "What costs are most negotiable, in your experience?", "replies": [{"id": "elvoen4", "text": "Not so specific. Bidding to GCs, leveling bids, CO negotiation etc. it\u2019s not like I can say a single thing it depends on the project and circumstances.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}, {"id": "elwcb3b", "text": "Every cost.. outside of city &amp; utility costs", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "elvydly", "text": "Dev, in my limited experience, is strong finance background, or at least ability to defend your numbers. Ability to manage a GC, architect, and other parties to ensure they are designing and budgeting to the developers needs. Architects and GCs want to pad everything they can, and developers want it to be in line with price/proforma. Your proforma gets busted pretty quick when your GC comes back at $314/ft hard costs and you budgeted $240/ft - for example. Then lots of negotiations with the parties to design and build within something that will actually cash flow.\n\n\nTake this all with a grain of salt as I have been in development for two months now. Came from banking so this is all (still) new to me.", "replies": [{"id": "elvyfr1", "text": "Appreciate the insight", "replies": [{"id": "elvzeo4", "text": "You will definitely have a leg up in regards to how a building is physically constructed though. The level 5, podium, et al. Still completely new to me. I ask a lot of \u201cdumb\u201d questions on calls with GCs.\n\nThe mystery to me is how a GC bids a project as there are so many unknowns. \n\nAlso, to be clear. I am new and not a senior or lead developer with my company. Just a new guy sharing some stuff on reddit.", "replies": [{"id": "elw099b", "text": "Haha appreciate it. I\u2019m still in undergrad majoring in civil engineering but want to eventually transition to development so just trying to get a feel for the skills I need to develop.", "replies": [{"id": "elw13qw", "text": "People skills are paramount.  Technical skills are great to have, but managing people that don\u2019t report to you and work for other companies. Balancing internal company needs, external(or maybe internal) investor return requirements, and much more. It is a very dynamic industry. Hopefully others chime in with more experience.\n\nGood luck! Tons and tons of money to be made in development.", "replies": [], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}, {"id": "elw74db", "text": "Experienced gc\u2019s can develop take offs and scopes based on very preliminary drawings. That\u2019s how they start to build their budgets.", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}]