Zayd Sharif
Project Manager
MCN Build
Washington, DC USA
“Use your passion and desire as fuel and motivation to work hard and never give up when life throws an obstacle your way.”
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
Getting my first job and learning as much as I could.
Getting hired by one of the best construction companies in the country that exposed me to a next level of construction that was extremely valuable to my career and life.
Education
High School
St. Francis High School
St. Francis High School
Bachelor
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
Career
Project Manager
I manage construction projects from a financial, scheduling, and construction standpoint to meet clients' expectations.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Engineering
Design
Building Things
Day to Day
Reviewing and managing on-going construction activities and monitoring that the work is being done properly and with the most current set of information (drawings, details, etc). Checking on costs and ensuring that they are not going over budget. There are several meetings a day with the internal team, composed of superintendents running the field and project managers running the office side. There are also meetings with the external team of the client, designers, and contractors.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
It's all about working hard and following the path that you truly want to follow rather than a path you feel pressured into following. Make sure to learn as much as possible, and if you don't know something, ask people for help. It's not wrong to seek advice from people who are more experienced than you. People who are willing to teach can have a massive impact on your career. Use your passion and desire as fuel and motivation to work hard and never give up when life throws an obstacle your way.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Bachelor
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Family:
"You were not always a thorough person."
Challenges I Overcame
Learning Issues
Q&A
Do you feel you're truly doing what you're meant to be doing?
Asked by Abdullah at University of California, IrvineYes I do and part of that is that I find ways to use things I'm good at and enjoy in my day to day life.
Would you say your path to success (based on your definition) was easy or difficult?
Asked by Abdullah at University of California, IrvineI would say it was difficult but with regular challenges that were something I could overcome
Was your choice of major your sole decision or do you feel external influences affected it?
Asked by Abdullah at University of California, IrvineThere were external influences but I trusted those influences since those people know a lot about what they were talking about.
Do you have a mentor/inspiration/role model? Who was it?
Asked by Abdullah at University of California, IrvineYes I do, he was one of my close friends who was my roommate in college that helped me get more organized and focused.
Do you have any regrets in life?
Asked by Abdullah at University of California, IrvineNo, I do not.
Interviewed By
Abdullah
at University of California, Irvine
