Blog Post: Ask the Alum: Mukaram Mohammed

Name: Mukaram Mohammed  

Job Title/Employer: Project Manager/Parsons-3DI

Year of Graduation: 2003

Degree/Major: M.S/Construction Management

What is your favorite part of your current job?

The pleasure I get when we complete projects on time, within budget and to the client’s satisfaction. At Parsons-3DI we are involved in Job Order Contracting (JOC) with various state and city entities. Almost all projects are on a fast-track basis and need to be completed within a certain timeframe, which involves coordinating with clients, architects, engineers and various subcontractors, depending on the nature of the project. The challenges that are faced with coordinating the various people involved and the other issues that occur as the project progresses are what make me love this job.

What career path did you follow from your ASU degree to your present job?

After graduation, I joined Parson-3DI as an estimator and worked in that position for two years. After that, I started to manage projects I had estimated for the USPS JOC Program. It was a dual role and challenging.

On successful completion of that program I started working as a project manager on the ASU JOC Program. It's like my work is giving back something to ASU.

Prior to coming to ASU, I worked in the Middle East and India for 11 yrs where I started my career as a project engineer. Eventually I moved on to estimating, where it was thrilling to do conceptual estimates based on just bare plans, which eventually led me to project management.

Describe one skill learned at ASU that you use daily in your job.

Communication is one essential skill, which I was forced to work on due to my nature and which now plays a major role in my daily activities dealing with the co-workers, clients, subcontractors, etc.

Were any ASU-affiliated persons helpful to you in advancing your career?

Yes, the professor whom I worked with as a research assistant to complete my thesis assigned me to work as an intern with the city of Phoenix. (During that internship), I eventually came in contact with personnel working for Parsons-3DI, where I eventually landed.

What advice would you give to current students or job-seekers about finding work in your field?

Construction is booming right now, both in the commercial and residential fields. Be patient and decide early on in which division you want to be in (commercial, residential, horizontal etc). Once you have decided, start with field/site jobs and gradually work your way up to the top. That way your success is guaranteed, although not immediately. Patience pays in the end!