Submittals are the single most important project document on a construction project. They also happen to be the project documents that everyone strives…not to do!

The truth is this, submittals are tedious, monotonous, boring, and honestly do not take an incredible amount of experience to do.

That is why this is the MAIN TASK for entry level positions in the architecture, engineering, and construction fields. In the general contracting or subcontracting world, your employer will want this to be one of your main job functions for the first 5-10 years of your career.

Are you excited yet???

Probably not. That is why most interns, co-ops, entry level people look to alleviate themselves of this responsibility as fast as possible. They see this as “bitch work”. They understand the concept, they understand the process, and if this is the bulk do for years on end, they feel like their career is stagnating. They would rather work on something sexier like finances, or staffing, bidding, managing others, or business development.

Thus, they become unhappy, and they feel an impulse to move on.

They are missing the opportunity.

First, submittals are a great way to learn how to build. When you are sending a submittal to the design team, or you are the design team reviewing the submittal you are paying attention to the details of building materials that have always existed, but you did not realize was there.

Doing so will literally teach you the nuts and bolts… how things come together. You will look at the details of everything around you, that you did not even know were there.

Secondly, they teach you how to build a schedule, and prioritize which aspects of the project require focus, right out of the gate.

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY to become the subject matter expert of your project.

For contractors the Project Managers and project superintendents do not have time to get into the intimate details of the project.

For the design team, they can be busy updating drawings, managing client requests, assisting the contractors address coordination issues that require immediate attention.

In either case you can become the most valuable asset to your team. You can become the person they know they can rely on to keep 99 things moving when they must concentrate on 1. You can be the catalyst by which the entire project continues to move forward.

When your executives and other upper management check in on the project, they will specifically ask your project managers and superintendents what they think of you. This is your opportunity to make sure they can help but tell them how valuable you really are.

These are not the only people your executives will seek out for feedback. They will also ask your clients for feedback. That is the most important feedback!

Typically, weekly meetings are held with the client, contractors, and design team. You never know what questions may be asked in these meetings. Especially from the client...

They are hyper specific, usually about some finish detail that they REALLY care about but is not in the critical path nor does it affect the schedule at that time, yet they expect you to have the answer. Again, the project managers are often distracted by a multitude of “bigger picture” issues. Thus, they do not have the answer.

I have been in this situation many times. It sucks. Knowing you are working yourself to the bone putting out forest fires and still make the client feel like you are inadequate because you don’t have the answer.

Unit another team member speaks up to save the day! Now, that is a sigh of relief…which is GREAT. As a team, the more knowledge you have a s a team, the more competent everyone looks.

There is no better way to gain your team’s respect and appreciation than to step-up and become the expert!

Becoming the expert on the project…. this is your shot to shine in front of the client in meetings.

Lastly…we all wish people know how hard we worked. We wish we were acknowledged for every ounce of blood sweat and tears that went into our work. But people HATE when other people talk about it. It seems like you are either complaining or bragging. Either way, not a good look.

Here is the best part about submittals…When you do submittals, everyone receives a notification!

Every time a submittal is sent to the architect for review, the team gets a notification…every time a submittal is sent to a subcontractor or vendor, the team gets a notification.

This is your opportunity to let people know you are an animal! Make them know that you are the hardest worker in the room. Live in their minds all of the time. Pepper them with notifications. Create the narrative that you are ahead of everyone, and everyone is trying to catch up to you. Everyone owes you information and no one is waiting on you. The pressure is off of you and on everyone else!

THAT is the type of person you want on your team! THAT is the type of person you want leading your company in the future!

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