Engineering/Construction/Proj Mgmt Career Crossroads

Threadstone

Worked in a middle management capacity with a property development company in Ireland & was made redundant about four years ago. Returned to 3rd level and finished an undergrad in Construction Management & Engineering; completed a Post Grad Dip in Project Management & followed that with an MSc in Engineering. I am anxious to get back to work asap. My present status gives me the flexibility to travel abroad for prolonged durations to work.
I would like to know what others in a similar situation with a similar skill-set have done; are there still viable long term opportunities in tax free destinations & also how people found both career progression as well as cross functional advancement in destinations such as Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi or Hong Kong within the construction/engineering sector. Did you use agencies in pursuit of prospective roles or apply directly to companies?
Also, again with a similar skill-set, have others found it difficult to use new qualifications to pursue new sectors such as oil & gas, mining or a progressive middle management role within a construction/engineering organization?
Also; MBA , yes or no? Or is a sound technical project management basis sufficient to move into a business management role. Sound advice would be much appreciated. Many thanks.

allibastor

i have a somewhat similar background.

with construction management it is a bit of a limbo land. your are not a technical person who can do civil engineering and you need to learnt the skills to get into site management levels. you are better sticking with the project management route, but maybe incorporating some non-construction skills into this as project management is really finding its way now.