What Is a Quantity Surveyor?
Unless you have
experience with construction, you may get a little confused when you hear the
world quantity
surveyor. The responsibilities of a quantity
surveyor include
managing and overseeing all costs related to building and facility development(surveying is the good job!!).
managing and overseeing all costs related to building and facility development(surveying is the good job!!).
Basically, the job of a surveyor is to
calculate all related
costs so that companies will be well informed about how much each portion of
their building will cost and the areas where they can minimise their costs(surveying is the good job!!).
Are You Interested in Becoming a Quantity
Surveyor?
Quantity
surveyors have a goal to
enhance the value of a building in relation to the amount of money spent
building it. The surveyor will look at the construction process and determine
which standards and regulations must be met in order to meet minimum statutory
building regulations. They will also be able to determine which areas are most
important to maintaining the quality of the new building(surveying is the good job!!).
Who Does a Quantity Surveyor Work for and
What Are General Work Activities?
When you read the job description of a
quantity surveyor, you
may get the sense that only clients that are building a property will use their
services. In actuality, a quantity surveyor can find business from either a
contractor of the client, and they also have the option of choosing to work
on-site or away in an office(surveying is the good job!!).
Once the contractor or
client chooses the quantity surveyor, he or she is involved in the entire building process from
start to finish. At the
beginning, the surveyor will evaluate the property and prepare estimates on the
total costs involved in the project. The surveyor will continue to prepare
contractual documents, bills, and other tender documents as necessary. The
surveyor will perform cost analysis, perform a risk and value management
assessment of the property, as well as provide insight on cost control and
procurement strategies(surveying is the good job!!).
Other Services Provided by a Quantity
Surveyor May Include the Following:
•
Responding to commercial
risks after a proper assessment and analysis has been performed
•
Allocating related work
to reliable subcontractors
•
Advising clients and
contractors or contractual claims
•
Providing progress
reports and detailed analysis of estimated outcomes
•
Handling payments of finished work
•
Understanding health and
safety regulations as well as building contracts(surveying
is the good job!!)
How Much Does a Quantity Surveyor Typically
Make Per Year?
In the UK, most quantity
surveyors just starting out will make between 17,000 and 25,000 each year. A
senior level quantity surveyor will make between 30,000 and 50,000 per year. If
you become a principal partner in a private practice, you can earn
substantially more than these average figures(surveying
is the good job!!).
The salary that you will
make as a quantity
surveyor will depend on
the amount of experience and qualifications that you have as well as the
specific contracts that you undertake with your company. With increased
responsibilities, you will earn more money, and you may also get shift and site
allowances in addition to an annual salary(surveying
is the good job!!).
Hours of a Quantity Surveyor
You may also be able to
undertake a position as a quantity surveyor on a freelance basis, which will give you more freedom and
flexibility. Normal hours of operation for a quantity surveyor are from 7:30 am
to 6:00 pm depending on what type of business that you work for, while other
private practices may be open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm(surveying is the good job!!).
While you will typically
work out of an office, you will also be required to visit the site of the
building development. This will allow you to make a proper and thorough
analysis of what needs to be completed and which documents need to be filed(surveying is the good job!!).
Entry Requirements for a Quantity Surveyor
A first degree will give
you the best opportunities
as a quantity surveyor.
Accredited institutions like the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or
the similarly well-known Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) offer many
degree programs. If you have a degree, you will probably be able to secure a
better position and earn more money, but you may not necessarily need a degree
in quantity surveying in order to be successful in this career(surveying is the good job!!).
You can also consider
getting a degree in geography, economics, urban studies, mathematics,
construction (building), or engineering. You may also be able to enter this
particular field without any degree at all. You will need to be prepared to
work your way through the industry from top to bottom, but it is certainly
possible to find a job as a quantity surveyor without a professional degree(surveying is the good job!!).
Some businesses may actually fund degree courses
related to quantity surveying so that you can get the education necessary to
make the most out of this career. You will need to ensure that if you do have a
degree unrelated to quantity surveying that you complete further study and the
RICS. The RICS is a qualification program designed to give students and career
seekers another route to becoming a quantity surveyor. The RICS is also
recognized as an excellent postgraduate conversion course(surveying is the good job!!).
Other Requirements Needed to Become a Quantity
Surveyor
In addition to
educational requirements, you will also need to be able to display proficiency
in the following areas:
•
Methodical and
analytical thinking as will as practical and logical reasoning skills
•
Problem solving skills
with a unique and creative approach
•
Skill related to
mathematics and financial management
•
Clear, concise writing
skills to produce reports on complex information
•
Thorough knowledge and
understanding of building and construction codes, regulations, and other related
matters
It is important to have
enough hands on, work experience to ensure that you are able to find a job as a
quantity surveyor. Formal education and other certifications are important, but
being able to demonstrate that you have a relevant understanding of building
and construction can go a long way if you are interested in becoming a quantity
surveyor.
Recruitment Opportunities
If you are a recent
graduate, there are many companies that recruit post-graduates at a certain time of the year. The
recruitment process is usually involved for larger companies, but smaller
quantity surveying companies may accept speculative applications throughout the
year(surveying is the good job!!).
Training
Progressing in this
industry will require that you expend some effort with training and increasing
the amount of qualifications that you have to offer. You can become a member of
the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) after you have obtained a
degree and a training programme. The training programme that you will need to
complete is called the "Assessment of Professional Competence" (APC).
There are typically two types of surveyors - those who are chartered and those
who are referred to as 'technical.'
Two Types of Surveyors - Technical or
Chartered
The technical aspects of
quantity
surveying can be complex
and hard to understand, which is why firms will typically have at least one
person that is well versed in these aspects of operating as a quantity
surveyor. In addition, it is also important to have a chartered surveyor that
is a qualified member of the RICS. Both of these types of quantity surveyors
serve a unique purpose for the business, and each role is important to the
ongoing progress of the business. Technical surveyors work more diligently on a
'hands on' capacity so to speak. They will need to have completed an
"Assessment of Technical Competence" in order to be considered a
technical surveyor, and they will also need to have an HND or an HNC.
Competency Assessments
Most quantity surveyors
will need to take some form of a competence test in order to complete their job. Before a surveyor is
able to take these tests, he or she must exhibit proof of completion of a
practical, structured training programme as well as an RICS professional
assessment(surveying is the good job!!).
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Continuing professional
development is almost the norm in today's business world. The practice
standards and competency levels of a business and its staff members are
enhances with CPD. The RICS offers a lifelong learning programme that will allow you to
record and mark any
professional developments that you have made over the years. These programmes
are designed to promote learning in an open atmosphere, as well as provide a
space for private study. The RICS has also established a number of conferences and
events that quantity surveyors can attend to learn more about the industry(surveying is the good job!!).
To continue professional
development, an in-house training programme has also been established. In order
to maintain competency and progress in this business, it is important to be
learning more about the demands of the job(surveying
is the good job!!).
How to Find a Job as a Quantity Surveyor
After you have completed
all of the necessary
training, you may be
wondering how you will secure yourself the right position in the company. There
are three major employers in the UK that provide quantity surveying as well as
related services, and most of these are private practice employers. The PQS
(Private practice quantity surveyors) will typically allow you to submit
applications periodically, even if they are not currently recruiting(surveying is the good job!!).
Networking to Build Job Possibilities
If you have not made any
contacts in this industry, you can call different companies in order to find
out who is hiring, what the hiring process is, and when the recruitment period
will be open again(surveying is the good job!!).
If you are interested in
working for a smaller private company, then your options are much broader in
terms of applying. These smaller companies may not have as many opening, but
you can typically submit an application at any time of the year(surveying is the good job!!).
Other Job Options to Consider as a Quantity
Surveyor
You can also find a job
as a quantity surveyor through contacting certain engineering
contractors,
governmental bodies, and local authorities. Housing associations, architects,
and large engineering consultancies may also be interested in hiring a quantity
surveyor to help them plan for costs and assess value of their new building.
Essentially, you will
need to try to find a job with a company that has an extensive portfolio of
property that are in need of further analysis, speculation, and development(surveying is the good job!!).
Taking a Job as a Quantity Surveyor
Once you have decided
that this is the right career path, you may be able to get started on the job
in just a few months or years. If you have already completed the essential
steps to becoming a quantity surveyor, you can seek out new opportunities by
accepting jobs in a nearby area or browsing through job advertisements(surveying is the good job!!).
Quantity surveying can
be a very rewarding job, but it is important to make sure that you get as many
qualifications as possible so you can land a great job!
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