Quantity Surveyor
What is the work like?
As a quantity surveyor you would play a key part of any building project, managing the costs from the early design plans right through to the building's completion. Your main priority is to make sure that projects meet legal and quality standards, and that clients get good value for money.
You could work on:
- housing and industrial sites
- retail and commercial developments
- roads, rail and waterways.
On most projects, your main responsibilities would include:
- carrying out feasibility studies to estimate materials, time and labour costs
- negotiating and drawing up bids for tenders and contracts
- monitoring each stage of construction to make sure that costs are in line with forecasts
- providing financial progress reports to clients
- advising clients on legal and contractual matters
- acting on clients' behalf to resolve disputes
- assessing the financial costs of new environmental guidelines, for example, on the use of timber from sustainable supplies.
You would use computer software packages to carry out many of these tasks, and to keep records, prepare work schedules and write reports. You might also deal with the maintenance, renovation and demolition costs of buildings and facilities once they are in use.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You would normally need a degree or professional qualification accredited by the Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to become a fully qualified quantity surveyor. Relevant degree subject areas include:
- surveying
- construction
- civil engineering
- structural engineering.
If you have a non-accredited degree, you would need to take a postgraduate course in surveying. You could do this through a graduate traineeship once in work or by studying full-time at an accredited university. If you are working in engineering or construction, you could take a distance learning postgraduate conversion course with the College of Estate Management (CEM). For details, contact the CEM.
If you have a BTEC HNC, HND or foundation degree in surveying, you may be able to start work as a surveying technician then take further study to qualify. See the job profile for Technical Surveyor.
See the websites of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Building for more details about careers and courses in surveying.
What further training and development can I do?
Once you are working as a quantity surveyor, you should continue to update your knowledge and skills. You would normally do this by working towards chartered status with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), or with the Chartered Institute of Building's (CIOB) Faculty for Architecture and Surveying.
To qualify for chartered status through the RICS, you must complete the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) while you are working. You have to record at least two years' experience and pass an interview with a panel of assessors.
If you want to apply for CIOB chartered status, you will need an accredited honours degree and two years' relevant work experience.
For more details about training and professional development options, contact RICS or the CIOB.
Where can I go for more information?
WhiteknightsReading
Berkshire
RG6 6AW
Tel: 0800 019 9697
Kings Ride
Ascot
Berkshire
SL5 7TB
Tel: 01344 630700
Westwood Way
Coventry
CV4 8JE
Tel: 0870 333 1600
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Related profiles...
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Starting salaries for quantity surveyors are between £18,000 and £22,000.
- With experience this rises to between £25,000 and £45,000.
- Senior chartered quantity surveyors can earn between £50,000 and 80,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would normally work Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, although some overtime may be required during evenings or at weekends.
Your work would be a combination of office-based duties and site visits.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- a good knowledge of construction methods and materials
- good financial management skills
- excellent IT and maths skills
- a methodical approach to work
- good organisational skills
- a clear understanding of Building Regulations and other legal guidelines
- excellent communication and negotiating skills
- the ability to work as part of a team.
What opportunities are there?
Your prospects are very good with a strong demand for qualified surveyors. Your main job opportunities would be with local authority and government departments, private practice, building contractors, property companies and civil engineering firms.
With experience and professional development, you could progress to project management, consultancy work or self-employment. There is also a lot of scope for working overseas, for example in the Middle East. You could use your skills to move into some of the other branches of surveying listed in the Related Profiles section.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in new window)
RICS Recruit
Careers in Construction
QS Week
surveyorjobs.net
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