Career Advice for a Quantity Surveyor

Quantity surveyors work on construction projects to calculate the building costs. They calculate materials, labor, and other elements required to complete a project to create an accurate budget. Quantity surveyors work for construction companies in land management or construction and can either work for a business as an employee or freelance consultant.

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How to Become a Quantity Surveyor

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Quantity Surveyor

Should you wish to work as a Quantity Surveyor you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Quantity Surveyor

  • 2 or 3 A Levels
  • Degree in Construction, Structural or Civil Engineering or Land Management
  • Postgraduate conversion course accredited by Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

Key Responsibilities for a Quantity Surveyor

  • Meeting with the project team to determine scope and requirements
  • Preparing costs estimates for different construction options
  • Researching material, labour, and other costs for each project
  • Creating reports for project completion with cost and budget projections
  • Co-ordinating between the worksite and head office
  • Working with the building team to ensure the quality of work
  • Preparing purchase orders for required materials
  • Monitoring and verifying materials and labour
  • Reporting ongoing progress to senior management
  • Completing a project report when finished

What to expect as a Quantity Surveyor

Quantity surveyors are responsible for calculating costs for construction projects. They manage ongoing expenses to ensure projects remain on budget. Quantity surveyors create reports on materials, labour, and other requirements for each build to help create an accurate budget. To succeed in this role, you will need excellent analytical and negotiation skills and work on projects of all sizes.

Recommended Quantity Surveyor Jobs

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How to get Quantity Surveyor Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Quantity Surveyor job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Quantity Surveyor application. If you have not held a Quantity Surveyor position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Quantity Surveyor role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Quantity Surveyor CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Quantity Surveyor application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Quantity Surveyor in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Quantity Surveyor 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Quantity Surveyor and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Quantity Surveyor experience.

How to get Quantity Surveyor Experience

What does it take to be a Quantity Surveyor? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Quantity Surveyor jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Quantity Surveyor through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Quantity Surveyor Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Quantity Surveyor part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Quantity Surveyor or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Quantity Surveyor freelance work

If you have impressive Quantity Surveyor qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.