Last updated on February 11th, 2023 at 02:54 am
Quantity surveyors play a vital role in the construction industry. They are in charge of managing the money for construction projects and making sure that costs are managed well and efficiently throughout the lifecycle of the project. In this article, we’ll talk about the different jobs that quantity surveyors can have and why they’re so important to the building industry.
A quantity surveyor is a professional who knows how to figure out how much a construction project will cost and how to manage the budget. They use their knowledge of cost analysis, budgeting, risk assessment, and negotiations to make sure that everyone involved in a project can stay within the budget and still get what they want out of it. When making an estimate or budget for a construction job, they have to know a lot about the different building materials, labor costs, site conditions, and many other things.
Beginner-level career opportunities
For those just starting out in the field of quantity surveying, an assistant quantity surveyor position is a great entry-level opportunity. This job is mostly about helping a senior surveyor who is qualified and has experience with larger projects.
The responsibilities of an assistant quantity surveyor include taking measurements and checking dimensions, helping to compile estimates for tenders or contracts, preparing progress reports, keeping records up-to-date, and assisting with other administrative tasks. Working as an assistant gives you a lot of valuable experience in the field, which can lead to better jobs in the field in the future.
In this role, you will not only learn the basics of quantity surveying, but you will also be exposed to important things like business development and working with clients. As part of his or her job, an assistant quantity surveyor may have to meet with clients or suppliers and help negotiate costs or other contractual issues.
Trainee quantity surveyor
Construction companies are a great place to find entry-level positions for trainee quantity surveyors. Working in these roles, trainees can gain valuable hands-on experience that will help them develop their skills and knowledge in the profession. A trainee quantity surveyor’s typical tasks include measuring and pricing building projects. They may also do takeoffs (which involve measuring the amount of material needed) and make cost estimates from drawings.
Trainees will have access to on-the-job training with experienced professionals, which is invaluable for those just starting out. It’s also an opportunity to build relationships with potential employers who could hire them for full time positions later in their careers. Trainees should be comfortable working as part of a team, have good communication skills, and have the ability to think critically about problems related to construction costs and project budgets.
Intermediate-level career opportunities
Intermediate-level career opportunities for quantity surveyors include becoming a project quantity surveyor. A project quantity surveyor is someone who manages the financial aspects of construction projects. This job requires strong knowledge of cost estimation, budgeting, and contract administration. They also need to be able to read and understand building plans and contracts correctly so that the project’s finances are managed well from start to finish.
In this job, you would be in charge of keeping track of costs at all stages of the project and writing reports about the building’s progress and the costs of getting materials. As part of the process, you will need to analyze the different materials needed for each stage of construction and compare prices across different vendors in order to get the best value for your client’s money.
Senior quantity surveyor
They have a lot of job options in both the public and private sectors. They can work as project managers in government agencies, making sure that construction projects are finished on time and on budget. They may also be hired by consulting firms to help clients with different building projects by giving them specialized advice.
They can help figure out how much a building project will cost, give advice on what materials to use, manage contracts with contractors and suppliers, and compare progress to budgets.
They can help give an accurate estimate of all the capital and operational costs of a project because they have a lot of experience figuring out how much big projects will cost. To get the most out of budgets, they use cost management techniques like life cycle costing or risk analysis to find places where spending might be too high or too low.
Advanced-level career opportunities
As a quantity surveyor, you can do a lot more than just be a surveyor at the beginning of your career. Positions like associate director of quantity surveying and director of quantity surveying pay much more, have more responsibility, and have more power in the field.
The Associate Director of Quantity Surveying is typically responsible for providing senior management with advice on all aspects of cost control, contract administration, and estimating services.
This includes project selection, budgeting, cost planning, and life cycle costing. They are also in charge of managing employees and communicating with clients to make sure that work is done quickly and correctly.
Usually, the director of quantity surveying is in charge of several projects at once and makes sure that all quality standards are met or exceeded.
Partnerships in consulting firms
Quantity surveyors’ career options are not limited to consulting alone. Many companies offer partnerships, where surveyors can become shareholders and run the business.
Partnerships are a great way to learn more about an industry because they teach you important technical, financial, and strategic management skills. This lets them build long-term relationships with clients, get better at being leaders, and learn more about business.
They may also have the option of teaching or pursuing academic opportunities. Teaching gives them a unique chance to share their knowledge with students in classrooms or through online learning platforms.
They could also pursue research-based roles within academia – studying new methods for improving cost management effectiveness or introducing innovative practices into the surveying profession. These career paths are great choices for people who want to keep learning and gain skills that will help them and others in their field.
Further education and professional development
Both bachelor’s and master’s degree programs give people in the field of quantity surveying the chance to learn more and improve their skills. Quantity surveying is a field that focuses on math, planning, construction technology, economics, law, and contracts. It also teaches the basics of accounting, how to use computers, and how to communicate, all of which are important for a successful career in the field.
Quantity surveyors who get a master’s degree learn more about construction economics, budgeting, measurement techniques, and project management. These courses will give surveyors the skills they need to manage a variety of building projects well.
They will also learn how to develop strategies for cost control on projects so that their clients can benefit from high-quality services at lower costs. Also, graduates can focus on different areas of study, such as residential or commercial buildings or civil engineering works, to become experts in those areas.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, the role of quantity surveyors is becoming more and more important in the construction industry because they are so important for keeping track of costs and making sure projects can be paid for. There is a growing need for experienced quantity surveyors because the construction industry is growing and more infrastructure is being built.
This creates several career opportunities for anyone with the necessary abilities and credentials. You could work as an independent consultant or be hired by building companies or government agencies. They can look forward to a rewarding and challenging career with a lot of room for advancement if they get the right education and work experience.