Career change to Quantity Surveyors (Things to Know)

6.Continuous learning

The sixth advantage of being a surveyor is that you can have fun and learn continuously. As a quantity surveyor, you will stay up-to-date on the latest trends and innovations in the construction industry, including digital technology, sustainability and social value. You can also access a range of learning and development resources and opportunities, including courses, webinars, podcasts, publications and events offered by professional bodies such as RICS and employers. You can also learn from colleagues, mentors and customers and share insights and best practices.

Cons of Quantity Surveyors as a Career

Let’s take a comprehensive look at the disadvantages of being a surveyor.

High Responsibility for Project Cost Management

Surveyors have significant responsibility in controlling the costs of construction or engineering projects. They are expected to provide accurate cost estimates and budgets, negotiate contracts, and manage changes in project costs.

Miscalculations and miscalculations can have significant financial consequences, leading to budget overruns and project failures. This high level of responsibility can cause significant stress and strain, especially when project costs are constantly changing or unexpected costs arise.

Despite these challenges, the ability to effectively manage costs is a valuable aspect of the role for many quantity surveyors.

Stress Due to Tight Deadlines for Cost Estimates and Reports

Quantity surveyors are often under a lot of pressure due to the nature of their role in providing cost estimates for construction projects. These estimates are essential for project planning and budgeting and are often under tight deadlines.

In addition, they are also responsible for providing reports on the financial health of the project, which can be stressful if there are cost overruns or other financial issues. These pressures can lead to long hours and high stress levels, especially when projects are behind schedule or over budget.

The role also requires a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail, which can further increase stress levels. Despite these challenges, this role can provide a great sense of satisfaction when projects are completed on time and within budget.

Extensive Knowledge Required of Construction Processes and Materials

Surveyors need a deep understanding of construction processes, materials and costs. You need to know how long different tasks will take, what resources are needed, and how to accurately estimate costs.

This requires a detailed knowledge of various construction methods, materials and costs associated with them. If the surveyor lacks this knowledge, it can lead to significant cost increases and delays in project completion.

The extensive requirements for specific knowledge also mean that surveyors must continuously update their skills and knowledge as construction methods and materials change over time. This continuous learning can take time and effort.

Risk of Inaccuracy and Subsequent Financial Consequences

The role of quantity surveyor involves significant risks associated with inaccuracies in the work. Quantity surveyors are responsible for managing all contractual and financial aspects of construction projects.

They estimate and monitor construction costs from the project feasibility stage, through proposal preparation, the construction period and beyond. Inaccuracy in project cost estimation and budgeting can lead to significant financial losses for your company.

Quantity surveyors are therefore under constant pressure to ensure accurate cost estimation and efficient cost control. This constant demand for precision and the associated financial risks can lead to high stress levels.

Need to Constantly Update Skills Due to Changing Regulations and Standards

As a quantity surveyor, you will be required to keep up to date with the latest changes in construction regulations and standards. This means you need to keep up to date with new building codes, regulations and laws to ensure your work is compliant.

Coping with frequent change can be difficult, especially if you need to change existing practices or learn new skills. In addition, understanding the impact of these changes on your operations may require attending additional seminars or courses, which may be time-consuming.

However, this continuous learning process will help you grow professionally and make you more competitive in your field.

Dealing with Fluctuating Construction Market Prices

One of the biggest challenges as a quantity surveyor is dealing with constantly changing construction market prices. The cost of construction materials, labor, and other resources can fluctuate significantly over time due to factors such as supply and demand, global market conditions, and policy changes.

This means that the budgeting and financial planning aspects of a project can be particularly complex and stressful. Quantity surveyors are responsible for accurately estimating and controlling costs, which can be difficult when prices are constantly changing.

This can lead to a high-pressure work environment, as mistakes and miscalculations can have a significant impact on project profitability. While this can be a challenging aspect of the role, it can also be beneficial for those who thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Frequent On-site Visits in Potentially Hazardous Environments

Surveyors are often required to make frequent visits to construction sites in remote locations and potentially hazardous environments. These professionals are expected to monitor project progress, troubleshoot problems, and ensure that all work is done according to schedule.

This can expose you to a variety of hazards, including falls from heights, accidents involving machinery, and exposure to hazardous materials. Even with safety protocols, inherent risks remain when working in a construction environment.

This may mean traveling long distances or moving temporarily to pursue projects, which can disrupt your personal life and work-life balance.

Pressure to Balance Client Expectations with Budget Constraints

Being a surveyor often puts a lot of pressure on you to balance client expectations with budget constraints. Quantity surveyors are responsible for managing all contractual and financial aspects of construction projects.

They must ensure that the project is completed within the agreed budget. However, clients may have higher expectations for project results than the budget. The pressure to meet these expectations within financial constraints can be stressful.

In addition, any miscalculations or oversights can lead to budget overruns and damage the surveyor’s professional reputation. Therefore, this role requires a high level of accuracy, financial acumen and excellent negotiation skills to effectively manage costs while meeting customer expectations.

Complex Negotiations with Contractors and Suppliers

An important part of your role as a quantity surveyor involves negotiating contracts and costs with suppliers and contractors. This aspect of the job can often be complex and difficult. Suppliers and contractors naturally seek to secure the best deal for themselves. It is the quantity surveyor’s job to ensure that costs stay within the project budget.

This requires a delicate balance between maintaining good relationships with suppliers and contractors while making tough deals. The negotiation process can be stressful and difficult and often requires a deep understanding of the industry, market rates and strong negotiation skills. It may also involve dealing with conflicts and conflicts that can increase role stress.

Liability for Budget Overruns or Incorrect Cost Advice

As a quantity surveyor, your primary role involves managing all aspects related to the financial and contractual aspects of a construction project. This includes creating cost estimates, advising on procurement and project budget management. However, this liability can also be potentially detrimental.

If you go over budget or give an incorrect cost recommendation, you are usually responsible. This can lead to financial consequences, reputational damage and increased stress levels. Miscalculations may need to be justified and corrected, but this can be a complex and time-consuming process.

This can affect not only the projects you work on, but also future career opportunities and professional relationships.

Managing Simultaneous Projects Can Lead to Overload

Quantity surveyors often have to work on multiple projects simultaneously, which can lead to high levels of stress and strain. This is because every project requires a high degree of detail and attention and constant communication with various stakeholders such as the construction team, suppliers and customers.

Balancing these multiple responsibilities can be difficult and in some cases can lead to overload. This may mean longer working hours and less time for personal activities and rest. Working on multiple projects can be rewarding and provide variety, but if not managed properly, it can lead to burnout.

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Reliance on Precision in Measurements and Mathematical Calculations

A major challenge in the quantity surveyor role is that it relies heavily on the accuracy of measurements and mathematical calculations. Quantity surveyors are responsible for estimating the costs and resources of construction projects and must be very precise in their calculations. Even minor mistakes can lead to significant budget overruns, resource shortages, and stalled projects.

This pressure for accuracy can lead to stress, especially when dealing with complex projects. In addition, it requires a deep understanding and application of advanced mathematics, which can be difficult for those attempting the field. This role requires constant attention to detail, regularly updating and adjusting estimates as the project progresses and changes are made.

Dynamic Workload Depending on Construction Industry Health

The role of a quantity surveyor is heavily influenced by the health of the construction industry. When your industry is booming, you may have to manage multiple projects simultaneously, resulting in a heavy workload. This can lead to long working hours and possible stress.

However, during periods of recession or recession, construction projects may be halted or canceled and the amount of work may be significantly reduced. This instability can lead to job insecurity and reduced income.

Additionally, the unpredictability of the construction industry can make it difficult to plan and manage workloads in advance.

Necessity to Comprehend and Apply Legal Requirements in Contracts

A quantity surveyor is required to fully understand the legal aspects of construction contracts. In addition to understanding the legal terms, you also need to know how to effectively implement these legal requirements into your contracts.

Misunderstanding or ignorance of legal requirements can lead to significant financial and legal consequences, including disputes, fines and lawsuits. The pressure to get it right every time can be stressful and construction rules and regulations can change, so this role requires constant updating and learning.

Therefore, quantity surveyors need to be up-to-date with the latest legal changes and developments, which requires a significant investment of time and effort.

 Prospects of Facing Disputes Over Quantity or Quality of Work

Surveyors are often at the forefront of disputes regarding the quantity or quality of construction work. Such disputes may arise from disagreements about the amount of materials used, the quality of the work performed, or the final cost of the project.

Resolving such disputes can be stressful and time-consuming and often requires a deep understanding of construction contracts and regulations. Additionally, the outcome of these disputes can have a significant impact on the financial performance of the project and add additional pressure to the role.

Additionally, surveyors may be caught between the interests of various parties such as contractors, clients, and architects, which can make the process even more difficult.

Difficulty in Keeping Up with Innovations in Construction Technology

Quantity surveyors must be up-to-date with the latest developments in construction technology. This can be a difficult task as the construction industry continues to evolve with new materials, methods and techniques being introduced regularly.

Failure to keep up with these innovations can lead to inefficiencies, inaccurate estimates, and potentially costly mistakes. Additionally, exploring, learning, and adapting to these new technologies requires a significant investment of time outside of normal business hours.

This need for continuous learning and development can be a disadvantage for those who prefer a more predictable and stable career.

Challenging Collaboration with Diverse Teams of Professionals

Surveyors must work with a wide range of professionals including architects, engineers, construction managers and clients. This can be difficult due to the diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and terminology of these different professionals.

Quantity surveyors must understand and communicate effectively with these diverse disciplines, which can be time-consuming and complex. This part of the job is especially stressful, as miscommunications and misunderstandings can lead to errors, delays, and cost overruns.

In addition, managing and resolving disputes between different parties can also be a difficult part of a quantity surveyor’s role.

Need for Detailed Documentation and Record Keeping

Quantity surveyors are required to maintain accurate records and documentation. This includes tracking and recording all project costs, contracts, change orders and other related information.

This can often be a tedious and time-consuming task that requires a high level of attention to detail. Mistakes or omissions in documents can lead to significant financial losses and legal problems.

Therefore, a large portion of a surveyor’s time is spent on administrative and clerical tasks, which can be mentally exhausting and limit the time available for other aspects of the job. This pressure for accuracy and precision can lead to stress and burnout if not properly managed.

Balancing Office Duties with Frequent Travel to Sites

One of the major challenges of being a surveyor is the balance between administrative duties and frequent trips to various construction sites. This role requires many on-site inspections and evaluations to ensure projects are delivered within budgets and time frames.

This means that quantity surveyors may have to spend significant time traveling to and from various job sites, which can be physically costly and time consuming. On the other hand, administrative tasks such as preparation of cost analysis, reporting and contract documents must also be managed.

Constantly moving between the office and the construction site requires good time management skills and can often lead to long hours and a busy schedule. It can also make your work hours less predictable and disrupt your personal life.

How To Change Career to Quantity Surveyors

Apply To The Right Graduate Scheme

Graduate jobs in quantity surveying are often very competitive, so it’s always best to be flexible when applying to graduate programs. Research the different companies you know that offer graduate courses and note the pros and cons of each. Once you’ve done your research, you should have a solid list of the best companies to start your career with.

When choosing a company to apply to, you should aim to maximize your chances of success without cutting yourself too thin. A well thought out and well researched plan is key. It’s also helpful to look at their perspective and values ​​and see if they align with your own.

Prepare Thoroughly For Your Interviews

A common theme in successfully completing your first mapping role is preparation. Especially when it comes to interviews. Interviews for competitive entry-level positions are often thorough and complex, and you may be asked unexpected questions that you are not prepared for. To minimize the risk of failing at the interview stage, do as little research as possible on measurement questions, stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends, and be prepared for any eventuality.

Secure Work Experience

Graduates have a variety of internships and mapping jobs available during and after their studies. Work experience should not be limited to mapping roles. Any experience you gain in a construction or engineering company will help you in the future. If you’re a graduate already entering the workforce, highlighting your previous experience and the skills you’ve developed during your studies will give you an advantage in applications and interviews.

Work On Your Transferrable Skills

In today’s world of work, employers are looking for experienced individuals who can excel in various aspects of a role. Not all required skills are directly related to the most obvious features of the job description, but may include:

• IT and digital literacy
• problem-solving
• negotiation
• teamwork and communication
• confident presentation skills
• organisation

Employers look for these different skills, so it’s important to find your strengths and work on your weaknesses before applying. Try to identify the soft skills that will help your graduate student in a quantitative navigation role and highlight them as much as possible. For example, you can mention them in your resume, cover letter or interview to get noticed by employers.

Make Sure Your Cv Is Optimised

Creating an up-to-date and eye-catching resume is one of the most important steps in securing a graduate quantification role. Regardless of grades, work experience, or relevant skills, a well-written, structured, and relevant resume should be a priority. Make sure the most relevant and important information is at the top of your resume and remove any extra information that doesn’t add value to your application.

Including keywords in your resume is also a great way to stand out in the employer’s application system. By matching your experience and abilities with key words and phrases in the job description, you are more likely to get your application noticed and the recruiter to see you as the best person for the role.

Build Your Quantity Surveying Role With Entri

Entri Quantity Survey Course has successfully placed more than 200 candidates in various prestigious companies in India and abroad out of which 100 candidates were placed in a short span of 6 months. Entri has been able to achieve this position with the support of committed and experienced professors and its unique strategy. In this blog, we will discuss the topic “200 Alternative: Input Quantification Course”. We will also discuss the various steps and strategies that Entri has adopted to achieve this high number of listings.

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