Any Quantity Surveyors out there? CV help.
Discussion
Thanks a lot for the replies, there's some very good information here which I haven't been able to find via my many Google searches, or maybe I'm just not looking in the right places...
If you don't mind me asking is there any particular reason you don't see yourself being in the industry for the long term (I'm assuming a reason other than the deposits being expended in xx years...)?
You mention the planning route having better prospects; I assume this is largely working in P6 or similar software? Is there any cost management aspect to the role or is it purely WBS and scheduling etc... Did you have prior experience in P6 (or similar) prior to your planning engineer role? Is a planning engineering role typically office based or on-site or is it a case of site visits as and when required?
From your post it seems the ultimate goal would be to reach a project management role; is this the tip of the iceberg so to say in terms of technical roles, with any more senior of a position being in the management of the overarching business rather than individual projects?
One last thing, I remember you mentioning that the QS role is not really known within Oil & Gas and through my searches I haven't found many but I did remember a link I bookmarked quite a while ago for a job advert (now expired) on behalf of an operator looking for a Quantity Surveyor (not a bad rate either!) on a contract basis: http://www.oilandgasjobsearch.com/Oil-and-Gas-Jobs... More out of interest than anything else, I was just wondering if this just an anomaly or is it likely an advert for a role that is typically called something else but they are looking for QS qualified candidate to fill it?
Thanks again for your help and as I asked Lefty, would you mind having a look over my CV if I were to send it over?
Lefty said:
Personally, I'm not interested in staff positions - I don't plan on staying in the industry for the rest of my life to make a good package worth while. Contract rates are good at the moment, £70-£100/hr.
Salaries are a different matter, I don't really know. I know that a position as Project Services Manager with BP is about £100k basic.
I prepare cost scenarios for construction, operation and decommissioning of offshore facilities (and onshore sometimes). I build cost models to try and get maximum value from a reservoir based on oil production profiles over time, with different field layouts, different market scenarios and such like.
A very basic example would be: build a huge production platform with lots of little wellheads which give you a lot of oil quickly or you could build a smaller production platform and phase the installation of wellheads to give you less peak product but over a much longer period of time. There are a huge number of variables which have to be taken into account.
In the last few years I've got into decision modelling and risk analysis, very helpful with this kind of work and taxes the old grey matter a bit more than just cranking the handle on an estimating tool.
I've seens QS's working in contracts, cost control, estimating, planning, hydrocarbon accounting, economics, procurement etc
Cost control is, in my experience, the least interesting and the lowest paid of the QS-ish roles. Followed closely by Procurement and Contracts. But that's just my opinion.
An experience costie at the moment could get £50-70/hr with an operator. Planners earn more, maybe £60-£80. Those are rates for "working" people, rather than management types.
I couldn't tell for sure from your posts but are you currently contracting to a company or are you working for a consultancy or have some other working arrangement? I noticed in your earlier posts you stated that you interviewed potential candidates for a position so I wasn't sure if this was for a consultancy you worked for or not. I was going to ask what type of company it was if you wouldn't like to name it explicitly and also if you wouldn't mind taking a look at my CV when you have the chance.Salaries are a different matter, I don't really know. I know that a position as Project Services Manager with BP is about £100k basic.
I prepare cost scenarios for construction, operation and decommissioning of offshore facilities (and onshore sometimes). I build cost models to try and get maximum value from a reservoir based on oil production profiles over time, with different field layouts, different market scenarios and such like.
A very basic example would be: build a huge production platform with lots of little wellheads which give you a lot of oil quickly or you could build a smaller production platform and phase the installation of wellheads to give you less peak product but over a much longer period of time. There are a huge number of variables which have to be taken into account.
In the last few years I've got into decision modelling and risk analysis, very helpful with this kind of work and taxes the old grey matter a bit more than just cranking the handle on an estimating tool.
I've seens QS's working in contracts, cost control, estimating, planning, hydrocarbon accounting, economics, procurement etc
Cost control is, in my experience, the least interesting and the lowest paid of the QS-ish roles. Followed closely by Procurement and Contracts. But that's just my opinion.
An experience costie at the moment could get £50-70/hr with an operator. Planners earn more, maybe £60-£80. Those are rates for "working" people, rather than management types.
If you don't mind me asking is there any particular reason you don't see yourself being in the industry for the long term (I'm assuming a reason other than the deposits being expended in xx years...)?
GT03ROB said:
Ok, I'll pick up where I left off.
Project controls is the umbrella department/group that typically covers cost engineering, planning/scheduling & estimating. It's sometimes also called project services. Think of the cost engineering role as reporting costs against the estimates established by the estimators & then the subsequent forecasting of costs to completion for any given project. Done well cost engineering is invaluable, more often than not it slips into bean counting. The typical career path in cost engineering, would be through more senior cost engineering roles into a role as a project controls/services manager. In some organisations this could then lead to a business managers role (picking up responibility for project controls, contracts, accounting). The final step would then be into project management. Without a basic understanding of cost engineering you will never make it in project management.
However I will now reveal my bias. It is very very rare for anybody to transition from a cost engineering career path into project management. Cost engineers rarely get to understand how major projects are put together. I was a planning engineer, then went into controls management, construction management, then into project management. Any transition from controls into project management is difficult, the overwhelming preference amongst employers is to use engineers. If I were you I would go down the planning route, the money is better, prospects are better & it would be easier to get into project mangement.
That's definitely improved my understanding of the project controls function but also made me rethink what role I'm likely going to try to secure a placement for. I had automatically leaned towards a cost engineering role due to my QS background and what I thought would be the most likely role I would be able to get my foot in the door via but it's not something I have my heart set on and a role with better prospects would be preferable if a possibility.Project controls is the umbrella department/group that typically covers cost engineering, planning/scheduling & estimating. It's sometimes also called project services. Think of the cost engineering role as reporting costs against the estimates established by the estimators & then the subsequent forecasting of costs to completion for any given project. Done well cost engineering is invaluable, more often than not it slips into bean counting. The typical career path in cost engineering, would be through more senior cost engineering roles into a role as a project controls/services manager. In some organisations this could then lead to a business managers role (picking up responibility for project controls, contracts, accounting). The final step would then be into project management. Without a basic understanding of cost engineering you will never make it in project management.
However I will now reveal my bias. It is very very rare for anybody to transition from a cost engineering career path into project management. Cost engineers rarely get to understand how major projects are put together. I was a planning engineer, then went into controls management, construction management, then into project management. Any transition from controls into project management is difficult, the overwhelming preference amongst employers is to use engineers. If I were you I would go down the planning route, the money is better, prospects are better & it would be easier to get into project mangement.
You mention the planning route having better prospects; I assume this is largely working in P6 or similar software? Is there any cost management aspect to the role or is it purely WBS and scheduling etc... Did you have prior experience in P6 (or similar) prior to your planning engineer role? Is a planning engineering role typically office based or on-site or is it a case of site visits as and when required?
From your post it seems the ultimate goal would be to reach a project management role; is this the tip of the iceberg so to say in terms of technical roles, with any more senior of a position being in the management of the overarching business rather than individual projects?
One last thing, I remember you mentioning that the QS role is not really known within Oil & Gas and through my searches I haven't found many but I did remember a link I bookmarked quite a while ago for a job advert (now expired) on behalf of an operator looking for a Quantity Surveyor (not a bad rate either!) on a contract basis: http://www.oilandgasjobsearch.com/Oil-and-Gas-Jobs... More out of interest than anything else, I was just wondering if this just an anomaly or is it likely an advert for a role that is typically called something else but they are looking for QS qualified candidate to fill it?
Thanks again for your help and as I asked Lefty, would you mind having a look over my CV if I were to send it over?
staott said:
Thanks a lot for the replies, there's some very good information here which I haven't been able to find via my many Google searches, or maybe I'm just not looking in the right places...
I couldn't tell for sure from your posts but are you currently contracting to a company or are you working for a consultancy or have some other working arrangement? I noticed in your earlier posts you stated that you interviewed potential candidates for a position so I wasn't sure if this was for a consultancy you worked for or not. I was going to ask what type of company it was if you wouldn't like to name it explicitly and also if you wouldn't mind taking a look at my CV when you have the chance.
If you don't mind me asking is there any particular reason you don't see yourself being in the industry for the long term (I'm assuming a reason other than the deposits being expended in xx years...)?
I run a Ltd. Co. of my own. I have a few clients and I actually have more than one contract with my main client. I couldn't tell for sure from your posts but are you currently contracting to a company or are you working for a consultancy or have some other working arrangement? I noticed in your earlier posts you stated that you interviewed potential candidates for a position so I wasn't sure if this was for a consultancy you worked for or not. I was going to ask what type of company it was if you wouldn't like to name it explicitly and also if you wouldn't mind taking a look at my CV when you have the chance.
If you don't mind me asking is there any particular reason you don't see yourself being in the industry for the long term (I'm assuming a reason other than the deposits being expended in xx years...)?
The reason I don't want to work in the oil industry for the rest of my life is nothing to do with a lack of work! There will be oil exploration work until somebody comes up with a viable alternative (cold fusion?). Decommissioning work in the North Sea (and further afield) is a massive industry too - hundreds of billions and likely to go on for a very long time.
No, I want to get myself in the position where I have no mortgages, some good rental income to help with living costs and get a job related to whisky. Either making it or selling it in one way or another.
staott said:
That's definitely improved my understanding of the project controls function but also made me rethink what role I'm likely going to try to secure a placement for. I had automatically leaned towards a cost engineering role due to my QS background and what I thought would be the most likely role I would be able to get my foot in the door via but it's not something I have my heart set on and a role with better prospects would be preferable if a possibility.
You mention the planning route having better prospects; I assume this is largely working in P6 or similar software? Is there any cost management aspect to the role or is it purely WBS and scheduling etc... Did you have prior experience in P6 (or similar) prior to your planning engineer role? Is a planning engineering role typically office based or on-site or is it a case of site visits as and when required?
Yes it is largley working in P6, but there is more to it than being a P6 jockey. The P6 jockeys have their place, but it is far more important to understand the project work processes (eg how do engineering design an LNG plant). Having this level of understanding is key to being a good planner. There will always be an overlap between cost & planning. I had no prior experience of planning systems before starting in the role, just got taught it. Planning can be either office or site based or both. Either way you have to get experience of both. You mention the planning route having better prospects; I assume this is largely working in P6 or similar software? Is there any cost management aspect to the role or is it purely WBS and scheduling etc... Did you have prior experience in P6 (or similar) prior to your planning engineer role? Is a planning engineering role typically office based or on-site or is it a case of site visits as and when required?
staott said:
From your post it seems the ultimate goal would be to reach a project management role; is this the tip of the iceberg so to say in terms of technical roles, with any more senior of a position being in the management of the overarching business rather than individual projects?
Project management is not what I would call a technical role. Project management as taught by Prince for example is a technical role. What we do in project management has little resemblence to what Prince may teach. Seniority in project mangement is governed by the scale, scope & risk of the projects you undertake. It would not be unusual for project managers to carry more seniority than mangement within the overarching business. For major projects, project managers will report direct to board level. At the highest levels you will carry profit & loss responsbility for $5bn fixed price contracts. staott said:
One last thing, I remember you mentioning that the QS role is not really known within Oil & Gas and through my searches I haven't found many but I did remember a link I bookmarked quite a while ago for a job advert (now expired) on behalf of an operator looking for a Quantity Surveyor (not a bad rate either!) on a contract basis: http://www.oilandgasjobsearch.com/Oil-and-Gas-Jobs... More out of interest than anything else, I was just wondering if this just an anomaly or is it likely an advert for a role that is typically called something else but they are looking for QS qualified candidate to fill it?
QS's do exist in oil & gas in the pure form, however more usually the responsibilities of what we would consider to be a QS are split into differing roles. The concept of a QS is a uniquely British one, you don't for example find them in the US. The role of a QS is for many oil & gas projects split between estimators, cost engineers & contracts. staott said:
Thanks again for your help and as I asked Lefty, would you mind having a look over my CV if I were to send it over?
No problemsGT03ROB said:
QS's do exist in oil & gas in the pure form, however more usually the responsibilities of what we would consider to be a QS are split into differing roles. The concept of a QS is a uniquely British one, you don't for example find them in the US. The role of a QS is for many oil & gas projects split between estimators, cost engineers & contracts.
I found it odd joining a Process EPC division, my main functions were covered as you say by other people - estimators, cost engineers & contracts guys.It was good though, as I didn't really get bogged down in the detail and just provided commercial support & client (PQS) liaison - it worked well IMO.
I'm now working in a Contracts role for another firm, but not sure whether I want to stick with it longer term as I miss the financial side. Also, as good as the contracts guys are - you still require the services of outside lawyers, whereas I'd rather be the expert in my chosen field, if you know what I mean?
GT03ROB said:
No problems
Thanks for another very informative post and taking the time to answer my exhaustive list of queries! I think now with having a better understanding of how things operate I will look to make some speculative applications for a summer placement/experience. I'm not sure at this stage how important it would be to hone in on securing a placement for a particular role I would perhaps like to focus on long term. At this point I feel I just need to get my foot in the door in terms of getting any experience at all within the industry more than anything, unless you would advise otherwise.
In hope of securing a summer placement, if you wouldn't mind taking a quick look over my CV before I start making contact with prospective companies it would be much appreciated. I will get it updated over the next couple of days and get it sent over to you if that's ok, do you still use the same @hotmail.com email address?
staott said:
Thanks for another very informative post and taking the time to answer my exhaustive list of queries!
I think now with having a better understanding of how things operate I will look to make some speculative applications for a summer placement/experience. I'm not sure at this stage how important it would be to hone in on securing a placement for a particular role I would perhaps like to focus on long term. At this point I feel I just need to get my foot in the door in terms of getting any experience at all within the industry more than anything, unless you would advise otherwise.
In hope of securing a summer placement, if you wouldn't mind taking a quick look over my CV before I start making contact with prospective companies it would be much appreciated. I will get it updated over the next couple of days and get it sent over to you if that's ok, do you still use the same @hotmail.com email address?
Yep that one is fine.I think now with having a better understanding of how things operate I will look to make some speculative applications for a summer placement/experience. I'm not sure at this stage how important it would be to hone in on securing a placement for a particular role I would perhaps like to focus on long term. At this point I feel I just need to get my foot in the door in terms of getting any experience at all within the industry more than anything, unless you would advise otherwise.
In hope of securing a summer placement, if you wouldn't mind taking a quick look over my CV before I start making contact with prospective companies it would be much appreciated. I will get it updated over the next couple of days and get it sent over to you if that's ok, do you still use the same @hotmail.com email address?
Hi Dan,
I know this post is old but interested to know what decision you made in the end and where you ended up.
I am a Snr QS currently working for a PQS firm in Aberdeen which is trying to break into the oil and gas market but nearly all of my experience is as a contractors QS. Trying to get my RICS but had been told yesterday that my firm won't put me through to the final interview for another year as I don't have enough experience on the PQS side and would need to demonstrate this as now working for a PQS - I tried for years to get my APC though my contractor company but they just aren't interested as RICS not of much value on that side of the fence in my experience.... However I have been on secondment with an Oil Operator for the last year (which should continue indefinately) so realistically not going to get the experience I 'need' for my RICS anyway and would probably rather get more experience on the O&G side and then move to an operator or EPC firm. I don't think RICS is valued by O&G companies but wondering if anyone had any views on this - never see it as a requirement or preference on any job postings. Is there an O&G equivalent that anyone is aware of? I am a member of the Association of Cost Engineers.
I like the sound of a petroleum economist but wouldn't know where to start with getting in to that. Currently working as a cost engineer on secondment with an operator and thinking of trying to see if they will employ me directly and see if there is any opportunity to move internally - I understand they allow people to move between departments if they want. Anybody any experience of this?
My CV runs roughly as follows:
8 years construction experience as contractors QS
1 year cost engineer experience at Oil Operator (on secondment so only getting a small slice of the pie!) working on Brownfield Mods projects.
BSc (Hons) in Computer Science (2:2) and BSc (Hons) in QS (1st).
Currently studying for PgCert in Oil and Gas Engineering (due to complete August) - started this last year to help me break into the market.....
Really dissapointed not being able to try and get my RICS this Nov but wondering whether I need it and whether I should look to move firmly into O&G now...... any advice or thoughts welcome.
Would also be interested to know what the best paid opportunities are. Lefty suggested Cost Eng, Contracts and Procurement at the bottom - what's at the top for my type of experience??
Thanks,
Ed
I know this post is old but interested to know what decision you made in the end and where you ended up.
I am a Snr QS currently working for a PQS firm in Aberdeen which is trying to break into the oil and gas market but nearly all of my experience is as a contractors QS. Trying to get my RICS but had been told yesterday that my firm won't put me through to the final interview for another year as I don't have enough experience on the PQS side and would need to demonstrate this as now working for a PQS - I tried for years to get my APC though my contractor company but they just aren't interested as RICS not of much value on that side of the fence in my experience.... However I have been on secondment with an Oil Operator for the last year (which should continue indefinately) so realistically not going to get the experience I 'need' for my RICS anyway and would probably rather get more experience on the O&G side and then move to an operator or EPC firm. I don't think RICS is valued by O&G companies but wondering if anyone had any views on this - never see it as a requirement or preference on any job postings. Is there an O&G equivalent that anyone is aware of? I am a member of the Association of Cost Engineers.
I like the sound of a petroleum economist but wouldn't know where to start with getting in to that. Currently working as a cost engineer on secondment with an operator and thinking of trying to see if they will employ me directly and see if there is any opportunity to move internally - I understand they allow people to move between departments if they want. Anybody any experience of this?
My CV runs roughly as follows:
8 years construction experience as contractors QS
1 year cost engineer experience at Oil Operator (on secondment so only getting a small slice of the pie!) working on Brownfield Mods projects.
BSc (Hons) in Computer Science (2:2) and BSc (Hons) in QS (1st).
Currently studying for PgCert in Oil and Gas Engineering (due to complete August) - started this last year to help me break into the market.....
Really dissapointed not being able to try and get my RICS this Nov but wondering whether I need it and whether I should look to move firmly into O&G now...... any advice or thoughts welcome.
Would also be interested to know what the best paid opportunities are. Lefty suggested Cost Eng, Contracts and Procurement at the bottom - what's at the top for my type of experience??
Thanks,
Ed
OP on quoted thread has different circumstances but many of the comments and words of advice are very relevant to OP on this thread.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Hi
I am also a quantity surveyor with 5 years post graduate experience as a PQS with on of the biggest consultancy firms in the UK.
I really want to get into rail /civils and I am wondering if anyone out there can give me some advise as I have no experience in that sector.
After graduating in 2009 all trainee surveyors in my firm got made redundant and I found myself working in print management for a while.
I got back into Quantity Surveying (freelance) 2 years ago working for a Drylining contractor who I still do a bit of work for whilst running my own business.
I am now 31 and my business is very successful and practically runs itself but I really want to get back into quantitty surveying but this time around rail/civils.
I have applied for a few jobs and have had no response yet. The only feedback I have got so far is that my CV is too long, there is a gap in my QS work experience and that I have no experience in the sectors I applied for.
I was wondering if anyone out there could help me out with a good CV template for quantity surveying.
I was also wondering if anyone had any tips as to how I can get into the Rail/Civils sector. Any advise will be very much apprciated
Thanks
I am also a quantity surveyor with 5 years post graduate experience as a PQS with on of the biggest consultancy firms in the UK.
I really want to get into rail /civils and I am wondering if anyone out there can give me some advise as I have no experience in that sector.
After graduating in 2009 all trainee surveyors in my firm got made redundant and I found myself working in print management for a while.
I got back into Quantity Surveying (freelance) 2 years ago working for a Drylining contractor who I still do a bit of work for whilst running my own business.
I am now 31 and my business is very successful and practically runs itself but I really want to get back into quantitty surveying but this time around rail/civils.
I have applied for a few jobs and have had no response yet. The only feedback I have got so far is that my CV is too long, there is a gap in my QS work experience and that I have no experience in the sectors I applied for.
I was wondering if anyone out there could help me out with a good CV template for quantity surveying.
I was also wondering if anyone had any tips as to how I can get into the Rail/Civils sector. Any advise will be very much apprciated
Thanks
dini said:
Hi
I am also a quantity surveyor with 5 years post graduate experience as a PQS with on of the biggest consultancy firms in the UK.
I really want to get into rail /civils and I am wondering if anyone out there can give me some advise as I have no experience in that sector.
After graduating in 2009 all trainee surveyors in my firm got made redundant and I found myself working in print management for a while.
I got back into Quantity Surveying (freelance) 2 years ago working for a Drylining contractor who I still do a bit of work for whilst running my own business.
I am now 31 and my business is very successful and practically runs itself but I really want to get back into quantitty surveying but this time around rail/civils.
I have applied for a few jobs and have had no response yet. The only feedback I have got so far is that my CV is too long, there is a gap in my QS work experience and that I have no experience in the sectors I applied for.
I was wondering if anyone out there could help me out with a good CV template for quantity surveying.
I was also wondering if anyone had any tips as to how I can get into the Rail/Civils sector. Any advise will be very much apprciated
Thanks
Don't know where you're based but have you thought about TfL?I am also a quantity surveyor with 5 years post graduate experience as a PQS with on of the biggest consultancy firms in the UK.
I really want to get into rail /civils and I am wondering if anyone out there can give me some advise as I have no experience in that sector.
After graduating in 2009 all trainee surveyors in my firm got made redundant and I found myself working in print management for a while.
I got back into Quantity Surveying (freelance) 2 years ago working for a Drylining contractor who I still do a bit of work for whilst running my own business.
I am now 31 and my business is very successful and practically runs itself but I really want to get back into quantitty surveying but this time around rail/civils.
I have applied for a few jobs and have had no response yet. The only feedback I have got so far is that my CV is too long, there is a gap in my QS work experience and that I have no experience in the sectors I applied for.
I was wondering if anyone out there could help me out with a good CV template for quantity surveying.
I was also wondering if anyone had any tips as to how I can get into the Rail/Civils sector. Any advise will be very much apprciated
Thanks
I bought trains for them for a couple of years (as a QS).
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