Any Quantity Surveyors out there? CV help.

[dan_almond]

Im due to apply for graduate QS roles this September, for 2011 intakes.

Question is, would anyone be so kind to take a look at my CV, and let me know what you think to it. Bad points/good points, and what i can do to improve on it. Id be most grateful if anyone could spare 2 minutes of this time, as getting it close to 100% is most important to me!

If you send me your email, ill send it though.

Many thanks
Dan

[dan_almond]

Thanks for reading through my CV Iian.

In terms of industry, i think ive become a bit blind. My QS course is RICS accredated, and is very 'building' led. The course is not enclined to civil engineering in any way. This summer im currently working over a civil engineering contractors, which is ever so slightly opened my mind to this.

Gut feeling tells me to follow RICS accreditation, wether through a consultants QS practice, building contractor or civils contractor. Gut feeling again, tells me the money will be better if i follow the civils route. Ive been advised, given the option, to work for a contractor for a few years, before joining the consultant QS's.

Apart from the above, and the obvious businesses (EC harris-Consultants, Balfour Beaty-Civils and (Interserve-buildings), i dont know what other industries are availiable for a QS.

If they are only earning £30-40k, without being inconsiderate, how much are you on? Who do you work for?

Im 100% mobile, however the Mrs would say otherwise. I work anywhere in the world given the chance!

Any advice on where else i could aim to look for graduate recruitment?

Edited by dan_almond on Friday 20th August 15:51

[dan_almond]

Malcolm. Thanks for getting back to me with some advice. Much appreciated!

Iian. Just seen your ammended posts. Im googling as we speak! :-)

[dan_almond]

Wow. Food for thought from you both!. I think ill be on the phone an aweful lot the next couple of months getting my CV off to these guys!

Thanks again!

[dan_almond]

maximus123 - Please PM me your email, and ill send the CV to you.

Where do you currently work, how old are you, and how hard was the APC process? Im currently trying to weigh up wether it would be possable to gain RICS chartership though the oil/gas companies. This is a route that i didnt know about, but one that i could see myself in.

I feel i have gained sufficient experience already. The CV will show details. With regards the above, im almost tempted to work in construction for a few years to get my chartership, and then apply to the likes of BP etc.

I am however, now slightly confused!

[dan_almond]

3sixty said:

Cant answer all your questions, but can perhaps give you an insight into APC. I did my QS degree on day release, so worked in industry 4 days a week and 1 day a week at Uni. My employer paid for my Uni fees and I learnt so much in the now 5 years I've been with them.

I graduated last year and am sitting my APC in Novemeber this year. The APC routes allow you to provide a 'speciality'. With me being a PQS, I selected building, however there are many options to choose for a QS, oil, gas, M&E etc., so I wouldnt worry about not being able to pass APC with specialising in oil/gas.

To be honest, the oil/gas route sounds interesting to myself! I've been with a PQS now for 5 years, which is great but I've become slightly pigeon-holed into what I'm doing. I learn very quickly and was doing my own cost plans and feasibility estimates for some huge mixed used developments with little supervision... but I havent had the exposure to BQs which someone on the same career path as me would have.

What are the key skills in Oil/gas/pharmaceuticals? Are you still in SMM/CESMM bill bashing? Or is it a little more sophisticated than that? (Apologies for the thread hijack OP!)

Thanks for your advice. Have you got any details as to RICS specialities. I cant find any details regarding oil, gas & M+E as you say. Personally im thinking to complete the APC in civils, and then apply to the oil/gas giants...

Keys skills in oil, as far as ive figured so far, vary. Ive options in commercial managament, contracts managament or procurement and ecomomics. Its the commercial side of things that im most interested in however.

[dan_almond]

maximus123 said:

Dan, I've pm'd you some comments about your cv. Hopefully, they'll be of some help.

As for myself, I entered the profession later in life after realising I couldn't make much money in science. I graduated in 2004 and gained RICS accreditation 2 years later. General practice is obviously different from what you are doing but the APC wasn't difficult. I found the paperwork the biggest pain the arse.

The APC is different from any exam you will probably have done, due to the fact it is an interview as opposed to a written exam. I assume it is the same for qs, but am not sure. Everyone I knew worked hard and passed. The ones that didn't put the work still have not passed.

As a graduate I was fortunate to get lots of experience in various fields and found valuation to be well suited to me. I often have chat to qs's to get figures for building projects that I am doing residual valuations on.

Thanks for you email yesterday. Certainly give me a few pointers to consider. Im in the habbit of documenting what i do (work wise) in a diary, daily, which im told should stand me in good stead come the start of the APC.

[dan_almond]

Lefty 200 Drams said:

My degree course was very much building-led too (and RICS accredited) but after I graduated and moved away from the building industry, it seemd to me that it had no benefit so I stopped working on it.

Only one of my uni class mates that I keep in touch with went on to gain RICS membership and, to be honest, he still works as a plodding qs for a small home-building contractor so I'm not sure what good it's done him (so far).

I think that if you want to work as a traditional QS, for a private practice, then it's probably worth doing.

Thanks for the advice mate. Im still none the wiser as regards getting my RICS status before applying to the likes of BP etc etc.

Best bet is to apply to as many as i can, and take it from there. The money with BP seems much better than ill get as a RICS QS. Graduate starting salary with BP suggests £29k. We shall see...

Thanks again,
Dan Almond

[dan_almond]

Email sent Ozzy.

Any further QS's on here willing to take a look at my CV...?

OzzyR1 said:

dan_almond said:

Im due to apply for graduate QS roles this September, for 2011 intakes.

Question is, would anyone be so kind to take a look at my CV, and let me know what you think to it. Bad points/good points, and what i can do to improve on it. Id be most grateful if anyone could spare 2 minutes of this time, as getting it close to 100% is most important to me!

If you send me your email, ill send it though.

Many thanks
Dan

Hi Dan,

I'm a QS working in London for a small-medium sized PQS firm (probably have 40+ qualified staff). Came to the game fairly late - graduated at 27 cos I spent about 5 years travelling after A-levels but am in my early 30's now and am an associate of my firm with MRICS qualifications etc. Will be honest with you, I'm on a salary that starts with a 4 which is liveable but not that much when you live in the south-east.

If you want a chat or for me to look over your CV then email me through my profile, would like to help someone starting out as I remember how difficult it was & can't even imagine what it's like in the current climate.

Must admit I've been looking at O&G jobs from some of the posts in this thread

Cheers

Edited by OzzyR1 on Wednesday 25th August 23:12