Trainee Quantity Surveyor - What to Expect for Interview?
Discussion
At the tender age of 49, I have thought of taking a drastic change of direction in my career.
I currently work for Her Maj in HMPS, but am losing the will to live. It's an admin role but unchallenging and no prospects (that I want).
My partners company has advertised for a 'Trainee Quantity Surveyor' with no experience necessary. It's a £1k less than I'm on currently but I'm willing to take the drop for something that may pay off in the long run. Also, they will be putting the successful applicant through a university HNC.
My partner said they are fed up with youngsters taking on the role and then buggering off halfway through the job and are looking to someone who isn't necessarily highly experienced in this kind of role.
I have previously worked in Procurement for HMPS, looking after three sites, ordering supplies for maintenance and also placing planned maintenance. I paid the suppliers and kept the budgets for that dept, working alongside the Site Manager. I put all this into my application. I currently work in Litigation, liaising with Senior Management & Solicitors. Maybe they are looking for this kind of experience?
Mrs F says I would be great for the role, she has seen the way I price projects at home and work to a high standard, she thinks my aplitude is good for this job, especially knowing what the previous jobholders have been like!
I never thought I would get an interview.
This week, I got a call from the company, I have been selected for a 'group interview' next Monday. My partner said there were over 150 applicants so I'm quite chuffed to be selected at the first sift. The successful go through to second stage on the Tuesday.
What can I expect from a 'Quantity Surveyor' interview? I appreciate this may be a bit 'What are next wednesday's winning lottery numbers'
but any advice would be gratefully received!
And 'Group Interview'? Never heard of them (I've only ever had three jobs!)
Is the HNC as daunting as it sounds?
I currently work for Her Maj in HMPS, but am losing the will to live. It's an admin role but unchallenging and no prospects (that I want).
My partners company has advertised for a 'Trainee Quantity Surveyor' with no experience necessary. It's a £1k less than I'm on currently but I'm willing to take the drop for something that may pay off in the long run. Also, they will be putting the successful applicant through a university HNC.
My partner said they are fed up with youngsters taking on the role and then buggering off halfway through the job and are looking to someone who isn't necessarily highly experienced in this kind of role.
I have previously worked in Procurement for HMPS, looking after three sites, ordering supplies for maintenance and also placing planned maintenance. I paid the suppliers and kept the budgets for that dept, working alongside the Site Manager. I put all this into my application. I currently work in Litigation, liaising with Senior Management & Solicitors. Maybe they are looking for this kind of experience?
Mrs F says I would be great for the role, she has seen the way I price projects at home and work to a high standard, she thinks my aplitude is good for this job, especially knowing what the previous jobholders have been like!
I never thought I would get an interview.
This week, I got a call from the company, I have been selected for a 'group interview' next Monday. My partner said there were over 150 applicants so I'm quite chuffed to be selected at the first sift. The successful go through to second stage on the Tuesday.
What can I expect from a 'Quantity Surveyor' interview? I appreciate this may be a bit 'What are next wednesday's winning lottery numbers'
but any advice would be gratefully received!And 'Group Interview'? Never heard of them (I've only ever had three jobs!)
Is the HNC as daunting as it sounds?
Edited by Fastchas on Wednesday 16th October 13:11
I am a QS and started my career in the exact same way you are looking at (ok maybe a few years ahead of you!). I had zero QS or construction experience, but taking on trainees and sending them to uni on day release is (in my opinion) the best way to learn the role. Dont worry about the lack of experience, you have plenty of cross over skills, I spent 3 years working in procurement, there is a crossover between the 2 roles.
No experience of group interview, but I wouldnt worry about that, no idea what that even means.
if you have any knowledge of the following I would try and sell these skills:
procurement- you have read specifications, written tender documents, spoken to suppliers/ subcontractors, compared tender returns, read contracts
budgets/ forecasting?
any experience of 'excel'? QS'ing is all about spreadsheets and formulas!
can you read/ understand construction drawings?
The fact they are considering mature applicants means they've maybe had issues with younger trainees. I know people from my time at uni who got sacked for not going to uni and just taking the days as holidays. The fact you have experience of the work place is probably a huge plus point already.
I wouldnt be worried about the interview at all, construction can be fairly relaxed. Construction is a wonderful mix of backgrounds, from people who have come off the tools and have worked their way up, through to people who have done conversion courses after finding out social studies degrees doesnt give great options in later life........
Dont worry about the degree at all, its all fairly straight forward and a lot of the stuff you learn are relate-able to work/ what you do in the office or site.
hope that gives you some info, but any questions either ask here or drop me a pm.
malks222 said:
I am a QS and started my career in the exact same way you are looking at (ok maybe a few years ahead of you!). I had zero QS or construction experience, but taking on trainees and sending them to uni on day release is (in my opinion) the best way to learn the role. Dont worry about the lack of experience, you have plenty of cross over skills, I spent 3 years working in procurement, there is a crossover between the 2 roles.
No experience of group interview, but I wouldnt worry about that, no idea what that even means.
if you have any knowledge of the following I would try and sell these skills:
procurement- you have read specifications, written tender documents, spoken to suppliers/ subcontractors, compared tender returns, read contracts
budgets/ forecasting?
any experience of 'excel'? QS'ing is all about spreadsheets and formulas!
can you read/ understand construction drawings?
The fact they are considering mature applicants means they've maybe had issues with younger trainees. I know people from my time at uni who got sacked for not going to uni and just taking the days as holidays. The fact you have experience of the work place is probably a huge plus point already.
I wouldnt be worried about the interview at all, construction can be fairly relaxed. Construction is a wonderful mix of backgrounds, from people who have come off the tools and have worked their way up, through to people who have done conversion courses after finding out social studies degrees doesnt give great options in later life........
Dont worry about the degree at all, its all fairly straight forward and a lot of the stuff you learn are relate-able to work/ what you do in the office or site.
hope that gives you some info, but any questions either ask here or drop me a pm.
That settles me a little, thank you for your constructive post.No experience of group interview, but I wouldnt worry about that, no idea what that even means.
if you have any knowledge of the following I would try and sell these skills:
procurement- you have read specifications, written tender documents, spoken to suppliers/ subcontractors, compared tender returns, read contracts
budgets/ forecasting?
any experience of 'excel'? QS'ing is all about spreadsheets and formulas!
can you read/ understand construction drawings?
The fact they are considering mature applicants means they've maybe had issues with younger trainees. I know people from my time at uni who got sacked for not going to uni and just taking the days as holidays. The fact you have experience of the work place is probably a huge plus point already.
I wouldnt be worried about the interview at all, construction can be fairly relaxed. Construction is a wonderful mix of backgrounds, from people who have come off the tools and have worked their way up, through to people who have done conversion courses after finding out social studies degrees doesnt give great options in later life........
Dont worry about the degree at all, its all fairly straight forward and a lot of the stuff you learn are relate-able to work/ what you do in the office or site.
hope that gives you some info, but any questions either ask here or drop me a pm.
I have basic XL. experience and have dabbled with contracts. I'm more from an admin background in this, rather than from the management side who might draw up the contract.
In 2005 I developed Rheumatoid Arthritis and had to change career from a wholesale butcher in a factory to working in HMPS so I'm not averse to change. I saw this as a positive and put in it my application.
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