Quantity Surveyors
Discussion
jollygreen said:
ATTAK Z said:
Please be aware that most quantity surveyors know the cost of everything but the value of nothing ;-P
I actually do project economics too so value IS my bag baby
t-brown allegros. jollygreen said:
ATTAK Z said:
Please be aware that most quantity surveyors know the cost of everything but the value of nothing ;-P
I actually do project economics too so value IS my bag baby
dxg said:
jollygreen said:
ATTAK Z said:
Please be aware that most quantity surveyors know the cost of everything but the value of nothing ;-P
I actually do project economics too so value IS my bag baby
Ah, found this thread thanks to a helpeful pointer on the Salary Perceptions thread.
I'm currently in my 5th year of my Uni course. I chose to do it part time so I could gain some experience in industry while I study (And money.... :P )
I'm studying at Salford University as I was told this was one of the better universities for Built Environment studies in the North West. Have to say, having now been working as for a PQS in Manchester for the last 3 years, what they teach you in Uni is nothing like being in the industry. I've had one measurement module in 5 years and even then it was 1 semester of a mix of SMM and CESMM. I would be truely worried if I was a graduate coming into QS from full time, I wouldn't have a clue. Most of what they teach at Uni is not applicable/useful in a normal working day.
I currently work for a PQS in Manchester and do a mixture of mainly resi, commercial and retail. As with the current conditions, these areas have slowed slightly so I'm now doing a little work in health and education.
Would ideally like to move on to work for a Developer though. Anyone here work for some major developers? Just wanted a few questions answering on what they do day to day etc.
I'm currently in my 5th year of my Uni course. I chose to do it part time so I could gain some experience in industry while I study (And money.... :P )
I'm studying at Salford University as I was told this was one of the better universities for Built Environment studies in the North West. Have to say, having now been working as for a PQS in Manchester for the last 3 years, what they teach you in Uni is nothing like being in the industry. I've had one measurement module in 5 years and even then it was 1 semester of a mix of SMM and CESMM. I would be truely worried if I was a graduate coming into QS from full time, I wouldn't have a clue. Most of what they teach at Uni is not applicable/useful in a normal working day.
I currently work for a PQS in Manchester and do a mixture of mainly resi, commercial and retail. As with the current conditions, these areas have slowed slightly so I'm now doing a little work in health and education.
Would ideally like to move on to work for a Developer though. Anyone here work for some major developers? Just wanted a few questions answering on what they do day to day etc.
3sixty said:
I'm studying at Salford University as I was told this was one of the better universities for Built Environment studies in the North West. Have to say, having now been working as for a PQS in Manchester for the last 3 years, what they teach you in Uni is nothing like being in the industry. I've had one measurement module in 5 years and even then it was 1 semester of a mix of SMM and CESMM. I would be truely worried if I was a graduate coming into QS from full time, I wouldn't have a clue. Most of what they teach at Uni is not applicable/useful in a normal working day.
As someone who teaches measurement (and other things) at one of Salford's direct competitors, I think you'll find that's a feature of Salford's degree, rather than Unis as a whole.Anyway, if you're still measuring a few years down the path then something's gone wrong. Although you still need to be able to measure to get through those first few years...
dxg said:
3sixty said:
I'm studying at Salford University as I was told this was one of the better universities for Built Environment studies in the North West. Have to say, having now been working as for a PQS in Manchester for the last 3 years, what they teach you in Uni is nothing like being in the industry. I've had one measurement module in 5 years and even then it was 1 semester of a mix of SMM and CESMM. I would be truely worried if I was a graduate coming into QS from full time, I wouldn't have a clue. Most of what they teach at Uni is not applicable/useful in a normal working day.
As someone who teaches measurement (and other things) at one of Salford's direct competitors, I think you'll find that's a feature of Salford's degree, rather than Unis as a whole.Anyway, if you're still measuring a few years down the path then something's gone wrong. Although you still need to be able to measure to get through those first few years...
The main topics seem to be 'professional skills', such as report writing, presentation skills, working as a team, Latham/Egan approach etc. This is fine and good to know, but its not the core of what being a QS is about... and not that useful for somebody such as myself on part-time who attends meetings, presents, writes reports on a daily basis.
The partner in the office of the large PQS firm I did my work placement with retired a few years back. He's now back in a PQS office (aged 68 or so!) doing measurement for 40 hours a week and throughly enjoying himself!
Not sure I fancy it now but one of these days (when money doesn't motivate me anymore) I may go back to it
Not sure I fancy it now but one of these days (when money doesn't motivate me anymore) I may go back to it
Just managed to land an apprenticeship with bham city council within construction.
Bloody over the moon as Im 20 now and was beginning to think I would never got on the career ladder, especially in our current climate.
Best thing is once Ive finished Im almost guaranteed a job with the council working as part of Urban Design.
Bloody over the moon as Im 20 now and was beginning to think I would never got on the career ladder, especially in our current climate.
Best thing is once Ive finished Im almost guaranteed a job with the council working as part of Urban Design.
Jamm said:
Just managed to land an apprenticeship with bham city council within construction.
Bloody over the moon as Im 20 now and was beginning to think I would never got on the career ladder, especially in our current climate.
Best thing is once Ive finished Im almost guaranteed a job with the council working as part of Urban Design.
Council is maybe a good start but make sure you don't get pigeonholed bud - stay there for a coupl,e of years and move into the private sector... just my tuppenceworth...Bloody over the moon as Im 20 now and was beginning to think I would never got on the career ladder, especially in our current climate.
Best thing is once Ive finished Im almost guaranteed a job with the council working as part of Urban Design.
jollygreen said:
The partner in the office of the large PQS firm I did my work placement with retired a few years back. He's now back in a PQS office (aged 68 or so!) doing measurement for 40 hours a week and throughly enjoying himself!
Not sure I fancy it now but one of these days (when money doesn't motivate me anymore) I may go back to it
I dont think I could ever enjoy or be motivated to doing some BQ measurement. The odd bit of measures for W:F ratios etc. isnt so bad, but find it so mundane of doing all those tedious measures for BQs.Not sure I fancy it now but one of these days (when money doesn't motivate me anymore) I may go back to it
Just as a topping of my previous question, does anyone work on the client/developer side as a QS? Development Manager? etc. etc.
sleep envy said:
BQ - do clients still pay extra for them?
Ours do, but most don't realise and pay a fixed fee. Usually make a huge margin on them. I suppose is slightly better than those clients who pay for a cost plan/feasibility, and then spend the next 600 days asking you to do 'small' amendments for no extra fee. Most of the BQs I've done seem to be final and require no further work.
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