Quantity Surveyors

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Discussion

jollygreen

Original Poster:

16,167 posts

203 months

Tuesday 29th July 2008
quotequote all
Noticed there a lot of QS's here.

What do you do? What industry? Where? Good points? Bad points? Aspirations?


flattotheboards

6,681 posts

207 months

Friday 8th August 2008
quotequote all
I would be interested in seeing the results from the OPs post as I am considering a career as a Quanity Surveyor.

Mattt

16,661 posts

219 months

jollygreen

Original Poster:

16,167 posts

203 months

Friday 8th August 2008
quotequote all
jollygreen said:
Noticed there a lot of QS's here.

What do you do? What industry? Where? Good points? Bad points? Aspirations?
I'll start then:

CAPEX estimator for major on and offshore green & brownfield up and downstream Oil & Gas projects. Generally in the $5-15Bn range.

Work for a world-wide Operator, based onshore in Aberdeen. I have my own Ltd Co. and work through a contract with a local agency. Charge by the hour.

Good points are £££, make some money through the flat-rate VAT scheme, flexibility of working hours, no immediate supervision, bit of travelling, interesting work

Bad points are travelling to nasty places occasionally and the number of bawbags in the company where I work.


Aspirations? Another 12% on my rate for next year please.


Edited by jollygreen on Friday 8th August 13:02

Mattt

16,661 posts

219 months

Friday 8th August 2008
quotequote all
jollygreen said:
I have my own Ltd Co. and work through a contract with a local agency. Charge by the hour.
Outside of IR35?

sleep envy

62,260 posts

250 months

Friday 8th August 2008
quotequote all
jollygreen said:
What do you do?
QS

jollygreen said:
What industry?
retail and commercial

jollygreen said:
Where?
EMEA

jollygreen said:
Good points?
am my own boss to an extent, the money is ok, meet new people all the time

jollygreen said:
Bad points?
the internet isn't big enough

jollygreen said:
Aspirations?
get out of here by 6pm

jollygreen

Original Poster:

16,167 posts

203 months

Friday 8th August 2008
quotequote all
Mattt said:
jollygreen said:
I have my own Ltd Co. and work through a contract with a local agency. Charge by the hour.
Outside of IR35?
Yep.

Nicely written contract, more than one client, more than one employee (sometimes), more than one stream of income.

No problem.

flattotheboards

6,681 posts

207 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
I am currently looking for an apprenticeship/traineeship (whatever you want to call it) in Quantity Surveying. I have written a few companies and I was just wondering if anybody on here and think of any others.

jollygreen

Original Poster:

16,167 posts

203 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
flattotheboards said:
I am currently looking for an apprenticeship/traineeship (whatever you want to call it) in Quantity Surveying. I have written a few companies and I was just wondering if anybody on here and think of any others.
I doubt many places will take on somebody without qualifications, if you really want to get into it, it might be worth contemplating a degree? I believe it only takes 4 years these days because they've eliminated the year of practical experience in the middle...

sleep envy

62,260 posts

250 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
4 years with sandwich, 3 years without

jollygreen

Original Poster:

16,167 posts

203 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
sleep envy said:
4 years with sandwich, 3 years without
In England?

In Scotland you can get an ordinary degree in 3 years or honours in 4. (both without year-placement).

Mattt

16,661 posts

219 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
jollygreen said:
sleep envy said:
4 years with sandwich, 3 years without
In England?

In Scotland you can get an ordinary degree in 3 years or honours in 4. (both without year-placement).
Yes, but I thought the same applied up there.

I did a 4yr sandwich, and got honours.

sleep envy

62,260 posts

250 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
Mattt said:
I did a 4yr sandwich, and got honours.
snap

tjdixon911

1,911 posts

238 months

Wednesday 20th August 2008
quotequote all
jollygreen said:
flattotheboards said:
I am currently looking for an apprenticeship/traineeship (whatever you want to call it) in Quantity Surveying. I have written a few companies and I was just wondering if anybody on here and think of any others.
I doubt many places will take on somebody without qualifications, if you really want to get into it, it might be worth contemplating a degree? I believe it only takes 4 years these days because they've eliminated the year of practical experience in the middle...
I started work as a trainee QS when I was 18 with only a B-Tech, then did the HNC and Degree (with Hons) part time over 5years.

There are companies that will take on Trainees.


sleep envy

62,260 posts

250 months

Wednesday 20th August 2008
quotequote all
how long ago was this?

tjdixon911

1,911 posts

238 months

Thursday 21st August 2008
quotequote all
sleep envy said:
how long ago was this?
It was 10 years ago! It could well have changed since then but having been to a few interviews recently there are companies with trainees....

Flattotheboards - it could be worth contacting a recruitment agency, if there are companies out there taking on Trainees in your area they may know.

jollygreen

Original Poster:

16,167 posts

203 months

Thursday 21st August 2008
quotequote all
Having looked at a couple of the uni websites it would appear that nowadays you can do an honours degree in Scotland in 4 years and it includes a 6-month placement in 3rd year.

When I was at uni it was 2 years, 1 year placement then another 2 years. The final year was really just the thesis. It was only the last year that contribuited to the honours bit.

I also see that RGU has stopped the QS course, it's now just a general Surveying degree with bits of construction management, building surveying and QS thrown in together. Sounds like an odd decision in a city with so many QS's in the Oil Industry...

Sais

15 posts

189 months

Thursday 21st August 2008
quotequote all
tjdixon911 said:
jollygreen said:
flattotheboards said:
I am currently looking for an apprenticeship/traineeship (whatever you want to call it) in Quantity Surveying. I have written a few companies and I was just wondering if anybody on here and think of any others.
I doubt many places will take on somebody without qualifications, if you really want to get into it, it might be worth contemplating a degree? I believe it only takes 4 years these days because they've eliminated the year of practical experience in the middle...
I started work as a trainee QS when I was 18 with only a B-Tech, then did the HNC and Degree (with Hons) part time over 5years.

There are companies that will take on Trainees.
There are places out there still, however a lot now seem to be cutting down. I started a year ago at 21 with A levels, have just completed the first year of a HNC and have sponsorship all the way through to RICS charter - if I choose to go that far! My part time degree will take 5 years

The housebuilders were taking on trainee's, though they have stopped now (obviously! smile ) There still seem to be opportunities within the civil sector, further than that I don't know. (Though judging by some of the answers on this thread I want to get into Oil and Gas! laugh) So if anyone out there is looking for a junior in oil and gas give us a yell! hehe

ATTAK Z

11,137 posts

190 months

Monday 25th August 2008
quotequote all
Please be aware that most quantity surveyors know the cost of everything but the value of nothing ;-P

jollygreen

Original Poster:

16,167 posts

203 months

Monday 25th August 2008
quotequote all
ATTAK Z said:
Please be aware that most quantity surveyors know the cost of everything but the value of nothing ;-P
hehe

I actually do project economics too so value IS my bag baby