Technical surveyors are well-rounded professionals who are often considered as skilled workers when it comes to the different projects they work on. However, those who wish to take on a more specialised approach might want to consider getting quantity surveyor jobs. In this role, they will be required to manage costs of materials acquisition along with ensuring the building complies with the legal frameworks of the UK. This could very well be the specialisation candidates are looking for when they are after a position that utilises a background in maths along with an interest in both marketing and law. If you're not sure exactly what a quantity surveyor does, there's more deatil on the role here.
Responsibilities in quantity surveying jobs
Quantity surveyors work on a variety of projects ranging from residential to industrial sites. These might also include commercial developments, roads, railways, and waterways. For the most part, a quantity surveyor is required to carry out feasibility studies where they will aim to uncover the cost of materials involved and the time it will take in which to see the project through to completion in order to estimate labour costs.
Using this knowledge, surveyors will then be responsible for the negotiating processes where suppliers and contractors will bid for the project and will then be on call to carry out regular financial assessments of the project in order to ensure costs are remaining in line with an established limit outlined in their forecasts.
Other aspects of quantity surveyor jobs
Surveyors will also have to use their legal knowledge in order advise both suppliers and the general public regarding contractual matters, dispute resolutions, and suggesting new ways to work within established environmental guidelines. This work is largely dependent on the use of computers as surveyors will need to be familiar with both databasing and spreadsheet software in order to maintain accurate records and write reports.
Entry requirements for QS
Candidates will need to already be professionally accredited by the Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors. In order to qualify as a chartered quantity surveyor, candidates must have an academic background in either surveying, construction, civil engineering, or structural engineering. There are several different courses available that lead towards this, so it is up to candidates to choose their own pathway in line with their own personal and professional interests.
Similarly, it is also advisable that candidates hold relevant qualifications and maths and business studies. GCSE level education is often advertised as a staple, but given the level of professional integrity involved, it is usually recommended that candidates go towards a higher-level course, such as an A Level or NVQ.
Candidates will also need to demonstrate IT skills. However, there are no established norms for this level of demonstration. Ideally, they will come equipped with professional experience and be able to demonstrate this during an interview, but paper-based qualifications are also ideal for this. Again, a GCSE level qualification in IT should prove itself to be sufficient, but it is usually recommended that candidates strive for a higher-level achievement in order to demonstrate a greater level of competency.
