However with the property market
continuing to grow the same research highlights the fantastic
opportunities that exist as a construction professional for students
who have an interest in the Science, Technology, Engineering and
Maths (STEM) courses to go on and have very rewarding careers in the Built
Environment.
With this in mind we have put
together ten reasons why a career in Quantity Surveying could be for you:
1)
Quantity Surveyors don’t just exist to make Dermot Bannon’s life a misery
Quantity Surveyors make a huge
contribution to the success of projects from one off houses right up to multi
billion euro capital projects the world over, their keen understanding of
contract and project cost, right from the very initial sketch design
proposal, ensures that Clients get the best possible end product for their
budget (which sometimes means pointing out where there is 'room to improve' the
efficiency of the Architects design).
2)
It’s a profession of two halves
Quantity surveyors can choose to
specialise and work exclusively for clients or for contractors meaning those
who aspire to a career with a good balance of office based work and / or
construction site based work can avail of the best of both worlds. In either
career path every day brings a new challenge and the job satisfaction that goes
with being involved in a project right from its inception through to a happy
client taking the building over on completion.
3)
It pays well
The Quantity Surveying profession
affords graduates a career salary well above the average industrial wage (see average national wage for a Chartered Surveyor published by the
SCSI) and comes with commensurate perks
which vary depending on the employer but can include company cars, group
pension schemes, performance based incentives etc.
4)
You can travel almost anywhere in the developed world
The profession of Quantity Surveying
is internationally recognized and is in demand the world over. Many of the
larger consultancies and contractors you could find yourself working for in
Ireland have offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas where
it’s not uncommon for staff to transfer and make the most of the perks and life
experience that come with travel (you can of course just join companies in
these countries directly too). It commands a healthy salary comparative to the
cost of living in every one of these countries allowing graduates to maintain
the standard of living they might have become accustomed to in Ireland before
leaving. This ability to travel also ensures that there is always work for
these construction professionals irrespective of the cycle of the economy in
Ireland.
5)
It’s a great career for both men and women
Quantity Surveyors like Patricia
Power of Room to Improve have done much to highlight how attractive a career in
this profession can be not just to men (as is typically assumed for a career in
construction) but to women too. Quantity Surveyors are professionals first and
foremost and, particularly for those who work on the client side, bears much
resemblance to the office based 9 - 5 career you might expect in other
disciplines such as finance and business but with the added perk of working on
physical projects with lasting and profound effect on the landscape of the
country.
6)
It offers great opportunities for career progression
The organisation model employed by
both contractors and consultants in Ireland provide a defined career path for
every quantity surveyor affording those who wish to pursue it a route right
from graduate level all the way to the board of directors of each of these
companies. On the client side becoming an Associate or Director in a PQS office
is a quite realistic ambition for graduates if they apply themselves to it,
likewise with the contracting side albeit the positions to fill at managerial
level are typically fewer between in these organisations.
7)
You get to constantly explain what you do for a living
There is still an air of mystery
about what exactly a Quantity Surveyor does, some people think they stand on
the roadside with those levels on tripods setting out the route for
roadworks, others think they count bricks for a living. The truth is
Quantity Surveyors are engaged to control the finances and contractual
administration of Construction projects. This places them at the heart of the
Design Team as a highly valued and integral part to the success of any project
(who doesnt care about cost!). Its a varied and interesting career.
8)
You can become a Chartered Professional
Charterships aren’t unique to
professions like Accountancy. Quantity Surveyors have their own highly valued
professional accreditation. Courses in Quantity Surveying such as that offered
by Waterford Institute of Technology provide graduates with access to the
assessment of professional competence in the Society of Chartered Surveyors
Ireland. This organisation is seen as the acid test of professional practice
and ability in Ireland and worldwide through its reciprocal membership of the
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in the UK (awarded a Royal Charter back
in 1868).
9)
It develops your people skills
A huge part of the profession is the
ability to communicate, negotiate and deal with other people. Your colleagues
in the design team/contracting team, your peers and your client will all rely
on your expertise to deliver value for money and to mitigate the chances of
dispute. These interpersonal skills are taught in courses like that on offer at
WIT and developed further as your career progresses in professional practice
and is an invaluable life skill.
10)
There are lots of jobs
There were more than 300 vacancies
for Quantity Surveyors listed in March 2017 on 'Indeed.com' alone. These
positions vary from graduate surveyors right up to senior and managerial level
positions (we'd invite you to research these offers for yourself on the leading
recruitment websites for more insight on salary expectation and job perks).
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