Quantity Surveyor Review

My role involves the measuring, pricing, and cost management of multiple repairs and maintenance contracts in London and the South East. This includes working closely with contracts managers and engineers for the successful completion of projects, travelling to sites, liaising with subcontractors and suppliers, as well as reporting on the commercial aspects of the contracts.

I began my role almost as soon as I left school so I have learnt many new skills over the past 6 years. I have learnt a variety of transferable skills, such as drafting reports, presenting, communication, and general office-based skills. In this time I have also learnt the specific skills involved in quantity surveying, such as cost planning, measuring, cost management, negotiating etc.

My enjoyment of my programme has varied over the past 5 years. I have enjoyed the differences and contrasting experiences of working and studying together. Overall, I enjoy the teams I work with, but some recent changes have added pressure that have reduced the enjoyment of completing my studying while trying to continue to engage with my team members.

My programme is well structured: I often engage with my manager regarding my progress progression and future progression. In my role, there has not been much formally structured training, I have mostly learned from practice and observation. My degree was often disorganised however by the University, but I received support from my manager that allowed me to work my flexibly and keep up with the academic challenges.

There is a really positive attitude towards supporting me and I am comfortable speaking to HR or my manager to receive this support. I have often had support in my job role and when I needed additional time off for studying. However, sometimes the support can be slow to be provided.

I don't have much guidance or contact with an advisor regarding my education, but generally I enjoy this independent approach. I have sometimes spoke to colleagues and asked questions that could help my education, however I strongly feel like my training is very distinct and separate from my work.

I feel that the skills I have received in my qualification are beneficial to my role, but are often under-utilised due to the nature of my role, and the lack of alternative tasks that are available for me to challenge myself with. I try to use what I have learnt into practice as often as I can.

We have volunteering opportunities, but many are too far away for me to attend. I have been to some social events and teambuilding days - I would like there to be more. I have also attended a few networking events. I think the company could do more to organise and facilitate more things like these.

Yes

I have actually already referred a friend to a similar programme at Equans. I believe the salary for trainees is fairly competitive, and while it can be demanding, what is expected from you is not excessive. The culture is very respectful and forward-thinking, which makes it an enjoyable business to work for.

I would advise them to be patient with the application process, as it can take a while. A good tip would to be to speak to someone in a similar role to ensure you understand the role that you are applying for so it is right for you, which will make the interview very straightforward. The onboarding process could be more informative and be done at different levels for a better experience.