Introduction

Quantity surveying is a time honoured career, dating back to the mid to late 1800s.

It’s an interesting career path which combines study with practical training.

You will be encouraged to seek chartered status and follow a lifetime of continued professional development.

Quantity surveyors have the opportunity to work in an array of different organisations, contributing to all sorts of different projects.

If you think a career as a quantity surveyor could be for you, then please read on!

Contents

Chapter One – Quantity Surveyor Job Description
Chapter Two – Quantity Surveyor Role and Responsibilities
Chapter Three – Quantity Surveyor Qualifications & Requirements
Chapter Four – Quantity Surveyor Courses & Degrees
Chapter Five – Quantity Surveyor Salary & Progression
Chapter Six – Key Skills Any Quantity Surveyor Should Master
Chapter Seven – Some Of The Best Quantity Surveyor Apps, Tools, Software & Books
Chapter Eight – Basic Quantity Surveyor Interview Questions Examples
Chapter Nine – Become A Better Quantity Surveyor With These Top Tips
Chapter Ten – Get In Front Of These Top Quantity Surveyor Employers
Chapter Eleven – 5 Common Quantity Surveying Myths Debunked
Chapter Twelve – The Evolution of Quantity Surveying Over The Years

Chapter One – Quantity Surveyor Job Description

The Quantity Surveyor, or QS as they are known, is a key driver of project success in the construction industry.

Projects are by their nature one-off activities, and the QS has to be able to give management an accurate idea of how much the materials will cost, how long the project tasks will take, what the procurement and commercial implications may be, where the risks are and a host of other information.

A good QS can make a difficult project successful and help turn round a project that has run into the ground.

Chapter Two – Quantity Surveyor Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities of a quantity surveyor primarily relate to the management of costs associated with building or engineering projects.

At the same time as ensuring projects meet all of the necessary legal and quality assurance regulations, a quantity surveyor must simultaneously seek to minimise costs while enhancing value for money, from the initial design stages right through to completion.

Performing a key function in any build project, whether it be maintenance of an existing building, renovation works or a complete new-build, quantity surveyors require accredited qualifications alongside numerous practical skills.

The Qualifications Needed to Be a Quantity Surveyor

To fulfil the roles and responsibilities of a quantity surveyor, it is usually a requirement to be educated to degree level or hold a professional qualification that is accredited by the Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Generally, the most relevant degrees would be those either directly focused in the fields of surveying and construction or in the areas of civil and structural engineering.
However, it is possible to join the profession without such specialist knowledge.

For the right candidate, some employers can be willing to fund part-time degree courses, and for those with degrees not relevant to the role, it is possible to take a RICS recognised postgraduate course.

Skills and Attributes

Other skills looked for by employers include having a good understanding of the construction industry as well as knowledge of the Health and Safety Executive’s building regulations and legal guidelines.

Possessing an ability to digest complex information quickly in order to assess the needs of a project within any given timescale is another essential skill.

Methodical thinkers and problem solvers are often suited to performing the duties expected of a quantity surveyor.

Good financial management skills are also important.

Excellent communication and negotiating abilities are sought after in order to fulfil the responsibility of bringing in a project within budget.

Duties of a Quantity Surveyor

In seeking to enhance value for money and minimise overall costs, a quantity surveyor will typically be responsible for coordinating the work effort on a building project and conducting feasibility studies in order to estimate costs associated with materials, time and labour.

They will also negotiate and analyse costs for tenders and contracts as well as offer advice on a variety of contractual and legal issues.

Finally, upon completion of work, it is the quantity surveyor’s role to value what has been done and arrange the necessary payments.

Chapter Three – Quantity Surveyor Qualifications & Requirements

A Quantity Surveyor oversees construction jobs, managing risks and controlling costs.

Every construction project requires a Surveyor to ensure the works are carried out correctly in a controlled and risk-free environment.

Within Quantity Surveying jobs, you may work for a local authority, housing association or government department.

Or you may work within the private sector of a building contractor, property company, civil engineering or architecture firm.

Entry Requirements

There are three main methods of becoming a RICS certified Quantity Surveyor, the following will discuss the different options to help you decide which is the best route for yourself dependant on your skillsets. It is really important to note that education is not the only route into a Quantity Surveying career.

RICS certified degree

In order to become a Quantity Surveyor, if the education route appeals to you, then you’ll need to complete a Quantity Surveying degree or a postgraduate conversion course from any degree.

Useful subjects within this sector would be construction, structural or civil engineering, mathematics, geography, economics or land studies.

Or a professional qualification accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors will also suffice.

Trainee Quantity Surveying Technician

You could begin working as a junior or trainee Quantity Surveyor, a Surveying technician or Surveying assistant, then study alongside your role to become qualified.

Apprenticeship

If a more vocational approach suits your skillset, then you can complete a related apprenticeship in this subject.

Demonstrating a desire to learn alongside a willingness to work is an excellent route into this industry.

Within all areas of becoming a Quantity Surveyor, you’ll also need to become a member of the RICS in order to become a fully qualified Chartered Surveyor.

For this you will need to complete an Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

Chapter Four – Quantity Surveyor Professional Development

An important part of a quantity surveyors career is continued professional development.

Of which there are some very specific steps which must be followed.

First off in your career as a quantity surveyor you will start as a trainee quantity surveyor.

From there you will want to obtain a RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) membership.

To do so you must successfully complete the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence, which is commonly referred to as the APC.

Assessment of Professional Competence or APC is a structured training program that normally takes around two years to complete.

In some instances it can be quicker, for instance if you have significant work experience.

You will need to record your training in logbooks and records so you have tangible evidence of it.

Furthermore you will have regular meetings with a supervisor who will help guide you through your APC.

The programme involves a set amount of hours of professional development and culminates in an assessment.

Continuing professional development is vital in maintaining professional competencies and standards.

RICS has an established lifelong learning programme for recording professional development. This may include open learning or private study. In addition to attending conferences or events, running workshops or further study or in house training

By working on your professional development you will have a better chance of progressing through your career.

Chapter Five – Quantity Surveying Salary & Progression

Working Hours and Remuneration

Typically the working hours for a Quantity Surveyor would be Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm.

There is potential in this industry that may require you to work evenings or weekends and hours may be longer if you work as an on-site contractor.

Your time will be divided between working within an office and visiting construction jobs, so you are usually required to have a full driving licence for this role as well.

In terms of your salary, as a starting salary you could be earning anywhere between £18,000 to £25,000.

As you become more experienced you will find your salary increasing significantly from the starting salary to between £25,000 to £50,000.

Once you are considered highly experienced (senior) you could be receiving a salary anywhere between £50,000 to £80,000.

Careers and progression

Career possibilities and progression is something that most people desire for within their career, further from the salary discussion, you can quite clearly see progression within this specific field.

You could continue Quantity Surveying into a more senior role or you could move into a slightly separate field. With this you could go into senior project management, supply chain management, consultancy work or self-employment.

You may even find through working in this field, that you would be better suited in a more specialised career in planning, risk assessment or contract disputes.

For another different approach to progressing within this field, if you feel you have gained enough experience and knowledge then you could teach others to become a Quantity Surveyor.

Therefore you could become a university lecturer or college teacher in this subject.

In order to become a Quantity Surveyor the career path is clear, whether you wish to take an educational approach or a vocational route, take the steps above and you could see yourself working within a Quantity Surveying job.

Typical Salary and Benefits

As a guide, new quantity surveyors can expect to earn in the region of £18,000 to £26,000 per year.

More experienced quantity surveyors working at a senior level could see their salary increase to between £30,000 and £50,000 per year, with senior chartered quantity surveyors earning upwards of £80,000 annually.

Career Opportunities

After gaining several years of experience as a quantity surveyor, many more opportunities can open up, such as the option to become a contractor or take on a consultancy role.

This can be very lucrative and even offer scope to work further afield on large construction projects such as those currently being undertaken in Dubai.

Alternatively, some quantity surveyors use their transferable skills more generally to take on project management positions.

The roles and responsibilities of a quantity surveyor help to equip an individual with a great deal of specialist knowledge.

Armed with this, many enjoy widening their role to encompass even more elements of project management.

Chapter Six – Key Skills Any Quantity Surveyor Should Master

Able to See the Whole Picture

The QS has to be able to take the whole project life cycle into account, from design and start-up to completion and handover.

Similarly, they need to understand the roles of everyone who will be working on the project in order to estimate how much they are going to cost and what resources will be required to deliver the finished job.

And while they’re at it, they need insight into their role in their current project – all projects differ, and it’s good to get roles and responsibilities sorted out right at the beginning.

Logical, Objective and Conscientious

Quantity Surveyors have to be logical and objective, because they often find themselves operating in a context where there are strong supporters of one option or another who want the QS to back them up.

But the surveyor is simply there to provide the facts, with evidence for the estimates they are making.

They can’t disguise the true cost of a piece of work, however much some people might wish it, because in the end their credibility is on the line.

What they can do is to introduce fact-based discussions of the various options with reliable estimates and procurement information.

Confident Communicator Who Gets Listened To

The QS is often in the spotlight in project meetings.

This is because in the early stages of a project they are providing the basis for key decisions as to the project scope, length, cost and feasibility.

Later, their measurement of costs against estimates and of costs-to-finish are key management reports that often find their way to the most senior levels of the organisation.

Confidence in meetings increases with experience, but it really helps if the surveyor is a good communicator and can explain why they’ve arrived at certain estimates or conclusions.

Project managers ignore the QS at their peril, and they are usually listened to carefully.

They just need to be able to explain things in a way a non-specialist can understand.

Results-Driven

As with all project professionals, the QS needs to be someone who likes to see results – the estimate accepted, the project through its gateway, the contract signed, the procurement orders placed, start on site achieved.

This goes right through the project to final snagging, handover and retention agreements.

For the right person, these are immensely satisfying jobs – being a key part of a team dedicated to achieving something of value is a great feeling.

Construction and civil engineering projects can be hectic, hard work and high pressure, but the sense of engagement is huge, and being part of a professional team brings its own rewards.

Chapter Seven – Some Of The Best Quantity Surveyor Apps, Tools, Software & Books

View the full list here!

Taskful
Smart to-do list app, complete with incentives which helps you get more stuff done.

Trackunit
Trackunit is a great app for keeping track of your organisations vehicle fleet and whereabouts.

Trello
A fantastic online tool for managing projects, communication, information flows and much more.

BIM Academy
BIM Academy allows individuals to model and analyse existing projects in 3D. Also incorporates live cost modelling.

Locale
Cloud based property management software. Assists with the effective management of property projects.

Klipboard
Use Klipboard to create and manage mobile forms for audits, maintenance, assessments.

GoReport
Capture building surveys and project management data with ease through the help of an iPhone or iPad. You can use one device to capture all the information you need as well as photos.

Seeable
Use seeable to help clients visualise their projects in 3D. Seeable utilises 3D models to show off projects to clients.

Harness Property
Gain deeper insights when scrolling through properties by sorting by a proprietary algorithm which assigns each property a score depending on how well it matches your needs.

CostX
Speed up your cost estimates by using CostX. CostX automates estimating processes and can perform accurate and efficient measurements from 2D drawing files. Ultimately reduce errors and improve quality.

Chapter Eight – Know How To Answer These Basic Quantity Surveyor Interview Questions

Here are some general questions which you should familiarise yourself with.

Carefully think about how you would answer these types of questions.

Have an answer prepared, but be confident enough to deviate from a memorised spiel.

1. Tell us about yourself
2. What is your favourite building/structure?
3. Give an example of when?
4. What would you do if?
5. What do you know about the company?
6. What do you think about the job role & career path?
7. Why have you applied to us?
8. What would you bring to the company?
9. What are your hobbies or interests?
10. How do you define sustainable development?
11. Asking your own questions in construction interviews
12. Tackling technical interviews

Here are some more specific quantity surveying questions.

1. What do you see as the key challenges faced by Quantity Surveyors on a day to day basis?
2. How broad is your experience with different types of contracts?
3. Do you prefer being office or site based? Why?
4. Have you ever had to deal with a dispute over the valuation of work carried out?
5. Can you describe what you see as a typical site-based day for a Quantity Surveyor?
6. What parts of the Quantity Surveyor role do you most enjoy? Which do you find most challenging?
7. How would you go about combining studying for professional qualifications whilst working?
8. How do you keep your knowledge of HSE building regulations and legal guidelines up to date?
9. What are your ultimate career goals within Quantity Surveying?
10. An important element of the surveying timeline has started to slip. How do you ensure all the requisite
11. milestones are hit and the project gets back on track?
12. How do you go about scheduling time when producing a cost report?
13. Costs are starting to spiral on the project you are working on. How do you resolve the problem and still meet the project deliverables?
14. How much experience do you have with complex engineering projects?
15. What do you know about property tax?

Chapter Nine – Become A Better Quantity Surveyor With These Top Tips

Here are five quick tips for becoming a better quantity surveyor.

Get plenty of work experience

Exposing yourself to lots of different work experience situations will greatly help to broaden your knowledge. It will also allow you to compare and contrast different projects and working methods.

Apply to the right graduate schemes

Applying to graduate schemes whilst at university can be a daunting task. How do you know which ones you should pick? Well one important thing to remember is don’t limit yourself. Apply for a variety of different schemes which offer different things in different locations. You never know what might be the fit for you.

Interview preparation is key

An interview is your time to shine. To stand out from the rest and show why you’re the best candidate for the job. That’s why it’s imperative that you prepare thoroughly. Run through potential interview questions and answers. Make sure you know what you want to say and how best to show off your unique experience and skill sets. You’ll want to be prepared to answer questions about yourself, the job as well as the wider business and economic world.

Show interviewers who you are

In addition to demonstrating your knowledge and experience it’s key that you portray who you are. Make sure you get across your personality, interests and anything else which makes you you that will help you secure the position being offered.

Highlight transferable skills

When in an interview situation make sure you highlight any transferable skills you may have which will help set you apart from the competition. Be these from previous jobs, hobbies, interests or training. Make sure your interviewer is aware of anything that may be relevant to the position you’re interviewing for!

Chapter Ten – Get In Front Of These Top Quantity Surveyor Employers

As a Quantity Surveyor you’ll have a wide array of different organisations open to you to work for.

Here are just a few of the different employers you might encounter throughout your quantity surveying career.

Architects

Architect firms can always benefit from a highly skilled and experienced quantity surveyor. A quantity surveyor is vitally important to architects as they can advise on all key issues involved in a construction project. An architect can design a lovely building, and a construction company can build it, but none of that would be possible without a quantity surveyor involved.

Commercial businesses

A popular employer of quantity surveyors are commercial businesses. Commercial businesses can often benefit from the expertise of a quantity surveyor in helping to deliver projects on time and to budget.

Engineering Consultancies & Housing Associations

This one is rather more obvious. Engineering Consultancies, especially large ones and housing associations will require skilled and knowledgeable quantity surveyors to help control the materials and budget for all of their various projects.

International Mechanical Contractors

You may find job opportunities working for mechanical contractors who are typically in charge of heating and cooling systems, refrigeration, piping and plumbing. This type of work will often result in a project which requires the expertise of a quantity surveyor.

Local Authorities & Government Agencies

If you fancied working in the public sector you could potentially find a position within a government agency or local authority. With these types of positions you will likely find yourself working on small to large government projects.

Private Practice Quantity Surveyors

If you don’t fancy working for a specific contractor you may wish to go down the private practice route. Private practice quantity surveyors will often work with organisations as a consultant. Ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget. In some instances contractors will employ consultant quantity surveyors for one reason; to save as much money as possible.

Property Developers

Another common employer of quantity surveyors is property developers. As a quantity surveyor for a property developer you will spend your time helping to manage the costs, materials and timelines for new property developments. If this appeals to you this may be an interesting route to pursue.

Academic Departments

Unlike the other employers listed here, academic departments will provide quite a different working environment. Instead of working on projects for developers and contractors you will be focusing your attention on teaching. Likely working as a lecturer for a university teaching quantity surveyor to new potential colleagues.

Chapter Eleven – 5 Common Quantity Surveyor Myths Debunked

Building fundamentally consists of moving materials out from a site, and moving other materials in.

As the name suggests, quantity surveying is required in order to assess these quantities and the associated costs.

But this leads to some misconceptions as to the role of a quantity surveyor.

The job is much more than measuring

Measuring dimensions and tonnage is merely one technique that helps the surveyor address a broader objective in managing the costs and contracts that underpin the entire construction project.

The profitability of construction firms is affected to a significant degree by materials movements.

Interests often compete, so logistics, timing, planning, negotiation and diplomacy are all required in order to keep everything moving into the required position at the right time and at the right cost.

The maths isn’t rocket science

Although measuring quantities is certainly a part of quantity surveying, the mathematical demands are fairly straightforward.

In most cases, quantities are already reasonably well known in advance and unless a dispute between two contractors arises over costs and requires arbitration, only moderate precision is required.

Formulas to assess weights and volumes are soon mastered.

The surveyor will also use some maths when presenting figures and cost estimations.

But again, although they need to be proficient with numbers, the mathematics is not particularly demanding.

Care, circumspection, thoroughness and information presentation are more important qualities.

Lots of paperwork

The job involves familiarity with contracts, drawings and statutory requirements but there is also time spent out on site.

Surveyors will get to know many of the contractors both onsite and off, assimilating their needs and concerns from both a practical and a contractual perspective.

It’s a balance many people enjoy.

The reason for all that paperwork is wholly practical, relating it to the work in progress and understanding how it affects all involved so that all parties can work together to reach the desired objective.

Isn’t it boring?

In addition to the variety associated with working both in and out of the office, the surveyor’s job involves overseeing the operations of a wide variety of contractors involved in a project.

In a career spanning decades, the projects themselves are likely to be reasonably diverse, in no small part because the surveyor’s skills are transferable.

There is plenty of diplomacy and negotiation to keep you on your toes.

The surveyor is routinely called upon to acts as an independent arbiter between different contractors, logistics firms and waste recycling companies, or to check on the cost estimates put forward by design and management teams, who sometimes have vested interests of their own.

Quantity surveying requires initiative and creativity in finding solutions that are acceptable to all parties.

When you understand their role in keeping the entire project moving forward, the inherent job satisfaction becomes easy to understand.

Overlooked but not unimportant

So, in addition to quantitative measurements and the logistics of moving materials, the role involves cost planning and control, value management and tendering.

Quantity surveying keeps all the other operations involved in construction projects flowing and a seasoned surveyor will have forged relationships with senior people across the industry.

It is little wonder that quantity surveyor jobs can open the door to senior project management positions.

Chapter Twelve – The Evolution of Quantity Surveying

The name Quantity Surveyor is derived from the original need for the profession to prepare the bill of quantities from plans, describing the material, items of work and the quantities needed.

The word quantity implies amount, numbers, extent, mass, size, magnitude or measure. Surveyor denotes inspector, examiner, reviewer, evaluator or assessor.

The Evolution of Quantity Surveying

Quantity Surveying originally had just three major employers; Professional Quantity Surveying firms (PQS), municipalities and government departments, as well as construction and civil engineering companies.

Quantity Surveyors have increasingly become more recognisable as a profession from architecture and civil engineering since the year of 1836, yet they are not immune to the many challenges within the environment.

The construction industry appear to have always been highly critical of the works carried out by this profession, leading others to even question the importance of the role as a whole.

By the middle of the 20th Century, Quantity Surveying continued to evolve into a much more recognisable profession in the construction industry.

Quantity Surveying jobs had developed into a traditional role of maintaining all financial aspects of each project for both the clients and the builders.

With the ever-changing environment, this field has adapted to suit each marketplace as time has continued to move forward.

Today, Quantity Surveying functions involve a vast array of attributes, these allow the profession itself to stand far away from something just as simple as ‘counting bricks’.

Due to the vast array of services that this job offers, the business is not just focusing on the construction industry but also finance.

This is elevating the involvement in other industries as time is progressively moving forward, such as property management as an example.

Similar to other businesses, the demand for qualified professionals increases as the industry is expanding, so in recent years the demand for Surveyors has been at a high.

Despite originally only having three major employers, Quantity Surveying today could mean you work for a local authority, housing association or government department.

Or you may work within the private sector of a building contractor, property company, civil engineering or architecture firm.

In order for this profession to not become extinct, over the years, recent practice has shown that the industry has focused on implementing ‘value engineering’.

This will then improve the overall value of the end product or service that they are providing to clients, helping the client receive more for their money.

For any industry to succeed, it needs to adapt to the surroundings and evolve with the time.

The paths into landing a role within a Quantity Surveying career has increased over the years, from university degrees to apprenticeships to even gaining a role as a junior or trainee Surveyor.

The opportunities will only continue to increase as the industry continues to grow.