Quantity Surveying

[Brett]

Which begs the question, any builders looking for more muscle?? I will be looking to swap possibly in Early March. Residential mostly, i have all the tools, can run projects (tho my onsite skills still need a tad of tuning) and basically can get stuff done. PM me if your keen.

[Colapop]

Hey mate, i am a Project/construction manager and work in with the QS blokes a helluva lot. If you are into the sort of job where you take a set of drawings, do takeoffs and schedules of quantities etc, and draw up tenders, then you may be interested in QS work. You would need to think about a qualification, Unitec offer the Diploma in Construction Economics which is about what you would need to enter this role, and some employers would prefer the Bach in Const. Economics.
It all depends really, some companies such as Mainzeal and Fletchers regularly take people on as cadets. Salary is quite low, only about 35k, but once qualified they do pay muych better. I have mates that are early twenties earning 60+k a year. Not huge money, but with experience and becoming a senior QS you could crack over 100k.
Personally i chose the Project Management role because i came out of a building apprecnticeship and did quite well in my seventh form year and wanted to do something with variety where i could be indoors and outdoors and that would keep me interested.
Qsing is an office job, if that is your sort of environment, you will probably enjoy it!
Me myself, i am thinking that a bit of a change would be good and head back out to site to finish off the apprenticeship would give me wider skills.

If you have any questions, PM me, i am happy to answer whatever you may have.

I need to do something that's more indoors/outdoors. Solely outdoor work for me thus far has been humping shit here and there (I don't mind working hard) and solely office work bores me (but I don't mind using my brains). I'd never considered QS before but it was suggested to me.
My biggest problem is earning a halfway decent living (2 teenagers to feed) and study at the same time in the evening. Weltec do offer evening study but not in any design type quals (Engineering). Another problem (there's so many!!) is that I'm no good at correspondence study - I have to be in a class. I've got the number for the guidance councellor out there (@ Weltec) so I think I'll go there in the new year.



Brain hurts too much thinks....

[Brett]

I need to do something that's more indoors/outdoors. Solely outdoor work for me thus far has been humping shit here and there (I don't mind working hard) and solely office work bores me (but I don't mind using my brains). I'd never considered QS before but it was suggested to me.
My biggest problem is earning a halfway decent living (2 teenagers to feed) and study at the same time in the evening. Weltec do offer evening study but not in any design type quals (Engineering). Another problem (there's so many!!) is that I'm no good at correspondence study - I have to be in a class. I've got the number for the guidance councellor out there (@ Weltec) so I think I'll go there in the new year.



Brain hurts too much thinks....

From the sounds of it then Quantity Surveying isn't really the role for you, consider construction management, site supervisor (building background highly advised) or project management (more business theory, management involved but also quite a lot of construction management) PM has quite high hours and stress at times. Quite rewarding too tho. PLus you get clients who take you out to play golf, boating, fishing, snowboarding etc...gotta love that!!!

[Colapop]

I've decided to wait until after xmas and then I'm going to check with the Weltec guidance councellor (Hope he/she doesn't try and hug me - end up with missing teef!) and see what options are available in after hours study in the feild/s I'm interested in (Construction, mechanical design). Thanks for the advice Brett it has really helped.