Construction industry

[rabbitrabbit12]

Anyone work in the construction industry? I’m working for one of the big companies training to be a QS but I hate it! They see you as a commodity not a person ... anyone else?

We are in construction.

Being treated as a commodity would be a good thing here as at least you expect to pay for a commodity. We are waiting to be paid for work we did in august still.

You need a thick skin to be a QS!

Interesting, I work as training as a QS for big firm and very much feel like a person not a commodity. I'm surrounded but pressure but also by support, such a shame you two have had a bad experience :(

Is it the role or the firm you dislike?

I was really excited about working for the company but they don’t seem to be interested in supporting me. All I do all day is input data onto spreadsheets. I expected to be out on site more mixing with sub contractors but No. I’ve brought it up that I’m not happy with the role I’m doing but they just said everyone starts at the bottom. I’m funding my degree myself over 5 yrs. I have over an hours commute each way then a 9 hour day sat doing spreadsheets it’s so boring 😭

Are you on an apprenticeship or some kind of training contract?

No I’m a commercial assistant funding my own degree I was hopin to stay with this company for 5 yrs and they take promote me to a Quantity Surveyor.

Not being funny but I work in a very similar role and 90% of the work is spreadsheets. You've got to have some more realistic expectations! What is the job that needs to be done and how are you best to do it? These days, the answer is usually in front of a pc looking at data. If you don't like that - maybe the job isn't for you? The industry can pay very very well though and open up all sorts of travel opportunities that you don't get to elsewhere.

Sex discrimination is widespread in this industry and it is still very much an old boys club

Anyone anywhere near Bristol/Bath? I'm at Make, and we're after a QS at the mo. I've been here a year, and coming from teaching I've very little experience of the construction industry, but Mike & Matt seem very aware of the 'old boys club' image and are keen for Make to be something different. Hopefully there are others out there doing the same...

Unfortunately I'm in the midlands. I'm thinking of giving it up, my commute is 1.5 hrs each way on top of a 10 hr day... is this normal?? Plus on minimum wage and funding my own degree

Rabbit how long have you been doing the QS job? My DH is a commercial/contracts manager with a company abroad but he did his fair share of Excel work for about 3 years I think before he moved up. Now he’s doing a lot of arbitration and contract law and loves it. He said the thought of going back to doing the measurement, bills etc terrifies him!

I've only been doing it 7 mths, I've just moved to a smaller project so I'm not doing so many spreadsheets and more of the analysis but it's the travelling and long hours I'm not liking at the moment.

Hmmm Rabbit, I’m not sure then. I would say suck it up but if you really don’t like it..... Usually the bigger contractors/consultants would help finance any CPD needed for their juniors as a lot of them get their MRICS paid for etc.

No idea if the commute is bad as before we moved closer to husbands work he was doing an hour commute either way as well as the travelling between different projects as well