2022 is proving to be a promising year for the Irish construction industry. With growth up 23% from last year, right now, the sector is thriving. With big projects on the horizon, such as the Greenlink Offshore Interconnector and the Cork Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility Expansion, the industry is projected to grow by a further 16.1% before the end of year—increasing the demand for quantity surveyors.
In this article, you’ll not only discover how to get into quantity surveying, but what the role entails and where to start looking for quantity surveyor jobs.
An interesting fact about quantity surveying is that the profession blends economics and construction. Although a quantity surveyor isn’t an engineer by definition, the role can be found in civil engineering, as well as mechanical and electrical services.
It’s entirely up to you to decide which sector you’d prefer to work in, but let’s look at what a quantity surveyor in construction actually does.
When looking further afield, you might see quantity surveyor jobs listed under an alternative name. In Canada and the US, for example, quantity surveyors are known as construction cost estimators, though the actual role definition may slightly differ.
As a quantity surveyor in Ireland, your role involves advising on financial and contractual matters for all construction projects. Additional responsibilities are likely to include bill preparation for material quantities, providing support for financing, and costing materials required for building projects.
You’ll also be expected to examine tenders received, advise clients and assist with preparing contract documents. Simply put, you’ll be responsible for all project costing, valuing and billing requirements.
Most professions offer a personal development system, progressing between junior, mid-weight, and senior roles. If you’re looking for entry-level quantity surveyor jobs, you might be interested in a junior quantity surveyor role.
As a junior quantity surveyor, you’ll be assisting the commercial manager while learning on the job. This will be vital for gaining the key experience needed to move up the career ladder.
The goal of the junior quantity surveyor is to gain as much knowledge about managing project schedules and budgets, as possible. Although progressing from junior to senior level may take many years, you’ll gain a wealth of first-hand experience while learning from the absolute best in the industry.
Regardless of your experience level, there are several fundamental skills involved with quantity surveying that you’ll need to possess.
The core skills for quantity surveyor jobs are:
Now that you know what the job entails and the skills required, let’s explore the different academic establishments where you can study quantity surveying.
There are many great universities across Ireland that offer accredited quantity surveyor courses, in addition to other construction courses to help you get into quantity surveyor jobs. Each course will likely differ, so we recommend researching each one thoroughly before you begin to apply.
We’ve compiled a list of the top institutes for quantity surveying:
The Institute of Technology Carlow’s quantity surveying course is accredited by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and the Chartered Institute of Building.
Limerick Institute of Technology offers both undergraduate and graduate quantity surveying courses.
Dublin Institute of Technology has 18 different courses in quantity surveying and construction for you to choose from.
Athlone Institute of Technology provides first-hand work place experience with a placement in the third year of their course.
A degree in quantity surveying opens up a world of potential opportunities across different industries, where potential candidates can thrive.
As a quantity surveyor, you’ll develop a wide range of transferable skills, such as strong attention to detail, contract preparation, and the ability to think critically. In fact, you might be surprised at what other career options are open to you based on your surveying experience. In this video, the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland explain what is typically involved in being a quantity surveyor in Ireland:
From bank monitoring to contract management, there’s even opportunities in supply chain management and witness consultancy. Alternatively, some quantity surveyors started in completely different fields, before moving into quantitative surveying. This includes senior quantity surveyor Teigh Cunningham, who said, “I saw quantity surveying as an ideal path to apply my aptitudes in accounting, finance and law in an environment that is less rigid than traditional industries.”
Take it from Teigh, it’s never too late to make a change—and there’s never been a better time to enter the quantity surveying field.
SSA Group works tirelessly to match construction professionals with the best-suited job positions. On our website, you’ll find a wealth of industry knowledge, not to mention up-to-date job vacancies across Ireland. Check out our website for more information today.
