After completion of a Quantity Surveying Course in Sri Lanka

When joining a construction company as a Quantity Surveyor.(Locally or Internationally)

I just only want to share my experience with readers when finding a job in the construction field as I was not directed by anyone what to do after completion of a Quantity Surveying course.

In Sri Lanka there are lots of major scale construction companies delivering their services for the construction industry. After completion of a course (Q.S) or a degree program, everyone looks for a job opportunity in the construction field.

You are free to decide where to start your carrier in the construction field.

1)    Major scale construction companies.

If you join with a major scale construction company, sometimes you will be able to get a good experience with a better salary but perhaps you won’t be able to cover up the whole job role relevant to the Quantity Surveying Carrier and that’s usually depends on the company and the management. If you continue the specific task that you are offered to do, you will be an expert in that part only. If the company allows you to expand your tasks covering up all the duties of a Quantity Surveyor, then you will be a well experienced one after couple of years. Reputation of the company does not help all the time to get through in foreign interviews.

2)    Smaller scale construction companies.

If you join with a smaller scale company, most of the times you have to cover up all the duties relevant to the Q.S. job role as well as the administrative part in the office. As I think it’s a good opportunity for us to learn. It covers up both pre and post contract stages. After few years you will be able to handle a construction sites following all the duties. We sometimes feel that is very boring for us and very tough but it is an invaluable qualification for our selves to get through in foreign interviews.

Foreign interviewers mainly focused on the knowledge that we have and ask a lot of Questions relevant to the job role. As I experienced they never checked out my certificates or service letters. They only wanted the exact answers. Even if you have a degree but you are not knowledgeable, then you will lose the opportunity.

At least we need to have a Diploma in Quantity Surveying unless we won’t be able to apply for the supervisory category visas (sponsors are reluctant in this regard) in Middle Eastern Countries but it never matters you to do the job in middle eastern countries as most of the Quantity Surveyors are working under the electrician category visas as they have only completed certificate courses.

To be continued-