With the current shortage in quantity surveyors, now may be a good time to see what it involves. KERRY ANN EUSTICE finds out more.

Qualifications:

I have a BSc in quantity surveying. It is possible to get into the field without this qualification, but surveyors without degrees are a dying breed. You can find a position with a surveying company who will train you on the job and offer a day release to study for the degree. I'm also working towards a Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors accreditation to become a become a chartered surveyor.

Place of work:

I work for Maize Projects. I'm usually based in the south east and Kent, around the M25.

Earning potential:

It depends on your role. Full surveyors earn around £25,000 to £30,000 per year. If you are a senior surveyor it can reach £40,000 to £45,000.

There is currently a shortage of surveyors, so the earning potential is good.

What hours do you work?

8am until 5pm or 6pm. But we have to be flexible.

What is your typical day like?

I start by consulting with a client wanting a building project completed. They give me their brief for the project and it is my job to cost it based on an estimate for the labour, materials and plant which covers site costs.

I develop the budget by giving an outline cost for the ground, roof and brick work, for example, and then go to a number of subcontractors who will complete the work to try and get a fixed rate based on the client's budget. Subcontractors submit applications to me, which I then review and choose from.

I monitor the project from both the subcontractor and the client's side to see if any problems or hurdles will stretch the budget. If the price is set to change, I have to clear this with the client or we, the surveyors, could end up at a loss as we still have to pay the contractor for the work.

Why did you decide to become a quantity surveyor?

I worked in a bank when I left school but soon got bored and took a job with a subcontractor, where I would often come into contact with surveyors. I realised I wanted a challenging job, so I went to university to study the subject.

Where do you want to go from here?

Eventually I'd like to go freelance so I can then choose more appealing and interesting projects.