Quantity Surveyor
Aug 9th 2005, 1:15 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: In transit
Posts: 50
Quantity Surveyor
We are thinking of emigrating to Oz. Ideally we want to go to Sydney or Brisbane, but since my fiancee is 30 yrs old and a Senior Quantity Suveyor, we are short of 5 points.... We are contemplating on whether to dish out the $100k to get the 120 points, or consider going to Adelaide with the 115 points.
But the worry is - are there many QS jobs in Adelaide?!
Would anyone know what the average salary for a Senior Quantity Surveyor (7+ yrs experience with BSc) is in those cities, and also if there are many jobs in Adelaide for a QS? I know there are quite a few in Sydney, but what do you think? I'm sure salaries are higher in Sydney, but so is cost of living.....
We are in two minds...... thanks for the advice!
But the worry is - are there many QS jobs in Adelaide?!
Would anyone know what the average salary for a Senior Quantity Surveyor (7+ yrs experience with BSc) is in those cities, and also if there are many jobs in Adelaide for a QS? I know there are quite a few in Sydney, but what do you think? I'm sure salaries are higher in Sydney, but so is cost of living.....
We are in two minds...... thanks for the advice!
Aug 9th 2005, 2:10 pm
#2
In my own little world!
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Sydney
Posts: 2,062
Re: Quantity Surveyor
Originally Posted by mollymalone
We are thinking of emigrating to Oz. Ideally we want to go to Sydney or Brisbane, but since my fiancee is 30 yrs old and a Senior Quantity Suveyor, we are short of 5 points.... We are contemplating on whether to dish out the $100k to get the 120 points, or consider going to Adelaide with the 115 points.
But the worry is - are there many QS jobs in Adelaide?!
Would anyone know what the average salary for a Senior Quantity Surveyor (7+ yrs experience with BSc) is in those cities, and also if there are many jobs in Adelaide for a QS? I know there are quite a few in Sydney, but what do you think? I'm sure salaries are higher in Sydney, but so is cost of living.....
We are in two minds...... thanks for the advice!
But the worry is - are there many QS jobs in Adelaide?!
Would anyone know what the average salary for a Senior Quantity Surveyor (7+ yrs experience with BSc) is in those cities, and also if there are many jobs in Adelaide for a QS? I know there are quite a few in Sydney, but what do you think? I'm sure salaries are higher in Sydney, but so is cost of living.....
We are in two minds...... thanks for the advice!
I can't comment about the number of QS jobs in Adelaide, but I would recommend your partner speaks to two recruitment agencies who specialise in QS positions - Hill McGlynn and Judd Farris, both with offices in Sydney. I can also put your other half in touch with UK contacts within these agencies and other QS specific agencies who may be able to assist.
PM if you would like further info - happy to help if I can.
Nicky
Aug 9th 2005, 4:30 pm
#3
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: In transit
Posts: 50
Re: Quantity Surveyor
Nicky - thanks for the advice.
Do you think it would be difficult to secure a job in Australia from here in London, without a visa? Do companies sponsor QSs over from the UK?
Any help would be much appreciated!
Do you think it would be difficult to secure a job in Australia from here in London, without a visa? Do companies sponsor QSs over from the UK?
Any help would be much appreciated!
Aug 9th 2005, 11:41 pm
#4
Sydney- North Shore
Joined: May 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 387
Re: Quantity Surveyor
Originally Posted by mollymalone
Nicky - thanks for the advice.
Do you think it would be difficult to secure a job in Australia from here in London, without a visa? Do companies sponsor QSs over from the UK?
Any help would be much appreciated!
Do you think it would be difficult to secure a job in Australia from here in London, without a visa? Do companies sponsor QSs over from the UK?
Any help would be much appreciated!
as the previous poster said Hill McGlynn are one of the better known recruiters. However your partner should consider contacting a few practices directly as the employer will not have to pay a huge agents fee then he may be able to secure a better starting package. It is likely he will have to take a step back and work his way back up to some degree though. It has taken me 18months- 2 years to get back to the same salary level i left behind.... ( i am a building surveyor but same difference)
Don't worry too much about getting a job from the UK, there's plenty to go around once you get here.... What city are you looking at?
a few firms to email are:-
Napier Blakeley
WT Partnership
Currie and Brown
Rider Hunt
Google should give you their contact details. E mail me if you get stuck further....
The company i work for regularly sponser for a 457 visa but not so readily for PR but the 457 would get you into the market here.... Although there are limitations with this visa.
Another option, in fact the one we used was a WHV visa. You can only work for an employer for 3 months but it was long enough to make myslef useful to them to persuade them to sponsor me..... Sounds risky i know but demand for people outstrips supply at the moment
Not too much going on in adelaide i wouldn't have thought... plenty in Sydney or Brisbane though.....
Last edited by jjonboy; Aug 9th 2005 at 11:42 pm. Reason: missed the adelaide bit!
Aug 10th 2005, 8:23 am
#5
In my own little world!
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Sydney
Posts: 2,062
Re: Quantity Surveyor
Originally Posted by mollymalone
Nicky - thanks for the advice.
Do you think it would be difficult to secure a job in Australia from here in London, without a visa? Do companies sponsor QSs over from the UK?
Any help would be much appreciated!
Do you think it would be difficult to secure a job in Australia from here in London, without a visa? Do companies sponsor QSs over from the UK?
Any help would be much appreciated!
I have a specific contact who works at Hill McGlynn, Sydney so PM if you'd like the name.
Good luck with the 'info gathering'.
Nicky
Aug 11th 2005, 8:07 am
#6
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Dossing with the inlaws
Posts: 302
Re: Quantity Surveyor
Adelaide is not good for QS's. The UK magazines are full of stories of how UK QS's are in great demand in Oz but its a con. They want highly trained professional people to do menial tasks simply because it is not necessary to supervise them. Its like being offered a Rolls Royce trained engineer to fix your lawnmower for £1.50 - of course he'd be in demand!!!!!
I am a QS with BSc MRICS ACIArb PGCert ICIOB but was treated like dirt in Adelaide.
I work freelance in the UK and make about £70,000 but in Adelaide, best I could manage was £25,000.
Adeliade is a city of trademen. That is all the subbies are "a man, his son, and a ute". There is a bizarre way of working whereby the employer is entitled to see actual costs rather than agree a value, and any overclaim can be reported to the local MP, who can impose some sanction or other!!?
Consequently, QS's in the role we understand are not needed by contractors - the subbies are all too small and can't afford it and the main contractors only want someone to be a cost-clerk (hence the £25k salary). They call QSs Contract Administrators and although you will have to keep the rest of the team out of trouble, same as here, you are the bottom of the pile and basically the project manager's bitch!
I worked for a builder turning over $10m. It was awful. The industry is racked with union activity and the employment conditions are dreadful. Forget a car, phone, laptop or anything. Expect to be treated poorly and with little respect. My employer had a £50,000 claim against him which had been going on for 3 years and was in a weird arbitration that had cost over $500,000 to date. I offered to look at the case, being CIArb and a PG Cert in Construction Law and Arbitration but was laughed at by the whole company for a week! When I was working my notice to come back, the boss let me have a look as I had nothing else on. Within a week, I had met with the barrister and written a rebuttal which won the case. The boss was amazed that a clerk could do such a thing and offered me $1000 extra to stay.
Before that, I worked for Rider Hunt, but only lasted 2 weeks there. It was so boring and even less money. They are the biggest player in town with 20 or so QS's. Nice people though.
If you do go there, dont bother with the agencies. It is easier to walk down Pirie Street and call in at Riders, Davis Langdon, Currie and Brown and ask!
I was offered a position with JR Knowles in Melbourne and that might have been good, but I didnt like Melbourne as much and decided to come home.
I am a QS with BSc MRICS ACIArb PGCert ICIOB but was treated like dirt in Adelaide.
I work freelance in the UK and make about £70,000 but in Adelaide, best I could manage was £25,000.
Adeliade is a city of trademen. That is all the subbies are "a man, his son, and a ute". There is a bizarre way of working whereby the employer is entitled to see actual costs rather than agree a value, and any overclaim can be reported to the local MP, who can impose some sanction or other!!?
Consequently, QS's in the role we understand are not needed by contractors - the subbies are all too small and can't afford it and the main contractors only want someone to be a cost-clerk (hence the £25k salary). They call QSs Contract Administrators and although you will have to keep the rest of the team out of trouble, same as here, you are the bottom of the pile and basically the project manager's bitch!
I worked for a builder turning over $10m. It was awful. The industry is racked with union activity and the employment conditions are dreadful. Forget a car, phone, laptop or anything. Expect to be treated poorly and with little respect. My employer had a £50,000 claim against him which had been going on for 3 years and was in a weird arbitration that had cost over $500,000 to date. I offered to look at the case, being CIArb and a PG Cert in Construction Law and Arbitration but was laughed at by the whole company for a week! When I was working my notice to come back, the boss let me have a look as I had nothing else on. Within a week, I had met with the barrister and written a rebuttal which won the case. The boss was amazed that a clerk could do such a thing and offered me $1000 extra to stay.
Before that, I worked for Rider Hunt, but only lasted 2 weeks there. It was so boring and even less money. They are the biggest player in town with 20 or so QS's. Nice people though.
If you do go there, dont bother with the agencies. It is easier to walk down Pirie Street and call in at Riders, Davis Langdon, Currie and Brown and ask!
I was offered a position with JR Knowles in Melbourne and that might have been good, but I didnt like Melbourne as much and decided to come home.
Last edited by sundarize; Aug 11th 2005 at 8:15 am. Reason: added info
Aug 11th 2005, 9:24 am
#7
Account Closed
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,375
Re: Quantity Surveyor
Hey Sundarize,
I'm a QS ... that's what got us in ... Perth bound.
What's the verdict ... career change ?
Three Legs
I'm a QS ... that's what got us in ... Perth bound.
What's the verdict ... career change ?
Three Legs
Originally Posted by sundarize
Adelaide is not good for QS's. The UK magazines are full of stories of how UK QS's are in great demand in Oz but its a con. They want highly trained professional people to do menial tasks simply because it is not necessary to supervise them. Its like being offered a Rolls Royce trained engineer to fix your lawnmower for £1.50 - of course he'd be in demand!!!!!
I am a QS with BSc MRICS ACIArb PGCert ICIOB but was treated like dirt in Adelaide.
I work freelance in the UK and make about £70,000 but in Adelaide, best I could manage was £25,000.
Adeliade is a city of trademen. That is all the subbies are "a man, his son, and a ute". There is a bizarre way of working whereby the employer is entitled to see actual costs rather than agree a value, and any overclaim can be reported to the local MP, who can impose some sanction or other!!?
Consequently, QS's in the role we understand are not needed by contractors - the subbies are all too small and can't afford it and the main contractors only want someone to be a cost-clerk (hence the £25k salary). They call QSs Contract Administrators and although you will have to keep the rest of the team out of trouble, same as here, you are the bottom of the pile and basically the project manager's bitch!
I worked for a builder turning over $10m. It was awful. The industry is racked with union activity and the employment conditions are dreadful. Forget a car, phone, laptop or anything. Expect to be treated poorly and with little respect. My employer had a £50,000 claim against him which had been going on for 3 years and was in a weird arbitration that had cost over $500,000 to date. I offered to look at the case, being CIArb and a PG Cert in Construction Law and Arbitration but was laughed at by the whole company for a week! When I was working my notice to come back, the boss let me have a look as I had nothing else on. Within a week, I had met with the barrister and written a rebuttal which won the case. The boss was amazed that a clerk could do such a thing and offered me $1000 extra to stay.
Before that, I worked for Rider Hunt, but only lasted 2 weeks there. It was so boring and even less money. They are the biggest player in town with 20 or so QS's. Nice people though.
If you do go there, dont bother with the agencies. It is easier to walk down Pirie Street and call in at Riders, Davis Langdon, Currie and Brown and ask!
I was offered a position with JR Knowles in Melbourne and that might have been good, but I didnt like Melbourne as much and decided to come home.
I am a QS with BSc MRICS ACIArb PGCert ICIOB but was treated like dirt in Adelaide.
I work freelance in the UK and make about £70,000 but in Adelaide, best I could manage was £25,000.
Adeliade is a city of trademen. That is all the subbies are "a man, his son, and a ute". There is a bizarre way of working whereby the employer is entitled to see actual costs rather than agree a value, and any overclaim can be reported to the local MP, who can impose some sanction or other!!?
Consequently, QS's in the role we understand are not needed by contractors - the subbies are all too small and can't afford it and the main contractors only want someone to be a cost-clerk (hence the £25k salary). They call QSs Contract Administrators and although you will have to keep the rest of the team out of trouble, same as here, you are the bottom of the pile and basically the project manager's bitch!
I worked for a builder turning over $10m. It was awful. The industry is racked with union activity and the employment conditions are dreadful. Forget a car, phone, laptop or anything. Expect to be treated poorly and with little respect. My employer had a £50,000 claim against him which had been going on for 3 years and was in a weird arbitration that had cost over $500,000 to date. I offered to look at the case, being CIArb and a PG Cert in Construction Law and Arbitration but was laughed at by the whole company for a week! When I was working my notice to come back, the boss let me have a look as I had nothing else on. Within a week, I had met with the barrister and written a rebuttal which won the case. The boss was amazed that a clerk could do such a thing and offered me $1000 extra to stay.
Before that, I worked for Rider Hunt, but only lasted 2 weeks there. It was so boring and even less money. They are the biggest player in town with 20 or so QS's. Nice people though.
If you do go there, dont bother with the agencies. It is easier to walk down Pirie Street and call in at Riders, Davis Langdon, Currie and Brown and ask!
I was offered a position with JR Knowles in Melbourne and that might have been good, but I didnt like Melbourne as much and decided to come home.
Aug 11th 2005, 4:42 pm
#8
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,649
Re: Quantity Surveyor
Originally Posted by mollymalone
We are thinking of emigrating to Oz. Ideally we want to go to Sydney or Brisbane, but since my fiancee is 30 yrs old and a Senior Quantity Suveyor, we are short of 5 points.... We are contemplating on whether to dish out the $100k to get the 120 points, or consider going to Adelaide with the 115 points.
But the worry is - are there many QS jobs in Adelaide?!
Would anyone know what the average salary for a Senior Quantity Surveyor (7+ yrs experience with BSc) is in those cities, and also if there are many jobs in Adelaide for a QS? I know there are quite a few in Sydney, but what do you think? I'm sure salaries are higher in Sydney, but so is cost of living.....
We are in two minds...... thanks for the advice!
But the worry is - are there many QS jobs in Adelaide?!
Would anyone know what the average salary for a Senior Quantity Surveyor (7+ yrs experience with BSc) is in those cities, and also if there are many jobs in Adelaide for a QS? I know there are quite a few in Sydney, but what do you think? I'm sure salaries are higher in Sydney, but so is cost of living.....
We are in two minds...... thanks for the advice!
If your choice is pay the bond, or go on the SIR visa, if you think hard about the pros and cons (and especially the disadvantages, costs and risks of SIR), then paying the bond and getting a 136 visa wins hands down in 99% of cases.
Have you checked the state skill shortage lists to see if STNI is a possibility?
Jeremy
