Jam1986

Hi,

I am looking to move to Canada in a Qs / estimator role, and was wondering if anyone could give me information on the following:

Is there a high demand for qs's / estimators in Ontario?

Who are the best construction companies / employment agencies to contact and does anyone have any contacts that I could get in touch with?

How are the wages in Canada compared with the UK?

How are the living costs in Canada compared to the UK?

Any help would be gratefully appreciate, thanks in advance.

cheeky_monkey

They dont have QS in Canada only estimators..then there are different estimators depending which sector of the construction industry you work in. Obviously age and experience will depends what level you are at.

Estimators are more in demand in western Canada because that is where the work is, so job prospects are better and wages are higher.

Jam1986

Does the estimator in Canada complete a similar role to the QS in the Uk?

Have you the names of any companies or employment agencies it would be worth gettin in touch with?

Thanks

cheeky_monkey

No the QS role is split between the project manager and the estimator..im in Alberta not Ontario so cant help with job searching there...others can i suspect.

Jam1986

I'm pretty open on location, my 1st thought was Ontario but Alberta is also a thought, have you any companies or construction agencies that would be good to contact?

Is it a estimator you work as yourself?

Is the standard of living alot better than Uk?

cheeky_monkey

no i was a project manager when i came over..im now a project director..anyway you dont state what kind of experience you have etc.

Jam1986

I have 8 years experience as a QS / estimator working on jobs ranging from 3 million to 130 million with a main contractor and have a Bsc hons in quantity surveying, do you think that is relevant experience?

beautiful050278

+1

Calgary is the place IMO

cheeky_monkey

Do you have PR or are you looking to get a TWP?

The standard of living is subjective dependent on what you are looking for...if it is purely based on what you can earn then the answer is yes

Calgaryhammer

Hi,

Seems you have had some good advice already. It may be worth starting with some of the recruitment agencies in the UK. I had an e-mail yesterday from a company that it trying to recruit senior quantity surveyors for projects in Ontario!!

Some contractors that come over from the UK still maintain a QS role although in general the Canadians dont know what a QS is so if you are speaking to Candian based companies is best to use the term Estimator and/or Contracts Adimistrator.

Jam1986

I am in the very early stages so far and I'm trying to get as much information as I can,

If you get a permanent job offer is it relatively straight forward to apply for Visa or should I start this process before?

Do you think my experience as previously stated is enough to find work in Canada?

Jam1986

Thanks, is there any particular agencies you would recommend I'm struggling to get replys from a lot of agencies?

Oakvillian

On that note - if it's UK-linked construction companies where you may find the best fit, try getting in touch with Carillion Canada. They have a JV with EllisDon here, and are building the new hospital complex in Oakville. It's a $2bn project, but I have no connection with it to help you further, I'm afraid - there's a reference to it here http://dcnonl.com/article/id46075

Jam1986

Thanks I will try to contact them is there a lot of construction work currently in your area?

cheeky_monkey

yes you could get work in Canada best bet is West though...there are lots of Brits out west working in construction more so than out east.