The shortage of quantity surveyors means that there are good opportunities for skilled quantity surveying graduates across the property and construction sector

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Architectural technologist
• Building surveyor
• Commercial/residential surveyor
• Construction manager
• Estimator
• Planning and development surveyor
• Project manager
• Quantity surveyor
• Site engineer

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Arbitrator
• Building control surveyor
• Building services engineer
• Consulting civil engineer
• Contracting civil engineer
• Estates manager
• Financial manager
• Urban designer

Work experience

Your employment prospects will improve if you gain practical industry experience alongside your studies. Some quantity surveying degrees include a year-long work placement in industry. Although there's no guarantee, some students who've done a work placement receive a graduate job offer from their placement provider. Some may even gain sponsorship and the opportunity to complete the remainder of their degree part time, while in employment.

Typical employers

Common employers of quantity surveying graduates include:

• quantity surveying consultancies
• construction companies, contractors and consultancies
• project management consultancies
• civil engineering contractors and consultancies
• property firms
• house builders and housing associations
• local authorities
• specialist surveying practices
• specialist tax consultants.

You can apply for graduate job opportunities on job sites and company websites. You can also apply to companies speculatively.

There are also opportunities to work in commercial and operations management or in a project management role with a wide range of companies.

Skills for your CV

Studying quantity surveying provides you with specialist knowledge in cost planning, procurement processes and the management of construction projects. You'll also gain an understanding of health and safety, legal, financial, political and economic issues and how these impact on construction processes, as well as ethical practices and sustainability.

In addition, you develop many transferable skills that are vital for a wide range of jobs. These skills include:

• numerical skills
• problem-solving ability
• analytical and data interpretation skills
• negotiation and dispute resolution skills
• the ability to organise your work and meet deadlines
• teamwork and interpersonal skills
• the ability to work independently
• written and verbal communication skills
• presentation skills
• project management skills
• confidence with business management systems
• IT skills and digital literacy