In response to your article on the shortage of QSs (‘Wanted - 4,000 more QSs for extra housing plans’, QS News, 16 September), Capita Resourcing has been recruiting in this market for a number of years and we have noticed a worrying trend relating to an ever-decreasing number of graduates opting for careers as quantity surveyors.

Undoubtedly, this is proving to be a strain on the industry.

The main problem is the image of a career in QSing. The industry is often only discussed on the back of a housing crisis and rarely gets involved in in-depth discussions. People aren’t aware of the prosperous and flourishing aspects of choosing a career in QSing and the profession is often perceived as dry and about merely number-crunching.

If only more undergraduates were aware of the exciting career prospects within a resurgent construction market in professional, contracting and house building organisations. Both public and private sector organisations are consistently working on large-scale modern projects such as the 2012 Olympic Games, which the younger generation may see as more appealing.

However, different types of QS roles will appeal to different types of candidates and possibly the industry’s self-promotion should be more reflective of this. The RICS, universities, employers and recruitment agencies need to work more closely together to give an accurate portrayal of QS work.

Furthermore, all of us need to improve the way we communicate the multi-faceted opportunities of QS work, along with the variety of challenges and added incentives of (arguably) disproportionate salary packages and accelerated career opportunities which compare well with other professional vocations. Collaborating to tackle the negative public perceptions of QS work is surely a step in the right direction and only through a sincere and far-reaching effort will the skill shortage be addressed.

Marcus Howe, Senior Consultant, Capita Resourcing

Source

QS News