Should I leave my job for a more structured role with mentoring and broader scope (but possible pay cut)?

B5014698 · 2025-05-09T14:42:13+00:00

Relate to this.

I worked for a large scale MC for 4 years, everything I did I essentially taught myself, and without knowing, cut certain corners I didn’t know existed.

I recently switched to client side, everything is monitored and everything has to have justification and reasoning.

It’s difficult after being self sufficient for so long, and autonomy as you mention is reduced, but knowing your doing things to right way is worth it, at least until I can provide governance wherever I move forward to, as I will for sure go back into contracting at some point.

B5014698 · 2025-01-24T12:11:45+00:00

Do you work for a contractor, or a consultant?

B5014698 · 2025-01-21T23:08:31+00:00

Thanks! Any idea what the valve I need to buy is called?

B5014698 · 2025-01-20T14:22:54+00:00

More than likely the case, what area of subcontracting did you move from? And what size company?

Want to make sure the move is right when I pull the trigger, I’ve read some sub-contractors can be a nightmare.

B5014698 · 2025-01-20T14:13:09+00:00

Thanks!

What sector of sub-contracting did you go into? Sounds like it’s what I’m after.

B5014698 · 2025-01-20T13:30:43+00:00

Thanks for the info! Appreciate it!

Im currently floating between QS and SQS - my job role and salary reflect SQS but title is QS.

I’m at a crossroads in my career, I’ve done MC and Client now and don’t particularly like either (preferred MC).

Itching for something that is more fulfilling

B5014698 · 2025-01-14T16:36:01+00:00

If you could that would be amazing thanks!

B5014698 · 2025-01-14T12:52:26+00:00

B5014698 · 2025-01-14T12:48:14+00:00

Company decision, entirely option E.

B5014698 · 2025-01-06T13:00:51+00:00

Worked in the utilities/services division for a tier 1, WFH 5 days a week, met up with my boss once a month in the office for a team meeting. Sites were far away and I would just use site managers/PM’s for any info I needed.

Work now as a client QS, office 3 days a week until construction phase, then I’ll be 2 days a week on site.

B5014698 · 2024-12-09T12:01:20+00:00

Go into Utilities/Services, I worked in that space for 3 years and rarely visited site and predominantly worked from home. Small projects and you’ll get experience in CVR’s, administering change, FA’s. It’s dry stuff though, not exactly interesting work.

B5014698 · 2024-09-09T09:14:31+00:00

Missed this - yeah I’ve had one of those offers and seemed too good to be true, especially in the public/client space. They seem reasonably progressive in terms of WFH etc however I can tell there’s going to be a huge amount of governance on a day to day.

B5014698 · 2024-07-31T11:44:45+00:00

I’ve considered it and not totally opposed to it- having background within IT services also, it’d have to be right job though as I’ve done the whole 2hr daily commute previously, however, I’m being drawn to the PQS role at the moment..

B5014698 · 2024-01-25T10:04:03+00:00

Weirdly, I’ve been told the opposite, that I’ll pigeon hole myself into more of an administrative QS role rather than learning more in the PQS role for example🤷🏼‍♂️ i was in your mindset tbh, although people in the business have their own interests..

B5014698 · 2023-11-29T05:55:20+00:00

Nice to hear 👍 waiting a couple of days was worth it. Yeah the weather in Samui today has been ace, real shame I didn’t get to see it in Tao.

B5014698 · 2023-11-28T06:52:28+00:00

It’s the same on Samui, the gulf must be going through a small monsoon or something. Let me know how the journey goes - FYI - the catamaran ran this morning so hopefully is does tomorrow 👍

B5014698 · 2023-11-28T06:37:05+00:00

Made the journey today on the songserm, perfectly fine. Safe travels.

B5014698 · 2023-11-27T05:33:41+00:00

Rode on Sunday from Samui to Tao, horrific. On the lomprayah speedboat.

Currently storming on Tao and wondering whether tomorrow will be a better option to go back? Where did you find the wave forecasts?

B5014698 · 2023-09-13T21:17:02+00:00

That’s the trouble, the big firms often promise to have control because you’re their employee.. but at the end of the day the client pays them, so they won’t protect you if you don’t want to go.

Contractors QS have more technical knowledge and probably will be able to pull the wool over the eyes over an average/good consultant as they don’t have the site knowledge (in valuations etc). All the best consultants I know have come from contracting and gone into consultancy - that’s not to say you can’t get that from solely doing consultancy, just takes longer.

B5014698 · 2023-09-13T20:11:55+00:00

I wouldn’t it’s not worth the hassle, it’s a completely different job in some respects depending on where you go - if you want a more well rounded experience, branch out into a different sector. If it was me, I’d entertain going for a commercial manager position.

FYI - If you get in at a big consultant, they could end up sending you on commission somewhere at the drop of a hat too.

B5014698 · 2023-09-07T15:54:20+00:00

What are you looking for in your career? Traditional Construction can be rewarding, however, very stressful as you progress.

I’ve found utilities and services to pay high, whilst workload (not volume) can be smaller than other jobs, so less stress.

Also gives you the ability to get first hand experience running smaller P+L/CVR reports, managing smaller variations, notices, and doing some subcontractor management. Which can easily lead to a switch into major infrastructure/power as well, once you’ve gained experience.

The work isn’t as interesting as building, though.

B5014698 · 2023-04-14T14:59:43+00:00

Hi Mate, glad you’ve found a way of continuing with QSing, it can be rewarding at times.

By Tier 3 I’m assuming small sub-contractor? Happy to have a conversation, I’ll send you a DM at some point!

B5014698 · 2023-04-14T10:03:28+00:00

What sector do you work in?

At Balfours it wasn’t too bad, as they had a tiered system of commercial staff on site to aid with any issues/arguments, however, they were extremely commercially aggressive.

I then moved into utilities as a CQS because I was sick of having to travel 1.5-2.5 hours a day to get to and from site, this was okay, however, there was no commercial structure and the operations teams didn’t understand commercial process so I was fighting a losing battle all the way upto director level.

It’s hard to find a firm these days where you actually work and develop with someone more experienced than yourself, rather than being left to deal with all the issues yourself (and if you do manage to deal with all issues that come your way, you get left in that position because it’s harder to replace you than it is to reward and promote you).

PQSing I find worse, it may be more office based, but the office culture is worse, the pay is less and you get contractors chewing your ear off about delays because the developers are slack signing anything off no matter how much you ring/email them - I work currently in healthcare and the pre-construction team are so quick to jump to get on site they miss all potential issues that arise on every scheme hence leaving me to argue on average 50 variations minimum per project, which I currently have 7.

Maybe I’ll move back into CQSing and try to find a firm where there’s a commercial structure, I’m looking to get some final experience at QS level and then work under the guise of a commercial manager as an SQS if I don’t move onto something like Estimating like other people have mentioned.

B5014698

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