Sally's industry experience before graduating

We asked Sally Nguyen, an international student from Vietnam studying quantity surveying (QS), to write about her course and time at QUT. Sally is undertaking a QS cadetship at Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), one of the leading QS consulting firms in Australia and worldwide and works alongside QUT tutor, Crystal Liew. We also asked Crystal, who works as Senior Quantity Surveyor at RLB, about her experience and teaching while working in industry. Here’s what they had to say.

Why I chose quantity surveying

I have had my interest in construction for as long as I can remember. My eyes always light up when looking at high-rise buildings and complex infrastructure. I often wondered how these structures could be built from paper. I am now fortunate enough to work in the industry and learn something new every day.

During high school, I noticed that maths was my favourite subject and it consistently earned me the highest grades. Over time, I have come to realise that quantity surveying (QS) is the best fit for my strength and interests. This chosen career path allows me to satisfy my own curiosity and provides me with the opportunity to observe a construction process from initial sketches to completion and maintenance.

Why I chose QUT

QUT is well-known for its practical courses and units are taught by real-world professionals who have many years of experience in the industry. Classes are flexible to accommodate my needs to work for practical experience and to socialise for my well-being. As a full-time worker in the industry, I appreciate the flexibility to design my own study schedule to fit my work commitments, allowing me to acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge simultaneously.

Getting experience before I graduate

I am currently undertaking a full-time quantity surveying cadetship at Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB). I have been able to apply my theoretical knowledge gained from my QUT course and further enhance my skills through daily exposure to real projects. One of the most valuable aspects of this experience is the opportunity to connect with professionals who generously provide advice for both my personal and professional development. QUT facilitated connections with my peers and professors before starting my job. I now collaborate with many of these connections within the industry and maintain working relationships.

Why do you work in industry and teach at the same time?

Being a QUT alumni, I’ve learned a lot from my previous lecturers and tutors and really appreciated they were working professionals. All educators I had were very qualified and they shared their experience in their working life. I’ve always wanted to contribute to this way of teaching and learning and help more young professionals to excel in their career which is why I became a tutor in measurement subjects at QUT. I’ve now been a part of the teaching team for five years where I’ve worked with the lecturers to provide insight from the industry, how things are updated and how we should deliver lessons to ensure relevancy and improve the learning experience.

How do tutors, like yourself, help QUT students like Sally to enter the workforce?

The experience I gained from the projects I’ve been involved with as a professional quantity surveyor helps me to deliver theoretical knowledge needed for university studies. It also allows me to use real-world project examples in teaching to give students a more realistic understanding of how the industry works and help them bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical situations. This helps prepare students like Sally getting into the workforce as they are equipped with practical QS knowledge and understanding and are aware of the expectations of them from their prospective employers.

Why is work experience important for students?

Getting work experience while studying is crucial because they are learning in university and at work simultaneously. Being exposed to projects helps them when it comes to university classes and assignments. In RLB we use specialist software to carry out measurement and complete our cost plan and post contract claims, and our cadets are exposed to this gradually which helps them with their practical measurement and cost planning skills. Working daily on these projects helps students hone their core skills as a QS and is relevant to their QUT study. Seeing them in university and at work helps strengthen the relationship and we sometimes offer them career, study or life advice to ease them in transitioning from studying to entering the workforce, both in terms of mentality and capability.

What are the most common misconceptions about working in quantity surveying?

There are a few misconceptions about QS because the profession is not well-known. The most common misconception is that people think we do mostly measurement and bill of quantities (BQ) or even think we are building surveyors. In fact, we are involved in the financial aspect of a construction project, ranging from the preliminary feasibility stage through the construction stage and onto operations.

I’m passionate about this profession as every project is challenging in its own way and I’m able to grow and work alongside different professionals to deliver a project and build relationships. I am involved mostly in the health and education sector, so I enjoy seeing a project transform from ideas and sketches on plans to being built and up and running, serving a purpose for people in need. Being a part of the team that makes this happen gives me a sense of fulfilment and will always keep me motivated to be a QS.

What is your one-sentence advice to future QUT students?

Sally says: Be courageous and accept the challenges that the world has to offer because you will learn!

Crystal says: Be passionate, stay curious and embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.

Study the Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours)
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