Recommended construction companies for progression?

Skidfingers · 29-05-2020 9:44am

Been thinking the last few days, I'm 24 but I also want to go abroad within the next year or 2 (don't really want to leave it much longer). I'm with a main contractor, currently doing my SCSI chartership and tempted to also do a 1 year certificate in project management online from Sept - May. It would be nice to get my chartership and have a certificate in project management before heading abroad, with Oz seeming the most appealing.

I think if I got possibly 2 years experience there likely with a sub-contractor and I came back in my late 20's my experience could stand out and be easier to move up the ladder?

CBear1993 · 29-05-2020 11:06am

Sorry if it’s not relevant to your thread Skidfingers, just wanted general opinion on this:

Probably a very naive question on my behalf : but why do construction professionals and trades do overtime and not get paid a penny for it generally?

I don’t get why the whole workforce collectively do this. I have friends working with the banks at graduate level and the minute they go past their 9-5:30 or whatever it is they’re paid for it. Or time worked in lieu.

When you go for. Job interview for PM//QS/engineer whatever it is, when you ask the hours they laugh at you. I hate this attitude. And if you have an accounts, HR or marketing department in said construction firm, they all waltz out the door on the button at 5/5:30.

I can’t fathom why lads stay on site and in the head office slaving away like robots and you get absolutely NO THANKS. All this bull**** in the interviews - “if you put in the hours you’ll climb the ladder” f*ck offfff.

Meanwhile other industries preach smart working - inside your daily allotted time.
Although in saying that I have heard of google and Facebook being pretty relentless - software guys an programmers having access to the office and coming in at all hours of the night

mayo londoner · 29-05-2020 3:47pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

Sorry if it’s not relevant to your thread Skidfingers, just wanted general opinion on this:

Probably a very naive question on my behalf : but why do construction professionals and trades do overtime and not get paid a penny for it generally?

I don’t get why the whole workforce collectively do this. I have friends working with the banks at graduate level and the minute they go past their 9-5:30 or whatever it is they’re paid for it. Or time worked in lieu.

When you go for. Job interview for PM//QS/engineer whatever it is, when you ask the hours they laugh at you. I hate this attitude. And if you have an accounts, HR or marketing department in said construction firm, they all waltz out the door on the button at 5/5:30.

I can’t fathom why lads stay on site and in the head office slaving away like robots and you get absolutely NO THANKS. All this bull**** in the interviews - “if you put in the hours you’ll climb the ladder” f*ck offfff.

Meanwhile other industries preach smart working - inside your daily allotted time.
Although in saying that I have heard of google and Facebook being pretty relentless - software guys an programmers having access to the office and coming in at all hours of the night

This I can never understand. There's a pain in the hole in my place who goes in at 6.30 every morning and stays till around 6-6.30 every evening, all just to be seen, she's not even that busy, all just to lick Directors holes and she doesn't get any thanks for it, it's baffling. Have often heard of people in my office staying till 10 o clock at night, as if it's a competition for no extra pay or time in lieu.

I'm first one out the door at 5.15 and not a second later. We're never given thanks, no bonus, no pension, no tin of biscuits or even a Happy Xmas, **** that.

Handful of people who travel internationally too, usually leave on a Sat or Sunday and back the following Saturday or Sunday, work 10-12hrs days whilst they are in the country too. So two weekends disrupted, away from family and friends for a week and no time in lieu, not to mention guts of 20hrs travel time each way. They tried to force me to start going to international projects a couple years ago and wasn't long telling them where to go, a complete pisstake.

Fluffy101 · 29-05-2020 4:53pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

Sorry if it’s not relevant to your thread Skidfingers, just wanted general opinion on this:

Probably a very naive question on my behalf : but why do construction professionals and trades do overtime and not get paid a penny for it generally?

I don’t get why the whole workforce collectively do this. I have friends working with the banks at graduate level and the minute they go past their 9-5:30 or whatever it is they’re paid for it. Or time worked in lieu.

When you go for. Job interview for PM//QS/engineer whatever it is, when you ask the hours they laugh at you. I hate this attitude. And if you have an accounts, HR or marketing department in said construction firm, they all waltz out the door on the button at 5/5:30.

I can’t fathom why lads stay on site and in the head office slaving away like robots and you get absolutely NO THANKS. All this bull**** in the interviews - “if you put in the hours you’ll climb the ladder” f*ck offfff.

Meanwhile other industries preach smart working - inside your daily allotted time.
Although in saying that I have heard of google and Facebook being pretty relentless - software guys an programmers having access to the office and coming in at all hours of the night

Few lads I know, work with companies like Suir, contracted out and paid by the hour, laughing at the lads on a salary!!

Revit Man · 29-05-2020 5:47pm

Fluffy101 wrote: »

Few lads I know, work with companies like Suir, contracted out and paid by the hour, laughing at the lads on a salary!!

I worked for one of the main engineering consultancies in Ireland contracting. It was great while there was work. I was getting a good hourly rate on a busy project. I did it for 2 years between 2 companies.

This is great I thought! Plus 48% tax relief on pension contributions as director of a limited company. Brilliant!

Then the work dried up as we were winding down on one project and waiting for the next to kick off. 30 hours this week. 25 hours this week. Try ask around for extra hours in house with other disciplines to see if you can get your hours up by doing some draughting for them.

Take a week off. Hope you've planned for 25% cut in your month's pay.
Christmas holidays/company not open over New Years etc. Hope you've allowed for about 50% pay that month as you aren't working or earning or getting paid....

Just saying, it's not necessarily as good as it seems to be at first. I'm sure with more careful planning I could have done better out of it, but it is a stressful position in times of uncertainty.

Whereas now, I'm full time permanent employee in a place, if they want to drop me, they need to pay me redundancy. I get 4 paid weeks a year off, paid bank holidays, christmas time. Sick pay, there's another one I forgot about.

Fluffy101 · 29-05-2020 10:33pm

Revit Man wrote: »

I worked for one of the main engineering consultancies in Ireland contracting. It was great while there was work. I was getting a good hourly rate on a busy project. I did it for 2 years between 2 companies.

This is great I thought! Plus 48% tax relief on pension contributions as director of a limited company. Brilliant!

Then the work dried up as we were winding down on one project and waiting for the next to kick off. 30 hours this week. 25 hours this week. Try ask around for extra hours in house with other disciplines to see if you can get your hours up by doing some draughting for them.

Take a week off. Hope you've planned for 25% cut in your month's pay.
Christmas holidays/company not open over New Years etc. Hope you've allowed for about 50% pay that month as you aren't working or earning or getting paid....

Just saying, it's not necessarily as good as it seems to be at first. I'm sure with more careful planning I could have done better out of it, but it is a stressful position in times of uncertainty.

Whereas now, I'm full time permanent employee in a place, if they want to drop me, they need to pay me redundancy. I get 4 paid weeks a year off, paid bank holidays, christmas time. Sick pay, there's another one I forgot about.

Agree with all that tbh. I did contracting before but not in construction, but yeah always looking for next job.

I found overall it definitely pays a lot better overall, minus some security

CBear1993 · 30-05-2020 7:11am

Fluffy101 wrote: »

Few lads I know, work with companies like Suir, contracted out and paid by the hour, laughing at the lads on a salary!!

What’s their role? Get me in touch with suir! Ha.

To be fair Australia was great like that - a lot of the roles you could get contracted in through a recruiter and paid all of your hours.

I have absolutely zero time or respect for recruiters in our country, sorry but 95% of them are all the same

Girly Gal · 30-05-2020 9:24am

Fluffy101 wrote: »

Few lads I know, work with companies like Suir, contracted out and paid by the hour, laughing at the lads on a salary!!

Back 6 to 7 years ago worked for a "reputable" company, where we were on **** salary(recession so they could pay what they liked), working long hours -it was a running joke at the time that we were all essentially doing Fridays for no pay - while the trades lads on site were raking it in, getting overtime pay and travel expenses with very little stress, while we were under huge pressure and probably on half the money. You tell yourself you'll benefit in the long term, but, reality is unless you have a pull higher up the ladder or are a lick ass you get no where, plus moving from project to project all over country with no guarantee you'll have work after project completed.
Luckily got out of construction few years back, work for MNC now and definitely wouldn't go back to construction.

Fluffy101 · 30-05-2020 9:28am

Girly Gal wrote: »

Back 6 to 7 years ago worked for a "reputable" company, where we were on **** salary(recession so they could pay what they liked), working long hours -it was a running joke at the time that we were all essentially doing Fridays for no pay - while the trades lads on site were raking it in, getting overtime pay and travel expenses with very little stress, while we were under huge pressure and probably on half the money. You tell yourself you'll benefit in the long term, but, reality is unless you have a pull higher up the ladder or are a lick ass you get no where, plus moving from project to project all over country with no guarantee you'll have work after project completed.
Luckily got out of construction few years back, work for MNC now and definitely wouldn't go back to construction.

Exactly this 100%

Fluffy101 · 30-05-2020 9:51am

CBear1993 wrote: »

What’s their role? Get me in touch with suir! Ha.

To be fair Australia was great like that - a lot of the roles you could get contracted in through a recruiter and paid all of your hours.

I have absolutely zero time or respect for recruiters in our country, sorry but 95% of them are all the same

Mech & Elec engineers, and trades. I don't know much about the QS side of things.

Giving the nature of construction work, the pay system is ridiculous especially when you see all the money wasted during a project

Revit Man · 02-06-2020 9:53am

Fluffy101 wrote: »

Giving the nature of construction work, the pay system is ridiculous especially when you see all the money wasted during a project

Agreed. I see this all the time. Incredible waste. Not just on the building side of things, but the design side also. Company I work for might get 100K in fees for a project, have a couple of people working aimlessly on it for a while burning fees with nothing much to show for it, then get to cruch time and need to throw extra resources on it to get it together, again burning fees, this time on work that should/could have been done already within money already spent. Their fees end up being wiped, or 10K out of it, when it could have been 50K banked.

I've seen it across multiple places I've worked for at this point. It's just so inefficient at times. A few "good lads" would have a project done in half the time making it a much more profitable endeavour. A few "poor lads" are those that keep everybody's wages lower because their (lack of) productivity needs to be factored in.

Yet, they go to work and go home, and take their job lightly, but get paid ballpark same as the fella working very hard beside them. Sometimes it feels like I'm the fool for trying to be productive and efficient, but I don't have the mentality to do as little as I possibly can.

Revit Man · 02-06-2020 9:57am

Girly Gal wrote: »

Luckily got out of construction few years back, work for MNC now and definitely wouldn't go back to construction.

Can you tell us a bit more about this? What did you do in construction, how did you get out of it, what role are you in now?

Lately I'm just more and more over construction. I need an exit strategy!

CBear1993 · 02-06-2020 2:50pm

Are most people busy again with your companies? A lot of I’ve been talking to might be busy with live jobs that they were on previous to the lockdown but I haven’t heard Of too many new projects starting up.

Just curious to see the general consensus if we’re experiencing a lull. Hopefully things pick up where they left off but I’m starting to plan a recession exit strategy if we see the rest of this year quiet.

Normally we would have got in tens of tenders per week from main contractors and I think we’ve received 2 in the last 2 weeks

Cheensbo · 02-06-2020 3:03pm

Interesting thread, echoes many's the recent conversation I have had with fellow QS's.

The pay-cuts in particular are not going down well.

I work for a subbie, still very busy - personally haven't stopped working albeit from home since march - there are still plenty tenders rolling in. To me it just seems like the start button has been re-pressed and all systems are go again.. for now anyway

Kevhog1988 · 02-06-2020 3:06pm

Im working on a big telecoms rollout. I just started the monday that Lockdown began and i have to say they are the best company i ever worked for. In the last job i was working for a contractor and i had my normal projects like everyone else as well as being the unofficial bid manager. I have to say it was terrible for long hours but good experience all the same. Telecoms is a good gig if any of you guys enjoy the claims etc.

Skidfingers · 02-06-2020 3:34pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

Are most people busy again with your companies? A lot of I’ve been talking to might be busy with live jobs that they were on previous to the lockdown but I haven’t heard Of too many new projects starting up.

Just curious to see the general consensus if we’re experiencing a lull. Hopefully things pick up where they left off but I’m starting to plan a recession exit strategy if we see the rest of this year quiet.

Normally we would have got in tens of tenders per week from main contractors and I think we’ve received 2 in the last 2 weeks

I'd imagine many developers may take a back seat for the next few months just to see how things go and incase we end up in another recession.

Revit Man · 02-06-2020 4:39pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

Are most people busy again with your companies? A lot of I’ve been talking to might be busy with live jobs that they were on previous to the lockdown but I haven’t heard Of too many new projects starting up.

I'm due to start a new project late this week/early next week. Large project, 18-24mths in it. It's for a pharmaceutical client. 95% of the work I've done since 2012 is on pharma sites.

But I know the company I work for has lost a few jobs in recent weeks that were scheduled to commence now/next month. Funding pulled or withheld. They might go ahead yet, and probably will, but the problem is weathering the storm created by delaying works for 6 months (or whatever it is).

Rover365 · 02-06-2020 5:22pm

Skidfingers wrote: »

Any recommendations on what construction companies that are the best overall for professionals (engineers, project managers, QS) in terms of nice to work for, progression, training, salaries, work load etc. Can be building, civil, m&e

Thanks!

Skifingers, I have 14 years experience on the QS Consultancy side (10 in OZ and 4 here and currently working for one of the biggest consultancys in Dublin. Honestly dont find it as nearly as bad as people are making out here. Yes there is constant arguing with contractors and subbies but its all a game really. Alot will depend on if they have priced it too low. I generally set out to the CM at the start that i'll be reasonable with them if they dont take the piss. If they start taking the piss,I'll be reviewing everything they submit in detail and breaking their balls putting work back on them.

I will say that Ireland is definatly worse for everyone trying to screw each other - that includes clients, contractors etc. Just creates more work for the qs, design team etc. The clients in Ireland now want everything yesterday and for nothing. Maybe that is a hangover from the last recession.

I would recommend trying to get into some of the larger qs consultants as you get exposure to the bigger projects, they generally have more staff etc and I know they crowd I am with now are fairly decent (regular hours, social, pension, wfh, no pay cuts from covid etc) like all places they will pay you as little as possible but if you are good at what you do and know your worth they will pay it due to the shortages in staff. yes there are brown nosers and bull****ters but if you know your stuff in a certain area, you will be valued and rewarded.

Couldnt recommend OZ enough and the work life balance is definatly better over there. Alot of contractors dont have a 'qs' as such and you dont have to worry about rules of measurements etc as much. They generally dont be screwing each other over as much as they wouldnt get further work if they did.

QS is a great qualification for travelling internationally and irish/english qs's are recognisedd highly abroad.

PM me if you want any info on the company im with here or was with in oz

Cheensbo · 02-06-2020 5:36pm

Rover365 wrote: »

Skifingers,

Couldnt recommend OZ enough and the work life balance is definatly better over there. Alot of contractors dont have a 'qs' as such and you dont have to worry about rules of measurements etc as much. They generally dont be screwing each other over as much as they wouldnt get further work if they did.

QS is a great qualification for travelling internationally and irish/english qs's are recognisedd highly abroad.

PM me if you want any info on the company im with here or was with in oz

Have to echo that, I worked for a large fit-out contractor in Melbourne and it was a super place to work, great WLB, and almost forced to have a few beers in the office after lunch on a Friday.

Again - no QS role but was a Contract Administrator moving to junior PM, pretty much exactly what I do as a 'QS' for a Medium sized specialist subbie here - you do everything from tender to post contract.

The work was hard, but unlike my experience here in Ireland, there was never an issue getting more staff in to cover increased workload - no-one I've worked with here has been so quick to hire when it's needed - rather than letting the existing staff absorb the extra workload - which is definitely common practice here.

CBear1993 · 02-06-2020 5:47pm

Made my mind up to do a masters / post grad in September and get the f*ck out of this industry.

Seems a waste at 27 to throw away all the experience - studied QS part time so I essentially worked as a trainee right upto now for nearly 10 years in America, Oz, Ireland and UK. But looking back I’d say I only enjoyed about 2 out of 9 years at one company when I was fairly junior. Have really hated the last 3, so much so that it affected my mental health.

Only decision I haven’t made is whether I can afford to go at it full time from sep-May for the year full time, or do the long slog 2 years part time. Another 2 years in this would be tough

onrail · 02-06-2020 6:17pm

The CIF or Engineers Ireland should really read this thread and reevaluate their aims.

Fairly clear here that this industry has adversely so many lives - feel like somebody needs hit the reset button.

onrail · 02-06-2020 6:19pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

Made my mind up to do a masters / post grad in September and get the f*ck out of this industry.

Seems a waste at 27 to throw away all the experience - studied QS part time so I essentially worked as a trainee right upto now for nearly 10 years in America, Oz, Ireland and UK. But looking back I’d say I only enjoyed about 2 out of 9 years at one company when I was fairly junior. Have really hated the last 3, so much so that it affected my mental health.

Only decision I haven’t made is whether I can afford to go at it full time from sep-May for the year full time, or do the long slog 2 years part time. Another 2 years in this would be tough

I’m in the same boat at 32, and was probably saying the same thing at your age. All I’ll say is go for it. It gets exponentially harder to move the older you get.

CBear1993 · 02-06-2020 10:32pm

Yeah it’s committing to the study. I found that part time I focused on my day job so much that I had no energy for study in the evenings and just threw any old thing together to get the pass rate. When I switched to full time for the final 2 semesters I was able to apply myself fully, but at the cost of no income and losing a job.

Skidfingers · 03-06-2020 9:09am

Rover365 wrote: »

Skifingers, I have 14 years experience on the QS Consultancy side (10 in OZ and 4 here and currently working for one of the biggest consultancys in Dublin. Honestly dont find it as nearly as bad as people are making out here. Yes there is constant arguing with contractors and subbies but its all a game really. Alot will depend on if they have priced it too low. I generally set out to the CM at the start that i'll be reasonable with them if they dont take the piss. If they start taking the piss,I'll be reviewing everything they submit in detail and breaking their balls putting work back on them.

I will say that Ireland is definatly worse for everyone trying to screw each other - that includes clients, contractors etc. Just creates more work for the qs, design team etc. The clients in Ireland now want everything yesterday and for nothing. Maybe that is a hangover from the last recession.

I would recommend trying to get into some of the larger qs consultants as you get exposure to the bigger projects, they generally have more staff etc and I know they crowd I am with now are fairly decent (regular hours, social, pension, wfh, no pay cuts from covid etc) like all places they will pay you as little as possible but if you are good at what you do and know your worth they will pay it due to the shortages in staff. yes there are brown nosers and bull****ters but if you know your stuff in a certain area, you will be valued and rewarded.

Couldnt recommend OZ enough and the work life balance is definatly better over there. Alot of contractors dont have a 'qs' as such and you dont have to worry about rules of measurements etc as much. They generally dont be screwing each other over as much as they wouldnt get further work if they did.

QS is a great qualification for travelling internationally and irish/english qs's are recognisedd highly abroad.

PM me if you want any info on the company im with here or was with in oz

I agree, I don't think it as bad as either. I'm just used to how the industry and for the most part I enjoy it. I'd just love to be given a little more responsibility and be able to moved up the ladder.

I think I'd find the contractor side of things more interesting then consultancy, but Oz is definitely on the cards now. Currently have 18 months left of my Chartership and contemplating did a certificate in Project Management from Sept - May also, would this be something you'd recommend having when going abroad? Would it stand to you more (better job + pay)?

I'd like to think the experience in Oz would be a massive bonus and very appealing to Irish contractors when I'd return in a few years. I assume Oz still has plenty of jobs for qs?

Skidfingers · 03-06-2020 9:11am

Cheensbo wrote: »

Have to echo that, I worked for a large fit-out contractor in Melbourne and it was a super place to work, great WLB, and almost forced to have a few beers in the office after lunch on a Friday.

Again - no QS role but was a Contract Administrator moving to junior PM, pretty much exactly what I do as a 'QS' for a Medium sized specialist subbie here - you do everything from tender to post contract.

The work was hard, but unlike my experience here in Ireland, there was never an issue getting more staff in to cover increased workload - no-one I've worked with here has been so quick to hire when it's needed - rather than letting the existing staff absorb the extra workload - which is definitely common practice here.

Did you have any further training or anything going? The WLB in Oz sounds amazing. Did you find that you got more respect due to your experience when you returned (moved up ladder, better pay, more respected etc.)?

Cheensbo · 03-06-2020 9:19am

Skidfingers wrote: »

Did you have any further training or anything going? The WLB in Oz sounds amazing. Did you find that you got more respect due to your experience when you returned (moved up ladder, better pay, more respected etc.)?

God no, I had only junior exp. going over there, found it a little hard to get initial foot in door over there but that was mostly just down to how my CV was written.

I came back in 2016, it was very much a jobseekers market here then, so the OZ experience wouldn't have really mattered a whole lot in terms of what you ask - most employers were desperate to take on any QS they could at that point.

Rover365 · 03-06-2020 10:08am

Skidfingers wrote: »

I agree, I don't think it as bad as either. I'm just used to how the industry and for the most part I enjoy it. I'd just love to be given a little more responsibility and be able to moved up the ladder.

I think I'd find the contractor side of things more interesting then consultancy, but Oz is definitely on the cards now. Currently have 18 months left of my Chartership and contemplating did a certificate in Project Management from Sept - May also, would this be something you'd recommend having when going abroad? Would it stand to you more (better job + pay)?

I'd like to think the experience in Oz would be a massive bonus and very appealing to Irish contractors when I'd return in a few years. I assume Oz still has plenty of jobs for qs?

Chartership isnt a big thing in OZ or the US anyway and wouldnt give you anymore recognition really. You could also complete it over there (RICS) and its certainly easier to get over there. SCSI will recognise it here too when you come back.

You'll certainly be given more responsibility and get greater exposure to various projects abroad that would take alot longer here. I had a serious cv coming back in 2015 that allowed me to get the money I was after even though alot or recruitment consultants said I was dreaming.

The experience would definatly stand to you coming back in a few years although titles/levels wouldnt. ie you could be an associate after a few years over in oz but doesnt mean that you would start back here as an associate. you seem to have to give your left ball and 10 years of slaving to get titles here if thats what you are into. I've always preferred more money than titles and know of plenty who were given titles and not the salary to match.

Let me know if you need any more info

Skidfingers · 03-06-2020 10:52am

Rover365 wrote: »

Chartership isnt a big thing in OZ or the US anyway and wouldnt give you anymore recognition really. You could also complete it over there (RICS) and its certainly easier to get over there. SCSI will recognise it here too when you come back.

You'll certainly be given more responsibility and get greater exposure to various projects abroad that would take alot longer here. I had a serious cv coming back in 2015 that allowed me to get the money I was after even though alot or recruitment consultants said I was dreaming.

The experience would definatly stand to you coming back in a few years although titles/levels wouldnt. ie you could be an associate after a few years over in oz but doesnt mean that you would start back here as an associate. you seem to have to give your left ball and 10 years of slaving to get titles here if thats what you are into. I've always preferred more money than titles and know of plenty who were given titles and not the salary to match.

Let me know if you need any more info

I thought a lot of companies may look for it there. I'd assume my training here so far would carry over. It's interesting to hear that it would be easier to get there, the exam/presentation is suppose to be very tough here.

I thought titles and money would go hand in hand. Did you have much here before heading over?

aido79 · 03-06-2020 11:11am

Rover365 wrote: »

Skifingers, I have 14 years experience on the QS Consultancy side (10 in OZ and 4 here and currently working for one of the biggest consultancys in Dublin. Honestly dont find it as nearly as bad as people are making out here. Yes there is constant arguing with contractors and subbies but its all a game really. Alot will depend on if they have priced it too low. I generally set out to the CM at the start that i'll be reasonable with them if they dont take the piss. If they start taking the piss,I'll be reviewing everything they submit in detail and breaking their balls putting work back on them.

I will say that Ireland is definatly worse for everyone trying to screw each other - that includes clients, contractors etc. Just creates more work for the qs, design team etc. The clients in Ireland now want everything yesterday and for nothing. Maybe that is a hangover from the last recession.

I would recommend trying to get into some of the larger qs consultants as you get exposure to the bigger projects, they generally have more staff etc and I know they crowd I am with now are fairly decent (regular hours, social, pension, wfh, no pay cuts from covid etc) like all places they will pay you as little as possible but if you are good at what you do and know your worth they will pay it due to the shortages in staff. yes there are brown nosers and bull****ters but if you know your stuff in a certain area, you will be valued and rewarded.

Couldnt recommend OZ enough and the work life balance is definatly better over there. Alot of contractors dont have a 'qs' as such and you dont have to worry about rules of measurements etc as much. They generally dont be screwing each other over as much as they wouldnt get further work if they did.

QS is a great qualification for travelling internationally and irish/english qs's are recognisedd highly abroad.

PM me if you want any info on the company im with here or was with in oz

Definitely a different mentality when it comes to working in construction in oz although I was on the trade side of things.
I generally had a good experience in construction in oz but my worse experience by a country mile was working for an Irish boss in Australia.
I returned to Ireland this year to study fulltime and hopefully will never work another day in construction.

Skidfingers · 03-06-2020 11:14am

aido79 wrote: »

Definitely a different mentality when it comes to working in construction in oz although I was on the trade side of things.
I generally had a good experience in construction in oz but my worse experience by a country mile was working for an Irish boss in Australia.
I returned to Ireland this year to study fulltime and hopefully will never work another day in construction.

I also heard this recently from someone who worked in trade in Oz 8 years ago and I was told to avoid working for Irish.

CBear1993 · 03-06-2020 11:20am

aido79 wrote: »

Definitely a different mentality when it comes to working in construction in oz although I was on the trade side of things.
I generally had a good experience in construction in oz but my worse experience by a country mile was working for an Irish boss in Australia.
I returned to Ireland this year to study fulltime and hopefully will never work another day in construction.

Was it topknot by any chance

What did ye go back to study out of interest?

aido79 · 03-06-2020 11:51am

CBear1993 wrote: »

Was it topknot by any chance

What did ye go back to study out of interest?

No it was a small electrical company. I'd say there's endless amounts of companies with bad Irish bosses in Australia from what I've seen and heard.

Went back to study electrical engineering.

aido79 · 03-06-2020 11:52am

Skidfingers wrote: »

I also heard this recently from someone who worked in trade in Oz 8 years ago and I was told to avoid working for Irish.

I was told this before going to Australia and I definitely found it to be true.

Rover365 · 03-06-2020 12:01pm

Skidfingers wrote: »

I thought a lot of companies may look for it there. I'd assume my training here so far would carry over. It's interesting to hear that it would be easier to get there, the exam/presentation is suppose to be very tough here.

I thought titles and money would go hand in hand. Did you have much here before heading over?

I went without any experience and learned quick. I remember my first project my director sent me to a meeting on my own on a data centre project and I just had to bluff my way through it. if you are able to talk the talk it will get you a long way. They also use cost data better over there so its easier to get an understanding and feel for costs.

In relation to the chartership while ur experience will help you, you might need to still do the 2 years of diary from scratch. not sure though would be worth checking with RICS. The presentation/exam is definatly easier from the amount of prep/study that ive seen guys do here.

generally titles and money are related but ive seen guys focused on titles and earn less that lower ranked people

CBear1993 · 03-06-2020 12:08pm

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/in-six-months-we-will-be-in-the-grip-of-a-1980s-style-recession-1.4268947?mode=amp

I really hate buying into the scaremongering, which I didn't do at all with the virus. But it's hard not to believe the article in what this country will be like by Christmas 2020. Unless you're with a big firm and sure of security, it's sobering thoughts.

mandrake04 · 03-06-2020 1:47pm

Skidfingers wrote: »

I also heard this recently from someone who worked in trade in Oz 8 years ago and I was told to avoid working for Irish.

This is true, the Irish bosses understand the mindset, the visa system and then use it to their advantage. They will string Irish guys along for a year with promises of sponsorship, squeeze the last drop of blood out of them workwise and when it comes close to end of their visa hold their pay back for a few weeks until they guys give up and return home short. No one rides the Irish harder than a Paddy boss.

I also know of Irish bosses who simply wont hire Irish guys unless they are permanent residents.

Kevhog1988 · 03-06-2020 10:24pm

Have many on here done the SCSI chartership?

CBear1993 · 03-06-2020 10:32pm

No, was given one of those external tutors in a previous company down here and still didn’t do it. Zero interest doing it either.

A lot I’ve talked to said it makes zero difference to your bottom line pay, unless you are going for a certain sector or type of company eg consultancy / public sector.

Kevhog1988 · 03-06-2020 11:00pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

No, was given one of those external tutors in a previous company down here and still didn’t do it. Zero interest doing it either.

A lot I’ve talked to said it makes zero difference to your bottom line pay, unless you are going for a certain sector or type of company eg consultancy / public sector.

surely theres no harm having it?

CBear1993 · 03-06-2020 11:08pm

Kevhog1988 wrote: »

surely theres no harm having it?

Definitely helps yeah. Different opinions on it. Some of the best QS’ I ever worked with never done it. It def will help on your CV for sure especially if you want to travel to some places or work PQS side.

Prob best off asking someone more senior, the next person on here could preach it to be a must-do, you know.

Skidfingers · 04-06-2020 8:29am

Kevhog1988 wrote: »

Have many on here done the SCSI chartership?

Started it in December. I'm on Route 2 (2 years).

CBear1993 · 05-06-2020 10:31am

You know it's getting bad when muckshifting/haulage firms in Dublin area ringing you up looking for work for their lorries

:o

Skidfingers · 05-06-2020 10:40am

I've heard 1 of the top 6 main contractors have let some of their recently employed employees go.

Tefral · 07-06-2020 5:40pm

JPC gave their employees a haircut of 10%.

I am Chartered, It only makes a difference on prequals, other than that I haven't seen any benefit of it.

CBear1993 · 08-06-2020 12:26am

With all the cuts across the board youd imagine they’re anticipating a lull / dip in activity?

Although of course CIF and the various boards and representatives are spouting crap about how things will take off again.

Don’t the consultancies in Dublin usually do market analysis on this sort of thing? Early days yet I suppose considering industry only re opened 18th May. Have seen a sharp decline in the amount of tenders for jobs coming in

Skidfingers · 08-06-2020 9:12am

Tefral wrote: »

JPC gave their employees a haircut of 10%.

I am Chartered, It only makes a difference on prequals, other than that I haven't seen any benefit of it.

Also let 25 employees go.

Skidfingers · 08-06-2020 9:50am

Tefral wrote: »

JPC gave their employees a haircut of 10%.

I am Chartered, It only makes a difference on prequals, other than that I haven't seen any benefit of it.

Can probably get more €€€ with chartership though?

CBear1993 · 08-06-2020 9:53am

Don’t know about that. Maybe some consultancies. A lot of directors and high up QS’s in firms never did any further exams or study after their undergrad degree. They don’t seem too bothered about chartership.

Kevhog1988 · 08-06-2020 10:31am

saw a big post on linkedin bt the scsi saying we were basically frauds for calling ourselves quantity surveyors if not chartered

CBear1993 · 08-06-2020 12:06pm

They’ve been banging on about that for the last few years. What a load of sh*te. All about money for them. Have you ever known of someone fined or pulled on having it in their email signature? Let’s all pay membership to every construction body going just to be able to put an extra word in front of our job title sure!!

Recommended construction companies for progression?

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