What's your job about?
Arcadis is one of the Country’s leading providers of construction consultancy services for natural and built assets. We provide design, consultancy, engineering, project, and cost management services to the Client. I work with a team that provides Cost Management services - we help the Clients on the cost planning, monitor project budget, and cash flow from inception to end. As for cost management consultants, we make sure that the budget is sustainable all throughout the project duration. One of my tasks is to monitor and evaluate the changes on-site and validate if the variation is applicable for an additional cost.
Getting to play a major role in building towers, malls, offices, sites and so much more before they even take place on the ground is very fulfilling for me. Whenever I see a building exquisitely executed, I always think of the brilliant work the QS for that project must’ve done.
What's your background?
I was born and raised in Catbalogan, Samar. I had my Elementary in Catbalogan II, attended high school in Samar National High school, then graduated college in Samar State University. My first job was as an Estimator - which may be a sign that my future was to become a QS which I am today. I landed many jobs before I met Arcadis; I was a Site Engineer, a Project Engineer, a Rebar Engineer, and then my current job now – a Quantity Surveyor.
I was hired in 2007 as a Quantity Surveyor. I have done several projects like Residential Condo, Office, Hotel and Resort, Retail, Laboratories, and Site Development works. Every 2 -3 years, I get a promotion which eventually made me an Associate Director - my current position now. I’ve been an AD for almost 3 years now and my job is to focus on sales and project pursuits.
When I had my license, I thought my profession as a Civil Engineer was a mistake. I never thought that with the encounters and skills that I acquired from all those jobs I had that I would become the person and the professional that I am today.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
If you will become a QS right away without any background, for me it’s not possible. One must have vast experience in Quantity Surveying to be named as an effective Cost Consultant. Patience, dedication, mindfulness, as well as integrity, are some of the essential traits to become an efficient QS.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
Being certain of how much the budget is for a particular project even before it starts is what excites me from having this job. Though there were times that it felt like my job was repetitive, it was how it made me knowledgeable and become familiarized with the applications.
When I prepare a cost and estimate for a project, I look forward to getting the right numbers for it, and, once the budget gets approved and accepted by the client, then I know that my work and my team’s efforts were all worth it and I made the job right.
What are the limitations of your job?
With my experience and position now, I learned to manage my time and identify tasks that need prioritization. You will learn how over time, but when I was younger, I struggled a lot. Maybe because I was busy proving my worth and I have so many things in mind. The secret is to do one thing at a time, learn how to identify what is of the utmost priority and be open to discuss your struggles with your manager. Your manager applying his/her skills and experience will help you identify the most important task for you and realize that your work is not that complicated. You just need guidance.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...
I would say to myself not to rush - everything will fall into place when it is the right time. Just do it right and do not fear to fail, it is part of life and the best part of it is that you will learn from it. If there are times it seems like it’s always the same, just do it and do not stop there, it’s not going to be like that forever. If you want something so hard and it doesn’t happen, do not lose hope and stumble - there are things not given because there is something much better in store for you. Enjoy your work, do it attentively and acknowledge people who mentored you, appreciate and love your family. Be grateful to God for everything that you have, and never forget to love yourself.