QS job

Looking for some career advise I am fours qualified as a QS. I went straight from college to a non typical QS position as in I was with a subcontractor for two years doing everything and anything in the office. It was a big mistake I know. I have since learnt the errors of my ways and have joined a medium sized main contractor. I have two senior QS's over me . My role is project surveyor and i am responsible for three jobs combined value €20 million. While there are Senior Surveyors in the company ,there primary role is estimating and commercial issues. They are certainly available for advise when needed.
Things are going well on all my jobs, margins are being made etc..
I am concerned I am not getting adequate experience. My Directors say best way to learn is be thrown in at the deep end which I have been

I have since been offered a job with a top three main contractor on the same money. I am not sure what to do stay with medium sized contractor (growing in size every year) or throw my lot in with bigger company and possibility of better experience.

The other side is with a medium sized company you stand a better chance of advancement promotion/monetary wise?????

Please help dont know what to do.

stay where you are I found smaller companies easier to progress in and not as regimental. Best of luck

help

Sisk, John Pauls, Bennetts.....it will take some doing to become a director in one of those compnaies for example or any other advancement. Queues of exisitng staff ahead of you in the pecking order.

A med sized contractor and growing gives you much better opportunity of progressing within the company I would say.

Also in the large contractor you could be one of 50 QSs or so and when the belts tighten over the next while last in 1st out!

Whereas if you are a key player in a smaller firm you may be more secure

I am a QS who started working with top 5 contractor and had 5 great learning years there but your are from the moment you join only a number. You can be replaced in a minute and will not get any recognition for any of your work.

I lieft and went to a medium size company with developing and sub-contract arms and 5 years later I am now the chief QS in the company and responsible for finance and financial running of all projects. I do believe you gain more experience and self worth the lower down the company size you go.

best of luck which ever route you choose

Just to throw the cat amongst the pidgeons- I am a Q.S. with one of the larger contractors and have found myself progressing at a good rate, I dont find myself as just being a number and my superiors are always on hand for advice & guidance. I know one of my classmates went with a smaller firm and was swamped with work and had nobody to advise him, he quickly left and is now with a bigger firm. It might not be any harm to do a stint in a big firm and see how systems operate etc. and then head for a smaller firm where you can implement these schemes or even improve them. There's pro's & cons to both sides, but with QS demand at a high for the foreseeable future its not likely jobs will be cut even with the market tightening.

Thanks guys for the advise. I have made my decision to stay where I am. I approached my boss and raised my concerns I have now secured a 10k increase and yearly pay scales and promise of promotion to senior positions!! I hope I have made the right choice!! Job satisfaction is probably the key,which I have at my current job.