I knew I wasn’t ready when I failed to respond concisely to my counsellor's question concerning my choice of a key issue for my case study. It was an excellent question that had me stumped for a few seconds whilst I tried a valiant effort—a classic example of a Contractor’s QS trying to justify a misdemeanor whenever interrogated on a claim submission by the Engineer or Consultants.
During that session, I requested a few moments — actually the few moments were almost two hours—so I can rework and think out (analyse would be a precise word) the proper approach of my APC case study.
On the second iteration, there were several iterations since February this year before that session, I would assume that I have hit the right note as my counsellor concurred my proposed draft revision. I was ecstatic as it would be the first time that my key issue got a substantial nod of approval from my counsellor. Man, there was a glimmer of hope.
That was six days ago.
I have the material, the facts, the figures, the verbs, and the knowledge of the concepts, so what is stopping me? I am at a dead end. I am stumped as my key issue will require me treading the dangerous grounds of the legal aspects in quantity surveying. It was an interesting issue. But time was also a problem. I am pressured and each time I write something it looked amatuerish. Had it been my official submission, it reeked with failure on it: I can feel a referral.
Then comes work. It’s the end of the month. Last week for assessing our subcontractor’s interim payments. Sometimes I have free time and I can spend productive office hours in revising my submission—nothing unethical on that I guess since the effort of continuous professional development will cause a proficient quantity surveyor for my employer.
But this week, yeah, this week was a bummer: subcontractor IPCs, another cost implication submission as we missed out one work scope again and need to notify the Client that we need compensation for costs we incurred because of some people’s stupidity (me included) on a provisional sum, and being burned out as bowing (literally) every day at the office can cause such an effect.
I have two direct bosses in our department. One is going on leave on Saturday, hence it would equate to more work for the underpaid Asian QS. More work equals less time for APC. My frustration has led me to a witty new definition of the acronym equivalent: A Personal Commitment. True. But stressing and cramming won’t help. It’s not fun to go insane for an endeavor with a noble aim.
I am an advocate of resilience. I understand that the APC is a professional assessment. If I have to attend pertinent matters at work to restore the balance, then fine, I will do it—I think that’s the ethical thing that I have to do. The RICS demands its members to do so. I am applying it now.
One of the global ethical standards I have to adhere is to provide a high standard of service. If I will keep acting this way, then I am not worthy for chartership. If I need to render my full attention at work, then so be it. That’s ethical. If my boss acts rudely, I would practice empathy as he probably got reprimanded by the upper echelons. It’s a chain reaction. Regardless, I will keep cool—because another ethical standard requires treating others with respect and that includes obnoxious and self-centred bosses.
I once wrote on my social media page that doing the APC is similar to looking at a mirror. And if you want to have that chartership—desire it—then I have to take responsibility and provide a high standard of service. Writing the narratives on a haphazardly prepared case study does not do such a qualification justice. And if I have to iterate and defer my submission—then so be it. Reflecting on my failure to answer the first question that my counsellor raised six days ago, it made me realize what it requires to be a chartered quantity surveyor: it’s not just about writing the proper words; one has to earn it.
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