Meet Lyhour - A Day in the Life as a Quantity Surveyor at Urbanland.
Lyhour has been working as a quantity surveyor at Urbanland for over 4 years now. Quantity surveying is a relatively new subject in Cambodia as it is not taught in school, but the skill is in high demand within the construction job market these days.
Follow Lyhour throughout his daily life at Urbanland to learn more about his unique role and what a Quantity Surveyor does.
What exactly does a Quantity Surveyor do and how did you end up working in this role?
A quantity surveyor's main role is to study whether a construction project is doable or not with the given budget. If it is possible, the quantity surveyor team needs to figure out how to allocate the budget to get the project done.
In school, I majored in civil engineering, and after graduating I worked as a construction inspector. I then had the opportunity to work with a planning manager who was also a contractor at my previous job, and I found quantity surveying to be very interesting. I was eager to learn more about it, so when Urbanland offered me this position, I jumped at the chance.
Can you tell us about your typical working day?
I like getting to work early and having a cup of coffee before I start my day. I am not much of a coffee drinker, but it makes me feel more alert in the morning.
After I have my morning caffeine, I check my emails to see what needs my immediate attention. Then, I look at my task list for the day and make sure that any urgent tasks are done first.
My team members know what is expected of them, so they usually do not need much supervision on their assignments. If there is something they are unsure about, they ask me for help or clarification. Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons are my most productive time, so I spend that time on my most important tasks.
Besides that, I go to the site to see how construction is coming along. Throughout the week, I travel a lot to Borey Chankiri for my on-site work. My priority is to get sub-contractors on board, so most mornings I spend calling around and explaining the project to them before asking them to submit a quotation for the work.
What do you like about working at Urbanland and what do you find challenging?
I have been working at Urbanland for quite some time now. I've learned a lot about the company and its culture, which operates with open communications and collaborations. Working in Urbanland is like joining a family. From the moment I first met HR on my first day with the company, I could see how much they value collaborative work and making new connections. It was my very first time working in an open-space office where I could see my colleagues hard at work and enjoying their time together.
The company has grown tremendously in that time, which means we're constantly restructuring and changing some processes to keep up with our growth. This presents both challenges and opportunities. It's challenging because I'm often learning new things as I go, but also it's an opportunity because no two days are ever the same!
What is the difference between your previous work and your work at Urbanland now?
I think the stark difference is the sense of security of knowing that I have enough projects lined up to keep my days occupied while allowing myself to focus on other important aspects of my life as well such as taking care of my health and socializing.
Working at Urbanland, I serve a greater purpose. It is a company that creates a higher demand for projects with quality, durability, and craftsmanship to drive change in the way Cambodians experience spaces. Borey Chankiri, for example, provides an accessible, aspirational and tranquil landed home living experience, while Treeline and Embassy Central focus on green spaces that are enjoyed by those staying in them. On top of that, K Mall is also an innovative community mall that offers customers a wide range of products and services along Veng Sreng Boulevard.
When you look at the world, what is most fascinating to you?
My favorite times of the day are sunrise and sunset. I love the idea of beginning a brand new day as the sun rises, and it's comforting to see the sun go down after a long day's work.
What was the biggest realisation you had about yourself?
I don't think I had a big one. But I know I can do a lot of important things as long as I put a hundred percent of effort into it. Only that, I sometimes let my procrastination get the best of me, and eventually, it brought me to the point where I no longer care about what I'm doing. But as they say, nobody’s perfect, so I am working on it.
