1. Professional Experience & Role
- Q: With Many years of experience, what has been your most challenging project?
A: A high-rise mixed-use project with multiple subcontractors. The challenge was handling variations and claims while keeping within budget. I resolved it by creating a structured variation approval process and weekly cost review meetings. - Q: What’s the difference between how you worked as a junior QS and now as a senior QS?
A: Earlier, focus was on quantity take-offs and bills. Now, I focus more on cost control, contract management, risk mitigation, and team coordination. - Q: How do you mentor junior QS team members?
A: By training them on IS codes, measurement rules, billing formats, and reviewing their BOQs for accuracy.
2. BOQ & Tendering
- Q: How do you finalize BOQ for large projects?
A: By reconciling architectural, structural, and MEP drawings, applying IS:1200, and coordinating with consultants to freeze scope before tender. - Q: How do you handle discrepancies between drawings and BOQ during tendering?
A: Issue RFIs (Request for Information), prepare a clarification log, and update BOQ to prevent disputes later. - Q: How do you check rates quoted by subcontractors?
A: Prepare a rate analysis, benchmark against CPWD/SOR/market rates, and use a comparison statement (CS) to evaluate. - Q: What’s the risk if BOQ is not properly prepared?
A: Cost overruns, claims, disputes, and project delays.
3. Billing & Contracts
- Q: How do you manage client billing vs subcontractor billing?
A: Ensure subcontractor quantities align with client-certified quantities, account for wastage, and maintain reconciliation sheets. - Q: How do you resolve disputes in RA bills?
A: Refer measurement books, BOQ clauses, contract terms, and involve consultant/client for certification. - Q: What’s your process for preparing final bill?
A: Consolidate all RA bills, include pending variations, adjust advances/retentions, and reconcile materials. - Q: How do you handle non-tendered items (NT rates)?
A: Prepare rate analysis → submit for approval → issue client’s variation order. - Q: What is your experience with FIDIC contracts?
A: Familiar with Red Book (measurement-based contracts), especially variations, claims, dispute resolution, and time extensions.
4. Cost Control & Reporting
- Q: How do you prepare monthly cost reports?
A: Track budget vs committed vs actual vs forecast, include variations, escalation, and update management with S-curves. - Q: What steps do you take when project cost starts exceeding budget?
A: Identify cause (scope change, wastage, escalation), propose value engineering, renegotiate procurement, and revise forecast. - Q: How do you apply Earned Value Management (EVM)?
A: By tracking Planned Value (PV), Earned Value (EV), and Actual Cost (AC) to monitor cost & schedule performance. - Q: How do you control wastage at site?
A: Reconciliation reports, issue control, proper storage, cutting plans for steel/formwork.
5. Rate Analysis & Estimation
- Q: How do you prepare rate analysis for new items?
A: Split into Material + Labor + Equipment + Overheads + Profit using market rates and SOR as base. - Q: How do you incorporate escalation in rates?
A: Use price adjustment formulas (indices) for cement, steel, fuel, bitumen, labor. - Q: Have you applied value engineering in projects?
A: Yes, e.g., replacing granite with engineered stone saved 15% without affecting quality. - Q: How do you deal with market price volatility?
A: Use bulk purchase agreements, vendor tie-ups, and escalation clauses in contracts.
6. Dispute Resolution & Claims
- Q: What type of claims have you handled?
A: Extra work claims, extension of time (EOT), escalation claims, and delay damages. - Q: How do you justify variation claims to clients?
A: Provide drawings, site instructions, cost breakdown, and approval log. - Q: What’s your approach in case of delay disputes?
A: Perform delay analysis (critical path), segregate contractor delays vs client delays, and document with evidence. - Q: How do you handle back charges against subcontractors?
A: Issue debit notes with proper site evidence and contractual justification.
7. Procurement & Vendor Management
- Q: How do you prepare a procurement strategy?
A: Identify long-lead items, bulk materials, subcontract packages, and align procurement with project schedule. - Q: How do you finalize vendors?
A: Technical compliance, commercial comparison, past performance, and payment terms. - Q: How do you prevent vendor disputes?
A: Clear scope, transparent comparison statement, well-drafted POs.
8. Leadership & Communication
- Q: How do you coordinate with project managers and site engineers?
A: Weekly site meetings, joint measurement sheets, variation approval workflow. - Q: How do you manage pressure from clients to reduce costs?
A: Negotiate on specifications, suggest alternatives, but ensure safety & quality are not compromised. - Q: How do you handle conflicts between site and commercial team?
A: Mediate using contract terms, measurement rules, and project records.
9. Software & Digital Skills
- Q: Which tools do you use for cost control?
A: MS Excel (advanced formulas, pivot, dashboards), ERP, CostX, Candy, AutoCAD. - Q: Give an example of an Excel tool you built for QS work.
A: Developed an automated BOQ & billing tracker with pivot tables and variance alerts. - Q: How do you integrate AutoCAD with quantity take-offs?
A: Extract dimensions and link with Excel for automated BOQ.
10. Practical Situational Questions
- Q: If client refuses to certify a variation, what do you do?
A: Provide supporting documents, escalate contractually, and keep it in claims register. - Q: If subcontractor inflates quantities, how do you catch it?
A: Verify against drawings, MB, and joint measurements. - Q: If project delays affect your billing targets, what action do you take?
A: Revise billing forecast, negotiate advances, expedite approvals. - Q: If two IS codes conflict, which do you follow?
A: Latest revision, or as per project specifications / contract. - Q: How do you handle BOQ errors discovered mid-project?
A: Issue corrigendum, adjust in variation orders, and document client approvals.
11. Advanced Concepts
- Q: What is cash flow management in QS?
A: Aligning inflows (client billing) and outflows (subcontractor/vendor payments) to ensure liquidity. - Q: How do you ensure profitability of a project?
A: Regular cost monitoring, accurate billing, minimizing wastage, negotiating variations. - Q: What is cost-to-complete forecasting?
A: Estimating future expenditure required to complete the balance scope. - Q: What is “front loading” in BOQ rates?
A: Inflating early work items to improve cash flow — a risky practice. - Q: How do you evaluate contractor claims under FIDIC?
A: Verify notice of claim, substantiation, entitlement, and quantum.
12. Behavioral / HR Round
- Q: Why should we hire you over other candidates with 10 years’ experience?
A: Because I bring not only technical QS skills but also leadership, contract management, and cost optimization experience. - Q: Have you ever faced pressure to approve incorrect bills? How did you handle it?
A: Yes, I refused politely, explained risks, and escalated to management — maintaining integrity is key. - Q: How do you stay updated on market rates?
A: Regular vendor interactions, government SOR updates, and online construction price indices. - Q: What motivates you in this profession?
A: Ensuring financial discipline in construction projects and delivering value to clients. - Q: How do you prioritize multiple projects?
A: By criticality of billing cycles, project size, and contractual deadlines. - Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A: As a Contracts/Commercial Manager leading QS teams across multiple projects. - Q: What is your strength as a QS?
A: Strong in billing accuracy, contract management, and negotiation, backed by technical expertise in IS codes.
