PROFILE: My journey to Professional Registration - Khaka Nonyongo

According to Professional Quantity Surveyor Khaka Nonyongo, professional registration in South Africa's built environment facilitates career advancement, promotes quality, fosters learning, and enables networking. To aspiring hardhat PROFESSIONALS, he recommends embarking on the registration journey early, making informed decisions, and embracing continuous growth.

Registering as a Professional in South Africa's built environment is crucial for making a meaningful impact within the industry. I strongly believe that every hardhatPROFESIONAL should strive towards becoming a professional.

Before completing my BTech in Quantity Surveying, I conducted extensive research into the career paths available with a QS degree. That's when I discovered the professional registration journey. After consulting with industry professionals, I decided it was the path I wanted to pursue, recognizing it would be both challenging and rewarding.

Throughout my career, I've encountered individuals who started the registration journey but didn't complete it, leaving many of them with regrets. I was determined to give it my all, regardless of the outcome.

While the journey is indeed long and tiring, it offers numerous benefits. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to meet and engage with many industry professionals, both those pursuing registration and those who have already achieved it. This journey fosters growth and skill development.

Professional registration has had a profound impact on my career. It has compelled me to consistently deliver high-quality work and fostered a proactive approach to learning about my career, profession, and industry, leading me to conduct research on various industry topics and trends. It has also enabled me to meet and interact with aspiring professionals, building relationships and connections within the industry. Furthermore, professional registration has influenced my decisions when seeking new employment, seeking exposure in the right spaces to expand my knowledge and skill set.

Early in my journey, I faced a challenge in finding a mentor. I worked for a company that refused to submit my report, claiming I wasn't ready to pursue this path. This setback had a negative impact on my self-belief, requiring constant reassurance of my capabilities.

For a hardhatPROFESSIONAL considering embarking on this journey, I advise you to conduct thorough research on the various routes to registration. Be informed about the requirements and choose the option that best suits your situation.

Pray for a committed and dedicated mentor, but remember that the best time to start is NOW!

During your journey, you will encounter negative voices. Ignore them, for no one else can envision your goals but yourself. It will be challenging, so build a supportive community to help you through the dark days.

Finally, enjoy the journey. Learning, growing, and educating yourself are beautiful experiences. Take time to appreciate the progress you have made along the way.

Khaka Nonyongo is a Professional Quantity Surveyor (PrQS) with 4 years experience in the mining, construction and civil engineering industry, with particular involvement in: Feasibility Studies, Pre-Tender Estimates, Formulation of program management plans, production of Bills of Quantities, Cost Planning, Cost Controlling, Cost Reporting, Monthly Valuations, Final Accounts, Value Engineering, Contracts and Project Management amongst many others.

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