Job in construction/property help
Discussion
I am looking for a bit of advice, guidance or pointing in the right direction and as there a few PHer in the industry I though I would try you chaps first.
I am currently looking for a new job in the construction/property industry. I was made redundant from my main job before Christmas but luckily I have part time work that covers the rent. My background is in quantity surveying/project management but I fancied a bit of a change of direction plus wanted to improve my prospects so went back to uni. I graduated last year with a BSc Hons in Building Surveying and the Environment (no digs about the environment bit please
) Since then I have worked as a QS/PM for a fit out contractor for a while before having the bright idea of wanting to go into teaching. I found out in the end that it wasn’t really for me but by the time I had I'd already left my job. I then worked for a Solar company but because of the reduction in FITs the projects I was involved in were cancelled.
I’m now looking for my next step on the career ladder within construction or property and I genuinely find the industry very interesting. I would love a job where I can use my previous experience, but also learn more from the people I work with and maybe become chartered and grow with the company. I have contacted a few graduate schemes but have a sneaking suspicion that for some reason my age and having worked in the industry a while a big put off to them due to some of the feedback
If anyone on here has any good advice or knows of anyone who is looking to recruit someone into Building surveying, GP surveying or project management or indeed any other professional post within the industry I’d love to hear your comments.
Thanks
I am currently looking for a new job in the construction/property industry. I was made redundant from my main job before Christmas but luckily I have part time work that covers the rent. My background is in quantity surveying/project management but I fancied a bit of a change of direction plus wanted to improve my prospects so went back to uni. I graduated last year with a BSc Hons in Building Surveying and the Environment (no digs about the environment bit please
) Since then I have worked as a QS/PM for a fit out contractor for a while before having the bright idea of wanting to go into teaching. I found out in the end that it wasn’t really for me but by the time I had I'd already left my job. I then worked for a Solar company but because of the reduction in FITs the projects I was involved in were cancelled.I’m now looking for my next step on the career ladder within construction or property and I genuinely find the industry very interesting. I would love a job where I can use my previous experience, but also learn more from the people I work with and maybe become chartered and grow with the company. I have contacted a few graduate schemes but have a sneaking suspicion that for some reason my age and having worked in the industry a while a big put off to them due to some of the feedback
If anyone on here has any good advice or knows of anyone who is looking to recruit someone into Building surveying, GP surveying or project management or indeed any other professional post within the industry I’d love to hear your comments.
Thanks
Mattt said:
Consider overseas?
I must admit the thought of working overseas is very exciting. I am looking into New Zealand, OZ, USA and Canada as these are places where I have spent some time travelling. I am looking into the Visa side of things and what qualifications experience the places would need. 
blueg33 said:
TBH the industry is hard to break into at the moment as there are so many people with experience that have been made redundant since 2007/8 that competition is fierce for every role.
This I am finding out to be very true! Prior to me going back to uni the job market had far more options! just going to have to keep trying.MonkeyMatt said:
Sounds great, thanks! What area are you in?
My career has been mostly resi development on the land and planning side, I am now in healthcare development, NHS stuff through to care homes and extracare. I specialise in Investment Funding, Land and Legals with a national role looking after our development teams across the UK.blueg33 said:
My career has been mostly resi development on the land and planning side, I am now in healthcare development, NHS stuff through to care homes and extracare. I specialise in Investment Funding, Land and Legals with a national role looking after our development teams across the UK.
Look forwarded to hearing back from you! Sounds very interesting what you do.I think the first thing you need to do is decide what part of the industry, or what elements of development interest you.
Project managment is a useful skill to have and you can apply that to most roles, but the roles do vary greatly. My role for instance is mainly about profit generation and negotiation using experience and knowledge to inform decisions and solve theoretical problems 9I do planning too, but that's a whole thread). A technical manager may be leans more towards solving practical problems, a QS does counting, etc
I came to the industry as a land manager, so did land acqusition etc.
Once you know what aspect interests you, then you can start to search the job websites, Property Jobs is a good place to start, plus developers own websites.
Alternatively you could look at some of the project management companies.
I am afraid I can't think of any easy ways in at the moment, it will be an uphill struggle whatever.
Project managment is a useful skill to have and you can apply that to most roles, but the roles do vary greatly. My role for instance is mainly about profit generation and negotiation using experience and knowledge to inform decisions and solve theoretical problems 9I do planning too, but that's a whole thread). A technical manager may be leans more towards solving practical problems, a QS does counting, etc
I came to the industry as a land manager, so did land acqusition etc.
Once you know what aspect interests you, then you can start to search the job websites, Property Jobs is a good place to start, plus developers own websites.
Alternatively you could look at some of the project management companies.
I am afraid I can't think of any easy ways in at the moment, it will be an uphill struggle whatever.
blueg33 said:
a QS does counting
Cough, slightly more to it than that.I started off as a general contractor's QS for one of the major firms, then moved into more of a Commercial/Business Development role and have now moved into Contracts & Claims/Arbitration - in 4 countries, in 4 years.
There's plenty of opportunity there, but you have to drive it yourself.
I have 8 years experience as a QS but I want to move away from that which is why I did the degree in Building Surveying. Was a great course as it covered most of the Construction Management degree but included additional units such as building conservation and building bathology. At the moment I am torn between
following a Project Management route as I have some previous experience or the BS route as I really enyoyed the BS units on the degree. Im also really interested in Property and have considered GP Sureying but its not an area I have any practical experience in.
following a Project Management route as I have some previous experience or the BS route as I really enyoyed the BS units on the degree. Im also really interested in Property and have considered GP Sureying but its not an area I have any practical experience in.
Property is such a wide ranging thing. It encompasses everything from basic estate agency, through building surveying to estate management and investment. These are all very different.
Everyone in my company would describe themselves as working in property. We have
Development Managers - Project managers pulling together external teams
Investment Specialists
Land and Investment Specialists
Property Legals
Asset Management Specialists
Funding Specialists
Partnership Specialists
Bid preparation specialists
Accountants (lots of them, but they are probably the only ones who don't say they are in property)
In the wider group we then cover every aspect of construction you can imagine
Everyone in my company would describe themselves as working in property. We have
Development Managers - Project managers pulling together external teams
Investment Specialists
Land and Investment Specialists
Property Legals
Asset Management Specialists
Funding Specialists
Partnership Specialists
Bid preparation specialists
Accountants (lots of them, but they are probably the only ones who don't say they are in property)
In the wider group we then cover every aspect of construction you can imagine
blueg33 said:
Property is such a wide ranging thing. It encompasses everything from basic estate agency, through building surveying to estate management and investment. These are all very different.
Everyone in my company would describe themselves as working in property. We have
Development Managers - Project managers pulling together external teams
Investment Specialists
Land and Investment Specialists
Property Legals
Asset Management Specialists
Funding Specialists
Partnership Specialists
Bid preparation specialists
Accountants (lots of them, but they are probably the only ones who don't say they are in property)
In the wider group we then cover every aspect of construction you can imagine
The obove list is the reason I am struggling to decide there are so many areas to get into!Everyone in my company would describe themselves as working in property. We have
Development Managers - Project managers pulling together external teams
Investment Specialists
Land and Investment Specialists
Property Legals
Asset Management Specialists
Funding Specialists
Partnership Specialists
Bid preparation specialists
Accountants (lots of them, but they are probably the only ones who don't say they are in property)
In the wider group we then cover every aspect of construction you can imagine
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