How to become a Building Surveyor
Discussion
PHers,
I am looking for some advice on becoming a building surveyor. I have pondered over the career change for some time, and I now think i'm at the right stage to start looking into it as a definite career change.
My main concern is earning whilst studying. My current job provider will fund the degree when I leave (as part of a resettlement package), however to gain the qualification, this will take 3 years full time - therefore not allowing me to earn a decent wage to make up for the loss of my previous wage.
Are there any decent apprenticeship schemes (I live in Plymouth) that allow you to still earn, yet will still allow you to qualify in the new chosen profession?
If anybody could point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated.
If there are any surveyors on here, I would be interested to hear your views on the job too, and pointers on how to get the best out of becoming a surveyor.
Many thanks in advance.
I am looking for some advice on becoming a building surveyor. I have pondered over the career change for some time, and I now think i'm at the right stage to start looking into it as a definite career change.
My main concern is earning whilst studying. My current job provider will fund the degree when I leave (as part of a resettlement package), however to gain the qualification, this will take 3 years full time - therefore not allowing me to earn a decent wage to make up for the loss of my previous wage.
Are there any decent apprenticeship schemes (I live in Plymouth) that allow you to still earn, yet will still allow you to qualify in the new chosen profession?
If anybody could point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated.
If there are any surveyors on here, I would be interested to hear your views on the job too, and pointers on how to get the best out of becoming a surveyor.
Many thanks in advance.
Edited by ST150HB on Sunday 17th November 15:51
Most definitely!
Quite a few institutions offer part time learning and what are known as 'non cognate' courses - which are meant to convert those with prior experience (in anything, really) into QSs. Or at least they did before the economy went tits-up. It's been a while since I looked.
Demand for QSs remains as high as ever, esp. if you're willing to work overseas...
A few Building Surveying programmes have shut down over the last few years. Tells you what you need to know, I think.
I should also point out that you technically don't need a degree to get your RICS membership... You can get there with an HND/HNC or (theoretically) without anything at all - just experience. But avoid the whole notion of becoming an Associate rather than a Member - that's the death knell of a career, in my opinion.
Quite a few institutions offer part time learning and what are known as 'non cognate' courses - which are meant to convert those with prior experience (in anything, really) into QSs. Or at least they did before the economy went tits-up. It's been a while since I looked.
Demand for QSs remains as high as ever, esp. if you're willing to work overseas...
A few Building Surveying programmes have shut down over the last few years. Tells you what you need to know, I think.
I should also point out that you technically don't need a degree to get your RICS membership... You can get there with an HND/HNC or (theoretically) without anything at all - just experience. But avoid the whole notion of becoming an Associate rather than a Member - that's the death knell of a career, in my opinion.
Edited by dxg on Sunday 17th November 17:38
I'm a chartered building surveyor and a partner in the practice that employs the largest number of building surveyors in the world, as well as QS and RICS project managers. I don't practice as a BS and haven't for about 18 years, having focused first on project management and then on asset and property-based consultancy.
Building surveying is a great door-opener into the property profession but it is, in itself, a pretty dull way to earn a living. If you intend to use it as a springboard into the industry so that you can then choose what you want to specialist in, then it's a great discipline and certainly better than most of the other divisions of the RICS. It's telling that, in my practice which is, at least in its heritage, a QS practice, the business is led either by non cognates or building surveyors.
Building surveying is a great door-opener into the property profession but it is, in itself, a pretty dull way to earn a living. If you intend to use it as a springboard into the industry so that you can then choose what you want to specialist in, then it's a great discipline and certainly better than most of the other divisions of the RICS. It's telling that, in my practice which is, at least in its heritage, a QS practice, the business is led either by non cognates or building surveyors.
ClaphamGT3 said:
I'm a chartered building surveyor and a partner in the practice that employs the largest number of building surveyors in the world, as well as QS and RICS project managers. I don't practice as a BS and haven't for about 18 years, having focused first on project management and then on asset and property-based consultancy.
Building surveying is a great door-opener into the property profession but it is, in itself, a pretty dull way to earn a living. If you intend to use it as a springboard into the industry so that you can then choose what you want to specialist in, then it's a great discipline and certainly better than most of the other divisions of the RICS. It's telling that, in my practice which is, at least in its heritage, a QS practice, the business is led either by non cognates or building surveyors.
Totally agree with this did the ond/hnc route many years ago to find it was possibly the dullest way to earn a living imaginable, ended up running shops instead and using skills in superstore opening and project management for refits, which was a bit more interesting.Building surveying is a great door-opener into the property profession but it is, in itself, a pretty dull way to earn a living. If you intend to use it as a springboard into the industry so that you can then choose what you want to specialist in, then it's a great discipline and certainly better than most of the other divisions of the RICS. It's telling that, in my practice which is, at least in its heritage, a QS practice, the business is led either by non cognates or building surveyors.
What do you currently work as?
There are no aprenticeships schemes that I know of, but you may be able to find your way with a job as a trainee. However, I've never really seen many trainee building surveyor roles, just graduate roles for QSing.
If you can't get straight on to a building surveying degree (will be subject to existing qualifications/experience?), then you can do a part time HNC and go on to uni to top it up to a degree.
I'd try and get in with a construction company as a trainee and then see what takes your fancy?
I wouldn't focus too much on wanting to be a building surveyor, you might not know for definite that you'd enjoy it, same with QSing? If you know you want to be/stay in the construction industry, there might be other jobs you hadn't thought about? Generic construction courses cover most of the different areas.
I thought I wanted to be a QS until I started on the module in college, it was so, so boring. The surveying module wasn't much better, but found it quite easy.
I don't even work in construction, so probably best to ignore all that anyway
There are no aprenticeships schemes that I know of, but you may be able to find your way with a job as a trainee. However, I've never really seen many trainee building surveyor roles, just graduate roles for QSing.
If you can't get straight on to a building surveying degree (will be subject to existing qualifications/experience?), then you can do a part time HNC and go on to uni to top it up to a degree.
I'd try and get in with a construction company as a trainee and then see what takes your fancy?
I wouldn't focus too much on wanting to be a building surveyor, you might not know for definite that you'd enjoy it, same with QSing? If you know you want to be/stay in the construction industry, there might be other jobs you hadn't thought about? Generic construction courses cover most of the different areas.
I thought I wanted to be a QS until I started on the module in college, it was so, so boring. The surveying module wasn't much better, but found it quite easy.
I don't even work in construction, so probably best to ignore all that anyway
Wow. Some really great advice from you guys here. I currently work in logistics, however the idea for BS/QS came from discussions with my wife who is a town planner, and brother in law who is a construction manager.
Taking the advice I have will definitely help guide me in the direction I want to take.
I like the advice of using it as a step in the door, however QS is something I will look into further, along with which options will be best for me.
Thanks for the responses.
Taking the advice I have will definitely help guide me in the direction I want to take.
I like the advice of using it as a step in the door, however QS is something I will look into further, along with which options will be best for me.
Thanks for the responses.
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