Graduate achiever: my path to chartered status
I decided to go for chartered status with the CIOB because my degree was accredited by the institute and it was most relevant to my job. There are two ways of achieving chartered status: through a personal development programme, in which you submit a portfolio, or through completing a level 4 NVQ in a related field. I chose to work towards an NVQ in construction site management on the job because it took less time.
My mentors
My company allocated me a personal mentor, although everyone was willing to pass on their expertise whenever I needed it. The company also paid for a CIOB mentor whom I could turn to for advice, especially regarding written work.
Assessment involved passing both the written work component and a 15-minute presentation to three CIOB fellows followed by a half-hour Q&A session. There was a wide range of topics to choose from but the questions they asked weren’t confined to my talk. They don’t expect you to know everything and I did have to admit that I didn’t know the answers to a couple of questions.
A real achievement
When the assessors called me back into the room to tell me I’d passed it was like getting my degree again. To attain chartered status so young is a real achievement and I am proud of what I have done: I’m also enjoying seeing letters after my name!
Chris Yates is a site manager at Miller Construction (UK) Ltd. He has a BSc in construction management from Sheffield Hallam University (2006) and MCIOB status.
