Oliver Langston, DTZ
Oliver Langston works as a retail agent for DTZ. He took a degree in management studies at Brunel University and then took an MA in European real estate at Kingston University.
Did you start out working in surveying?
No. I spent three years working in IT sales. Wanting to find out more about surveying, I joined my current company’s summer placement programme before taking the plunge and retraining as a property surveyor.
What does your job as an agency surveyor involve?
My role is to acquire premises for retailers and restaurateurs, as well as disposing of premises on behalf of landlords and developers. Although my time is divided equally between these two activities, I prefer the acquisition instructions as they provide interaction with a fascinating mixture of clients. One minute I might be discussing tactics with an international lingerie manufacturer, next I could have a meeting with a London restaurateur, followed by a marketing review with a global asset management firm in Canary Wharf and location-hunting with a coffee franchise.
It can be a high-pressure role in which you have to juggle various tasks. Luckily, my team are always available to answer questions and their experience and breadth of contacts is invaluable. We work hard but never miss the opportunity to socialise with clients and other agents.
What are the most important things you've learned on the job? Why?
I have learned a great deal about how our clients’ businesses operate and this has helped me to tailor the service we provide. The mix of acquisition and disposal instructions, together with providing development advice, has allowed me to understand deals from both sides of the negotiation table. Communication is also a key part of the role – you need to know when to speak, when to listen and how to pick up on unnoticed details.
What are your working hours like?
Usually working from 8.00 am and finishing just after 6.30 pm, the hours are long but I still have time to meet up with friends and maintain a good work/life balance.