• Oops! We couldn't find the page you requested so we've taken you back to a page we think might help you to try and find the content you're after.
  • Oops! We couldn't find the page you requested so we've taken you back to a page we think might help you to try and find the content you're after.

How do I get a graduate job in property?

All you need to know about starting a graduate career in the property sector. With details on job roles and specialisms, salary information and tips on applying for property vacancies, this is the place to start your property job search.

A career in property involves using a knowledge of surveying to make money out of property (buildings and/or land). Property is the sector where finance and the built environment meet, involving the buying and selling, planning and development, management and investment of property. Selling residential property is a very minor aspect of the industry, with 21 other areas of specialisation recognised by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Are you qualified for a graduate job in property?

If you have a degree in a subject that isn't related to property and isn't accredited by RICS, you will have to take a postgraduate conversion course in property that is accredited by RICS to help develop your understanding of the sector. You can do this in one of two ways. You can choose to apply to a property firm that accepts applicants from graduates without an RICS accredited degree. They will then sponsor you through (pay for) the course and you do the course part time or via distance learning while you work for them. Or you can complete a postgraduate diploma or masters course on your own and then apply for graduate jobs.

Conversion courses are made up of common elements such as basic valuation, planning and property law.

Once you've done a RICS accredited degree you will be able to qualify as a chartered surveyor. To do this you will have to completed the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC), a structured training scheme based in the workplace. This takes two and a half years (on average) and leads to chartered status. Employers will often award pay rises and company cars upon completion. After this there is the option of further qualification with the Continuous Professional Development programme, which leads to RICS fellowship.

What is the application process for graduate surveying jobs?

Each firm will have a slightly different selection process, but a typical one involves: either filling in an online application form or submitting a CV and covering letter online or via email; undergoing some sort of initial sifting exercise – usually an HR interview over the phone or an online aptitude test; and going to an assessment centre. Assessment centres usually include group exercises, case studies, aptitude tests and/or presentations, alongside interviews with the firm’s partners.

When should I apply for graduate jobs in property?

Closing dates for graduate jobs in the property sector commonly fall in the November or December of your final year, but getting your application in before the deadline is likely to endear you to recruiters. Some firms will have different recruitment cycles or may be open to applications year-round, so always check. Many deadlines for internships and sandwich placements fall in March to start later that year.

How have the tougher economic times affected graduate jobs in property?

The property sector took a hit thanks to the credit crunch and subsequent recession. But, during this time, many graduate recruiters kept recruiting – albeit often at a reduced level. However, the good news is that hiring levels are now returning to the sorts of numbers seen before the credit crunch – at least at the larger employers.

As current students and graduates from the last couple of years are all going for the same jobs, however, competition for vacancies is fierce. To compete, you need to pack your CV full of work experience – get as much related work as possible by applying for internships and taking a sandwich year. Find ways to build up the skills property recruiters want through your studies, your outside interests, travels and part-time jobs – commercial awareness, client-facing skills and drive are essential. You also need to prove your genuine enthusiasm for and commitment to a property career.

As current students and graduates from the last couple of years are all going for the same jobs, competition for vacancies is fierce.

What are the different specialisms within the real estate sector?

Different areas of work suit different personalities. For example, for those graduates who are attracted to the world of big business, a fund management position within the property sector is the equivalent of a role in the banking and investment industry but with a focus on property portfolios. For those who want a more hands-on career, planning, development and regeneration roles will give you an opportunity to work with big projects and get involved with plans and reports, as well as to make site visits.

Job roles or tasks in the property sector include:

But property firms also work in different markets (types of land or property), such as commercial, residential and rural. You will end up specialising in a particular market so it's important that you choose the right firm and market for you.

What is the work/life balance like for a graduate property surveyor?

You won’t be chained to a desk and will spend a lot of time out of the office. Site visits may involve anything from inspecting a building site to examining a listed mansion. There’s always a lot of contact with people, whether they’re individual clients, investors or fellow property professionals. Some contact will be over the phone and by email but there are usually also face-to-face meetings, which might also involve a business lunch or evening entertainment. Socialising regularly involves colleagues, and clients can be invited to functions, meals and evenings out.

The work environment depends on your choice of specialism – some positions may be based in a state-of-the-art city-centre office while estate managers are likely to work in the middle of the countryside.

For a professional career, property has relatively short hours – you’re likely to work 8.30 am to 6.30 pm. You might work long hours before a big project but many employers will allow you to work shorter hours another time. Small independent firms and the regional offices of multinational firms often have shorter hours than their London counterparts. If you choose to work for a firm with multiple locations, you may have opportunities to move to an office in another part of the UK or abroad after you qualify. In general, the profession has a work hard, play hard attitude, and the two aspects are often combined. It’s a very sociable profession, in which networking is key.

What's it like to apply to and work for specific property employers?

Read our independent research reports, our Employer Insights, on leading property graduate recruiters. Find out what to expect when applying and insider tips on applications and interviews - as well as information on starting salaries and benefits, an outline of the jobs and work experience available and a concise overview of the firm.

Related graduate career sectors

 

share

More special features

Recruiting now