How graduates with any degree subject can start a career in quantity surveying or building surveying
It’s possible for graduates from any degree discipline to get into a career in quantity surveying or building surveying. If you haven’t studied a relevant subject you’ll need to take a postgraduate conversion course. You can either do this before looking for a job, or find an employer who will take you on and support you in completing the conversion course while you work.
Getting surveying work experience
Before committing to a career in surveying it’s a good idea to get some relevant work experience. This will help you make sure that a surveying career is the right choice and will demonstrate your commitment when it comes to finding an employer, especially if you want to be sponsored through your conversion course. You’ll also gain skills that will help you sell yourself in applications and will get experience on projects, giving you something to talk about in interviews. Most firms offer formal work experience schemes that you can apply to and some are open to speculative applications. You could be taken on for anything from a few days to a whole summer.
While you’re on your placement, talk to other employees about their work and ask your employer about the possibility of sponsorship. Even if your employer can’t offer this, you may be able to get advice on approaching other companies.
Conversion courses
Conversion courses can be either masters degrees or postgraduate diplomas (PgDip). The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is the professional body that monitors standards and training in surveying; it provides a search function to find any RICS accredited courses so this is a good place to start your research. It’s important that you choose a RICS accredited course so that you can go on to work towards your Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) – a professional qualification required to become a chartered surveyor.
You can study conversion courses full or part time or by distance learning. They are often combined with relevant work experience for a surveying employer. Full time courses usually last one year; part-time and distance learning equivalents tend to last two years.
Finding an employer who’ll sponsor you through the course
If you want to find an employer who’ll take you on and sponsor you through the conversion course you’ll need to show that you’re committed to a career in surveying and are enthusiastic about it. You need to demonstrate that you have researched the construction industry in depth, understand what a surveying job involves (including difference between building surveying and quantity surveying) and are sure of your reasons for deciding to work in the industry. Read weekly newspapers and keep up to date on the web, for example with the RICS website and Building magazine. Keep construction-related articles to build up your industry knowledge.
Some employers will specify on their website or graduate job adverts that they are willing to sponsor non-cognates through the conversion course. You can use the search function on this website to look for employers offering sponsorship. Alternatively, you can apply speculatively with a CV and covering letter. In the latter, explain why you’ve decided on a career in surveying, outline your work experience and anything else you have done to confirm your choice, and point out the key skills you’ve already developed through other activities and how they will be transferable to your new role.
Relevant part-time work: an alternative to sponsorship
If you don’t manage to gain sponsorship, there are other ways to fund the conversion course. One option is to study part time and do part-time agency work on construction sites, which will provide relevant experience and may even get you noticed by an employer.