Job hunting decisions and tips
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A woman's world: advice for women in architecture, construction, engineering and surveying
'Speak up', 'own your career progression' and 'forget about perfection' are just some of the pieces of advice for female students and graduates in the construction and engineering industries that TARGETjobs has heard over the years.
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2.2s: which employers accept them in construction, civil engineering and quantity surveying?
'I have got a 2.2 in my degree. How can I start a career in construction, civil engineering and quantity surveying?' We investigate which employers accept job applications from candidates who haven't got a 2.1.
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Top networking tips for student civil engineers, quantity surveyors and construction managers
Networking can make your search for graduate jobs and internships easier – it’s a skill that construction professionals use all the time.
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How to choose the right engineering career in construction, by a graduate fire engineer
Many engineering students aren’t aware of the full range of engineering jobs in the construction industry. We interviewed Paul Matthews, a fire engineer at Mott MacDonald, to find out why he chose his.
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Five tips to get a graduate job in construction, civil engineering and surveying in 2019
We’ve reviewed the UK’s biggest survey of student attitudes to job hunting to bring you five key tips on starting your career in construction.
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Handling construction job offers: accepting, rejecting and playing for time
Whether you are accepting, rejecting or delaying a job offer it is crucial that you remain courteous and professional in your communication.
Applications
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Good and bad sample application answers for construction jobs
Aman Gill, a graduate recruiter at Arup, reviews example answers to application form questions for civil engineering, quantity surveying and construction jobs. Find out how to write the best application form.
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How to write a graduate civil engineering, quantity surveying or construction CV
Use our step-by-step guide to structure your CV for graduate jobs and work placements in construction, quantity surveying and civil, structural or building services engineering.
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Graduate covering letters for civil engineering, construction and quantity surveying jobs
This is how you write a great covering letter for a construction internship or graduate job – whether the vacancy is in engineering, management, design or surveying.
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How to get a graduate job in architectural technology
Junior architectural technology, architectural technician and architectural design jobs are not always advertised. Our tips will help you to make effective speculative applications.
Interviews and assessment centres
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Construction interview questions and how to answer
Got an interview for a graduate job in civil engineering, construction or surveying? Prep by practising answers to these questions, gleaned from top construction recruiters.
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Three top tips for tackling construction employers' video interviews
Got a video interview with a construction employer? Whether you are applying for an engineering, management or surveying job, you need to read this expert advice from Wates on showing your best side.
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Graduate construction assessment centres: what to expect
TARGETjobs was invited to attend a graduate assessment centre run by a construction engineering employer. We can now give you an insider view of what an assessment day is like and clues on how to pass the test.
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The top seven soft skills all construction, engineering and surveying graduates need
What are the top skills assessed at construction interviews and assessment days – and what qualities will help you have a successful career?
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Construction commercial awareness interview questions & tips
All construction graduates – from architects to civil engineers to quantity surveyors – are expected to be commercially savvy. Here's how to demonstrate your commercial thinking to interviewers.
Internships and placements
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No internship in construction, QS or engineering? What to do instead
Your chances of getting a graduate job with a construction, engineering or surveying employer aren’t necessarily over if you don’t get an industry internship or placement.
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Employers offering summer internships and industrial placement years in civil engineering, construction and quantity surveying
Internships and sandwich-year placements in the construction industry for university students: read our at-a-glance guide to which employer is offering what.
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Construction, civil engineering and QS interns: how to impress
Making a great impression on a summer internship or industrial placement year can lead to a constriction graduate job offer. We reveal how to be a good intern – better than good even – from your first day to your final hour.
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Construction work experience: what you need and how to get it
Construction, civil engineering and quantity surveying work experience, internships, sandwich years and placements… discover when (and how) to apply, and how to secure your place on one.
Pay and progression
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Salary guide: how much you earn in civil engineering, construction and surveying careers
Research graduate salaries in construction industry jobs, including those in civil engineering, structural engineering, construction management, architecture, quantity surveying and building surveying.
Job descriptions
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Estimator: job description
An estimator is hired to estimate the cost and amount of materials, labour and equipment needed to complete construction work.
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Architectural technologist: job description
Architectural technologists work closely with architects, helping to ensure that their designs develop into fully operational structures.
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Geomatics/land surveyor: job description
Geomatics/land surveyors carry out measurements and collect and interpret data about areas of land, including information about boundaries, buildings and both natural and man-made features.
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Bid manager: job description
Bid managers are in charge of the proposals or submissions companies make to win a new contract.
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Building control officer/surveyor: job description
Building control officers (also known as building control surveyors) are responsible for overseeing the work of building surveyors and ensuring that building construction regulations are adhered to.
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Landscape architect: job description
Landscape architects are responsible for creating natural and built environments that are aesthetically pleasing as well as practical, in both urban and rural areas.
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Building services engineer: job description
Building services engineers advise about, design, install and maintain cost-effective and energy efficient systems for building services such as water, lighting, heating, air conditioning, lifts, and telecoms.
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Civil engineer: job description
Civil engineers design, plan and oversee construction projects such as railways and roads.
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Site engineer: job description
Site engineers provide technical advice about, plan, organise and supervise construction projects.
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Site manager: job description
Site managers, also known as construction managers, are responsible for supervising construction sites and running construction projects.
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Fire engineer: job description
A fire engineer ensures that buildings are designed in a way that minimises the risk of fire or the fire spreading.
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Environmental manager: job description
Environmental managers are responsible for overseeing the environmental performance of private and public sector organisations and for developing, implementing and monitoring environmental strategies that promote sustainable development.
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Design manager (construction): job description
Design managers oversee the design aspects of a construction project on behalf of the construction company building it.
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Architect: job description
Architects design new buildings and suggest alterations to existing buildings.
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Facilities manager: job description
Facilities managers are responsible for the security, maintenance and services of work facilities to ensure that they meet the needs of the organisation and its employees.
