My career Journey at Carter Jonas

How did you start your career with us and why did you choose Carter Jonas?

After watching a live presentation at a university careers day, I noted that Carter Jonas were one of the largest companies, carrying out exciting and varied work for high status clientele. The employees speaking at the event seemed happy in their role, as well as professional and competent.

What sort of work do you do and what are the skills required?

The main body of my workload has been reinstatement cost assessments for commercial and residential portfolios. This entails assessing the materials and quality of a property, before calculating values per square metre (can be done physically or as a desktop study). The second largest segment of my work is in dilapidations. This entails inspecting the condition a tenant has left a property in, analysing the lease they have signed, and calculating their financial liability for returning it to the condition they agreed to.

The skills for these are:

• Observation – inspecting every element of a property and leaving no stone unturned!
• Logic and organisation – making sure to develop a process that ensures work is tracked and organised in a way that leaves your brain free to focus on problem solving, rather than keeping track of progress.
• IT – The desktop RCAs have developed my AutoCAD abilities greatly, even in the short time I have been here. These skills are sure to directly assist me in achieving higher grades on my return to university and help in my career.
• Personal Professional Skills – Site visits often entail meeting with clients. Understanding the balance of maintaining professionalism, whilst still conveying personability, is a skill that is greatly beneficial, and only becomes more important as you climb the career ladder .

Is there a particular project you have enjoyed working on?

• Stanley House, King’s Road – A site inspection for a £10 million renovation on a £40 million mansion in Chelsea. The scale and individuality of the property was exciting, however, seeing such a large and old property stripped down, ready for development, also taught me a lot about building pathology.

What makes Carter Jonas a great place to work?

• Scale and prestige – I came from a residential lettings/sales background in Sheffield. One of the elements of Carter Jonas I find most fulfilling is the scope and clientele of the projects you work on. In the office, there are always interesting client phone calls and talks between teams. Constant exposure to this, even from departments outside of your own, can teach you a lot about the industry.
• People! – I was met with a warm welcome and open arms when I started at Carter Jonas. The team were keen to ensure I felt at home, both at work, and in my new city.
• Challenge – The workload set for you can often be above your current skill level, however, the team allow you to have a go, and offer effective guidance and feedback to teach you the correct way.