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Tell us about your first year on the CBRE Graduate Scheme

Over the course of my first year, I have been able to experience a range of different projects and meet and work with some interesting people. The first couple months, having just left university, were spent adapting to my first 9 to 5 job and adjusting to CBRE’s culture, alongside getting an understanding of property management. Post Christmas, I was given my first portfolio of properties to manage, allowing me to develop my networking and presenting skills when dealing with clients. Over the last few months, I have been able to pick up some lease consultancy experience, undertaking some work for a key client in the North. This opportunity has been incredibly valuable in allowing me to broaden my advisory expertise and provide some good examples to use for APC.

How did you find out about the scheme, and why did you choose CBRE?

I had a non-typical application scheme process. I was supposed to go work within the field of football, however, one of my university lecturers reached out to me with the job role and graduate scheme. The global reputation of CBRE and the ability to interact with clients and get involved in interesting projects was a big reason why I chose CBRE. I think it is fair to say that I could not say no to the world's biggest real estate advisory firm and after receiving my job offer never looked back.

Can you tell us about any interesting projects you have worked on in your first year in the business?

I was lucky enough to organise and host the inaugural regional CBRE young professional’s event which was held in Manchester earlier this year. Alongside Eve Blears and CBRE’s events manager - we were able to put on a fantastic panel discussion and Q+A about the current disruptors in the office market sector. The event was followed by networking which gave the opportunity for CBRE’s regional employees (apprentice to senior surveyor) to chat with each other and the clients in attendance.

What advice would you give to people thinking about applying to the next gen scheme?

At CBRE, we pride ourselves in holding diversity and equality as one of our key values and as such, actively encourage people with different backgrounds to foster and grow under the training and guidance throughout the NextGen scheme whilst also providing opinions and advice that may not have previously been considered. Hence, the most important piece of advice I could give to applicants is to be yourself. The process can be incredibly daunting, and it is important to act in a professional manner, but staying true to yourself and the skills you can provide to the business will enable you to portray yourself in a confident and approachable way.

Theo is a Graduate Building Surveyor in our Building Surveying team.

Where and what did you study?

I studied for a Postgraduate Degree in Building Surveying with a one-year optional placement at Kingston University.

How long have you been at CBRE?

I was here for one year as a Placement Student followed by one year as a graduate, making that two years in total.

What attracted you to join CBRE?

Without a doubt the reason I joined CBRE was the opportunity to be involved in the biggest projects, the travel opportunities, the support provided from the APC structured graduate program and the diversity of people across the many service lines.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

The fact that you can travel on a weekly basis is why I enjoy the role so much. I’ve never been someone who could sit behind a desk all day, I’ve always been an active person and the different types of work we are involved offers that ability to travel the UK and even the globe regularly.

What do you enjoy least?

I would have said the previous office which was based in the city but since we have recently moved to our newly redeveloped headquarters HH in the west end, I can’t complain anymore, check it out.

What surprised you most when you first started working at CBRE?

What surprised me the most was certainly the culture. The company culture is extremely geared at social-wellbeing and collaboration which provides a convenience of life and pleasure at work that many other companies cannot replicate. In truth before I started here, I envisaged CBRE as a more old school corporate company where social-wellbeing was not a priority, but I couldn’t have been any further from the truth!

What did you like the most about the graduate scheme?

I would say the greatest thing about the Grad Scheme is that everyone is always willing to help you out or offer their time, which is the most valuable source of learning in the early stages. Without a doubt I have learnt the most from the small conversations that you have on site or in the office with the qualified surveyors.

If someone came for you to tips on applying, or getting through the recruitment process, what would you say?

I think the best tip is to have a commercial awareness of the various real estate sectors but also an understanding about the wider CBRE business and how the many service lines can benefit the business through collaborative working. For example, how the Building Surveying and Environmental Consultancy teams can collaborate for a clients benefit.

Where do you see yourself in three years’ time?

In three years’ time I envision myself helping the next generation of graduates below me. I strongly believe in life that if you succeed somewhere you should always help others and bring people up with you.

How has the business coped through the pandemic, how has your working day changed?

Starting at CBRE on the graduate scheme under a work from home policy was made seamless, purely because of the size and dedication of the business to match the needs of the people by providing the right support and setup. It really does make a huge difference having a laptop and phone pre-configured to what you need to access, as well as clear lines of communication to your team. With regards to the work we still have that balance of being in and out of the office, as well as working from home.

If you are currently studying building surveying and looking for a chance to kick start your career, there’s never been a better time to join CBRE.

How did you discover the graduate scheme at CBRE?

During my summer work experience I had to create a presentation on ESG in real estate, whilst researching, I used CBRE’s website and reports for information and in the process came across the graduate scheme, which I then applied for.

How did you find your first day and what advice would you give to people on their first day?

My first induction day involved meeting other graduates in my cohort, welcome talks, bonding activities, and a tour of Henrietta House in London. My advice would be to be open, friendly, and put yourself out there. Walking into Henrietta House I felt extremely excited, all the Next Gen Team were warm and welcoming. I understand that it may be daunting to walk into a room of people you’ve never met before, but I found that everyone was approachable and friendly.

What did your first two weeks, as part of the of Next Generation cohort, consist of?

The first week consisted of getting to know the entire Next Gen cohort really well. We had a trip to Horsley which was a great opportunity to do this and was also extremely fun. The next gen team organised team-building exercises including rounders and quizzes, followed by a silent disco! In the first two days you get immersed into the culture at CBRE, this included attending talks and an open Q&A with the CEO Ciaran Bird. The atmosphere and people culture at CBRE make it an enjoyable, welcoming, and exciting place to work, with social wellbeing being central to the company’s ethos.

There were more activities in Week 1 as well, but I won’t spoil the surprise! The office work started in Week 2 and all the Next Gen cohort made their way to their regional offices. Luckily induction week prepared me well for networking, so meeting my new team was less stressful. My line manager and assigned buddy immediately made me feel welcome and introduced me to the rest of the team. The week was followed by full team meetings and after work social events. My line-manager kindly went through the specifics of my current position, which helped me ease into my set tasks.

What was your favourite part of the induction?

My favourite part of the induction was definitely going away to Horsley with the entire cohort. This was an enjoyable experience, and really gave the Next Gen graduates an opportunity to meet each other in a more casual setting. The different activities we participated in were tailored to understanding how we are as individuals and how we can work well as a team as this is central to the success of CBRE. As a bonus, since this also included the silent disco, we also got to unleash our best dance moves.

What are you looking forward to for the rest of your graduate scheme?

I am now really looking forward to being a dedicated and imbedded team member, the hard-working atmosphere at CBRE pushes you to want to make a visible and positive impact alongside your peers. I’m looking forward to developing my skills and learning from experienced professionals in my sector and I’m also excited to become an integrated member of CBRE’s many Networks which are filled with opportunities, events and socials!

Why do you think people should join the CBRE Next Generation cohort?

People should join the CBRE Next Generation Cohort because it offers you a chance to network, provides opportunities and constant learning in what you’re passionate about. It is also fun! The Next Gen graduate scheme really ensures that the new joiners flourish in their chosen field. The time, dedication and effort invested into us as a Cohort is constantly felt every day I am here.