Case studies: Building control surveyor: Paul Allen

Paul studied a RICS-accredited BSc (Hons) in Building Surveying at Sheffield Hallam University and is currently an assistant project manager.

I started the job hunting progress pretty much at the start of my final year, taking full advantage of employee presentations at university, career fairs and open evenings at the big companies. I applied for a lot of the graduate schemes, getting to the final stages with some of the big companies but was always being beaten by a candidate ‘with more experience’. When they say experience isn’t essential, in a tough economic climate, it is and they want somebody who can hit the ground running.

I remember one company went for a candidate who had four years post-qualification experience, even though they were advertising a graduate scheme. As the months progressed and I was waiting to hear back from fewer and fewer of the companies I decided to make a different plan and started writing to the small and medium companies out there who weren’t advertising. It’s safe to say that out of hundreds and hundreds of letters the response rate was probably about 2-3%, despite always finding a named contact to write to. It paid off in the end though and after a few interviews I decided to take a job with Salus Approved Inspectors.

Without my degree I wouldn’t have secured the job I’m in now. Some modules have proved to be more useful than others, but overall it has given me a good grounding to build upon in my future career. Fire safety, advanced building control studies, building technology, building services and environmental issues have to be the stand out modules.

It’s hard not to use the standard cliché ‘no two days are ever the same’, which I remember reading on these profiles when I was deciding on a career a few years back, but nothing else sums it up better. Some days I’ll be in the office doing anything from replying to water authorities, consulting with fire authorities, checking plans, writing up my APC diary or responding to emails. Then other days I’ll be out on-site, inspecting foundations for a small, one-storey extension, completing a final certificate for a 160-bedroom hotel or attending a project team meeting.

I’ve been in this job for just under six months now and my first career ambition is completing my Assessment of Professional Competency (APC). Although this can theoretically be achieved in 24 months, I think more realistically I’ll be going for my assessment after 36 months after hearing how low the first time pass rate is.

Getting to grips with all the building regulations has to hands down be the most challenging part of my job. No doubt they’ll be changing again when I get to know them back to front. Gaining the respect of builders can also be challenging at times; they don’t take too well to a 22-year-old telling them something they’ve done isn’t right when they’ve been in the industry longer than I’ve been alive.

Building control is an ever-evolving sector, what with the building regulations being updated regularly and new legislation coming in on a frequent basis, I expect all this to keep me on my toes during my career. I’ve also heard of people emigrating to work around the world. Once I’m chartered with RICS, I would love to work in Australia for a few years.