Commercial/residential surveyor : Entry requirements

Most surveyors have a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)  accredited degree in a relevant subject area such as:

• surveying;
• estate management;
• building;
• construction;
• architecture;
• planning;
• property development.

If your degree is not in a relevant subject, you may be able to take a postgraduate conversion course. The RICS Courses  website has a list of accredited course for further information. The College of Estate Management  runs a distance learning Graduate Development Programme. This is for graduates of any discipline who also have relevant employment in the property or construction industries.

This profession is not open directly to Diplomates, although it may be possible for a Diplomate to get a job as a trainee surveyor or surveying technician and then progress by taking further qualifications in order to fully qualify.

Pre-entry experience is desirable. Relevant work experience in the property business is highly regarded and will be invaluable if your degree is not directly relevant. Such experience might include clerical or sales work with an estate agency or labouring on a building site to learn how buildings are constructed.

Recruiters will look for:

• enthusiasm and commitment;
• good oral and written communication;
• excellent interpersonal skills;
• negotiating skills;
• numeracy;
• readiness to take responsibility and act on your own initiative;
• teamworking skills;
• the ability to remain calm under pressure;
• confidence in your own judgement;
• the ability to confidently develop and maintain a network of professional contacts.

The job market varies with the state of the economy and entry is competitive. Many large private practices have an annual intake of graduates and may have closing dates as early as December or January of your final year. Others will accept speculative applications slightly later. Contact smaller employers on a speculative basis from around Easter. Public sector organisations rarely accept speculative applications and usually advertise vacancies as they occur.

Many of the jobs in surveying require physical mobility to survey a site, a building under construction or an inaccessible part of a residential property. A driving licence is essential, unless you are working in a defined urban area, such as a city local authority.

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.