Estate management : Your skills

An estate management degree gives you a combination of skills specifically aimed at equipping you to work in the property sector. This is a multidisciplinary course where you learn the whole property picture - from planning law to bricks and mortar.

Most degrees offer options linked to the various aspects of property and land management, such as rural studies, conservation, housing, investment and finance, urban valuation or development planning, so you acquire specialist knowledge in the area that you choose.

Practically, estate management tends to be taught by a combination of lectures and site visits in addition to a number of real life projects and case studies.

Studying estate management helps you develop a range of skills sought by employers in both the property and other sectors, including commerce and business. These include:

• the ability to manage and analyse complex data;
• effective communication (written, oral, visual and numerical);
• team leadership;
• time management;
• presentation;
• the use of information technology;
• the ability to apply theory to practice.

Many property employers place a strong emphasis on extracurricular activities that demonstrate teamworking and leadership skills. These skills can be developed through sporting activities or by participating in clubs and societies run by your university or students’ union. Relevant property-related experience is also important, often gained through a year out in industry or summer placements.

Consider the skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile. Take a look at job application advice for some useful tips.