Can you get a Surveying Job without an RICS-Accredited Degree?
If you want to get into surveying but you haven’t got a relevant degree, you needn’t worry.
What you do need to do is complete a postgraduate property qualification accredited by RICS, and you can do this in one of two ways:
- you can study an accredited conversion course before applying for jobs.
- you can apply for jobs with some firms as a “non-cognate” – a graduate without an RICS-accredited degree – and they will then sponsor you through the qualification while you work.
As the latter route means that your tuition fees will be paid by the employer, it’s best to try this first.
Accredited postgraduate degree
If your degree is not RICS-accredited, you can study for an accredited master’s that will qualify you to take the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and become chartered. Certain companies will take you on after your undergraduate degree and allow you to do your postgraduate qualification while you work.
If you take this route, check with your employer about funding your studies – if the degree is directly relevant to your training and job your company should be able to fund or part-fund it. Financial support may also be offered by your academic institution, as awards, bursaries and scholarships are available at many universities.
You’ll need to find a course that suits you, too, whether it’s full-time, part-time or via distance learning or online. You should also investigate its graduate employment record and the careers advice the institution provides.
Attend networking events
Attending networking events is a brilliant way of making contacts and finding out more about the sector. Such events take place up and down the country, so there should be an opportunity to take part wherever you are. Going along and making a positive impression on the right people could be a great way to gain some work experience.
Get work experience
While you’re at university, one of the most important and beneficial things you can do – apart from passing your course! – is to organise some work experience.
This will ensure that you have ample opportunity to gain a place as a trainee in a surveying firm when you graduate, as well as giving you the best chance of fully qualifying as a chartered surveyor as soon as possible.
Stay relevant
Keep up to date with what is happening in the construction industry to prove to employers that you’re interested. Keep an eye on how events such as changes in legislation can affect construction. Read the industry press and the broadsheets: your careers service should have a subscription to leading industry news sites.
Transferable skills
Use your time at university to develop the skills that are most valued by recruiters and hiring managers. These skills, such as leadership, teamwork and reliability, should be backed up by good examples. You’ll want to gain and demonstrate these in a range of circumstances, as not all should come from the same occasion.
This way, you can impress a hiring manager by demonstrating how the skills you’ve picked up will help you have a successful career in surveying.
