Career Advice for a Building Surveyor

Building surveyors advise on the design, maintenance, and construction of buildings. They inspect properties for structural faults and provide recommendations on repairs. They can also assess damage for insurance purposes or ensure that properties are constructed according to regulations and safety standards.

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How to Become a Building Surveyor

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Building Surveyor

Should you wish to work as a Building Surveyor you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Building Surveyor

  • Degree in Surveying, Construction or Building Engineering
  • Chartered surveyor degree apprenticeship
  • Postgraduate or graduate training with the University College Estate Management

Key Responsibilities for a Building Surveyor

  • Meeting with clients and project teams to discuss construction requirements
  • Inspecting and analysing plans to ensure they meet regulations
  • Carrying out feasibility studies
  • Drafting cost analysis and work specifications
  • Inspecting boundaries and advising on wall placement
  • Assessing the environmental impact and energy efficiency
  • Submitting planning applications
  • Inspecting existing buildings for damage or defects
  • Preparing reports for insurance assessments
  • Ensuring projects meet deadlines and building regulations

What to expect as a Building Surveyor

Building surveyors assess and advise on construction projects or the repairs of buildings. You may work in an office, visit individuals' homes or work on a construction site. To succeed in this career, you will need extensive experience in building design and processes and have excellent attention to detail.

Recommended Building Surveyor Jobs

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How to get Building Surveyor Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Building Surveyor job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Building Surveyor application. If you have not held a Building Surveyor position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Building Surveyor role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Building Surveyor CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Building Surveyor application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Building Surveyor in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Building Surveyor 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Building Surveyor and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Building Surveyor experience.

How to get Building Surveyor Experience

What does it take to be a Building Surveyor? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Building Surveyor jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Building Surveyor through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Building Surveyor Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Building Surveyor part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Building Surveyor or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Building Surveyor freelance work

If you have impressive Building Surveyor qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.