Property and Surveying
Research careers and find opportunities in property and surveying
About property and surveying
Graduates can find careers in a huge range roles in property and surveying. In 2021, over half a million people were employed by real estate businesses in 2021.
Real estate sector employment UK 2021 | Statista
Job profiles
Have a look at Prospects and targetjobs to find out what roles in this sector involve and how to get into them. These are some of the job profiles available:
Property
- Estate agent
- Facilities manager
- Historic buildings inspector/conservation officer
- Letting agent
- Property auctioneer / valuer
- Property developer
- Construction manager
- Building control surveyor
Surveying
Skills employers look for
In property
- excellent communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills
- confidence, patience and flexibility
- commercial awareness and a keen interest in property and housing
- project management, organisational and planning skills
- time management skills and the ability to multi-task
- IT skills
In surveying
- analytical and problem-solving skills
- confidence, initiative and the ability to negotiate
- a practical and logical approach
- excellent verbal and written communication skills
- an ability to motivate and work effectively in a team
- maths and IT skills
Salaries
Starting salaries for graduate jobs in this sector can vary depending on the position.
To get an idea of typical starting salaries use the following resources:
- our Discover your Earning Potential Pathway offers access to The Pay Index. This shows you how salaries vary across different roles, industries and locations
- job profiles, such as those listed on Prospects or targetjobs
- vacancy sites such as Glassdoor and LinkedIn
For information about how to negotiate a salary, visit Handling job offers.
Inspiration from people working in the industry
- browse our Work Experience and Graduate Employment directories. See where our students and graduates have had work experience, or been employed
- use LinkedIn’s Alumni tool to find out what Newcastle graduates are doing now. You could ask to connect with them, to gain advice and insights into their career. See Newcastle Alumni on LinkedIn to help you get started or watch our quick tutorial on Getting inspiration from others [3:13]
- attend alumni events, such as Newcastle Develop, to hear directly from our graduates
- sign up for mentoring support with Graduate Mentor and The 1 Hour Project. These aim to match students with industry professionals who can provide invaluable insights. Register to be connected for a one-hour meeting
- attend recruitment events and employer and sector insights. Hear about graduate jobs, placement schemes, build your network and ask questions
Online reviews
Searching for reviews online can be a useful way to get an idea of what to expect from certain roles or employers. Reviews are written by employees with different opinions about what makes a good employer.
Use the following review sites for inspiration and insight into the recruitment process:
- RateMyPlacement placement year reviews written by students.
- The Job Crowd – graduate job reviews
- Glassdoor – company reviews from employees
Not sure what you want to do?
If you’re not sure exactly what you want to do, we can help. You can book a guidance appointment via MyCareer. Our careers consultants can help you explore your options or plan your career.
Attend events
Attend events to hear directly from professionals in the industry.
Find events through the above industry news and below in professional bodies, who often advertise training and events.
See also our recruitment events and employer & sector insights.
Social media
Use social media to find industry insights
Join sector-specific groups on LinkedIn to keep up to date. Posts often include news, events and opportunities. You can also find useful insights on careers on Twitter and TikTok. Treat these with caution, as not all content may be accurate.
Find out more about how to use social media for your career and subscribe to our property sector Twitter list.
Professional bodies
Consider joining a relevant professional body/industry network
Professional bodies often:
- run networking events
- have specialist groups you could join
- post vacancies on behalf of their members
- have member directories, useful for speculative applications
Property
- Propertymark
- Propertymark Qualifications
- Institute of Residential Property Managers (IRPM)
- The Association of Women in Property
- The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM)
Surveying
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) - includes information on careers in surveying and provides global information
- Becomeasurveyor.co.uk
- Chartered Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES)
- Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)
- Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV)
Finding professional bodies worldwide
GoinGlobal’s country guides include details of professional bodies. Find them under ‘Professional and Personal Networking’ on each individual country guide.
Guide to finding opportunities
There are also other various ways to find internships, placements and graduate opportunities. We’ve added some tips below to help you get started.
- search for advertised vacancies using the vacancy sites listed below
- look at the careers sections on company websites for student and graduate opportunities
- use Researching employers to help you gain insights into companies
- attend events such as recruitment fairs and employer and sector insights
- contact employers speculatively – see to help you find organisations to approach
- follow companies on Social Media for latest news and updates
- consider registering with a recruitment agency for graduate jobs
- register with EmployAbility if you are disabled, neurodivergent or have a mental health condition. They can offer advice and support on applications to Newcastle students. They also run first year, internship and graduate programmes with inclusive employer partner
- consider alternative ways to find relevant experience and develop your skills
- create your own opportunity by starting your own business or working freelance
Advertised internships and placements
Many large recruiters, such as Savills and Grosvenor advertise summer internships, year-long placements and graduate training programmes in property and surveying. These are usually aimed at undergraduate students in and above their second or penultimate year of study. Some companies will also consider first and final year students.
Search for internships and placement years
Use our resources to get started:
- MyCareer - search for internships and placements in the North East, UK and overseas. Register/log in to access vacancies and sign up for personalised email alerts
- Internships, placements & shadowing - links to vacancy sites
- Global work experience - for internships or placements abroad
Several large companies offer internships including:
- Siemens
- Sir Robert McAlpine
- BAM
- Savills
- Grosvenor
- Student Ladder – internships for first and second year students
- Rate My Placement
- TARGETjobs
NCL Internships
The Careers Service runs flexible term-time and summer internships with local employers and on campus. NCL internships are aimed at all students, from any stage.
- Search for these under Vacancies on MyCareer. Type in ‘NCL internship’ into the text search box.
- You can find these advertised throughout the academic year. Full-time summer opportunities are advertised from around March.
Worldwide experience
Access GoinGlobal for internships in over 120 global locations, updated daily. Search for opportunities in the local language, as well as in English. You can also use their country guides to find:
- additional vacancy websites
- CV, application and interview advice
- advice on living and working in different countries and cities around the world
Looking for ideas
If you’re looking for inspiration, try searching our NU Work Experience Directory. You can see where our students have had internships and placements in the last five years. To see all results in a search category, keep the search field blank.
When to apply
For graduate schemes, apply as early as possible.
UK applications typically open early in the academic year from September or October. Some close as early as November-December. Many employers close applications as soon as their places are filled.
Graduate jobs tend to be immediate start positions which can be available all year round. You are more likely to apply for these towards the end of your studies.
Property vacancy sites
- MyCareer - search for graduate schemes and graduate jobs in the North East, UK and overseas. Register/log in to access vacancies and sign up for personalised email alerts
- Graduate Jobs – lists graduate vacancy sites
Search external sites below:
- Careers in Construction
- Propertyweek4jobs.com
- EG Property Jobs
- CIOB: Construction Manager jobs - includes opportunities in surveying. Also includes an A-Z of employers
- Fish4jobs
- Building 4 Jobs
- TARGETjobs: Property
- RICS Recruit
- CAAV Jobs - rural practice surveying vacancies.
- TARGETjobs: Quantity surveying and building surveying
Worldwide vacancy sites
See International jobs for details of overseas vacancy sites.
Access GoinGlobal for job adverts in over 120 global locations, updated daily. Search for opportunities in the local language, as well as in English. You can also use their country guides to find:
- additional vacancy websites
- CV, application and interview advice
- advice on living and working in different countries and cities around the world.
Non-advertised work experience and graduate jobs
Not all internships, placements and graduate jobs are advertised. In fact, many people create opportunities through:
- networking and making contacts
- developing their own business ideas
A speculative approach is common for finding internships and placements and graduate jobs. This is where you approach a company directly to ask if they have any opportunities available.
How to access hidden opportunities
Start by identifying organisations you are interested in. Our guide to finding organisations below can help. Then use the following steps to approach them speculatively about possible opportunities:
- Identify a contact name to address your cover letter to. Call or email to find out who handles recruitment within the organisation. Or, find a key contact in the department you want to work in.
- Send them a tailored CV and cover letter. Express your enthusiasm for the sector. Show that you have researched the company.
- Follow up your speculative application with a phone call, or email, around a week later. This shows you are serious and motivated.
- If your application was unsuccessful, ask for feedback or advice, and keep trying!
How to find organisations
- find organisations on MyCareer. Select ‘search' then 'organisations’
- use the business directories and databases on our Researching employers page
- search for companies on LinkedIn. The Find Alumni tool shows you where Newcastle graduates are currently working
- browse our Work Experience and Graduate Employment directories. See where our students and graduates have had work experience, or been employed
UK organisations
- targetjobs - search employers by sector, eg software engineering or technology
- Rightmove – property directory
- NAEA – directory of estate agents
- Commercial Property Register - agent directory
- Property Auction – property auction house directory
- RICS Find a Surveyor
- Local Authority Building Control (LABC) – public sector departments
- Professional body websites sometimes include member directories, which are helpful for finding employers.
Worldwide organisations
Search GoinGlobal’s employer directory for company information in 196 countries. Their country guides list professional bodies around the world.
Specialist recruitment agencies
Recruitment agencies can be useful for finding graduate jobs in property and surveying. These tend to be for immediate start positions. It's worth registering with one or two agencies towards the end of your course.
Specialist agencies include:
See Recruitment Agencies to find more agencies.
Finding overseas recruitment agencies
GoinGlobal’s country guides include details of recruitment agencies in specific countries. They are listed under the following headings:
- Staffing agencies and temporary help firms
- Executive recruiters and search firms
Recruitment agencies may not operate in the same way in different countries. In the UK agencies are free for job seekers, but this may not be the case elsewhere. Explore the terms and conditions of an agency before signing up to use them.
Other ways to gain relevant experience
We've added some suggestions to help you develop your skills and gain relevant experience.
- complete a free virtual internship. For example, with Forage, you can filter by career interest to find virtual internships
- sign up for free online courses to develop new skills
- build a portfolio of work to demonstrate your skills and interest
- attend events and network to make contacts and connections. See the professional organisations above to see if they run any events
- enter a related competition - prizes can often include internships
- see Volunteering for more opportunities
Work for yourself
Working as self-employed or freelance is common in the property and surveying sector.
Our START UP team can help you explore working for yourself at any stage. Whether you want to explore an idea or have already launched a business or freelance career, you can access the following help:
- support with idea generation
- provide tailored advice
- help you develop your skills
- introduce you to like-minded peers
- refer you to further support from mentors
- award grant funding up to £3,000
Further study and training
Property
Most areas of property are open to graduates of any degree. See profiles in Roles & Skills to see entry requirements for each profession.
Surveying
Some areas of surveying are open to all graduates. However, for others you may need a degree or professional qualification. This should be accredited by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Check profiles in Roles & Skills to see entry requirements for each profession.
See Further study for more information on finding, funding and applying for courses. You can also come and talk to an adviser.
Related sectors
You may also be intrested in Civil Engineering and Architecture, Planning and Landscape