Construction and Property Career Guide

The Construction and Property Sector has an interesting mix of career opportunities. There are people focused roles, technical and on site roles, and opportunities with a mix of both. The industry often has openings for people with a variety of talents, whether you’ve got outstanding customer service and soft skills, or come from a highly specialised educational background. As a result, it can be a very interesting sector to work in, and one that is a pretty safe bet when it comes to career stability, demand, and longevity.

Potential Roles in the Construction and Property Sector

Jobs in the Construction and Property Sector can range from highly technical roles like Architects and Civil Engineers, to more social and customer-focused jobs like Estate Agents and Site Managers. Here are three popular career choices for those looking to get into this sector, that should give you an idea of what to expect generally if you’re planning a career in either property or construction.

Estate Agents work with existing and potential property owners and buyers, working to secure agreements between all invested parties. Estate Agent jobs can focus on commercial and residential property. The nature of the role often means the majority of your time will be spent working with people from multiple disciplines within the industry, including solicitors, banks, mortgage providers, and other estate agents.

Construction Managers, also often called Site Managers, work on construction sites to overlook the building process and ensure that the operation is carried out safely, on time, and on budget. Working as a Construction Manager generally requires lots of collaboration with, and management of, everyone from building contractors and professionals to architects and surveyors. Construction Managers often liaise with suppliers, landowners, and local councils as well.

Building Surveyors are tasked with assessing and reporting on completed or existing buildings. It can be a very varied role, as Building Surveyor jobs are usually project-based. This can mean surveying a variety of property types ranging from Grade II listed historical buildings to cutting edge modern skyscrapers, and everything in between. You will often advise on the best measures to maintain and sustain the building over time through reports.

Salary and Career Progression

Estate Agents don’t have especially high starting salaries. While it can depend on which company you work for (larger and nationwide agents are likely to offer better starting packages than smaller businesses, for example), entry-level salaries generally range from £14 -15,000, up to £20,000. With a few years experience under your belt as an Estate Agent, you can expect to earn anything between £25,000 and £50,000 or higher, along with any relevant commission. Senior Estate Agents, and those in management positions, can earn up to £80,000 or more.

Construction Managers can enjoy quite high starting salaries, although this is generally because a decent amount of experience is needed for these roles. Starting salaries can be anywhere from £25,000 to £30,000, and sometimes even higher. An experienced Construction Manager can expect to take home at least £33-35,000 per year minimum. High level and chartered position salaries can reach as high as £70,000, and potentially even higher.

Building Surveyors have moderately high starting salaries. Entry-level roles usually offer in the range of £25,000 give or take. You can expect to start taking home at least £28,000 per year with a few years experience, with salaries averaging at around £48-50,000 for mid-level roles. Senior Building Surveyors can command salaries of £70,000 or above, especially at director level.

Qualifications, Education and Experience

Budding Estate Agents have the easiest route to an entry-level role, as degrees aren’t often a requirement. Working up from office support roles is perfectly viable, although any HND or degrees in the following subjects will certainly help set you apart from other applicants:

• Property Development
• Marketing
• Business Administration
• Urban and Land Studies
• Estate Management

Construction Managers, on the other hand, will generally need a degree even for entry-level roles. Qualifications in the below subjects are ideal.

• Surveying
• Construction Management
• Building Management
• Project Management
• Civil Engineering
• Building Studies

Building Surveyors will need one or more of the following qualifications at degree level or above to maximise their employment chances. It’s worth noting that getting an RCIS accredited qualification is very valuable in this field as well.

• Science
• Maths
• Social Science
• Building Surveying
• Any RICS accredited degree or qualification
• Geography
• Languages

Skills

Estate Agents will benefit from the following skills:

• Software and IT literacy
• Rapport and relationship building
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Customer service
• Marketing
• Self-confidence
• Negotiation
• Target driven
• Self-motivation
• Determination

Construction Managers need a diverse skill set, including the following essentials:

• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Excellent numerical skills
• Organisation
• Planning
• Health and Safety awareness
• Problem-solving
• Commercial awareness
• Leadership
• Able to make decisions under pressure
• Teamwork

Working Hours

Estate Agents usually work around 40 hours per week. Standard office hours are the norm, although given the role often involves arranging property viewings and accompanying clients, out of hours work is also quite common. Working over evenings and weekends is often a part of the job as a result. It does also mean Estate Agents can put in over 40 hours per week in some cases.

Construction Managers also have a standard working week of around 40 hours. Again, however, given the nature of construction work and managing project deadlines, this can often change. In many cases, Construction Managers will be expected to work out of hours, over weekends, and potentially over public holidays to ensure projects run smoothly or are completed on schedule. Travelling between sites can also be a significant part of the role, which can also be time-consuming.

Building Surveyors will generally work during normal office hours, with most roles coming in at 40 hours per week. That said, given that meeting with clients is a fundamental part of the job, you may be required to attend social or networking events outside a normal day to day schedule. Additionally, while Building Surveyors do work quite standard hours, they are rarely located in an actual office. Most of the work requires being on-site, which can also mean travelling is fairly common.

Notable Locations

While almost anywhere in the country can be a good place for certain careers within the Construction and Property sector, the locations below tend to have the most opportunities due to a concentration of commercial and private properties, as well as a number of major businesses. Some good places to consider are:

• London
• Manchester
• Birmingham
• Oxford
• Leeds

Many large regional towns and cities are also worth considering, as most have housing and commercial developments planned or already underway. While the industry can be very London centric in terms of networking and earning potential, there are plenty of opportunities in mos regions of the UK.

Notable Companies

Some leading Estate Agents for commercial and private property in the UK include:

• Purple Bricks
• Hunters
• Foxtons
• Connells
• William H. Brown
• Ludlowthompson
• Manning Stainton
• Townends
• Northwood
• Ryder & Dutton

Leading UK Construction firms include:

• Balfour Beatty
• Interserve
• Tarmac Trading
• ISG
• Keller Group
• BAM Construct UK
• Morgan Sindall Group
• Amey UK
• Mace
• Skanska
• Costain Group
• Homeserve
• Integral UK

Next Steps

While there are [[many roles in the Construction and Property Sector to consider]], the above information can be used as a springboard for additional research if you’re looking for a career in a role that isn’t covered.

Before starting your job search, make sure to have a look through our Ultimate Jobseeker Guide to give yourself the best chance too. You can also register with JobLookup, and set up regular email alerts for new opportunities as they appear.