A Placement Year in Property

Posted by Colliers on 24th May 2023 -

In July 2022, Oli Batt commenced his placement as a student in the Business Space and Lease Advisory team at Colliers.

Oli is currently pursuing his real estate degree at the University of the West of England (UWE), between his second and third year. As his student placement concludes, Oli took some time to tell us about his experience. 

What does a student placement in a commercial real estate firm entail?
When on a placement you will enter paid employment with a company and work as a member of their team, gaining knowledge, experience, and contacts to advance your career. It requires a higher level of involvement than work experience and typically lasts for a full year, although it can vary between eight and 12 months, depending on your and your company’s requirements. You will either be placed in a team for the entire duration, like I was or rotate between teams to learn from all levels of the business. Your company will train you and manage your learning alongside an educational institution to ensure it is beneficial to you and your future. 

My day-to-day role involves creating strong relationships through the telephone, email, and in person. I have met many people from within the industry and made lifelong contacts. I have also been client-facing, carrying out property inspections and investigating comparable evidence, which has provided me with insight into regional markets. This impressive variety of roles means no two days are the same, making for an interesting and fast-paced work environment. 

This experience and knowledge all contribute to your professional development and your Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). You will gain a year of key skills and competencies required to become a qualified chartered surveyor with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). As I am sat in a lease advisory team, a few competencies that I am able to record for my APC include landlord and tenant, inspection and measurement, valuation, and market appraisal. This means that after university, I will already have this experience recorded and I will only require another year in a graduate role to qualify. This is a personal decision though, as you can take as long as you feel you need to become qualified and should take the APC when YOU are ready. 

Even if you are not 100 percent sure about what career you want, a placement will give you the best possible exposure to a career path and working life, helping in your decision-making process.  Additionally, you will gain valuable experience and skills that can be transferred to most, if not all, professions.

Who can apply for a student placement in a property firm?

A placement year can be full-time or part-time and be carried out at various levels of experience, such as in-between years two and three of university, like myself, or alongside part-time undergraduate or master’s study. If you follow the cognate pathway, all companies will require you to study for an RICS-accredited degree. However, a non-cognate pathway is offered for those not studying a property-related degree. Colliers encourages greater diversity in our industry and want all to apply from any background, path, and skill set!

How to get the most out of a student placement in property: 

There are a few key skills and attitudes that you can bring to your placement to make the most out of your time. Firstly, it’s important to be willing and a “yes” person - try not to shy away from a task. If you feel uncomfortable or the task requires extra training or expertise don’t be afraid to ask for this from your team members, as they will be happy to assist you. 

This brings me nicely to my second point, be a team player. When you first start you will be supporting your team and those around you, and they will do the same for you in return. This collaboration is key to a successful team and your personal learning.

My third point is to listen and learn. An opportunity like this is invaluable to your career, so take on as much learning as possible.  Even little things like phrases and language used by those around you will give you an advantage over others. 

Finally, get involved! Attend social and networking events, join sports teams, and go on charity days as this will enable you to meet new people from across the business and sector in a non-work environment, promoting yourself and the company.  While at Colliers, I have represented them in six-a-side football and 7s tag rugby, as well as doing multiple charity days donating to worthy causes. This involvement makes for a rewarding work environment. 
These are four tips that I believe will aid in your placement’s enjoyment and the learning taken from it.

To continue read on Colliers website for further information

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