Graduate profiles

Rhiannon Goldsborough, 24

Assistant Building Surveyor - joined following a Business Placement

Current department:

Project Management & Consultancy

Joined C&W:

Business Placement 2006

Degree:

Sheffield Hallam University – BSc Hons Building Surveying.

Where did you first hear about C&W?

I knew C&W by reputation after studying the BSc Hons Building Surveying degree at Sheffield Hallam University. C&W actually advertised a sandwich placement on the University website which I applied for and successfully got!

How did you go about securing your Sandwich placement?

Once I saw the Sandwich placement advertised on the Sheffield Hallam's website; from there it was a CV application and a telephone interview. From the telephone interview I was invited into C&W's head office for a formal interview with HR and a partner from Building Surveying.

What did you get up too in your sandwich placement?

I was really fortunate Project Management carries out a variety of work such as acquisitions surveys, dilapidations, reinstatement costs, settlements. I was able to spend a lot of time out on site and gained a lot of experience in different fields. I was able to record my first year of my APC diary and the range of work that I undertook was fantastic.

What sparked your interest in Building Surveying?

It was natural progression, from the age of 15 I gained some estate agency work experience. I was very interested not only in the agency side but how the structures of the buildings work. Then when applying for university, building surveying seemed like an obvious choice for me it offered me everything I wanted whilst remaining in property. It also seemed like a very secure career path for the future.

We're lead to believe that the Building Surveying pathway is historically more challenging than other pathways, how are you preparing for your final assessment?

I have allowed myself an extra 6 months so I will be taking my APC after 2.5 years of study. One of the important factors is to be self motivated and allow yourself a certain amount of time each week to fill in your diary. I make sure that I record time and experience towards my competencies and have kept on top of recording my professional development. Another helpful tool has been to keep hold of uni notes and allow an hour each week to refresh those subjects in your mind.

What is the most interesting project that you have worked on?

During my sandwich year I worked on an 18th Century property which had stood derelict for 10 years. As a result of this there was a lot of damp and water ingress, dry rot, failing lintels, deteriorating brickwork and defecting roofing. The building pathology aspect of the project was really interesting. We were also instructed to carry out contract administration of the enabling works, which involved writing the specification, managing the tender process to monitoring the project whilst on site. The project gave me fantastic experience and I was able to record it for my APC.

Talk me through an average day at C&W?

That is the good thing about C&W and Building Surveying that there isn't a typical day, you can be in the office or on site, your weeks are constantly varied as well as the type of work that you are completing and job satisfaction is incredibly high as a result.

Are you involved in any of the sports/social activities at C&W?

This summer I took on the organisation of the Softball league, we play against all the other property firms. Great opportunity to meet not only other C&W members but also other surveyors in the other property firms. We all tend to go for a friendly drink after the match; in addition there are always lots of graduate events and constant networking events with clients and contractors.