A Career as a Chartered Surveyor
If you have an interest in property or construction - and are researching third level courses - why not consider a career in surveying?
Surveyors work across all aspects of the built and natural environment for a variety of employers, including auctioneers, valuers, developers, construction firms, facilities management, as well as county councils and State agencies. In recent years, surveyors have also availed of opportunities in other related sectors, such as legal, financial and insurance.
As a profession, surveying requires a broad range of technical skills – spatial, numerical and legal. Along with these technical skills, “soft” skills are also important - business and managerial skills are essential, teamwork is vital and surveyors must have good communication skills in order to express their ideas both verbally and in writing.
As surveyors work on several projects at the same time, it’s important to be well-organised, flexible and able to multi-task and problem-solve.
There are many surveying-related courses nationwide, and the content of these courses reflects the diversity of skills required of a surveyor – graduates leave college with a high level of both technical and professional practice skills. A high majority find work within their chosen field – both in Ireland and abroad.
Surveying is a global profession – many Irish graduates are working in the UK, the Middle East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar), Asia (China), Africa, Australia, the USA and Canada. Surveyors are much sought after in these regions because of their expert training and skills. Work travel provides a surveyor with an exciting and challenging experience and exposure to interesting projects.
Some testimonials from Chartered Surveyors:
Having worked with a multidisciplinary professional practice in Dublin and a private practice in the midlands for a number of years I have always understood the importance of the Chartership qualification. However, it was not until I opened up my own practice in 2007 that I fully appreciated the full benefits that the Chartership gives me. One of the first questions that most commercial practices and clients ask me is “Are you a full member of the SCSI?” I consider the Chartership to be essential in order for me to generate business and get instructions especially in the current economic climate. It is the industry benchmark in terms of qualifications”.
Andrew O’Gorman MSCSI- Chartered Building Surveyor
“I am travelling the world at present and I am currently based in New Zealand. Having an internationally recognised qualification like the Chartership has helped me greatly in terms of securing relevant employment in surveying while abroad”.
Cormac McCoy MSCSI- Chartered Quantity Surveyor
“I graduated from college in 2007 and I currently work with Irish Estates Management Ltd. I have almost one year completed of my APC. Already I can see that the Chartership is the ‘Gold Standard’ in terms of qualifications for the industry that I work within. While it is a demanding process, it provides me with a focus and structure to develop my surveying skills and I really enjoy the challenge”.
Mark O’Reilly Probationary Member- Building Surveying Division
Surveying Careers – One Title, Many Opportunities
Chartered Surveying in the Property Industry
There are several types of surveyor in the property sector:
Commercial Agency Surveyor - provides professional expertise in the valuation, management, letting and sale of commercial property, eg shops and offices.
Valuation Surveyor – provides professional expertise in valuations, acquisitions, disposals, investments and rent reviews for all types of property.
Residential Agency Surveyor – provides professional expertise in the valuation, management, letting and sale of residential property.
Property & Facilities Management Surveyor – provides professional management services for residential and commercial multi-unit developments and facilities
Chartered Surveying in the Construction Industry
Quantity Surveyor – advises on the costs of developing all types of buildings and infrastructure.
Building Surveyor – carries out building surveys, identifying defects and solutions, and provides management and design consultancy services.
Project Management Surveyor – manages complex building and infrastructural projects.
Chartered Surveying in the Land Sector
Rural Surveyor – values, manages and sells agricultural land including forestry.
Planning & Development Surveyor – manages the proposals to develop new or refurbish existing buildings
Arts & Antiques Surveyor - provides professional expertise in the valuation, and sale of arts and antiques.
Geomatics Surveyor - maps the built and natural environment to provide accurate spatial data which facilitates planning, development and conservation.
Minerals Surveyor – provides expertise in the full life cycle of mineral development.
Surveying Undergraduate Courses in Ireland
There is a wide range of honours degree course in surveying-related disciplines nationwide.
Some courses include an industrial placement year, when students can apply their learning in the workplace, gain practical experience and forge industry links.
DIT Bolton Street
BSc (Hons) Property Economics and Valuation
BSc (Hons) Construction Economics and Management (Quantity Surveying)
BSc (Hons) Geomatics (Surveying and Mapping)
BSc (Hons) Planning and Environmental Management
Dundalk Institute of Technology
Limerick Institute of Technology
BSc (Hons) Property Valuation and Management
Cork Institute of Technology
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Waterford Institute of Technology
Sligo Institute of Technology
Letterkenny Institute of Technology
For further information on surveying as a career, please contact us at the Education and Membership Department – 01 6445500 / education@scsi.ie