Is it worth doing a one-year surveying placement?

If you've been thinking about how to stand out in your degree while gaining some hands-on knowledge and experience in the building or quantity surveying profession, then a placement might be just what you need. 

It's natural to have some worries about taking a year out of your studies and graduating later than some of your cohort, after all, it's an important decision. 

However, with our industrial placements, you'll gain valuable experience in the working world. This can equip you with industry knowledge that couldn't be obtained through academic studies alone all while powering your future.

You might even find this helps you achieve a higher final grade overall. On our placement schemes, you're trusted with complex work while being supported by your peers and mentors.

We've compiled some things to consider when deciding if a one-year surveying placement is right for you. 

How do I get quantity surveying experience while at university?

No matter if it's building surveying or quantity surveying, it's great to be expanding and refining your theory and knowledge about the career route during your degree. Still, there are some skills and qualities you can only really master when you're getting firsthand on-the-job experience. 

Exposure to the working world helps you conceptualize how to put your learnings into practice, something crucial in this ever evolving and complex field.

That's where a building surveying or quantity surveying placement with AtkinsRéalis comes in. Our placements are a great way to get a taste of what it's like to work with us all while supporting and complementing your degree. If a year in industry placement isn't for you, we also offer summer placements.

If you enjoy your time on our placement, why not consider applying to our graduate schemes after university? In Surveying in our Project & Programme Services team, we offer Quantity Surveying, and Building Surveying as well as Project Management, Project Controls, Risk, and Planning schemes. Building Surveying is also offered on our Infrastructure team as well as in the Project & Programme Services team. 

What skills do I need for surveying?

Whether it is project management skills, problem-solving, or analytical thinking, many technical qualities are involved day-to-day. We've got a handy guide on the skills you need as a Quantity Surveyor, so make sure to check that out when you're applying for your placement with us.

Your degree certainly equips you with the idea of what qualities and skills you need to succeed, but it may not give you the chance to put these into practice. 

With a one-year quantitative surveying (or building surveying) placement with AtkinsRéalis, you'll be putting your knowledge to the test and refining the vital skills needed to make it in this competitive industry.

Are surveyors in demand in the UK?

Demand for surveyors is high in today's market which means you have incredible opportunities to enter a rewarding, in-demand career that combines fieldwork, technology, and problem-solving. 

Due to the evolving nature of the construction industry, more and more projects are being conceptualized, especially ones concerning Engineering Net Zero and sustainability, strategic priorities for AtkinsRéalis. We face our Net Zero ambitions head-on by finding opportunities to build the future and safeguard it for generations to come.

With the competitive nature of the market, you'll want to stand out when graduating. An industrial placement helps your resume shine and can enhance your career opportunities in quantity surveying or building surveying.

On successful completion of a placement with AtkinsRéalis, you could potentially be fast-tracked onto our Graduate Development Programme. On our graduate schemes, you'll benefit from events, training, personal development, and mentoring, further helping you to polish your resume.

Why choose AtkinsRéalis for your placement year?

With an AtkinsRéalis placement, you'll have the opportunity to discover different aspects of engineering with the right support when you need it. 

You'll also be immersed in a large-scale organization with a wide variety of projects on the go which is fantastic when cementing your career path. 

By putting theory into practice while being trusted to get the job done, you'll be able to explore your strengths. Don't just take it from us though, read about Isabella and her summer placements with AtkinsRéalis.

Stand out in your future surveying career with AtkinsRéalis

We hope we've given you some insight into whether it's worth doing a placement at university.

When you choose AtkinsRéalis for your one-year surveying placement you'll gain valuable industry knowledge to set you up for success in your future career. 

You'll also get the chance to immerse yourself in our innovative and sustainability-focused world. By connecting with like-minded individuals on similar placements, you'll have the opportunity to learn from mentors and build lasting relationships all while working on groundbreaking projects.

Read our placement FAQs to answer any questions you may have and make sure to join our Talent Community.

Apply to our Building Surveying Placements.