Apprentice Surveyor Review

My role as a commercial surveyor changes day to day depending what team I am working in. I am currently working in valuation which involves a lot of report writing, comparable research and valuing properties across a plethora of differing sectors. Site visits are included in the working life, with desk work being split between the office and home. This makes the working week very flexible.

My skills relating to professionalism have improved massively. Learning how to format emails, address clients and take phone calls is common in this line of work. Beyond that I have developed many useful skills so far. I can now survey and measure sites on my own and I can format my own reports to a professional standard. You also learn how to use certain tools and databases to compile comparable properties for your work. General maths and English skills have also developed.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the programme so far. Moving round different teams means you develop many different skills and gain many working opportunities after the apprenticeship finishes, it also gives different tasks/responsibilities which makes working less tedious. Flexibility between working from home and in the office is a massive positive for me. The working environment is very relaxed and welcoming, managers are extremely helpful and genuinely want you to develop/succeed.

The organisation of the programme is touch and go, the study side of the apprenticeship is rigid which makes it easy to plan for. You know exactly when assignments are due and you are provided with numerous resources to aid work. The structure of moving round different teams needs to improve slightly, it depends on who needs help when which means rotations are not always sufficiently planned and can be rushed.

Support from the training provider is good. Managers constantly try to keep you up to date with the projects the teams are working on. Plenty of colleague will give you work to keep you busy and they are always available to help if you are struggling with something. They are also willing to help you with university work.

You receive a good amount of support from the training provider. You are assigned an AOO who guides you through any issues you may have and gives you reviews every 3 months. Module leaders set up weekly forums where people can ask about any troubles they are having in their learning. However, module leaders can be slow to reply and feedback isn't always clear.

The understanding of general property helps to improve my work. Modules such as construction technology give you a really good insight into how buildings are constructed, which practices are more common and what sustainability challenges could arise in the future. I am currently doing a valuation module which is useful as I am currently working in the valuation team.

The social aspect at JLL is very good. Numerous office events are planned throughout the year with many differing themes, catering to different interests. There are also lots of opportunities to be involved with charity and community work. JLL have various sports teams for both men and women. Would be better if the sports teams weren't always based in London, it sometimes makes participating harder.

Yes

There are many good elements to JLL. The working environment is welcoming with lots of flexibility. The managers really want to help you develop and will take time to give you work and help with any issues that may arise. The training provider is well respected and the career progression after you qualify is very good, opening up many doors.

If you have the opportunity to do some work experience then I definitely would take it. It gave me a good insight into the company/industry so I knew what to expect. It also made me look very employable which may have helped me get the job. I would also recommend trying to contact surveyors at JLL to see if they can give you advice on the application process and what will make you stand out.