Assistant Building Surveyor Review

by Michael Dyson Associates Ltd

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

4.2/5
  • The Role
    4.3
  • The Company
    3.9
  • The Culture
    4.3

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

    • A very well rounded experience - Stock condition, engineering and measured surveys.

    4/5
  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

    • On the whole I believe there was a friendly atmosphere and colleagues would have the time to talk to you provided they weren't busy!

    4/5
  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

    • The initial training was very good - 1 to 1. I was given autonomy on site relatively quickly - which I prefer. The mutual respect was there and help was available when I required it.

    5/5
  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

    • Most weeks were consistently busy - Mon-Thurs out on-site with Friday being in the office for consolidating the week. Occasionally there were troughs. The busy periods were consistent so I didn't mind. When there was consistent downtime or lack of work I found it more frustrating but did as much as I could to make myself useful!

    4/5
  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

    • Enough to allow autonomy on-site - especially with Stock condition and validation work. Measured surveys were carried out in pairs and we had almost all of the responsibility when contacting residents and carrying out the surveys. Help and advice were always there from my Project Manager when I required it.

    5/5
  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

    • Understanding clients and the briefing process before jobs are carried out - was a bonus. These 'benchmarking' meetings were very professional and set the tone for the project. My surveying/building knowledge has definitely improved from being around and exploring more buildings. The CPD and training provided were very good over the course of my placement.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

    • Quite relaxed and friendly - depending on the business of the week. Quiet enough to be able to carry out work efficiently.

    5/5
  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

    • The training provided, guidance and review meetings were very helpful and gave a chance to be able to talk freely about how the placement was going.

    4/5
  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

    • CPD and training sessions were frequent and very useful. RICS support wasn't too bad but I felt that there could've been more help/advice. On the whole more than satisfactory.

    4/5
  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?

    • 3/5
  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

    • Very good if you'd like to progress in social and non-traditional housing. Also, they have a Contract Administration department for those wishing to pursue that type of work. MDA has a large client base and undertakes a lot of these works. The chance to work within the company and gain broad knowledge and experience is there. A lot of ex-employees and students work on a contract basis for MDA even after they've left.

    5/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

    • The company has some social events throughout the year - which I thoroughly enjoyed. The team I was part of (Building Surveying) was quite social and we'd often have pints after work on a Friday. On the whole, there is a good social dynamic within the company.

    5/5
  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

    • Relatively cheap if you live nearby (especially more towards Huddersfield).

    5/5
  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

    • To be honest - aside from the pubs nearby, not that great. It's quite a distance into town or to neaby cities but you make the most of what you have!

    3/5
  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

    • Good gym facilities nearby, rugby and football clubs, and plenty of natural landscapes to admire. The location (West Yorkshire) is very beautiful and if you like the outdoors it's excellent.

    5/5
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Details

Placement (10 Months+)

Property Development, Property Management, Surveying

Yorkshire and Humberside

May 2020

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