Valuation Assistant Review

The placement has been extremely enjoyable and has provided me with both knowledge and experience that is invaluable. I have had a wide range of experience in a short space of time that has helped me to pin point the areas of the industry that I enjoy. I had an insight to both the professional environment in the office, as well as out on a property inspection which has been useful in showing me the type of work that Savills do. The team I worked with have been amazing and treated me as though I have been here for a while which has really helped me settle in, make the most of and enjoy the week.

The staff in the Colmore Row office made me feel welcome and made sure that I was settled in well. I was invited to join in with meetings both in person and via zoom to meet the team, as well as invited to lunch with staff. The staff were also happy to answer any questions that I had and made my week at Savills enjoyable. People spoke to me and I felt as though I was part of the team and as though I was a valued member that had worked here previously.

When being given work to complete, my mentor made sure that the tasks I needed to complete made sense to me and that the terms I was unsure about made sense. Whenever I had a question, it was answered well and many of the staff went above and beyond to help me where they could. Processes were explained to me and if I ever asked a question, it was answered professionally and explained fully, which helped me to complete the tasks I needed to do.

The placement has been invaluable and given me first hand experience of what working within real estate will be like. I have gained the practical skills and knowledge that will assist me throughout the theoretical side of my masters degree. I have gained skills from a workplace environment that I would not have been able to obtain through lectures alone, as well as a knowledge of resources and the way the industry works from a professional perspective.

Despite the impact of COVID-19, the placement was well structured. Even though there wasn't many members of staff in the office for the majority of the week, the work that I needed to carry out was explained well and there was always a team around to help when I needed it. Throughout the week, I was told what I would be doing and who with so it was always clear what I needed to do.

Throughout the week, the atmosphere at Savills was pleasant. As mentioned, the staff were all welcoming and I was invited to join in with events that took place out of hours. Although it was a professional environment, the way I was treated made it feel more relaxed which made me feel welcome and as though I was part of the team. I have really enjoyed being a part of the team and the office environment is incredibly friendly.

The placement was originally meant to be one month, however the pandemic affected the timescale and it was only one week. Having said this, the time that I spent here, I felt as though I was a valued member of staff. The company spent the time introducing me to current employees, as well as work that has helped to give me a better understanding of the industry. In the short time that I have spent at Savills, they have invested a lot of time into making sure that I am confident and sure of the work that I am doing.

The insight has shown me the type of environment that exists at Savills. Throughout the week, I have been able to understand the way the company works, the dynamics of the employees, as well as the balance of working and socialising. Despite only being a short placement, I have realised that Savills is a company that I would liek to have the opportunity to work with again in the future. It has also made me want to apply to work here after my Masters degree. The environment is welcoming, professional and friendly.

I have had a great insight in to the culture of Savills. Having spent time working closely with a team, I have come to realise that teamwork is incredibly important within the company. Communication and collaboration are two of the most stand out elements that I have picked up on throughout the week. It is clear that Savills offer the best service possible to clients, and every member of staff that I have been in contact with clearly has a passion and drive for the industry which is reflected in their work.

Prior to the placement, I was certain that I wanted to work within the property sector. However, the insight that the placement has given me has been incredible and opened my eyes to the possibility. I have spent the week in the valuations department, an element of the sector that I hadn't previously considered but the work I have been doing within my time here has been so interesting and solidified the fact that property and real estate is the career path that I want to take.

The company offered to cover my travel costs as well as any costs for lunches and other trips out with the business. This was a nice gesture as the placement itself has been invaluable as I previously mentioned.

I worked closely with the team I was part of and introduced to many others from a wide range of departments. The team were very welcoming and I was consistently invited to join them for lunches and conversations. Networking was highly encouraged and whenever there was an opportunity to partake in a team activity, I was included. In addition to the networking outside of working hours, I was invited to sit in on numerous meetings to meet as many members of staff as possible across many different departments.

I really enjoyed the networking and social events that I attended. Even though the events were on a small scale due to the current restrictions surrounding the pandemic, I met a wide range of people and was able to ask many questions that I had about both the industry and Savills. The events outside of working hours were more relaxed and very enjoyable as I was able to get an insight in to the dynamics of the company both in the professional environment of the office and out side of working hours.

On numerous occasions, I was told that there were a number of events run for staff throughout the year and that socialising with members of staff was encouraged. Many employees told me of the events and said that staff often arranged their own get together's and that Savills colleagues are good friends too. I was told that there were events such as horse racing, fun runs and events in the office to reinforce the good working relationships that are built at work.

This insight has been not only insightful, but also incredibly enjoyable. I have gained a great knowledge of the industry, as well as invaluable skills that I will be able to take with me to my masters degree in real estate. The company has been so welcoming and made me feel as though I am part of the team. I have learned a lot in a very short space of time and I would highly recommend the placement to anyone wanting to work within the industry.