7 UCEM students and alumni share their tips for work, life and study

Posted on: 14 October, 2024

There’s no denying that studying for a degree, apprenticeship or any qualification can be challenging – particularly when, like many of our students and apprentices, you’re working at the same time.

If you’re considering starting a career in the built environment or are curious about online study, who better to hear from than students and alumni who’ve experienced this themselves? We asked several members of our student and alumni community to share their tips for managing their time, balancing the commitments of work and study and excelling in their career. Here’s what they had to say:

1. Be open to learning

My biggest piece of advice is to be open to learning, because learning is a continuous thing. I’d also say that your voice and your contribution matters – aim high, work hard and don’t limit yourself. We should never let the challenges we face stop us from moving forward in your career.

• Candace O’Brian, Real Estate Professional and UCEM Student

2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and pursue opportunities

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and pick up learnings from those around you. Everyone starts somewhere, and at some point, everyone is going to feel or look foolish. Having the confidence to ask questions and learn from the experience of others, instead of just being sat quietly, has really snowballed both my understanding and the number of opportunities I’m involved in.

I’d also say to push yourself forward for new opportunities – there are so many great opportunities to network in places like UCEM.

• Ben McManus, Consultant at WSP and Student Trustee at UCEM

3. Prepare and pre-read in advance for your studies

It’s so important to prep and pre-read everything when you get information about your modules in advance. With everything coming out weekly, things can catch up on you very quickly, so it’s worth reading in advance for your assignments – even if they’re month away.

That way, you’ll know what the most important things to study and memorise are, and you can really focus on taking on information about these in your lectures.

• Mary-Felicia Gomez, Apprentice Surveyor at CBRE and Lead Student Representative at UCEM

4. Absorb as much knowledge as you can

It’s very cliché, but I would say absorb everything like a sponge. It can be difficult to find the path to navigate when you’re new to an industry… you have to work hard, you have to stick it out, and it might be really difficult, but the results do pay off because you’re learning so much.

If you stick with it, you’ll be surprised at how much you’ll learn – you’ll end up as a Chartered Surveyor, with a whole career ahead of you.

• Annabel Huffer, former UCEM Apprentice and Senior Surveyor at Knight Frank

Learn more: Making waves as a female Building Surveyor: a Q&A with UCEM Alumni Annabel Huffer

5. Set SMART goals

From experience an effective tool in enhancing learning is to set oneself SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Although most crucial with assignment writing, I found even undertaking the weekly activities with a clear picture of which tasks I am to complete, by when, and the learning outcomes all encompassed within the SMART goals helped me tremendously throughout my course.

• Vijayadhanushan (Dan) Vijayanathan, AssocRICS Surveyor at Connells Survey & Valuation and MSc Building Survey Graduate

6. Don’t be hard on yourself

If I could offer advice to my younger self, it would be this: don’t be too hard on yourself. Understand that better days lie ahead and keep pushing forward. Remember that someone will recognise your unique qualities and talents. If a particular place or opportunity fails to see your true value, keep persevering and knocking down doors until you find a place that appreciates and acknowledges your worth.

• Jodi-Ann Morgan, Junior Cost Consultant at Arcadis and UCEM Quantity Surveying Apprentice

7. You’re not too small to make a difference

My advice to fellow students would be that you’re not too small, too inexperienced or too uneducated to contribute towards global change. I believe that throughout history, every voice that has fostered change, and every voice that will have similar feelings of doubt. We can’t let our fears, doubts and uncertainties prevent us from achieving our goals and ambitions.

• Kian Bruney, Architectural Technician at Arcadis, UCEM BSc Quantity Surveying Student and Student Sustainability Officer

Learn more: Everyone can contribute to global change: a Q&A with UCEM Student Officer for Sustainability Kian Bruney