Overview
Building surveying is a profession where hands-on experience is essential. Employers want graduates who have already been on site, inspected real buildings, identified defects, and written reports that clients can understand. An RICS or SCSI accredited degree gets you in the door, but your practical experience is what gets you hired.
Liam O'Connor is a building surveying graduate from Technological University of the Shannon who completed a 9-month placement at a chartered practice in Limerick. His resume works because it shows specific inspection volumes, report types, and technical skills that match exactly what surveying firms need from junior staff.
What Makes This Resume Work
35 building inspections with diverse property types. Inspecting residential, commercial, and period buildings shows Liam has encountered a range of construction methods and defect types. This breadth of experience is exactly what chartered practices look for.
Pre-purchase survey reports with property values. Preparing 25 surveys for properties valued from €150,000 to €850,000 shows Liam has produced client-facing work at a professional standard. It also shows he has worked across different market segments.
Defect identification skills listed specifically. Naming rising damp, structural cracking, and fire safety non-compliance shows Liam can diagnose real problems, not just take photographs. This specificity gives the employer confidence in his technical knowledge.
Site experience from a construction labouring role. Working on a 48-unit housing development gives Liam an understanding of how buildings are actually constructed, which is invaluable when you need to diagnose defects and understand building pathology.
Key Takeaways
For graduate building surveyor roles, describe the number and types of inspections you conducted, the reports you produced, and the defects you identified. Name the property values and the measurement tools you used. If you have AutoCAD skills or thermal imaging experience, highlight them. Construction site experience, even as a labourer, adds real credibility. Mention your RICS or SCSI accreditation pathway to show you are committed to achieving chartered status.
