Getting a head start: the importance of work experience

This article was written for EG’s Starting Out in Real Estate guide, click here to view the digital edition >> Gaining industry insights forms a key part of building a CV and helping to discover which part of the industry is right for you. Sarah Jackman provides a snapshot of available options and how to secure work experience opportunities. Work experience is invaluable. As Ema Saunders, head of talent acquisition at Savills, says: “I’m passionate about work experience. The work experience I had taught me that I did not want to do what I thought I wanted to do. So instead of wasting time training for it, I spent one week learning that I did not want to be a travel agent. I encourage anyone to spend a day or just an hour shadowing anyone they can.” Knowing where to start can be difficult. One option is to identify firms in the local area that offer real estate services and approach them directly. They may be able to offer short work experience placements or a chance to speak with industry professionals. Keep an eye on careers fairs in your local area, as well as in your school or college. Many property companies attend careers fairs and undertake schools outreach. Think about questions you might like to ask and be sure to take advantage of having an industry professional to speak to. Early insights Many of the larger real estate firms have formal work experience and internship schemes, which are typically advertised via their websites or arranged in collaboration with partners such as Career Ready (see below). Work experience placements tend to be shorter in length (perhaps one or two weeks), while internships tend to be longer. One starting point could be Pathways to Property, led by the Reading Real Estate Foundation. It runs a four-day fully funded residential summer school – open to year 12 students from state-funded schools and colleges in the UK – which provides an introduction to the industry. Participants interested in exploring further can then undertake a one-week work experience placement in a property firm and join its e-mentoring programme. RREF also runs regional industry-focused insight days as part of the Pathways scheme. Guided by the same application criteria as the summer school, participants can attend an insight day, then expand their learning via the work experience scheme. For those in under-represented communities, there are opportunities available via organisations such as the 10,000 Interns Foundation, which runs the 10,000 Black Interns and the 10,000 Able Interns programmes. Various property companies – for example the Crown Estate – also offer placements. Another scheme, run by the Land Collective, is Black Girls in Property. Available to year 11 female students in London who are of Black or mixed Black heritage, it provides a week-long opportunity to gain insights into the sector and learn about available opportunities. The Land Collective will also run a virtual internship programme in summer 2024, in addition to its ESG Launchpad, aimed at university students and graduates from under-represented backgrounds. The next step Once you have gained some work experience, an internship is a natural next step, particularly if you’re thinking of applying for a graduate or apprenticeship scheme. School leavers, for example, might consider the six-month Landsec internship scheme, launched in April 2023. It provides entry-level experience via on-the-job learning across a range of roles, not just those that are property focused. Applications open in mid-February for April 2024. For undergraduates, the large real estate companies offer internship programmes across a range of locations – typically in the summer holidays. Savills, for example, runs a paid four-week summer internship scheme for second and final-year university students looking to complete one more year of study before joining a graduate programme. Grasp every opportunity There is a wealth of opportunity available to those seeking to broaden their knowledge and understanding of the industry and the options covered here are far from exhaustive. Be inquisitive, do your research and, whatever area you choose to explore, grasp the opportunity. Yashnee Bheekha, apprentice people adviser, CBRE Yashnee Bheekha had intended to go into the beauty industry until she came into contact with Career Ready, a social mobility charity that offers work experience placements. Without them, she says, “I wouldn’t have known what CBRE is, or even what the real estate industry is. You do not get taught that at school. It has been a life-changing organisation for me.” Through Career Ready, she began a one-week internship with CBRE and became fascinated with the work of the work experience hosts from the people team. “I knew I wanted to support young people and be in a role where I could help people”, she says. She enquired about apprenticeships in HR. At that time, there were none. But a year later, CBRE announced the launch of an HR apprenticeship. Bheekha started the four-year HR apprenticeship with a rotation in talent acquisition, before moving on to her current rotation in core HR. Both have exposed her to a wide range of processes and skills. Almost a year into the apprenticeship, she shares her advice with others thinking about work experience in the sector. “Go for it and immerse yourself in the experience. Step out of your comfort zone and explore all the opportunities available,” she says. Faith Rusoke, retail brand account management intern, Landsec Faith Rusoke says she has always been captivated by the process of designing and creating spaces. This led her to explore real estate and, through the I Am Change programme with youth empowerment organisation 2020 Levels (formally 2020 Change), she came across commercial retail. She says: “I knew immediately that I wanted to pursue the opportunity to blend my interest in real estate with my love for turning ordinary spaces into extraordinary ones.” To learn how these things come together, she applied for a Landsec Futures internship – recommended during a career and skills workshop with 2020 Levels. She joined the retail brand account management team at Landsec in April 2023. Her role is focused on finding brands to occupy Landsec’s outlets and shopping centres. She supports the team with leasing, building strong relationships with retail customers, and curating an ideal brand mix. Rusoke says: “I get to visit centres across the UK. I recently visited the waterfront outlet Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth. I joined discussions on the strategies we are implementing to enhance the guest and brand experience. It was inspiring to see how the right brands, combined with the picturesque location, can create the ultimate shopping experience.” She adds: “I’m excited to keep exploring real estate and the many opportunities it holds for a great career.” Top tips for securing work experience Ema Saunders, head of talent acquisition, Savills “It is a fascinating industry and there are so many opportunities to engage with: hot topics, new podcasts, webinars, networking events and seminars. Go to those and listen to as many people talking about the industry as you possibly can. Do not think that because you are somebody who is just joining the industry you should shy away from having your own opinions. It is an industry that affects everyone and you should be able to articulate what impact you want to have.” Caroline Banks, head of learning & development, the Crown Estate “Property is not just about buildings, there is so much more. Look at things with an open mind, because once you are in the door, the world opens up. Be yourself. Show what is important to you and where you want to focus your development. Do not be afraid to question and challenge. We arrange for our interns to speak to our chief executive and other leaders within the company.” Natalie Barnicott, head of people, UK, CBRE “Demonstrate a passion and interest in property. You do not need experience or understanding, but tell us what interests you about the sector. Show us a bit about yourself. Talk to us about your values, your interests and why you think CBRE is aligned to that.” To send feedback, e-mail sarah.jackman@eg.co.uk or tweet @EGPropertyNews View the digital edition of Starting Out in Real Estate >> Photo © Ivan Samkov/Pexels