Published: 07 Aug 2024
It’s results season again and students will be nervously/confidently/optimistically (delete where applicable) awaiting to hear their fate. Many people see exam results as career-defining, but of course this isn’t the case. There are many different career paths young people can take, and the academic route doesn’t suit everyone. Some will thrive in an academic environment and achieve degrees, further qualifications and post-grad courses, while others may favour a more practical route, via apprenticeships and in-house specialist training. Both avenues are available when it comes to the surveying profession.
Making the grades
If you would like to pursue a career in surveying, the earlier you can become involved in the profession the better. This may be enrolling on a college course, or it may be becoming part of an apprenticeship programme, or securing a position straight from school. You can study for a degree at university, or you can also complete a part time degree, with remote and block learning as an option these days. Remote and block learning also allows you not to be bound by geographical location in terms of ‘where’ you study. Depending on the A levels students have taken and the grades achieved, there are a number of courses available in the surveying profession, via universities and colleges, both locally and nationwide.
Of course, failure to get the grades you need isn’t the end of the road. There’s the option to persevere and retake exams, or it might be worth exploring the apprentice or trainee routes. These are very real and worthwhile options for school and college-leavers, with the popularity of training on the job and earning in the process being seen by some as a more sustainable and manageable avenue. Apprenticeships are a brilliant way for people with no formal qualifications to gain experience, knowledge and qualifications first-hand. One way to do this, whatever grades you’ve achieved, is to secure a role as an apprentice surveyor with one of TSA’s many member companies.
A good grounding
The Survey School in Worcester offers a wide variety of courses and a range of entry-levels. You don’t necessarily need formal qualifications to embark on a career in surveying and a training programme with a surveying company is a great place to start. A first point of call should be taking a look at our TSA jobs board, where you will find various trainee surveyor positions advertised. One of the big advantages of working while you learn is that you are learning from experts with a wealth of knowledge and experience, built up over many years working in the surveying sector. Advice can be offered on best-practice and if you have a question, it is answered instantly.
Following GCSE exams, some students go down the T Levels route too. These are aimed at students in full-time education in Years 12 and 13 instead of A Levels, and a variety of colleges and sixth forms offer this option. This technical qualification gives a good grounding in land surveying skills, via its Design, Surveying and Planning course. This can provide a stepping stone to a career in surveying and other sectors, and the fact that it’s combined study provides a taste of different disciplines within the world of construction.
Making the grades for exam success can provide students with a key to open all kinds of career doors. It’s finding the right route beyond those doors that will lead to success – and the surveying profession is a rewarding, exciting career.
