Assistant Planner at CBRE Birmingham
Urban and Regional Planning MSc, 2015
Masters programme, year of graduation and current role
After completing an undergraduate programme at the University of Birmingham, I studied Urban and Regional Planning MSc from 2014-2015, graduating In December 2015.
My current role is as an Assistant Planner in CBRE’s Birmingham planning team. I am fortunate enough to be involved with a number of high profile projects, including a major mixed-use regeneration scheme in Birmingham.
I am hoping to submit my APC towards the ends of next year to become a Chartered Planner and a member of the RTPI.
How has your Masters prepared you and given you relevant transferable skills for your current role?
The Masters course gave valuable experience of what to realistically expect in professional environments and also introduced me to practitioners in Birmingham. The practitioner I met whilst studying turned out to be my interviewer and now line manager!
The key skills that I feel were most valuable include: communication, presentation, and report/ appraisal writing.
What support have you had to help you make the move from your Masters to your job? For example from mentors, academics or Careers Network?
The lecturers within the Planning Department were, (and still are!) very supportive and always willing to help however they can. They have extensive contacts within the planning spheres of Birmingham and beyond.
Please add any tips or advice for postgraduates looking to enter the job market
I would advise postgraduates to be selective in where they apply for jobs. Three detailed and well thought out job applications are better than ten copy and pasted applications. Make sure applications include details that are specific to the company you are applying to, and research their background, projects and people before attending any interviews.
CBRE is the world’s largest real estate company with around 70,000 employees globally and total assets of $7.7 billion. It offers graduate schemes in commercial property, planning, building consultancy and financial analysis.