Rewarding career options & employability expectations in Built Environment

Saravpreet Singh

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought in a “new normal” and much of the changed scenario is likely to continue in the near future. Under this new normal, technology has become the key; online work (from-home) and online education have become the new normal. Knowledge is now being imparted in real time through virtual sessions. It is important to accept and adapt to these changes and realign oneself with the new parameters of normal and at the same time try to proactively visualise what the new emerging world would look like, and explore and leverage the opportunities on offer.  

Built Environment sector continues to offer unprecedented growth opportunities for young professionals who would like to make their career in the sector. The demand for skilled professionals is high and the opportunities are countless.  

 Employability Expectations in a post-Covid-19 world

Postgraduates who have a management degree in a specific sector and role specific skills will find it easier to find employment in the post Covid-19 world. Youth must utilise this hiatus in the economy as a good time to upskill themselves. Economy is expected to turn around in the next 12 to 15 months and demand for skilled professionals will be on the rise. This is a perfect time for graduates to pursue a sector specific MBA programme as skills will be the clear differentiator in giving them an edge over others and in deciding who gets to net the emerging employment opportunities.

 Most organisations are using this time to introspect and redefine their requirements but basis the current situation, there is expected to be an increased demand for the following job roles in the Construction and Real Estate Sector:

 Roles in Financial Feasibility

 Postgraduates from all real estate streams like CEQS, Construction Project Management (CPM) and Real Estate and Urban Infrastructure (REUI) are proficient in assisting in establishing client requirements and undertaking feasibility studies. Organisations will revisit the ongoing projects and also review the upcoming projects to assess how profitability, loans, revolving credit and cash flow reserves can support ongoing operations in a low-revenue environment. This will create a demand for professionals in this field.

 Requirement of professionals proficient in BIM, AutoCAD, Revit

 Once the Covid-19 pandemic subsides and the industry picks up pace once again, organisations are likely to upgrade their technical infrastructure to reduce dependence on migrant labour. Several products and services in the sector can be on a cloud-based deployment, digitisation combined with a strong network infrastructure can help to substantially mitigate losses. All this will lead to a global increase in demand for Business Information Modelling (BIM) solutions and students who are trained in BIM, AutoCad, Revit and other related software will be in more demand.

Built Environment courses that students can opt for post Covid19

Let us look at the areas in the sector which young professionals can choose for a fast-track career growth.

Urban Planning

It is estimated that by 2050, nearly half of the Indian population will be living in urban areas. Urban planning, which ensures optimal use of land and resources and land development, is therefore, an essential need for future. Urban planning also involves designing civic infrastructure and utilising it in the best possible way to make sure that the needs of the community are met.

Project Management

Project management as a career path has gained significant recognition in recent times and efficient Project Managers are always in high demand in the Built Environment sector. Large investments, high stakes and fierce competition in the sector means that there is a need for proper planning, organising and quick response to internal and external issues. Project managers are trained to have a structural approach to planning, managing, and controlling the resources. They manage time, cost, quality, and people. 

 Quantity Surveying

Quantity Surveyors manage the finances for construction projects. They conduct feasibility studies to estimate materials, time and labor costs on a project. They prepare, negotiate and analyse costs for tenders and contracts. They ensure that the projects are delivered within the given time and cost constraints. They also advise on a range of legal and contractual issues.

 Facilities Management

Facility managers are responsible for planning and managing facility services which help to ensure that the entire built environment is safe, controlled, and running smoothly. They enable the efficiency of a workplace and plan for both strategic and tactical operations.

 Investment Management

A career as an investment manager requires one to evaluate projects with due diligence, get the most return on investment for clients and provide finance related services in real estate environment.

Students or young professionals who plan well and make use of this downtime time to upskill themselves will certainly stand a much better chance to obtain good jobs roles once the market opens up again.

 — The writer is Director, RICS School of Built Environment, Amity University, Noida (RICS SBE)

For more information: www.ricssbe.org