Construction sector-student-survey-2013

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© GTI Media Ltd, August 2013. The ideas, concepts, printed matter and graphics portrayed in this document are the copyright of GTI Media Ltd, part of Group GTI.They may not be copied, reproduced or used without the prior written permission of GTI Media Ltd.

TARGETjobs Construction, QS and BuiltEnvironment Engineering Sector Studentand Recent Graduate SurveyAugust 2013

The construction industry has had its challenges over the past few years and therefore wewanted to know what undergraduates were thinking about careers in the sector. We askedundergraduates with an existing interest in construction and related careers about theirplans, expectations and concerns about a career in the industry and we compared theirviews to students interested in other sectors of work. This report also contains findingsfrom a separate survey of recent graduates now working in construction.

Note on charts

To avoid fractions, percentages in charts have been rounded down or up and thereforedo not always add up exactly to 100. Where respondents were asked to choose morethan one answer, the total percentages will always exceed 100.


Introduction, contents and keyfindings

Introduction

All students registered on targetjobs.co.uk who had told us thatthey were interested in careers in construction were invited toparticipate in an online survey that was live for two weeks in April2013. It was also promoted on the @TjobsBuilding twitter feed.

319 students from a wide range of universities completed thesurvey, of whom 59 per cent were men. 70 per cent werestudying engineering and construction-related degrees, with 14per cent studying science, including computing. The year groupswere fairly evenly divided with roughly a third graduating in 2013,a third in 2014 and a third in 2015.

91 recent graduates completed the recent graduate survey (69per cent men), with over 80 per cent coming from engineeringand construction-related degrees. Most had been working for lessthan two years after graduation.

Key findings

Students• Students were broadly happy with their degrees but wantedadditional development of personal skills like presentations,negotiating and client handling.

• The major reason why students wanted to work in the sectorwas the nature of the work.

• Students crave face-to-face engagement with employers,ideally through careers fairs and departmental presentations –they want more.

• They rarely use social media to research and apply toemployers.

• Despite their fondness for the sector, around half will also belooking at postgraduate study and other careers.

• Students are confident that they will secure work experienceand a job but many had not actually made an application.

• When it came to choosing an employer, they were swayed mostby the work on offer. Most felt that the reputation of theorganisation was key, as was a diverse workforce.

Recent graduates• Recent graduates were pretty happy with their degrees but,looking back, they wanted more practice and less theory.

• Recent graduates were unanimous in their view of theimportance of work experience.

• Long hours were mentioned as a concern, with two thirdsworking longer than the normal working week, and 16 per centworking over 50 hours. They thought the pay compared badlyto other sectors.

• Despite concerns over hours, pay and travel, only 18 per centsaw their long term careers as being outside construction.

• When it came to landing their first graduate job, they thought itwas mainly because of their personal skills rather than theirdegree class or where they studied.

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Contents

Students

Your degree..................................................................page 3

Planning your career ..................................................page 4

Researching and engaging with employers ............page 5

Alternatives to construction jobs..............................page 6

Work experience ........................................................page 7

Choosing an employer ..............................................page 8

Applying for jobs ........................................................page 9

Recent graduates

Preparing for work ....................................................page 10

Career perceptions ..................................................page 11

Getting hired..............................................................page 12

Career plans ..............................................................page 13

Sector comparisons ..........................................page 14


PART ONE – STUDENTS

Your degree and what it gives you

Commentary

The vast majority were happy with their degree course althoughless than half were totally convinced they were learning enoughof the technical skills needed for work. When asked about howtheir time at university had increased their ‘soft skills’, a moreencouraging 61 per cent said it had. They were also asked toidentify skills that perhaps their degree hadn’t helped to developand this is what they came up with (in order of importance):

• Presentation skills• Negotiation• Client handling• Networking• Leadership.

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How happy are you with the quality of your degree course?!

31%!

48%!

19%!

1%!

1%!

Very happy!

Happy!

It's OK!

Unhappy!

Very unhappy!

Figure 1. How happy are you with the quality of your degreecourse?

Do you think your degree prepares you for work in terms of acquiring relevant technical skills?!

47%!

48%!

5%!

Yes it does, definitely! Yes, in a limited way! Not at all!

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Figure 2. Do you think your degree prepares you for work interms of acquiring relevant technical skills?

Do you think your degree prepares you for work in terms of acquiring relevant technical skills?!

47%!

48%!

5%!

Yes it does, definitely! Yes, in a limited way! Not at all!

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Figure 3. Do you think your degree prepares you for work interms of 'soft skills'?


Planning your career

Commentary

Most respondents had started thinking about and planning theircareers early in their university life. A significant number (32 percent) had started even earlier – perhaps due to the number ofbuilt environment courses requiring students to be sponsoredby an employer prior to studying. At the start of their job search,students would first look at a specialist graduate careers site(like targetjobs.co.uk/construction) but a significant percentagewould make an early visit to their campus careers service. Fewerthan 10 per cent consulted their departmental tutors at thisstage.

When asked why they were attracted to careers in construction,the top answer was the work itself, closely followed by theopportunities for career progression and the intellectualchallenge. The chance to work abroad was considered slightlymore important than salary.

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, engineering and

surveying?!

51%!

19%!

14%!

9%!

4%!

4%!

To internet job sites like targetjobs.co.uk!

To my campus careers service!Specialist publications such as

TARGETjobs Construction!To my tutor!

University Construction/Civil Eng Society!

To my friends!

Figure 5. Where do you go FIRST for advice and information aboutcareers in construction, engineering and surveying?

What most attracts you to a career in construction, engineering or surveying? Please choose your top

TWO answers!

54%!34%!33%!

28%!27%!27%!

14%!12%!

8%!

The nature of the work!Career progression!

Intellectual challenge!The opportunity to work abroad!

Salary and benefits!The chance to contribute to society!

The training provided!Job security!

Working with clients!

Figure 6. What most attracts you to a career in construction,engineering or surveying? Please choose your top TWOanswers

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38%!

32%!

17%!

13%!

In my early years as an undergraduate!

From an early age, even before university!

In my penultimate year!

In my final year!

Figure 4. When did you start seriously thinking about andplanning for your career after university?


Researching and engaging withemployers

Commentary

The two most effective ways in which students wanted toengage with employers were careers fairs and employers’presentations in their department or faculty. Clearly these wereseen as more useful than campus-based presentations. But only35 per cent thought there were enough opportunities to meetemployers on campus – an indication that, although studentsuse websites to research the sector, they want to meet and talkto employers.

28 per cent would prefer not to engage with employers via socialmedia channels but most don’t seem to have issues here. Thechannels themselves are not that well used by students toresearch and apply although LinkedIn is used most. It’s clearthat although some use is made of social media to research, notmany will apply for jobs via Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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Which one of the following forms of employer contact is the most effective?!

48%!

37%!

7%!

5%!

3%!

Careers fairs!

Presentations in the department/faculty!

Campus presentations!

Skills sessions at your Careers Service!

Sponsorship of university or students' union events!

Figure 7. Which one of the following forms of employer contactis the most effective?

Are you happy with the opportunities offered to you on campus to meet construction, engineering and

surveying firms?!

46%!

35%!

19%!

Fairly happy, but could be more! Yes, I'm happy! No!

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Do you want to engage with employers through social media?!

29%!

24%!

23%!

20%!

4%!

Yes, but not to be deluged with information!

I would prefer to keep my social networks social!

I don't have any strong feelings either way!

Yes, it's what I want!

No way!!

Figure 8. Are you happy with the opportunities offered to youon campus to meet construction, engineering and surveyingfirms?

Figure 9. Do you want to engage with employers through socialmedia?

How do you use the following channels to research and apply to employers?!

24%!

35%!

46%!

11%!

4%!

5%!

15%!

3%!

75%!

63%!

50%!

87%!

Twitter!

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Blogger!

To research!To apply!Do not use!

Figure 10. How do you use the following channels to researchand apply to employers?


Alternatives to construction jobs

Commentary

Perhaps surprisingly, nearly half of respondents were alsolooking into postgraduate study. The most popular reasons fordoing so was to allow them to pursue chartership status inengineering, to try to make themselves more attractive toemployers and to gain specialist knowledge. As further evidenceof their willingness to consider alternatives, 45 per cent saidthey were also looking for jobs outside the sector. When askedwhat other careers they were considering, this is what they said:

• Banking/finance (because the salaries were higher)• Management/business (many mentioned that they wanted tostart their own business)

• Teaching• Property development• Planning and construction law.

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Are you considering postgraduate study as well as thinking about work?!

46%!

54%!

Yes! No!

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Figure 11. Are you considering postgraduate study as well asthinking about work?

Are you considering other careers besides construction, engineering or surveying?!

45%!

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Figure 12. Are you considering other careers besidesconstruction, engineering or surveying?


Work experience

Commentary

Only 2 per cent thought that work experience was not animportant factor in job applications and, in fact, only 18 per centhadn’t made a work experience application. Nearly half hadsecured a placement (although this question included final yearstudents). When asked how many applications they had made,42 per cent of pre-final year students hadn’t made anapplication. Most of the rest had made between two and tenapplications.

Despite the challenging recruitment market, the majority wereconfident about their chances of landing a placement.

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How important do you consider work experience to be in securing a permanent job?!

66%!

32%!

2%!

Critically important! Important! Not important!

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Figure 13. How important do you consider work experience tobe in securing a permanent job?

If you are hoping to take/start an internship this year, how many applications have you made so far?!

42%!

11%!

16%!

15%!

4%!

5%!

8%!

None!

Just the one!

2-5!

6-10!

11-15!

16-20!

More than 20!

Figure 14. If you are in your second year or above, have yousecured or completed a work placement/internship?

Figure 15. If you are hoping to take/start an internship thisyear, how many applications have you made so far?

If you are applying for vacation placements/internships, how confident are you in finding one?!

8%!

24%!

25%!

22%!

9%!

12%!

Very confident!

Confident!

Fairly confident!

Not very confident!

Not confident at all!

I already have one!!

Figure 16. If you are applying for vacationplacements/internships, how confident are you in finding one?

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45%!

37%!

18%!

Yes! Not yet! I haven't applied!

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Choosing an employer

Commentary

When asked what factors were most important when choosingan employer, the most popular was the type of work on offer(the main reason they were attracted to the sector too). Thiswas followed by the training, the location and the reputation ofthe employer. Starting salary was mentioned by fewer people.

The projects that the employer was engaged in was notconsidered to be a significant influencer but, when it came toreputation, three quarters felt that this was an important or vitalfactor. Nearly 70 per cent felt that it was important that theemployer had a diverse workforce.

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When choosing an employer to apply to, how important to you are the projects they are working

on, or have worked on?!

65%!

25%!

10%!

Projects are important but wouldn#t unduly influence my

choice of employer!

Projects are vital. I want to cut my teeth on an iconic project!

I don#t mind what projects a company is working on!

Figure18. When choosing an employer to apply to, howimportant to you are the projects they are working on, or haveworked on?

When choosing an employer to apply to, how important to you is a company#s brand (reputation)?!

54%!

26%!

20%!

Brand is quite important!

I#d rather make up my mind on a company without being

influenced by their brand/reputation!

Brand is everything; I want to work for the best employer!

Figure 19. When choosing an employer to apply to, howimportant to you is a company’s brand (reputation)?

How important is it that a prospective employer has a diverse workforce?!

40%!

31%!

29%!

Fairly important!

It wouldn't influence my decision!

Vital!

Figure 20. How important is it that a prospective employer hasa diverse workforce?

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80%!

60%!

57%!

50%!

41%!

6%!

4%!

The type of work on offer!

The training and development offered!

The location!

The reputation of the employer!

The starting salary!

Because I enjoyed my placement !The people I met at fairs and during the

recruitment process!

Figure 17. What three factors did you/will you take into accountwhen choosing an employer? Please choose THREE.


Applying for jobs

Commentary

Only 25 per cent of finalists said they were not confident aboutlanding a job but clearly some were leaving things a bit late. 49per cent had not actually made a job application yet. But 10 percent had made over 20.

Their salary expectations were pretty realistic, with 46 per centexpecting between £21 and £25K.

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If you are applying for jobs, how confident are you in finding one?!

12%!

31%!

33%!

19%!

6%!

Very confident!

Confident!

Fairly confident!

Not very confident!

Not confident at all!

Figure 21. If you are applying for jobs, how confident are you infinding one?

If you are hoping to start a graduate job this year, how many applications have you made so far?!

49%!

0%!

12%!

17%!

8%!

4%!

10%!

None!

Just the one!

2-5!

6-10!

11-15!

16-20!

More than 20!

Figure 22. If you are hoping to start a graduate job this year,how many applications have you made so far?

How much do you expect to earn in your first graduate job in terms of annual salary?!

2%!

10%!

17%!

46%!

20%!

3%!

1%!

2%!

Less than £10,000!

£11,000 to £15,000!

£16,000 to £20,000!

£21,000 to £25,000!

£26,000 to £30,000!

£31,000 to £40,000!

£41,000 to £50,000!

More than £50,000!

Figure 23. How much do you expect to earn in your firstgraduate job in terms of annual salary?


PART TWO – RECENT GRADUATES

Preparing for work

Commentary

Most recent graduates surveyed felt that their degree preparedthem adequately for work. Here were some of their comments,many of which asked for more practical work:

“Prepares you more for the consulting side of engineering ratherthan contracting.”

“Good mix of topics covered, which I found very relevant to theactual job.”

“Not enough practical (or on-site) experience.”

“Did not teach the practical/commercial aspect of corporateworking.”

“The degree was excellent preparation in terms of technicalknowledge. However, friends who did not have any substantialwork experience (eg from summer placements) struggled to getwork after graduation.”

“More commercial analysis of the engineering industry and lesstheory.”

“Placement on a construction site as well as in a design office.”

38 per cent had completed work experience with the employerthey joined and these were some of their thoughts on thebenefits of work experience:

“Work experience is fundamental: not only does it get you usedto working in an office environment, it allows you to get a headstart on your university work.”

“I found that by undertaking work experience, I had an improvedunderstanding of the day-to-day role of a QS and howconstruction projects are carried out.”

“It helped me gain full-time employment. I could have done witha little more support as I felt I was just left to get on with it (this,however, taught me a great deal).”

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How well did your degree prepare you for work?!

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67%!

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Figure 24. How well did your degree prepare you for work?

Did you do a vacation placement/internship at the employer you joined?!

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Figure 25. Did you do a vacation placement/internship at theemployer you joined?


Career perceptions

Commentary

For 65 per cent of respondents, their job had broadly met theirexpectations, with 17 per cent saying that it exceeded them. Weasked them what had surprised them about working life and thisis a representative selection of their responses:

• The level of responsibility, the volume of work and wide rangeof knowledge required.

• The interesting tension between the technical andmanagerial/political aspects of large engineering projects.

• The diversity of roles on offer to those that seek them.• The numerous projects and clients you can work for. Theopportunity to gain experience in various sectors.

• The salary for a graduate is very poor compared to otherindustries.

• The long hours worked throughout the industry.

Talking of long hours, Figure 27 shows that two thirds worklonger than the normal working week, with 16 per cent workingover 50 hours.

We also asked them to identify the single best and worstaspects of the jobs and these were the most commonresponses:

The best part of the job

• The variety of projects and clients.• Working on site.• The end product. Being able to see a building/project gothrough the stages, from demolition of an existing structure tocompletion, helps to justify the amount of time spent hard atwork in an office.

• Potential for travel.

The worst part of the job

• The pay – not great for the hours worked – and no overtime.• Studying for my PgDip/working/APC/socialising and travellingall on top of each other.

• The quantity of admin involved in the work.• The regulations are constantly changing.• Travel and the daily commute.• Obtaining the breadth of experience required to be able to sitthe APC.

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Is your career so far broadly as you expected it to be?!

65%!

17%!

19%!

0%!

Yes, broadly!

It's better than I expected!

No, it's not what I expected!

No, it's much worse than I expected!

Figure 26. Is your career so far broadly as you expected it tobe?

How many hours do you work in a typical week?!

0%!

0%!

32%!

45%!

8%!

11%!

5%!

Fewer than 30!

30-35!

36-40!

41-45!

46-50!

51-55!

More than 55!

Figure 27. How many hours do you work in a typical week?


Getting hired

Commentary

Echoing students’ focus on the reputation of an employer, thiswas the most common factor for recent graduates whenchoosing an employer. Training and development wasconsidered more important than the work itself. When askedwhat got them the job, personal skills and work experience werethought much more important than degree class and university.

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What was the main factor in choosing your employer? !

39%!

22%!

14%!

14%!

8%!

3%!

0%!

0%!

The reputation of the employer!

The training and development offered!

The type of work on offer!

Because I enjoyed my placement !

It was my only job offer!

The people I met at fairs and during the

The starting salary!

The location!

Figure 28. What was the main factor in choosing youremployer?

What do you think were the TWO main factors that got you hired?!

68%!

50%!

40%!

18%!

11%!

5%!

My personal skills and competences!

My work experience!

My performance at interview/assessment centre!

My degree class!

The university I went to!

My extracurricular experience!

Figure 29. What do you think were the TWO main factors thatgot you hired?


Career plans

Commentary

They were clearly in this for at least the medium term, with thehighest percentage seeing themselves as staying with the sameemployer for five to ten years. They were also pretty happy withwork in the sector as all but 18 per cent said that they wouldprobably be in construction for the long term.

Suggestions and words of wisdomfor current undergraduates

We asked recent graduates if they had any advice for currentstudents. This is a selection of their verbatim comments:

“Work experience, work experience, work experience! Even if youdo a week unpaid, this will help build your CV and get your nameknown around companies.”

“Research the job. Speak to those people who are currentlydoing the job to understand exactly what they do. The need toget honest answers from people is important.”

“Don't choose a company based solely on its reputation withinthe industry. Look at staff retention rates – the best companiesto work for will look after their staff and will therefore be morelikely to retain them.”

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How long do you plan to work for your current employer?!

32%!

24%!

24%!

13%!

8%!

5-10 years!

3-4 years!

More than 10 years!

1-2 years!

Not much longer!

Figure 30. How long do you plan to work for your currentemployer?

Do you see yourself staying in the construction profession long-term?!

37%!

45%!

18%!

0%!

Yes definitely!

Yes probably!

Probably not!

Definitely not!

Figure 31. Do you see yourself staying in the constructionprofession long-term?


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SECTOR COMPARISONS

Commentary

In spring 2013, we sent survey requests out to students on the targetjobs.co.uk databasewho had told us they were interested in the following sectors of work:

• Accountancy and financial management .................. (male/female percentage split: 45/55)• Construction, QS and built environment engineering (59/41)• Engineering .................................................................... (69.5/30.5)• Investment banking and investment .......................... (50/50)• IT & technology .............................................................. (71/29)• Law.................................................................................... (26/74)

2,856 students from over 80 different universities took part, 53 per cent men, 47 per centwomen.

Although there were many similarities in their responses (for example, most were prettyhappy with their degree course and how it equipped them for work), there were severaldifferences between students, depending on the sector of work they were interested in.

Key findings

Students interested in technical careers feel better prepared in terms of soft skills thanthose interested in finance and law.

Students interested in IT careers are less enthusiastic than others about engaging withemployers via social media.

Students interested in becoming engineers were keenest to ensure that their careersmade a positive contribution to society.

High starting salary was most important to students interested in investment banking butwould-be lawyers were most drawn to the intellectual challenge the work provided.

Those interested in engineering and construction were the least likely to be consideringalternative careers.

Would-be lawyers started career planning the earliest, would-be IT specialists the latest.

Students interested in technical careers were more confident in landing a job thanstudents interested in finance and law.


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This report was written by Chris Phillips, Information and Research Director, and compiled by Emma Newton, Client Marketing andPR Executive, GTI Media. If you have any questions or want to raise any issues, please contact:

[email protected] 07970 267851

For other research reports and releases from GTI Media, please go to: gtimedia.co.uk/media

http://chrispgtimedia.wordpress.com/ @chrisp_gtimedia

The content of this report is the property of GTI Media Research, so please ask permission if you want to use any part of it(usually freely given) and always credit the source as the TARGETjobs Construction, QS and Built Environment Engineering SectorStudent and Recent Graduate Survey 2013.

Which sectors’ degrees helped students most

in developing soft skills?

Construction Engineering

ITAccountancy

LawInvestment banking

Which sectors’students were mostenthusiastic engaging

on social media?

LawEngineeringAccountancy

Investment bankingIT

Construction

Which sectors are most likely to lose students

to other industries?

Investment bankingAccountancy

ITLaw

ConstructionEngineering

BEST

WORST

MOST

MOST MOST

LEASTLEAST

Contribution to society EngineeringConstruction

LawIT

AccountancyInvestment banking

SalaryInvestment banking

AccountancyITLaw

EngineeringConstruction

Intellectual challengeLaw

Investment banking= Engineering

= IT AccountancyConstruction

Chance to work abroadConstructionEngineering

Investment bankingAccountancy

ITLaw

Which of the following factors motivated students most in their career sectors?

LEAST

MOST

LEAST

MOST

LEAST

Which careers do graduates

plan for the earliest?

LawInvestment banking

EngineeringConstruction = Accountancy

= IT

Which industriesinspire the mostconfidence of finding a job?

ConstructionEngineering

IT Accountancy

Investment bankingLaw

For which sectors do finalists make the most jobapplications?

AccountancyConstruction

Investment banking = Engineering

= ITLaw

In which industries do students expect

the highest starting salary?

Investment bankingLawIT

AccountancyEngineeringConstruction

EARLIEST

LATEST

MOST

LEAST

HIGHEST

LOWEST

MOST

FEWEST

MOST

LEAST

Construction sector-student-survey-2013

Education

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