Starting Your Professional Career in ConstructionA concise guide for university students and graduates

cbuilde.com/careers

cbuilde.com/careers Starting Your Professional Career in Construction

About CABE

CABE (Chartered Association of Building Engineers) is a leading body for professionals specialising in the design, construction, evaluation and maintenance of buildings. Our mission is to develop professionals, share knowledge and raise industry standards.

We have nearly 6,000 members around the world in over 50 countries†, working in both the private and public sectors. We provide the prime qualification of Chartered Building Engineer, a title that exactly reflects the expertise of our Members and their contribution towards society and the profession.

We support the profession by promoting best practice to everyone within the Built Environment and we encourage co-operation between industry associations. We lead on standards and legislation as well as assist in the development of national occupational standards. To achieve this, we closely work with the Construction Industry Council, the Building Research Establishment and the British Board of Agrément. We also sit on boards with the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Welsh Assembly and contribute towards Scottish Building Standards.

†Sourced from CABE membership data, August 2014.

PROBITATE ET ARTEPROBITATE ET ARTEPROBITATE ET ARTE

The Coat of Arms bestowed to the Chartered Association of Building Engineers

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cbuilde.com/careers Become a Chartered Building Engineer

Working in the Built Environment and Chartered Building Engineers

The Built Environment refers to anything built or constructed by human beings.

A Chartered Building Engineer is a professional who designs, constructs, evaluates and/or maintains buildings. Their work includes both technical and management processes, by which buildings are designed, constructed, renewed and maintained.

To work within the Built Environment, students need to have the following interests and skills:

• Have an interest in technology and design• Think about how people use buildings and the environment around them• Be prepared to visit construction sites as well as work within an office environment• Be able to read architectural plans• Keep up to date with government regulations• Think sustainably and apply this to construction projects

Students will also need to have the following transferable skills: • Excellent communication• Team player• Dedicated• Good level of negotiation• Organised• Problem solver• Logical• Self-motivated

Chartered Building Engineers can specialise in the following areas: • Principles of Design & Aesthetics• Detailed Construction Design• Regulatory Compliance • Facilities Management • Fire Engineering• Building Pathology & Defect Analysis• Repair & Maintenance• Energy & Certification

• Accessibility Surveys and Audits• Conservation• Project Co-ordination and Management• Fire Risk Assessment• Quantity Surveying• Certification• Warranties• Planning

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cbuilde.com/careers Starting Your Professional Career in Construction

Your Career Progression to Chartered Building Engineer

Once Chartered Membership is achieved, you will have reached the top of your profession. You’ll be a Chartered Building Engineer.

StudentGraduate

Grad CABE

At university?Start here.

Register for Student Membership

As you’ve enrolled on a degree related to the Built Environment, you can register for CABE Student Membership for FREE.

1 Complete your degree and apply for Graduate Membership

You must hold a relevant degree with honours accredited or recognised by the CABE.

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Apply today! When you complete your degree

How do I progress?

What do I need to know?

When can I apply?

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cbuilde.com/careers Become a Chartered Building Engineer

CharteredMemberMCABE

CharteredFellowFCABE

Chartered Building Engineer

Gain the relevant experience and Apply for Chartered Membership

Graduates with two years’ relevant work experience can progress to Chartered Membership through submission of a portfolio diary and professional interview.

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GraduatePortfolioDiary Route

Establish your career, gain a plethora of experience and apply for Chartered Fellowship

This is the senior grade within CABE and reflects a person’s knowledge, expertise, experience and their position within the industry.

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When you’ve gained at least 2 years’ work

experience after graduation

When you’ve gained at least 5 years’ work experience from becoming a

Chartered Member

For more information on membership grades and competencies that need to be demonstrated at each stage, visit cbuilde.com/membership

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cbuilde.com/careers Starting Your Professional Career in Construction

Benefits of Student Membership

“CABE Student Membership is the first step for students who want to become Chartered Building Engineers”

Student Members can progress their careers to become Chartered Building Engineers through our Membership Route.

If you’re not already a Student Member of CABE, you can apply for FREE.

Joining CABE gives students:

• The opportunity to be associated with a global professional body within the Built Environment • The ability to state that they are a ‘Student Member of CABE’ on their CV, which helps support applications for internships and placements while at university • The chance to gain professional skills and knowledge by taking part in CABE regional and national activities • FREE access to Building Engineer online – a highly respected monthly industry publication • Receipt of regular e-newsletters with industry news and insight.

For further information on CABE Student Membership and to apply, either complete a hardcopy application form or visit cbuilde.com/membership

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cbuilde.com/careers Become a Chartered Building Engineer

Studied: BSc Building Control Surveying at the University of Westminster

Current employer: London Borough of Sutton, Building Control Department

Route to CABE Membership: Graduate Portfolio Route

Chartered Member Testimonial: Amanda Wing MCABE

Starting outI had never originally planned to enter the construction industry, but it came about by chance as a result of me working for an Approved Inspector as a Secretary. At the time, my employer encouraged me to consider becoming a Building Control Surveyor. I realised, I could be in the same position as another lady he had trained, who was now fully fledged and running her own projects.

Building experienceI decided to accompany some colleagues on their site inspections, and before I knew it, I was carrying out my own site inspections and beginning to run my own projects. The training period has been long but it’s worth it. I feel that you need to have a fair amount of knowledge to work in the Building Control sector of the construction industry.

Becoming a Chartered Building EngineerI recently became a CABE Chartered Member through the Graduate Portfolio Route to Membership. I had to submit a portfolio of work collated from over a year of work experience, with examples I’ve carried out as well as evidence that I’ve met the competencies required to become a Chartered Building Engineer.

I enjoy knowing about construction and seeing good quality construction whilst out on site. It’s also nice being in a position to explain to others how things work. I am now gaining more experience in the commercial sector and I have enjoyed working on a rather large extension to a primary school, which I was pleased to be involved in. I have many other projects in the pipeline which give me valuable experience as I continue to further in my abilities.

My advice to students and graduates...Anyone looking to become a Chartered Building Engineer needs to be motivated. You need to take the initiative to learn and really delve into the projects you may be working on so that you know it as much as possible. This will not only help you in the future, but you never know what you may be asked in the CABE panel interview for Chartered membership!

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cbuilde.com/careers Starting Your Professional Career in Construction

We’re here to help!If you have any queries about your membership application, please contact us. You can also find out further information on our website.

Lutyens House, Billing Brook Road, Weston Favell, Northampton, NN3 8NW, United KingdomT: +44 (0)1604 404 121 E: membership@cbuilde.com cbuilde.com/careers

We are also on social media

The Chartered Association of Building Engineers is a company incorporated by Royal Charter, registered in London, No. RC000867 ABE operates as the agent company for the Chartered Association of Building Engineers

buildeng @buildeng Search: Chartered Association of Building Engineers

Search: Chartered Association of Building Engineers

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‘Myth’ or ‘REALITY ’?

We’d like to dispel a few myths about being a Chartered Building Engineer and as we know, myths are not built on solid foundations. Here are a few misconceptions and realities of the profession:

Myth “So, you’re going to be building, buildings?”

REALITY “No. A Chartered Building Engineer is a professional who designs, constructs, evaluates and/or maintains buildings. Their work includes both technical and management processes, by which buildings are designed, constructed, renewed and maintained. Chartered Building Engineers are also regulated by CABE to ensure their work is to the highest standard.”

Myth “You’re always on a building site.”

REALITY “Being a Chartered Building Engineer is one of the few professions where you can wear a suit as well as a high-viz jacket. You will need to be able to work in an office environment as well as carrying out site visits to assess how a project is progressing.”

Myth “You’ll be putting in services like plumbing and electrics.”

REALITY “Building Engineers are not primarily concerned with the electricaland mechanical services within a building and certainly won’t carry out the installation. They are experts in the technology of buildings to ensure that high standards are achieved in relation to performance, safety and sustainability.”

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