Building Surveyor Intern Review

I arrived at JLL not expecting to enjoy my time, due to the reputation of internship work, however I have thoroughly enjoyed my JLL experience and am disappointed that it has come to an end. Not only did I enjoy the work side of JLL but the HR team organized a number of events which were perfect for interns to socialize.

Immediately when I arrived into the Building Consultancy team on the 5th floor I was introduced to Hamish's team which made me feel hugely welcome. Throughout my time Hamish give me very constructive criticism but also praised my work and this makes any intern feel valued. Charles Bradley (Associate Director) would involve me in any survey he would undergo which clearly showed he attempted to include me in the team.

Hamish has worked tirelessly throughout my time at JLL to give me the support I required as a person with little Building Surveying experience. All members of my team were very approachable but I also had the opportunity to talk to members of other team who give me time out of their day to assist me with my work.

The HR team spread talks and activities throughout the four weeks so often the day would involve an hour in a meeting room. The daily work I was given could often spread over several hours, however there was never a strict deadline and this allowed me to spend time to produce the highest quality work for Hamish.

I would attend all meetings with Hamish and I felt comfortable to add any comments which I believed would contribute to the conversation. During surveys, Hamish would give me the opportunity to point out defects that I thought were appropriate and also have a first attempt at the written document.

The client interaction skills I have gained during this internship are crucial to excel in the future as the property industry heavily relies on relationships and reputation. The practical work I've completed will give me a head start when I return to University in September and I am sure it will enable me to relate my future studies to the practical side of Building Surveying.

The Building Consultancy office constantly had a vibrant atmosphere full of professionals who were enjoying their day to day work. There never seemed a dull moment in the office as chocolates or donuts would be floating around the room with every birthday that came. There was not one person in the office that I would feel uncomfortable talking to as everyone was very approachable.

The HR team at JLL, led by Amelia Dowty, did an outstanding job of organizing the four week internship programme. Throughout the time highly respected figures in JLL would give their time to talk and insight the interns of firstly the company but also their careers. Social events were organized at the beginning to assist the interns in getting to know one another which meant everyone immediately felt like they had several people to communicate with.

Hamish Allan was my designated supervisor and spent several hours out of his works days to assist me with the document that I was producing. I am sure this heavy affected Hamish's workload and I appreciate every minute he put aside to development my knowledge. The programme also had a number of training sessions, including the task of producing a presentation in two weeks and presenting this in front of the interns and HR team.

After four weeks of working at JLL I believe it is a company within which every professional enjoys working and this really shows in their results. It is a global company that is expanding but also appears to offer many opportunities to work abroad. I am unaware of JLL's recruitment strategy after the recent vote of Brexit, however I will definitely be attend the graduate assessment day.

On the first evening the HR team organized a 'junkyard golf' trip to Shoreditch which enabled all interns to introduce themselves to one another as we would be sharing several hours together over the internship. The majority of the interns were also very keen to socialize after work which I believed helped us develop our relationships with one another.

The JLL office in the West End is located on Warwick street which is a very expensive area to live if you were to do so. However during my internship I was living in Finsbury Park that was an easy commute into the office for 9am. There is a high concentration of pubs and restaurants in the area surrounding the office and this is perfect for socializing with your team after a hard day of work. The pubs are relatively expensive, but I did not expect anything different in central London

During my four weeks with JLL I did not experience the nightlife in Soho, let alone London as a whole. This is not due to an overload of work but purely down to the fact that I enjoy a drink in a pub much more than a nightclub and I found that this suited the working lifestyle. Thursday was a popular day for professionals to go for a drink, however occasionally a drink would be had on another evening.

JLL's offered a number of opportunities to get involved with activities outside of work, including a running club that leaves the office every Tuesday at 6pm which attracts a high number every week. My supervisor organizes a JLL football team that enters several tournaments every year and the interns also attended a 'JLL Property Triathlon' within which many competitors from property firms enter.