Jeffrey Chiu

Jeffery graduated from MSc International Real Estate and Planning in 2019 and is now a Consultant providing project management services to businesses like Network Rail and Battersea Power Station

Tell us about your career path, from graduation to where you are now

Persistent and grit were crucial, I knew it was not going to be easy to find a role during Covid, so I applied and interviewed to as many companies as I could find - perfecting my interviewing skills, listening to feedbacks, tweaking my answers and actively work on areas which I was lacking impact.

While I was applying to real estate roles, I landed a market research and business development role at a US firm which helps management consultancies like Mckinsey, BCG and Strategy& to carry out expert interviews, surveys and industry outlook work. I was sent to Hong Kong and back to UK to help grow the key accounts. I honed my skills in quantitative and qualitative research, stakeholder engagement and management and project management. These skillsets and experience definitely helped me secure my current role, as the transferable skills were relevant.

What are your core duties and what skills are important to your role?

I am a consultant providing project management services to Network Rail and previously to the Battersea Power Station Development Company. I work throughout the construction lifecycle developing the initial business case, procurement, undertaking design management and then on construction management. Problem solving and time management skills are paramount.

How did your time at UCL prepare you for the workplace?

My time at UCL and the Bartlett school gave me a solid academic foundation and practical knowledge based on the MSc curriculum. Panel interviews, site visits and industry events organised by UCL Careers and the Bartlett School helped me gained key industry knowledge by going through interesting and complex case studies. This included visiting the King’s Cross and a number of work sites in City, as well as flying to Berlin to learn about their urban planning success and failure.  

Were there any challenges in your job hunt? How did you overcome these?

It was a tough time for the real estate industry during Covid, and just as tough applying for a job when companies were reducing head count and pausing recruiting campaigns. It was important to realise the strengths and weaknesses in my CV, after multiple rejections, I picked up on areas I was lacking in based on the feedback and made sure I worked on it. 

Top tips for current students:

1. View rejections as an opportunity to grow
2. I cannot emphasise the importance of internships and work experiences. Start doing them early on and it does not matter what you do, as the transferable skills are key. If you could find an internship in the industry you want to work in the future, that will be a bonus
3. Hard work and be persistent