Building Surveyor - new career at 60!???

[stripeyflowers]

I am currently in my last year of an English Lit degree. I will be a few months short of 58 when I graduate. I'm on course for a 1st and would like to continue studying with a view to working.

My official retiring age should be 67 but I would like to carry on working for as long as I feel motivated and fit enough to do so.

It's almost embarrassing to admit that I would actually like do something that genuinely interests me; people naturally assume that doing a first degree at this age is mainly for personal interest etc.

I am considering to a conversion course. Having a think about what I really interests me, it keeps coming back to the same thing every time - buildings (if I had my time over again I would be an architect).

Recently someone posted about doing a conversion of two years to leave teaching and become a Building Surveyor. This could be an option for me but it would mean I would not be ready to actually start until I am 60.

Really, would it be pointless? Or can anyone suggest any other possibly viable building-related options?

Much appreciated!

Absolutely not, at 60 you could easily have a good 10-15 years of working left, longer if you so wish.

Go for it.

My concern would be getting a job at the end of your postgrad. Age discrimination is a very real issue (and difficult to prove), and you're not going to be seen to be as fit and able as younger candidates.

That's the thing isn't it?

I can never be as fit as a twenty-something no matter how fit I am at this age :(

I know quite a few building surveyors, more than one with their own company and I think both would employ someone like you. What is sought after is a bit of niche knowledge - so historic buildings, party wall surveying (possibly super boring and not niche but not the exciting areas people go into it for). One of my friends prizes people skills above all else.

Good luck. I think this is brilliant.

Getting up ladders might be an issue?

Ladders! Luckily I have a head for heights and I do climb ladders to do the windows, guttering etc. However, I know balance can be affected when you get older and it's one of those things that can just 'come on' and you can't do a lot about it.

Again . . . :(

How about Town & Country planner?

Sixteenminutes

Thank you - yes, I didn't think of that. Is definitely something to look into: seems very interesting.

Can you really do it in 2 years?

My DS is doing a degree to be a QS and that's 4 years. He then has another 3 years to get professional creditation. He looked into Building Surveying too and that had the same time frame.

My OH is currently doing the Sava diploma in residential surveying and valuation and finding it very fulfilling. He hopes to earn good £ from the off, although reckons it will take a decade before he'd consider himself really good at it- there's a lot to learn. No reason if you're fit and able not to work well into your 70s, and bear in mind that if you go self employed there'd be more room to pick and choose the less physically challenging jobs you'd rather do.
He says there are people from a range of different backgrounds and ages on the course.

Would your local authority take you on as a trainee building control surveyor? They are in short supply and if you could get in they'd do the on the job training.

@StColumbofNavron

I know quite a few building surveyors, more than one with their own company and I think both would employ someone like you. What is sought after is a bit of niche knowledge - so historic buildings, party wall surveying (possibly super boring and not niche but not the exciting areas people go into it for). One of my friends prizes people skills above all else.

Good luck. I think this is brilliant.

Your advice to pick a less glamorous specialisation is spot on. Dilapidations is another extremely unsexy specialisation.

I’d add chartered surveying as a consideration - rent reviews, property management and valuations to those. I can say that in 15 years of chartered surveying I’ve never climbed a ladder! The closest I’ve gotten to danger is putting on sleeve protectors & safety goggles to inspect a glass factory.

I would go for it,but to make it to a chartered surveyor rics level you need a degree and then further qualification. I wouldn’t use a non rics accredited surveyor.

I would say absolutely go for it but it will take 3 years....I had to do a 1 Yr real estate course after my Russian degree, and then 2 years in practice before you do your APC to become a chartered surveyor - I went into general practice though, so not sure whether you may need more time on the structural side.

Contact the RICS who will be able to guide you on what to need to do to get qualified.

Thank you everyone who has replied. I appreciate it. I am going to look into all of the suggestions. I love the idea of working with historic buildings in particular.

Seeline - It seems that way - here is one I found:

www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/courses/msc-surveying-building-surveying-distance-learning-dtdpsb6/

www.rics.org/uk/surveying-profession/join-rics/chartered-member-mrics/assessment-of-professional-competence-apc/

If you have no experience, I think you still need to do at least 2 years training before can apply for your APC to become RICS accredited

@Seeline

www.rics.org/uk/surveying-profession/join-rics/chartered-member-mrics/assessment-of-professional-competence-apc/

If you have no experience, I think you still need to do at least 2 years training before can apply for your APC to become RICS accredited

Ah, well, if that's the case - I need to rethink on this one. Thank you for this information. It makes absolute sense tbh.