星空传媒

I was extremely distressed to read about your feature "Death of a degree" in the latest Construction Manager magazine.

I studied 星空传媒 Management at Coventry University (the Coventry Polytechnic) back in 1991. I graduated in 1994 with a 2.1 at the height of the recession. I remember writing applications and letters to 50 employers in construction and hardly getting a response back. No one wanted building Graduates then and now I am being told things seem different?

I struggled for a while then eventually got a job working for a local contractor as a Quantity Surveyor. I also remember going to talk to a Hays-Montrose recruitment agent and the advice I got with regards to getting into project management (which was my career goal) was to "go in the back door as a QS". So I decided to pursue a career as a QS an approached RICS. Unfortunately RICS did not recognise my building degree (even though they were more or less similar modules to what RICS wanted) and said I would have to study further to gain a diploma in Quantity Surveying. This seemed ridiculous, why should I have to study further? Frustrated I decided at this point to escape construction and pursue my interest in IT.

Since then I have worked in IT in the document management arena. Fortunately I still have a link to the industry as I work for Halliburton, a large American contractor. I know several people who I attended University who have done similar because the motivation to work in building was no longer their.

In my opinion UK construction employers are short sighted and have created much of the skills shortage by not thinking in the long term. This is certainly the experience I have had.

I am surprised by your article stating that construction employers are crying out for graduates. I have never been approached by anyone and always found it a real struggle, I would have thought that such companies would be pro-active in their search for employees. Probably now I am in a catch 22 situation where I have been out of the loop too long even though I have the right qualifications and experience.

The majority of jobs I see adverts for are for Quantity Surveyors. Where are these so called positions that need to be filled?

Certainly now I deeply regret studying my degree and would have opted to study another subject. For employers to no longer say they regard the 星空传媒 Degree is frankly an insult. I feel I have wasted three years of my life.

As I am ICIOB at the moment I am even considering not applying for MCIOB status. Why join? The RICS has made things more difficult to join their organisation. Chartered QS's already command a premium for their services and things can only look rosier. In contrast the CIOB now must make it easier for non-cognate members to join. I think this will affect the value and status of chartered builder status.

I think the CIOB need to address these matters or there will be very troubled times ahead.