Over recent years, the demand for surveyors has been screaming for fresh young talent to fill these positions or take a somewhat career path within the industry. Instead, the recent demands in mainstream courses/ Professions have made these routes highly trafficked by the younger demographic. This has now caused the saturation within certain career routes which means something once deemed a specialism is now being out valued by the weight of people who all specialise in the same profession fighting for career opportunities.
How come surveying or the practical fundamentals aren’t taught to the younger generations in school? Why isn’t education the feeder on allowing the next ones to gain the interest of the what sectors, equipment or routes it may lead into? Many of us had gained our first knowledge of surveying either from a family member who coached us into financial securities of the job, right?
How to make it interesting
As we live in the digital age, the tools, applications and expertise’s are things that could be second nature to the younger generation, these tools are more of an extension of their current everyday lives. The integration into a profession like ours would be a lot easier to get to grips with the new type of equipment and AI applications compared to the older generation.
Identifying the issues
The most defining issue of the lack of resurgence of budding new talent within the industry is the result of the absence of awareness of a career route. The lack of knowledge of the industry is a hindrance and therefore lead to an eradication of potential surveyor in the making. We need to diminish the fact that the only route of learning is heading towards higher education (undergrad), this may be the focus or routes that have basic elements that stem interest within the profession.
The main avenue of working knowledge has mainly be highlighted from either a family member who works within the building trade has sparked that interest or pathed a future career route.
Raising the profile
As this generation is more now synchronized with modern-day social tools as avenues to enhance their own learning experiences. This has created an avenue to help push awareness of what our industry is and the potential career opportunities that lie ahead. Social media could be present as a key application to do so. Using this function being somewhat of a fly on the wall on documenting the processes of the job. This can be utilised as an informative/ formative type of content to help gage with the audience
Women in Surveying
Women have always shrouded this profession on being mainly male-dominated which has shoved any glimmer of speculation to either further a career with the industry. Losing out on more than capable women who seem a perfect fit for the industry is wavered from this by the shadow of male dominance. Highlighting women’s accomplishments within the industry is a good way to inspire women to enter the profession allowing an avenue to a career path. Highlighting that the traditional working environment isn’t ‘lad culture’ of old which has maybe blockaded any thought because of this.
The future
All forms of surveying present the accessibility into professions that are subdivisions` of the original route. Being an industry that is technology oriented you could potentially enter the small market of UAV trained users, property, construction, CAD…
Your views
We would love to hear your thoughts on the subject and how we as an industry can gain the attention of the younger generation to consider surveying as a career path.
