Jeff makes his mark in the property industry
Recent graduate Jeff Davies reports back from his burgeoning career in the property industry.
Jeff Davies completed his Bachelor of Environments at the University of Melbourne in 2014. He went on to study the Master of Property and graduated in 2016. We caught up with him to find out how his career has evolved, and what advice he would give to current students with an interest in the property industry,
Tell us a little about your background
After graduating from Xavier College, I completed my studies at Melbourne Uni. I was always interested in property, finance and development, and began working in property as an assistant valuer mid way through my degree.
Where are you working and what are you working on at the moment?
I’m a qualified commercial property valuer working at CBRE in the Industrial & Logistics valuation team. We value all different types of properties from small developments through to large investment assets. Whilst being in the industrial team, the work we do is quite diverse, in the last month or so I’ve valued a self-storage building in Northcote, large industrial investments in Altona and Truganina, a unit development in Oakleigh and an office in Abbotsford.
What advice do you have for people considering studies in the Master of Property?
Make the most of the opportunity you have to tailor your degree to the areas that interest you. I liked that I could take subjects I was interested in - plenty of construction, development and finance subjects - in addition to my core property subjects. Also, try not to waste your breadth subject on subjects that might be perceived as a filler or an easy option; do things that you are interested in and will help your career down the track.
What advice do you have for current students looking to find work experience or employment opportunities?
It can be tough to get your foot in the door, and often it seems the first job can be the hardest to get – once you’re in, it’s a lot easier to move around. If you’re thinking of getting a job early into your uni degree, try to do something relevant to the industry you want to end up in. That could be as an assistant or working in reception, anything that will give you an opportunity to get an insight into the business and the industry. Having the opportunity to make some contacts will be invaluable when you are applying for grad job, so don’t feel shy about approaching people in the industry even if you don’t know them, everyone knows what it’s like to be in your position.
What has been your proudest career achievement to date?
A very proud moment was when our team won the 2018 RICS ‘Valuation Team of The Year’.
What would you like people to know about your discipline/industry?
The property industry is very broad, and the opportunity exists to move around, so you certainly won’t be pigeon holed by the subjects you take or the roles you begin in. In terms of working as a valuer, it is an interesting job providing a great foundation into the drivers of value and the market and can be a great pathway to other areas within the industry.
What would be your dream project?
I don’t really have a dream project, moving forward though I’d certainly love to build my own commercial or residential developments.
Your favourite place on campus?
My favourite place at uni was Lot 6 during lunchtime, I was a big fan of the club sandwiches!
What's a memory of university life that has really stayed with you?
The relief after each assignment and then after having graduated, it was a great feeling!
What's your best piece of advice for our current students?
Make the most of your journey throughout uni. It’s easy to get caught up focusing too much on the end goal, however there is a lot to be learnt along the way that will stand you in good stead long after you graduate. Also, don’t underestimate the contacts you make at uni. A few years out, you’ll start to notice the benefit of this network which will only get more valuable the older you get.
If you are interested in studying a Master of Property come to our Grad Study Evening this October 25th, 2018
Learn more about MSD Grad Study Evening 2018