Name: Yolanda Buxey
Job title: Senior surveyor at Rund
What do you do: I work as part of the employer’s agent services division at Rund. My role involves acting on behalf of housing associations in a variety of different contracts between them and housing developers to manage construction projects through to completion. My role requires good communication skills as good working relationships ensures design and build contracts are carried out correctly and smoothly.
Why did you get into the property industry: Simple answer: by chance. I was working at McDonald’s and when I felt I needed a change, apprenticeship schemes were regularly advertised and spoken about. Having enjoyed the admin side of my role at McDonald’s more so than the food delivery side, I decided that an apprenticeship in business administration would be a good fit for me to elevate my skills and knowledge. I saw a job advert for an apprentice administrator with Rund, and upon a successful interview, I was offered the job. After approximately two years of working within the admin team, with Rund’s encouragement I decided to pursue a career as a surveyor and quickly realised that this was going to be my new career trajectory.
How did you do it: Rund always made it clear to me from the outset that the company has many options for progression and if I wanted to pursue other career avenues outside of admin, I could do so. I had never considered a job in construction before my time at Rund and I haven’t once looked back. Once I decided to go down the surveyor route, I started to shadow many of my surveyor colleagues, initially attending end of defect inspections alongside our aftercare team. From there, my role advanced from aftercare to assisting employer’s agents through to my current role. Throughout this period, I completed a University College of Estate Management degree in building surveying part time in a distanced learning capacity, funded by Rund. While challenging at times, the degree and the practical hands-on experience, gave me the knowledge and confidence to carry out my employer’s agent duties with relative ease.
My first proper job: Working at McDonald’s straight out of leaving secondary school for a bit of ‘beer money’ for college. Once finishing college, I went into full time work, working my way through the ranks and eventually becoming a shift manager at the age of 18. As I approached five years with McDonald’s, my mindset changed and I wanted to shift from working a ‘job’ to having a ‘career’, which led me down the apprenticeship route, which ultimately led me to Rund.
My first big break: Without realising it at the time, getting a job at Rund was my big break – both in terms of beginning a career in admin and in property and construction.
My inspiration(s): Coming from a working-class council estate background, I was fuelled to get a degree and excel in my career, with the ultimate goal to make my parents proud as no one from my immediate family had even gone to college – let alone achieved a university degree. So yes, being the first Buxey to have a degree motivated me to succeed and kept me going when times became difficult in my studies or work.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: Studying for my degree part time whilst working full time – as it was challenging to fit my studying in around work. The degree meant, on occasion, I had to prioritise studying over some activities such as nights out with friends, but it was certainly worth it in the end.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: Getting a degree outside the ‘typical’ format of college, university then graduate programme. As touched on throughout this Q&A, I had never considered a role in construction and very much happened upon this, which has worked out well. Starting as an apprentice administrator and then achieving a 2:1 building surveying degree as a senior employer’s agent is something I am very proud of.
My biggest screw-up: Not necessarily my biggest, but certainly one of the funniest screw-ups. I was at college studying English literature and drama, and it was my first time attending the English class which I was a few minutes late to because of finding my way around the campus. After a few minutes of being seated, I realised quite clearly that I was in the wrong room learning about a subject I had no clue about. From memory, it was something maths related. Being young, too shy and embarrassed to say anything, I sat through the whole lesson, making notes and nodding along, worried at every moment that I’d be found out to be an imposter. For the remaining two years, I would nod and say ‘hi’ to some of the students in that class who must have wondered what happened to me, and why I never returned.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: That it is a man’s world. Whilst traditionally the industry has been male-dominated and more women are still needed, each year that passes, I’m experiencing more and more women working on construction sites. Women are being found in management roles more and more, but also from all sides of the industry from customer care roles to development management roles to employer’s agent roles and so on.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about i: My biggest bugbear is the lack of accountability when things go wrong – there is this feeling that holding your hands up and admitting when you’re wrong is not the done thing. Perhaps harking back to the ‘boys club’ mentality. This has sometimes resulted in discussions and negotiations reaching a standstill with no one wanting to budge first. At times, a construction site and professional office environment can be worlds away. When this happens, it is all the more important to keep your cool and to rely on good relationships that have been formed before any disagreements.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: More or less the same role (employer’s agent), however with an emphasis on management, so leading a team of next generation employer’s agents
My main career goals right now: Continue building my confidence as a senior surveyor and begin down the management route in preparation for leading my own team in the future.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: Morgan Freeman – that man’s voice is to die for and I could listen to him talk about absolutely anything. Illusionist Derren Brown because he is amazing at his craft and is a natural showman. Plus, I would love to see Derren make Morgan cluck like a chicken. Amelia Earheart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, because I’m into conspiracy theories and have to know what in god’s name went on there with her disappearance. My wonderful nan who passed away during my teens, but who would keep everyone engaged with her many tales of her adventurous life full of laughs and antics. And finally, Gordon Ramsay to lambast the chef if we were served bad food.
What I do in my downtime: I’m an active person so when the weather is dry, I like to spend my time outdoors in nature. One of my favourite pass times is walking my Rottweiler named Rupert around many parts of the New Forest which I am fortunate to live near. Our hikes have seen us ‘lost’ on many occasions, but we’ve always found our way back – sometimes grumpier or muddier than when we began. I’m thankful my partner Andrew has such a good sense of direction however, as I’d still be out there lost somewhere if I were left to the directions. I’m also an avid reader, always with a book on the go. I flit between fact and fiction, with a preference for fiction as there’s nothing better than getting stuck into a story and having your mind create images of what the characters and places look like, and what they might be thinking and feeling. This year, I aim to read all the ‘classics’, having just finished Robinson Crusoe.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: My absolute passion is animals because they cannot speak for themselves so need looking after, and they can bring so much joy to our lives. If I wasn’t doing this job and pay wasn’t a consideration, I’d do something with animals, such as working at a rescue centre.
My advice for someone just starting out: There is never such a thing as a stupid question. The more questions you ask, the more you will learn. Listen to your colleague’s advice and ask about their trials and tribulations, using their experience to learn from. You’re never alone so speak up if you need help and know that we’ve all experienced moments of self-doubt but have all got to the other side of it.
My motto/mantra: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again. Stay positive. Every day is a school day.
