Just the job

How did that come about?
The RICS set it up as a competition for their junior members and I was one of the winners. You go out and work for an American company to see what the construction industry is like out there and to promote the RICS abroad. The boss of the firm I was with is a fellow of the RICS and it's good for his work that he can say he complies with their international standards.

What did you learn from the experience?
It was fascinating. I was interested to see how professional life differs, particularly for our direct counterparts, the surveyors. They definitely have a need for UK-trained people and I felt my skills were useful to them. My qualifications gave me an edge which other people didn't have.

Is the American surveying industry very different to the UK?
They have a massive can-do attitude to winning work. They're willing to collaborate with other small businesses to provide a wider range of services than they would otherwise have. For example, the company I was with were working with a small internet company to provide online services to one of their big clients. Often, they formed cross-company teams to work on specific projects. You don't get that in the UK as much.

Were the US company's staff welcoming? Yes, very. They're very easy to get along with from a professional perspective, and they were also really informative about life in Houston. They made sure the visit was very enjoyable - recommending bars and places to visit and so on. Getting that insider's view of the city was great.

Would you like to work there for longer?
At the moment I enjoy my work in London, but there are lots of opportunities for RICS-qualified people to set up in business in the US. I'm currently doing project management, dealing with a wide range of construction projects, so I'm enjoying the exposure to a range of sectors. I've got a slight preference for commercial projects — office, retail and industrial — so that might be something I would look to go into in the longer term.

What advice would you give to anyone applying for this year's RICS internships?
You have to go in with the attitude that it's not a holiday - you're there to work. But it's a very worthwhile and valuable experience that's quite unique. You get a flavour of it by working with international clients here in the UK, but nothing can replace being over there. It gave me a wider perspective on the international context in which I work.