Angela Duru
What subject did you study during your time at NTU?
MA Property Management & Development.
What is your current job?
Partner Property and Asset Management – Property Management Lead.
What was your most memorable moment during your time at NTU, that helped you with your career development?
I remember getting my first property job offer with a housebuilder as a Junior Land Buyer and showing it to a lecturer who looked at me and said “why are you so pleased? You can do much better” - and he was right, it was a great job but a terrible match for me. I did my research and didn’t take the job. I later stumbled upon a job in Property Management. It was a perfect match and I love what I do. It also was a great lesson in what industries weather recessions better than others.
My top tip for the Class of 2020 in one sentence:
Be flexible, keep an open mind, and continually develop yourself because once this is all over you will need to be in the strongest position possible.
What did you find most challenging about graduating in 2008 (e.g. effects of recession on career plans)?
The uncertainty - you’re always told that if you work hard, you will get what’s coming to you, but it’s hard when things out of your control affect your prospects.
Do you have any advice for current students or new graduates to improve their employability prospects?
Work experience! I worked part-time to pay my way through my studies, and I found this invaluable. Fill your time wisely, there’s no better way to stand out than having interesting and varied work experience on your CV – it’s a talking point and you never know where it will take you or who you will meet along the way.
I would also look beyond graduate schemes, as smaller firms who do not always offer rotations can offer amazing, wide ranging experience and qualification prospects too.
Also, the RICS is international - what about working elsewhere? The world is your oyster!