Careers shake you, make you and sometimes can even break you. But more than ever they can make you grow, and help you spread your wings and fly.
If you are in the property profession chances are you have come across the push into doing your professional qualification – for us who started out in the commercial sector that was completing your APC (Assessment of Professional Competence) to become a Chartered Surveyor.
It’s a minimum or two years prep before a submission and an interview type session with a panel of professional experts. It’s designed to be tough, the goal to turn you into a polished surveyor, ready to do battle in the property industry.
It’s a goal to set in your sights, not only does it make you a more ‘qualified’ property professional, it’s just quite a nice qualification to put in your collection as it’s very satisfying when you get there.
As it can seem like a mountain to climb, a stressful on at that. Here are my 5 MOST IMPORTANT top tips for approaching your APC in a healthy way.
The 5 MOST IMPORTANT top tips for approaching your APC:
1. Know your goal – I didn’t know what, why, when or how I wanted to become chartered until the moment I failed. Instantly I realised I deserved it because I was good at what I did and was more than being intimidated by the people behind the desk (not that they are intimidating, I was just scared I wasn’t enough!). I was equal to them and all I needed to do was show up and explain what I do. It was game changing, I strived to just be me and show everyone just how great I was – it was the motivation I needed. However for you it probably is different, but write it down and use it to focus on your end goal – it is an incentive to get there.
2. Plan your time – This is a marathon not a sprint. If you aim to work at it long term you will reach the finish line, whether you go on holiday or not. One epic year (around 3 months before I took my APC) had some incredible holidays lined up. 9 days in Cambodia and 7 in Santorini. Sounds like bliss right? They were super memorable holidays, however overshadowed by the fact I had to revise (or thought I did) and so actually scheduled time out from my holiday to revise. Granted, I was sat in amongst some awe inspiring scenery, but it did nothing to help my stress levels and probably contributed to the overwhelm. I can’t stress enough how important it is to schedule in breaks around your studies – making time for rest has to be a priority because it will make you feel better, stronger and able to tackle anything (if you want some light reading on this try The Sleep Revolution by Ariana Huffington – honestly revolutionary).
3. Build your team – Having a strong, knowledgeable team around you is paramount. It’s not worth the tears going it alone – it really is so lonely. My tip for you is to speak to as many people as humanly possible, who have done their APC, compare stories and share revision tips. Start with one person and grow your team from there (you can even email me if you like [email protected]), talking makes things easier and you never know what help you might get! I have an amazing friend, Kate, who was in it with me from the beginning, we shared revision tips, had study evenings and nights full of stress talks and vino – we kept each other going! After we passed, we celebrated in style by booking a much deserved break to Iceland… and then another ski trip just to make sure we had done it properly. Being part of the RICS Matrics has also been amazing, talking to people in similar situations and genuinely making great friends has helped me being in the profession enormously. Having a team really spreads the load, even if it’s just the occasional sounding board!
4. Pick some non-negotiables – I.e. the things that you will continue to do whether you are knee deep in revision or just having a break. For me it was the gym – no matter what I would (and still) make time to go to the gym at least 3 times a week, it kept me active and diverts my attention from my stresses for an hour a day. It’s essential. Do something non-work related and let off steam, even if it is just I’m going to sit and watch Geordie Shore every Tuesday night without my laptop. You need switch off time and to stay connected with your life. Your APC doesn’t wipe you off the face of the planet for 2 years!
5. Get in it for the journey – There can never, ever, ever be any end to your learning. You will always be experiencing new things. Embrace it. There is always a different opinion nothing is ever 100% right or 100% wrong. So you gotta just keep your eyes and ears open to receive nuggets of info when they arrive, it’s going to happen throughout your life – it’s not going to stop once you ‘finish’ your APC revision. My point – you aren’t possibly going to know everything prior to your APC, and throughout your revision you are going to keep finding new things and learning more. Be brave about it and confident in what you do know – just learn where to look for info if you are ever asked a question you can’t answer! Know it is a journey and don’t worry about knowing it all.
I know how tough your APC can be – I’ve been there. But don’t let it eat you alive. There is so much help out there, take it, speak to people in the same situation and look after yourself – you HAVE to be your number one priority!
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And just know you are always welcome to get in contact with me if you need any help or advice with any of my blogs!
NC
