Question 01
Why Building Surveying — not commercial agency or project management?
What they want to hear
"A genuine answer about the built environment, defects and buildings themselves. Show you understand that BS is diagnostic and technical — you investigate, assess and advise on buildings. If you have visited a building for any reason and found it interesting, use that."
Avoid
Generic answers. "I like buildings" without any specific knowledge of what building surveyors actually do.
Question 02
What does a Building Surveyor actually do day to day?
What they want to hear
"Site inspections, defect diagnosis, schedules of condition, dilapidations, refurbishment and alteration work, party wall matters, building pathology, contract administration. Show you have researched the firm's specific BS work — residential, commercial, heritage or infrastructure."
Avoid
Vague answers about surveying generally. Confusing building surveying with quantity surveying.
Question 03
Tell me about a time you identified a problem and found a solution.
What they want to hear
"A specific example using STAR — your role, what you found, what you did personally, the outcome. Ideally something that shows an analytical or investigative mindset — identifying a root cause, not just a symptom."
Avoid
Starting with "we". Describing a team outcome without identifying your personal contribution.
Question 04
What do you know about building safety and recent legislation changes?
What they want to hear
"Building Safety Regulator now fully independent from January 2026. New Building Safety Levy on residential development from October 2026. Two staircase rule for buildings over 18 metres from September 2026. Show you are engaged with your profession before you have even started."
Avoid
Not knowing the Building Safety Act 2022 exists. Vague references to "new regulations" without specifics.
Question 05
Where do you see yourself in five years?
What they want to hear
"MRICS — Chartered Building Surveyor. Mention the APC, that you understand the pathway requires structured competency development and that this firm's training programme is part of why you are applying."
Avoid
Anything that sounds like this role is temporary or that you have not thought about the APC journey ahead.
Questions to ask them
Close well — these impress in a BS interview
Ask these
"What does the graduate training rotation look like? Do graduates get to attend site inspections from day one? How is APC preparation structured and who is my counsellor likely to be?"
Never ask
Salary at first interview. What the firm does — you should already know this.
What are the main causes of dampness in buildings and how do you diagnose them?
How to approach it
Name the three types: rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation. Describe briefly how each presents and how you would distinguish between them on inspection. Firms do not expect deep technical knowledge at graduate level — they want to see you can think diagnostically.
What is CDM and what obligations does it place on surveyors?
How to approach it
CDM 2015 — Construction Design and Management Regulations. Principal Designer, Principal Contractor, Client duties. Building surveyors often act as Principal Designer on refurbishment projects — this makes CDM directly relevant to your day-to-day work. Know the key dutyholder roles.
What is a schedule of condition and when would you use one?
How to approach it
A factual record of a property's condition at a specific point in time — typically prepared at the start of a lease to limit a tenant's dilapidations liability. Firms love this question because it tests whether you understand the commercial context of a basic BS document.
What is the Building Safety Regulator and why was it created?
How to approach it
Established following the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the Hackitt Review. Became fully independent in January 2026. Oversees higher-risk buildings (broadly 11m+ or 5 storeys+), manages the Gateway process for new buildings and has enforcement powers over non-compliant dutyholders.
What is RICS and how does the APC work for a Building Surveyor?
How to approach it
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors — the professional body. APC is the Assessment of Professional Competence — typically 24 months of structured training covering mandatory and technical competencies, ending in a final assessment panel. You select Building Surveying as your pathway. Show you understand this is a professional journey not just a job.
STAR method — answer every competency question this way
S
Situation — set the scene briefly. One or two sentences.
T
Task — what was your specific responsibility or challenge?
A
Action — what did you personally do? This is the most important part.
R
Result — what was the outcome? Quantify where possible.
2026 legislation every BS candidate must know
BSR Independence (Jan 2026) — Building Safety Regulator fully independent, overseeing higher-risk buildings (18m+ or 7+ storeys) via the Gateway process; separate leaseholder protections apply to 11m+/5 storey buildings under Part 5
Building Safety Levy (Oct 2026) — new levy on most new residential development in England, paid before completion
Two Staircase Rule (Sep 2026) — mandatory two staircases in new residential buildings over 18 metres
Remediation Bill (2026) — expected to set hard deadlines for outstanding safety works on higher-risk buildings
Home Survey Standard 2nd Ed (Apr 2026) — updated RICS standard for home surveys — clearer mandatory vs recommended distinction
What strong BS candidates do that others do not
✓
Show genuine curiosity about buildings. Talk about a building you have noticed, found interesting or walked past and looked at differently after studying.
✓
Know the firm's BS specialisms. Heritage, commercial, residential, infrastructure — identify what this firm focuses on and reference it.
✓
Reference CDM and building safety naturally in your answers — it signals professional awareness before you have started.
✓
Ask about site exposure from day one. BS is a site-based discipline — asking about early site access shows you understand the role.
✓
Mention the APC. Name your pathway. Show you understand the journey to MRICS begins from day one.
A typical week for a graduate Building Surveyor
Monday — office: reviewing inspection reports, drafting schedules of condition
Tuesday — site inspection of a commercial property, identifying defects and documenting findings
Wednesday — university study day (or block release) — degree alongside work
Thursday — assisting on a party wall matter, reviewing drawings for a refurbishment project
Friday — client meeting preparation, updating APC diary, reviewing CDM documentation
APC preparation begins from week one — diary entries, competency evidence, counsellor reviews