THE construction industry is in booming right now so job prospects for chartered surveyors are excellent. However, prospective students should keep in mind the cyclical nature of the industry, cautions Paul Greaney, lecturer in surveying at Limerick RTC which offers two degree-level courses in the surveying area.

Both of these degrees are four-year sandwich programmes which include one year's work experience. The property valuation and management option provides students with a very flexible training and they may go in to the legal, commercial, facilities management fields as well as the traditional property economics/valuation surveying, says Greaney.

About 10 per cent of the valuation surveying students are women and Greaney says that the image and identity of the course is improving. The old idea of construction and property as a mucky, dirty job is vanishing. In fact, Greaney says, surveyors will usually spend 90 per cent of their day in a typical office and 10 per cent on site.

The jobs situation is also excellent for graduates of Limerick RTC's construction economist/quantity surveying option, says Greaney. None of the course graduates is looking for employment at present.

Bernard Skelton, assistant head of surveying in DIT Bolton Street which also offers a degree in quantity surveying, explains that the job is basically that of an economic adviser and manager in the construction industry. He also reports very good job prospects. Almost without exception, all of last year's graduates who were seeking employment have found work in the construction industry.

The college also runs a cert/diploma course in construction technology and it is possible for students with a merit or distinction to transfer into various degree level programmes. "Construction technology trains people for middle-management positions," explains Skelton. Graduates might, for instance, continue their studies in the construction management degree in Waterford RTC or by transferring to one of the surveying degrees within DIT or elsewhere.

In addition to its construction options, DIT Bolton Street offers a four-year degree in property economics. Martin Hanratty, assistant head of surveying, says: "This is for people who want to get involved in valuation and property, where property fits into the overall environment. Property economics looks at the broader picture."

Graduates of the course may go into general practice surveying, planning or general business areas. Although demand for property economists is not as strong as for construction economists, there is still good solid demand for graduates. The course is very broad and students usually have no problem finding work.

Many RTCs offer cert and diploma courses in the construction area. For instance, Cork offers a two-year national cert in construction studies and a one-year follow-on diploma in construction studies (construction economics). Graduates of the cert course may find work at technician level or as site supervisors or agents, explains a college spokesman. However, to find works' at professional level, the diploma is necessary, he says.

Graduates of the diploma are eligible for certain exemptions from the professional societies. Many of these graduates continue their studies to degree level in British universities or Limerick RTC. It is hoped that RTC Cork will eventually develop its own add-on degree programme.