‘JLL is a financial and professional services firm specializing in commercial real estate services and investment management. We create value for companies and institutions that invest in and use real estate. With 52,700 employees across 200 corporate offices worldwide, we serve the local, regional and global real estate needs of corporates and investors in more than 75 countries.’
Rated as one of the Top 100 Graduate Employers in 2015/2016, JLL (formerly known as Jones Lang LaSalle) offers graduates a total of eight different opportunities in building surveying, commercial property, business management, real estate analysis, planning and more! Their ‘building for tomorrow’ agenda takes a strong stand on sustainable construction and JLL makes recruiting individuals from diverse backgrounds a part of its value system. Unsurprisingly, considering the emphasis on charity events and a supportive team environment, the firm is rated highly for colleagues (4.3) and company culture (4.1), although slightly lower ratings for responsibility (3.3), salary (3.1) and international opportunities (3.0) bring the average to a respectable overall rating of 3.8.
The average working hours for graduates at JLL came in at 8am – 6pm, with one graduate surveyor explaining that ‘your hours will vary significantly depending upon your rotational seat, the time of year (e.g. reporting season / annual strategy / year end rush) and ultimately the work ethic of those around you’. The average graduate salarycame in at £21,000 – £23,000, with one graduate surveyor adding that ‘I am aware we are not the highest paid graduates in our region but the additional benefits on top of this are excellent. You also get a set bonus’, whilst a graduate planner stated that the ‘low bonus and salary doesn’t stretch far in London’.
‘Big office with lots of people and socialising. Support through training. Healthcare and other benefits.’
Graduate Surveyor, Valuation at JLL
‘Friendly colleagues who are very approachable and supportive; nice offices and facilities; and a high ranking graduate scheme. Often long working hours.’
Graduate Surveyor, Corporate Solutions at JLL
‘Internationally renowned company, with an excellent training for graduates. Very well structured rotational programme, making it more manageable to achieve the required competencies to pass the APC (Assessment of Professional Competence) and become a commercial practice surveyor. Good selection of perks and benefits in the contract, and the basic pay is in line with or better than the rest of the industry at this early stage. This graduate scheme sets you up well for a long term career in the industry. Levels of responsibility can vary dramatically depending upon which rotation you are in, but as this is a graduate scheme, the level of pay and bonus you receive will not reflect this. This is not a 9-5 job, you will often work longer hours to meet deadlines, although compared to other financial and client service professions, the work life balance is actually pretty good.’
Graduate Surveyor, Property Fund Management at JLL
Application Advice: Be yourself during interviews, be honest and try to be a bit different. Know your market. Know which departments interest you if you are a graduate and where you see yourself in 5 years time. Be knowledgeable about the APC.’
Graduate Surveyor, at JLL
Application Advice: Get as much experience as you can before you apply. Try a variety of different departments to gain a broad knowledge.
Interview Advice: Some interviewers have decided to move on from asking the typical questions about your degree, why this firm etc. Instead they want to know that if you joined their team you would ‘fit in’ so being a more rounded person will make you more appealing.
Graduate Surveyor, Agency at JLL
Application Advice: Be yourself. Update your CV fully and know it inside out. Understand the background for a few recent property deals that JLL have been involved in.
Interview Advice: JLL’s interview process is more about finding out whether you fit the role and what sort of person you are. Obviously, it is based around property but they aren’t trying to catch you out.
Graduate Surveyor, Property Management at Jones Lang LaSalle
Interested in finding out more about JLL? Click here to view the full range of reviews from their graduates and watch the video below to find out more about what you can expect with a career at JLL.
Experts from the best companies in the UK share their experience and advice on how to boss the interview process
Jazz Panesar is a Digital and Technology Apprentice at Severn Trent. Read Jazz’s story here.
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Have your own questions prepared.It's your turn! As the interview comes to a close, one of the final questions you may be asked is "What can I answer for you?" Your interviewer will expect you to have...
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Research the Company.Do your homework about the employer and the industry so you are ready for the interview question "What do you know about this company?"
