Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

Consideration of major and contentious planning applications.

Engagement with customers and other stakeholders in respect of Development Management matters.

A typical day would include report writing, letter writing, consultee management, communicating with applicants/agents, general telephone enquiries, site visits, internal discussions surrounding current caseload.

It's ever changing, no two days are the same!

Managing people - the public and other stakeholders, often with competing viewpoints and priorities.

Time management - with several applications, enquiries, enforcement cases, pre-application enquiries and general correspondence, it is essential that work is correctly prioritised.

Wide range of applications in various locations keeps the work interesting. Dynamic and fast moving whilst having a tangible impact upon the built environment and local economy.

A key skill is people management as well as the ability to think coherently at speed and being able to effectively communicate. Having the faith to trust your own judgement, whilst also being able to reconsider your position if appropriate.

Spatial awareness, visualisation and design appreciation are also important skills.

RTPI CPD seminars plus some limited general internal training courses.

After graduation, I secured a post as a Planning Assistant in a Local Authority working in Development Control.

After 2 years as a Planning Assistant, I secured employment at a different Local Authority as a Planning Officer in Development Management. During this time I also gained my PG Cert in Public Sector Management

Following Local Government Reorganisation and as part of departmental restructure I was able to secure promotion to a Senior Planning Officer role.

I hope to continue to progress my career within Development Management, with the consolidation of my Senior Planning Officer role as an immediate priority.

I may, in the future, seek to undertake the additional study in order to progress my PGDip to a full Masters.

Graduates now have it much harder than I did. I was lucky enough to find planning employment within a couple of months of graduation. I would advise graduates to contact local authorities and see if there are any unpaid work experience opportunities available even if it is only short term or a few day per week. Such arrangements are mutually beneficial, particularly in the current climate - the graduate gains valuable experience and demonstrates a pro-active nature on their CV and the local authority gets cheap assistance!