Careers Built Around You: Q&A With Rachel Seward

Congratulations on achieving FRICS. What does becoming a RICS Fellow mean to you both personally and professionally?  

“Professionally, it feels great to have recognition of my experience and contribution over the years. Personally, it almost feels surreal, but I’m certainly proud of the achievement.” 

You mentioned that achieving Fellowship made you reflect on your career journey. What were the standout moments that came to mind?  

“At the beginning, getting through my degree whilst working full time and single parenting a toddler was really tough, but being awarded ‘RICS Student of the Year’ in my final year at university was a standout moment as it gave me a real boost to get stuck into achieving chartered status.” 

How do you hope to contribute to the profession as a FRICS going forward?  

“I enjoy mentoring both graduates and newly qualified colleagues and hope to do more of that as well as maintaining my profile in the medical sector. I also want to continue looking at and implementing ways we can improve efficiencies and quality across the valuation process.” 

You started at Christie & Co as a Secretary in 2002. Did you ever imagine then that you would one day become a Director within Valuations and achieve FRICS? 

“Absolutely not! I hadn’t even considered surveying/valuation as a career path I could follow. It was only when I let my manager at the time know that I was going to be looking for something else, as I wanted a change from secretarial work, that he suggested it. At the start, it was a long road ahead, starting with a five-year part-time degree, so I just took it day by day and didn’t think that far ahead.” 

Your career path hasn't followed a conventional route into surveying. How were you able to identify and build on your strengths as your career evolved?  

“My secretarial skills definitely gave me useful traits, including good communication, attention to detail, and a general administrative ability that I continue to use to this day. We have a good skill mix across our team, and we all play to our strengths. Mine definitely lie in processes and a drive for efficiency that has led to my involvement in creating and maintaining new valuation models and reports, amongst other things.” 

What made you stay and build your career here at Christie & Co?  

“Definitely the people – I have worked with, and continue to work with, some amazing people over my time so far and have been inspired, supported, and entertained on a daily basis! The laughter is what gets you through the harder days.” 

How has Christie & Co enabled you to develop your career over the years?  

“I would not be where I am now if the company hadn’t recognised my potential and encouraged me to push far beyond my comfort zone. My self-confidence in the early days was practically non-existent, and if Christie & Co hadn’t believed in me, I would never have started this career.” 

What advice would you give someone considering a career in surveying?

“Before I started at Christie & Co, I had no idea of any form of surveying beyond building and quantity surveyors. There are so many other forms of surveying across a diverse range of sectors and disciplines that I think there is something for everyone, and it can be a very varied and rewarding career. Life is too short not to have a job where you want to get up in the morning and do it!” 

To find out more about life at Christie & Co, visit our careers page, here.