Conor O’Hanlon, Commercial Graduate
Conor graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with an Honours Degree in Quantity Surveying. He joined Barratt in 2010 taking a position in the Yorkshire West division based in Leeds.
"With a family background in building and having spent many summers labouring on building sites, it was always my intention to have a career within the Construction Industry.
I spent my sandwich year on placement working as an Assistant Quantity Surveyor for a multi-disciplinary practice based in Belfast. This year allowed me to build on the skills I had gained from my degree course as well as gaining practical industry experience. It also confirmed that I want to pursue a career in the Construction Industry.
I had already heard of Barratt Developments through my degree course before applying to the Graduate Programme and was impressed by the size of the business and their recognition as the market leader within the industry.
Having researched a number of graduate programmes related to the Construction Industry, as well as the company itself, it was obvious that the one run by Barratt provided the best opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the house building sector and the industry as a whole. From the start of the recruitment process it was evident that there was a high emphasis put on selecting the right candidates. In return there is the commitment to develop graduates to their full potential.
Since joining, I have undertaken 8-week rotations in each department within the company, allowing me to gain an understanding of how each department works and how they interact with other. The rotation aspect also allowed me to experience various roles from Company Accountant to Sales Adviser, Site Manager to Land Buyer. The rotations were a hugely enjoyable aspect of the first year and have provided me with the business knowledge I need as I specialise in Commercial.
The programme has also given me the opportunity to take responsibility for my own work, from being a Team Leader on a project working with a National Charity to running my own sites within my commercial role. The Graduate Programme really pushes you to achieve you potential and stand-out from the crowd. The opportunity to learn from the Divisional Directors as well as the Managing Director, who is my mentor, is one of the most important parts of the programme and being able to use their experiences and knowledge to gain a better understanding of the industry is invaluable".