Against this background, it is imperative to attract and retain qualifi ed and competent professionals who can make informed decisions that will help not only their organisations but also the public at large. However, just like the IT, ITeS and Biotechnology sectors, the Indian real estate and construction sectors which are set to witness massive investments in the next few years, are facing an acute shortage of a skilled workforce.

Even though the real estate is one of the most visible industries across the globe, in India it is still regarded as a less viable career choice as compared to the more traditional careers such as doctors, teachers, lawyers, accountants etc. To a large extent, this can be attributed to the lack of familiarity with various aspects of real estate and construction sectors and also to the overall unprofessional image that the sector has projected thus far.

There are numerous avenues available along the entire gamut of land, real estate, construction and related fi elds. However, awareness levels about the kind of opportunities available are much lower in India compared to developed countries. There is much more to real estate than just brokerage services contrary to popular belief.

Several choices are available for individuals to pursue a career in real estate across the property lifecycle (PLC). PLC starts with land surveying, where professionals can have a wide range of experience in fi elds such as geomatics, environment and rural land surveying. Town and country planning requires a comprehensive approach to situational assessment, an area where there is a tremendous potential. Over 7,000 vacancies exist in Government departments alone.