A three bedroom flat for just Rs 12 lakh,’ ‘The biggest mall in the city is coming soon,’ ‘Home loans at just 9 per cent’. Whether you are in Calcutta, Siliguri, Delhi or Mysore, you have all seen advertisements like these. And truly, the Indian real estate industry has never looked hotter.

According to Niranjan Hiranandani, managing director, Hiranandani Developers, Mumbai, the construction sector is the second largest employment generator after agriculture (according to one estimate, 25 per cent of India’s population work in the construction and real estate sector).

It is estimated that 250 malls will be set up in India by 2010 and millions of square feet are going to be used for constructing buildings and commercial complexes. Architect and urban designer Partha Ranjan Das feels that the employment opportunities have risen because construction is no longer confined to cities alone. “Small towns are also witnessing the real estate action, which translates into demand for the right kind of people. Real estate companies like DLF, Hiranandani and Merlin have increased their recruitment by over 20 per cent in recent times,” says Das.

If you want to make a career in real estate, you could choose from a range of jobs. The following are some of the prominent options.

Architect

We all admire the Taj Mahal, the Rabindra Setu or even the Empire State Building in New York. These structures are the product of great designs. And the design lies in the mind of an architect. Like the writer who has a basic plot of the story before it unfolds into a novel, an architect creates the blueprint for every building. Says Das, “Architects take a brief from their clients and design the structure with minute details like AC, electric wiring, sewage, windows, staircase and columns.” But the path to architecture is not easy.

You need to study physics, chemistry and maths at the higher secondary level and follow this up with a bachelors degree in architecture, which is a five-year course. Some of the engineering colleges also have architecture departments. Admission to these courses is usually through an entrance test. After graduation, architects seek employment with established architects to gain experience. Das adds that apart from designing, architects also have to interact with development authorities and supervise construction on sites.

Today, freshers are paid as much as Rs 25,000 a month. The growth in this profession is akin to medical practice, says Das. “The more structures you design, the more experienced you will be, and that will lead to higher monetary returns,” he adds.

Civil engineers

Once the design for a building is ready, civil engineers are employed for the execution of the construction project. Civil engineers can either work on site or as consultants. While site engineers take responsibility for the actual construction, consultants prepare the feasibility report and estimate the material and manpower required.

Site engineers are also responsible for the progress of the project and the accurate interpretation of the architect’s design.

A degree in engineering is a must. These days a lot of graduate engineers go on to specialise in construction management. This enables them to work closely with regulatory and local government bodies. According to Hiraq Roy, chief engineer at Merlin Projects, students with an aptitude for outdoor work, and those who love mathematical and scientific problems can aspire to be a civil engineer.

Interior designers

Once upon a time, people just wanted a house. Today they also look at the kind of flooring used, the landscaped gardens, modular kitchens and so on. This has ensured that architects and real estate developers closely work with interior designers to make their buildings one of the most prominent addresses in town. Agrees Subroto Mitra, an interior designer, “With space becoming a problem in most areas, interior designers are hired to utilise the space effectively.”

Very few colleges in the country offer specialised courses in interior designing. To become an interior designer you can take up any stream of study at the 10+2 level and then get a diploma in interior design. The Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), Ahmedabad, offers postgraduate programmes in urban design, landscape architecture, urban and regional planning, environmental planning, housing, construction and project management. Entry to these courses is through entrance exams conducted by these institutes.

Business development

According to executives at Delhi-based real estate company DLF, a specialised and much sought after job in the real estate sector today is that of business development. “We need teams that go around the country to find good land deals for developing various projects,” says a DLF spokesperson. Management students with an engineering or a commerce background are preferred.

Real estate consultancy

Jitendra Khaitan, chief executive officer of Pioneer Properties, a real estate consultancy firm based in Calcutta, feels that real estate consultancy has acquired a lot of respectability today. It has graduated from being a single-man outfit to become organised companies. Says Manas Das of Sadani International, a real estate consultancy firm in Calcutta. “A real estate consultant has to understand what kind of property is right for what kind of clients.” Any graduate will do for this profession, but real estate consultants prefer to recruit only experienced personnel.

With so many job options, real estate developers are upbeat about the employment prospects in this industry. As Hiranandani says, “A man will always need roti, kapda aur makaan. As long as there are people who want housing, or businessmen who want commercial complexes, this sector will always do well.”