5 things every property & construction candidate should know before job hunting this summer

Summer has a habit of feeling like a "quiet" time to look for a new role. Budgets are set, teams are stretched thin covering holidays, and hiring managers seem harder to pin down. But across property and construction, summer is actually one of the smartest windows to make a move - if you go into it with the right expectations.

Here's what candidates need to know, drawing on insight from our 2026 Real Estate Salary Guide & Trends Report.

1. Pay isn't standing still, but it isn't the whole story either

Our latest workforce data shows that 44% of professionals haven't had a pay rise in more than a year, which is fuelling a lot of the quiet job-searching happening right now. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone, and it's a legitimate reason to start exploring the market. But before you fixate purely on base salary, know that 84% of candidates said they'd trade some salary for the right benefits package. Flexibility, culture and progression are increasingly deciding factors in real estate and construction recruitment, not just the number on the offer letter.

2. Know which skills are commanding a premium

The skills employers pay up for are shifting fast. Broader labour-market research suggests roughly a quarter of job skills have already changed since 2016, with far more change projected by the end of the decade - and it's a trend our teams see playing out across real estate, property and construction too. Right now, the standout earners are candidates who combine core sector expertise with creativity, digital and IT fluency, research capability, and strong communication and negotiation skills. If your CV doesn't currently reflect these, summer is a good time to build them in - even a short course or a live project can shift how you're positioned.

3. Summer hiring moves faster than you think

Yes, some decision-makers are on annual leave. But that also means less competition for candidates who stay visible. Property and construction businesses that are hiring in July and August are usually doing so because there's a genuine gap to fill - meaning processes can move quickly for the right person. Don't assume the market has gone quiet; assume it's gone selective.

4. Culture and flexibility are now genuine negotiating points

With the vast majority of candidates willing to flex on salary for the right package, it's worth walking into interviews with a clear sense of what actually matters to you - hybrid working, progression timelines, leadership style, wellbeing support. Naming these early signals maturity to a hiring manager, and it means you're less likely to accept an offer you later regret.

5. Benchmark yourself before you negotiate

Whether you're in residential, commercial, construction, asset management or a corporate support function, understanding where your current package sits against the market is the single best piece of preparation you can do before any conversation about a move. Our full Real Estate Salary Guide & Trends Report 2026 breaks down benchmarks by role, level and sector, alongside the sentiment data behind these trends.

If you're weighing up a move this summer, we'd love to help you make sense of where you stand - get in touch with the deverellsmith team by the form below.

Georgia Zambakides Executive Director, deverellsmith