What's your job about?
I am a Graduate Civil Engineer in the Stantec Brisbane office. Stantec as a company provides Engineering services internationally and has a strong presence in Australia and New Zealand. I am part of the Engineering Solutions team that delivers civil works in the Australian water sector. Stantec’s global influence has meant that I have been lucky enough to work on some incredible jobs within my first 18months of my Career. Truly leverage on global expertise to deliver local projects.
I would say a typical month involves any or all of; site work, detailed design, programming, management, approvals or optioneering assessments. As a graduate, I am primarily responsible for project work and supporting senior engineers. I get to apply my technical, communication and problem-solving skills from University to a new challenge each week while learning from experienced role models.
What's your background?
I grew up on the Sunshine Coast and studied at the University of the Sunshine Coast. I enjoy Surfing and Snowboarding whenever I can. I applied for an internship at Stantec in my 4th year of study, the arrangement was initially to do 3 days a week to complete my remaining hours (3 months) needed to graduate as a requirement of my Engineering degrees work experience component. I was loving every minute so quickly found myself working 5 days a week for over 6months.
From the first interview, I could tell that Stantec had a huge emphasis on culture not just academic results on a transcript. After completing my degree requirements I continued with working at Stantec and was offered a fulltime graduate role shortly after in September 2017.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Most certainly, a diverse background is what makes engineering consulting so enjoyable. Every person you interact with internally and externally all bring something new to the table. I recommend that they keep an open mind and accept every challenge as it comes. There is plenty of support available and more than one team to work in. I also think that communication is huge in Engineering. You will develop your skills on the job if you bring the right attitude, as part of the ANZ training program to develop Stantec flew all year 1 graduate over to New Zealand for a 2-day training course.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
Probably wearing high visibility PPE gear and the respect that you are given when working on-site or externally. Clients and labourers look to you for advice and trust/value everything you say. One of the most rewarding aspects of engineering for me is seeing the progression of an idea, beginning with a need or want and walking the client through that journey to ending at a 12m deep concrete structure. I was involved in a pump station design for a new housing sub develop and standing at the base looking up at my team’s designs was a moment that reminded me I am in the right industry.
What are the limitations of your job?
My early career hasn’t been too stressful yet, but I certainly can see how some people do get overwhelmed. I think having a good work life balance is important and that you need to know your limitations. At the end of the day the Consulting business is about efficiency and that relates back to a time and money focused profession which isn’t for everyone. Stantec offer a huge amount of support which is awesome. It is especially evident in our monthly wellbeing initiatives, we had a free weekly yoga class held in the staffroom for the month July that had a huge turnout.
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