What's your job about?
I am employed in BMD’s Urban division, which is responsible largely for the delivery of projects that develop on the urban landscape, such as road upgrades, subdivisions, and earthworks. I am responsible for working with the project team to ensure it is delivered within the budget, and program and that the client left satisfied with our work. I have largely been working on subdivisions, with some time also spent helping on tenders. This sees me responsible for the following activities:
Day-to-day, one or many of these above activities can be required which means some days will be spent wholly in the site office and some have seen me hammering in timber stakes for an afternoon or helping backfill stormwater trenches. Put simply, my job is about trying to make the lives of the Foreman and site team less complicated, so the focus can be put back on quality work and forward planning.
What's your background?
I was born in Adelaide but grew up in Darwin from the age of two and have family in Alice Springs and Melbourne. I was educated in Darwin, which includes my tertiary studies at Charles Darwin University where I did a Bachelor of Engineering Science/Master of Engineering with a specialisation in civil and structural.
The early time at university was important in shaping my understanding of the difference between secondary and tertiary education and was also where I landed my undergraduate position with BMD in 2018.
Despite only being in my second year in university, I was able to gain invaluable site exposure and industry knowledge that helped me throughout my studies as I continued to be employed there in my further three years at university.
Upon graduation, I requested a transfer to Brisbane as a Graduate Engineer with BMD so I could reconnect with my long-distance girlfriend who had moved to study at UQ. Since then, I have been developing my skills further as a Graduate in a new state alongside the knowledge of my new home.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
I believe background matters very little when compared to skills. It is not your background that is presented to stakeholders but the quality of the work you do and how you present yourself. If someone has a passion/drive for the work, being easily teachable is likely the greatest skill, as little to no work is done in isolation. You can always learn a new topic from those you work with, but you want to be able to retain that skill once you have it.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The coolest part about my job is seeing into all the hidden infrastructure that brings life’s comforts. It wasn’t until my undergraduate experience that I truly understood all the infrastructure required nowadays and the effort to install these services.
When I drive into a subdivision, I helped create or on a motorway on my way to work. I understand the effort involved in creating and maintaining these incredibly important assets, which goes unnoticed by many people it helps.
What are the limitations of your job?
While I do not have to work weekends, the hours worked during the week can be long in comparison to other industries - especially if the site is located far from home. I would consider this to be the biggest limitation. However, this is not unique to only the construction industry and allowances can be made for different situations.
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