How did you come to work for Degnan?
I came to Australia as an International Student, did my master’s and was looking for a job for several months after graduation.
I could not find a job because I was an international student with no domestic experience. One day when I was passing by Fairy Meadow Station, I noticed it was under construction. I approached him when I saw someone coming out of the site at 7 pm to lock the gates. He told me he was the Project Manager, so I introduced myself and asked about any opportunities with the company. He said yes, and that’s how I got the job.
What do you do at Degnan? What are your roles and responsibilities?
My roles and responsibilities are broad since I’m still beginning my career. I’m getting experience in most construction sectors, including financial with tendering and tender analysis. As a site engineer, I’m responsible for supervising, checking progress, and engineering aspects, such as ensuring the works completed are faithful to drawings. I’m also required to be aware of environmental factors and safety factors.
What did you study at university?
I came to Australia as an international student. Before that, I did a Bachelor of Civil Engineering for four years in India. Then, I came to Australia to do my Master of Civil Engineering for two years.
What is the best part of your job? I always tell people that the best part is the satisfaction you get after completing a job when you see that the structure you’ve built is going last in the world for probably 100 years.
You feel pride when you show the people in your life and say, “Hey, that’s what I built!”
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received from a colleague?
I recently received this advice from my Project Manager;
“Always listen to understand, not to answer.”
Did you have any prior work experience before coming to Degnan?
I had a brief experience in India as a trainee site Engineer for three months, but nothing in Australia.
What was your job interview like?
The Construction Director and Managing Director interviewed me. They approached me casually and stuck to all the items in my resume. They asked questions based on the projects and experiences I had presented, and they made sure that the timeline added up.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I believe I could be a Project Engineer and hopefully a Senior Project Engineer after that, but anything could happen.
How have your expectations of work changed since starting at Degnan?
I had three months of experience in India, and since construction is a male-dominated industry, it was very difficult for me then. When I started, I was expecting the same thing in Australia. I was shy and scared about being the only girl on-site, but I’ve never had any issues at Degnan.
What would you say to a recent graduate seeking an employment opportunity?
Be open to all opportunities; a minor position is valuable. Always be on the lookout for connections. You never know who you will meet at the bus stop or in a shopping mall. Be proactive and seek it because you’ll find it.