What's your job about?
Johnstaff is an employee-owned professional management services business operating across Australia and New Zealand in 4 key areas of project management, construction, cost management and advisory. As a graduate my role is to gain experience and assist my colleagues particularly in project management and construction services.
Working on site I’m coordinating tasks with trades, meeting with the client to discuss program & design, auditing safety measures and always thinking about the next step to keep the project moving. As a project manager you’re working to represent the client and control all documentation throughout the entire project lifecycle from design to completion. No matter what side you’re working on you’re always working in the client’s best interest to meet, if not exceed, targets.
What's your background?
I grew up on the South Coast of NSW and attended high school in Wollongong before moving to Sydney for university. I worked as a beach lifeguard during my studies and spent most of those earnings travelling overseas in my uni breaks. In my final year of uni I applied and was successful in securing a graduate role with Johnstaff NSW. I ended up starting early, working for them part time before finishing uni and the first project I worked on was back down the coast. I loved that I got to go back home and see my dogs!
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Absolutely! So many people I have worked with have come from different backgrounds. You just need to be organised, confident and most of all a people person. Johnstaff will encourage and support you to push beyond your expectations and achieve things you thought would take years to do no matter where you start from.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
I love how important and interesting the projects I work on are. Particularly working on health & pharmaceutical jobs, the detail required in construction is fascinating and all worth it to provide a vital facility. The feeling you get when you complete a project is amazing, not only because your hard work paid off, but you’ve given society something they really need.
What are the limitations of your job?
In this industry workloads can come and go in waves. One week you can be crazy busy doing long hours and yes sometimes work weekends but the next week you’re ready to go home by lunch time. The key thing is to take advantage of the slower days so you’re ready for those busy ones.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...