Ryan Fish

6.15 AM - 8.30 AM  (Wake up, work commute and Gym)

Life as a Stantec graduate can be full-on. On a typical morning, I get up at about 6.15 am and go through the usual wake-up routine. I organise a bag of work clothes, put on my gym gear, and head down to the bus stop at the end of my street. Taking public transport into the city is the easiest way to get to the office and is also cheap. Once in the city, I go to the gym. I usually get there at about 7.15 am, and once I’ve finished my workout I shower and head to the office.

8.30 AM - noon – (Days task review, daily coffee trip, and the standard workday)

Workdays at Stantec usually start at 8.30 am but this is flexible. Getting into the office, I get settled, power up my laptop and check emails. They can be from clients, architects or contractors, internal emails from management, social events organised by our Social Club or Developing Professionals Group (DPG) or just an email from my manager checking in. I’m involved with the Perth DPG which is a great way to get to know people in your office and contribute to work events such as the Grand Challenge which is a Stantec Australia event incorporating all states.

After reviewing my emails, I plan my day. I create a checklist of things I want to achieve for the day. Some tasks are small, and some are larger and require coordination with my Project Engineer. Your project engineer is essentially the engineer responsible for a project that sits within your discipline. They oversee your work, provide guidance, and make decisions on how we deliver our project deliverables. They operate essentially as your boss for that specific project.

Some of the mechanical team often grab a coffee at a nearby coffee shop in the early to mid-morning. This helps us build rapport and to stretch our legs. Building rapport between your colleagues is very important for teamwork and helps us work cohesively.

Working through my checklist, I respond to emails, and requests for information (RFI’s), and carry out project design work. As a mechanical HVAC engineer, design work can include doing heat load calculations, marking up floor plans for ductwork runs, or sizing and selecting fans to carry out a specific function.  I also attend meetings. This could include coordinating with clients and other consultants, productivity presentations or meetings with your local team to plan your week ahead. This takes me through to lunch where some of us would go down to our main breakout area.

12.00 PM – 1.00 PM – (Lunch)

Lunch consists of catching up on your workmate’s weekends, checking your social media, watching recent sports highlights, or even playing a game of pool. Sometimes however I choose to eat at my desk and go for a walk instead to stretch my legs and make the most of Perth’s great weather. Taking time for yourself is important for staying focused during the workday and will leave you feeling happier and more positive in the office.

1.00 PM -4.30 PM – (Design work, site attendance)

After lunch is over, it’s back to work. Sometimes it’s more of the same checklist work I completed before lunch but can involve site visits to places all over the state. These visits usually involve booking a company car and driving to the site to inspect the mechanical equipment installation. These are great because they break up my day. Sometimes sitting at a desk all day can feel mentally draining. Attending construction sites can expose you to a variety of factors such as noise, dust, power tools, or working at heights and as such personal protective equipment (PPE) is always worn.

4.30 PM – 5.30 PM – (Closing out tasks, preparing for the next day and commuting home)

By 4.30 PM, most of the mechanical team is starting to wind down from the workday. I review my checklist, to see if I was able to tick everything I wanted to off, if not, I plan the remaining items to be at the top of my to-do list the following day. Personal organisation and time management are a tough things but getting on top of your tasks and being organised is one of the best ways to be a successful engineer.

Once 5 pm hits, it’s usually time to pack up and head home. Given I have already been to the gym before work, I jump straight on the bus and head home to unwind. Sometimes there are pressing tasks or deliverables and I have to stay late, but if you’re organised with your work this shouldn’t happen very often.

6.00 PM – 10.00 PM – (Dinner, chill, and bed)

After unwinding watching TV, playing computer games or reading its bedtime. Getting a good night’s sleep is important because I’ll be waking up to do the routine all again tomorrow!

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