Age 25
Where are you based at the moment (who do you work for)?
Port Elizabeth. SARS Corporate Real Estate division as a Graduate Trainee rotating in Project Management, Contracts Management as well as Facilities Management
In what year did you complete your honours degree?
2016
What path did you follow before ending up with your current company?
Before I joined the SARS Grad Programme, I was a research assistant for a short period in 2016/17. During my varsity days, I was in and out of vac jobs on various construction sites.
What is your current position and what does the role entail?
I am in my second year of the Grad Programme as a Trainee Manager. My main role is in Facilities Management; however the organisation has set up the programme such that we experience the different aspects of the built environment; hence in the first year the programme was rotational. The interesting thing in Facilities Management is that you apply everything you’ve learned throughout varsity, I basically encounter KES/KBS/KMM at the same time on a typical day and so in order to solve whatever problem (yes, all I do is to solve problems) I’ve got to apply KBP and all the QS modules as well as KBM. Most times I wish I paid more attention during the lectures!
What advice would you give a current construction management student?
I have become a master at space planning and quantity surveying and I have drafted a maintenance strategy! So I’d say, varsity is only the beginning. Don’t take a single module for granted, it all comes together when you’re in the work environment. Also, keep an open mind because you’re not limited to the construction industry- you’re part of the wider built environment. And finally, get as much work experience as possible, for the sake of perspective during your studies and competitive edge during the employment search.
What was your favourite module?
It should have been KES!
Who was your favourite lecturer?
John and Chris
What are your plans for the next 5 to 10 years?
Extend my (personal) organisation’s operations beyond Port Elizabeth.