construction 2010 - graduate jobs, recruitment and … · construction 2010 graduate jobs in...

GRADUATE JOBS IN CONSTRUCTION

Construction 2010graduate jobs in architecture • building services • construction

engineering • construction management • quantity surveying

opportunities in Ireland, north and south • useful contacts • graduate profiles • what employers want

sponsored by

1,000s of vacancies100s of employers

register now

placeto findyour job

gradireland.com/construction Construction 2010 | 1

Welcomegradireland Construction 2010

gradireland Construction is published by Graduate CareersIreland and GTI Media Ltd (Ireland).

Project managed by Graduate Careers Ireland CareersInformation Committee: Paul Murphy, Dún LaoghaireInstitute of Art, Design and Technology (chair); KendraCassidy, NUI Galway (secretary); Colette Aungier, TrinityCollege Dublin; Cora Cregan, St Patrick’s College,Drumcondra; Angela Hamilton, University of Ulster;Catherine Lyster, Letterkenny Institute of Technology;Eanan Strain, NUI Maynooth.

Editor SusannahWoolmerSeries editor Penny KileyDesign & production Thomas GrayPublishers Chris Phillips, AdrianWood

GTI Ireland, 14–16 Lord Edward Street, Dublin 2, IrelandTel +353 (0)1 645 1500 Fax +353 (0)1 645 1510E-mail [email protected] Webwww.groupgti.com

© November 2009 Graduate Careers Ireland and GTIMedia Ltd (Ireland). All rights reserved. No part of thispublication may be reproduced by any means including,but not limited to, photocopying or stored in a retrievalsystem in any form without prior written consent ofGraduate Careers Ireland. This is subject to the singleexception of photocopying by Graduate Careers Irelandmember institutions. All items so used should be fullyacknowledged. The views expressed in articles are those ofthe author and their publication does not necessarilyimply that such views are shared by Graduate CareersIreland and GTI. Whilst every care has been taken in thecompilation of this publication, the author and publisherscannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, or forconsequential loss arising from suchinaccuracies, or for any other loss,direct or consequential, arising inconnection with information in thispublication.

Writers: Carol Kelehan, Carmel McDonald and HelenWright, Careers Advisers, DIT

Revised by Carol Kelehan, Carmel McDonald and Susan Kelly, Careers Advisers, DIT

Your career in constructionIntroducing your career inconstruction ..........................................2

Getting a job ..........................................4

Work experience ..................................6

Areas of workTypes of employer ................................7

Construction economics/quantity surveying ..............................8

Construction management ............8

Civil engineering................................10

Architecture ........................................11

Building services ................................12

People at workMy career in construction..............13

Professional developmentProfessional training andqualifications ......................................15

Contents

Titles in this series

Art & Design • Arts, Humanities &Social Sciences • Computing & IT •Construction • Do Ghairm leGaeilge/Your career with Irish •Engineering • Finance • Hospitality& Tourism • Journalism &Media •Law • Languages • Property •Psychology • Sales & Retail •Science • Social Work • Teaching &Education • Work Experience &Internships

Text 100% recycledCover mixed sources

2 | Construction 2010 gradireland.com/construction

Your career in construction

Introducing yourcareer inconstruction

Construction activity involves civil engineering andbuilding work for public and private clients. Themainsectors include residential, commercial and industrialcontracting; public sector and civil engineering projects;and specialist, mechanical and electrical contracting.

The construction sector offers a variety of careeropportunities for graduates with professional, managerialand administrative skills. Graduates with skills inconstruction economics and quantity surveying,engineering, project management, informationtechnology, propertymanagement and development,computer aided design, legal and financial services areparticularly valued. So whether you qualify as an engineer,quantity surveyor, land surveyor, constructionmanager,developer, architect or planner, you’ll be working in amajor sector of the economy involved in developing andimproving the built environment.

As a career choice, the construction sector offers greatjob satisfaction, good salary levels and high qualitytraining. There are opportunities to work at home andabroad, and the varied working environment combinesworking outdoors alongwith office basedwork, workingwith your hands andwith leading edge technologies.

Why construction?



Although the construction industry in Ireland has beenbadly affected by the downturn, the long-term careerprospects for graduates remain excellent. The residentialand commercial sectors may currently be experiencing aslowdown, but ongoing projects continue and there issustained growth in other areas, includingenvironmental engineering and off-site pre-engineeredbuilding. The National Development Plan infrastructureinitiatives and the National Spatial Strategy will be keyfactors in economic recovery. In Northern Ireland, theStrategic Investment Board is expected to play a similarrole. Many cross-border projects are undertaken,facilitated by InterTradeIreland, the trade and businessdevelopment body. Sustainable construction and energyefficient buildings are high priorities, creating newopportunities for businesses and graduates. Areas suchas waste management, wind farms and energygeneration, and the increase in off-site construction,such as timber-frame housing, are all driving thedemand for skilled employees. Graduates who gainprofessional qualifications, for example, chartered statusand who train for highly specialised or managerialpositions have many opportunities for careerdevelopment and progression.

Construction in Ireland andNorthern Ireland

The labourmarket for construction skills goes way beyondIreland to Great Britain and the wider world. Despitecontraction of the industry opportunities remain,particularly for those with specialist and professionaltraining. Skills are highly transferable and experience oflarge building and infrastructure projects are extremelymarketable to employers overseas. In the run up to the2012 Olympic Games, Londonwill offer desirable careeropportunities, while further afield there are significantopportunities in sector areas such as tunnelling, geo-technical, highway construction andmarine.

An international career

The construction industry is dynamic, influenced bychanges in the economy, in legislation, in technology andnewmethodologies and environmental changes.Employers recruit graduates with skills that canencompass these changes. So while technical expertise isimportant, other attributes, such as keeping abreast ofchange in the industry, are also very important. It alsohelps to have good business sense and initiative, alongwith problem solving, organisational and planning skills,flexibility and the ability to get onwith a wide range ofpeople.Within the sector, there is great variety, intellectualstimulation, and the satisfaction of contributing to thesafety and sustainability of the built environment.

Would it suit me?



The graduate recruitment processnormally commences in the firstsemester and the larger

construction companies contactcolleges before Christmas, with a viewto recruiting when students graduatein the summer. These companies eithergive single presentations to groups of

students in college or attend careersfairs nationally and in colleges.Frequently at these recruitment events,work experience opportunities areavailable for students at all levels. So,regardless of what year you’re in, it’simportant to have an up-to-date CVprepared. Keep in touch with your

careers service and with lecturers andtutors about upcoming events andvacancies in construction companies.While most construction companiescontact colleges to recruit graduates,they also use newspaper advertising,word of mouth, industry-specificrecruitment agencies and websites, as

Getting a jobFor advice on finding the right job in construction, read on.



well as advertising on their ownwebsites.

Many companies, particularlysmaller firms, welcome the initiativetaken by those who send in speculativeapplications. While the particularcompany may not have an immediatevacancy, they generally contactcandidates for an informal interviewshould anything suitable arise in thefuture.

Look at the opportunitiesThe best way to get the job you want isto check out what’s happening in theindustry and then target thecompanies you are interested in: seethe suggestions for advertised andunadvertised vacancies in the ‘Workexperience’ section on page 6. Somepublications concerning the Irishconstruction industry include:• Construction – the official magazine

of the Construction IndustryFederation (www.cif.ie)

• Irish Construction Industry Magazine– daily news and information(www.irishconstruction.com)

• Construct Ireland – covers a widerange of areas, such as waste,construction and renewable energy(www.constructireland.ie)

• PLANmagazine – a monthlymagazine which includes coverageof the business and financialstructure of the industry(www.planmagazine.ie).

Many professional bodies alsohave jobs and news sections on theirwebsites. Other useful referencepoints are:• gradireland.com/construction –

construction-related graduate jobs,applications advice and news.

• www.cisireland.com – the CIS(Construction Information Services)Report gives advance marketresearch information to contractors

and suppliers in both the Republicand Northern Ireland.

• www.euroconstruct.org – networkfor construction, finance andbusiness forecasting in Europe.

• www.kompass.ie – a comprehensivedirectory of Irish and worldwidecompanies.

• www.goldenpages.ie – Ireland’sclassified directory.

• www.nrf.ie – Ireland’s nationalrecruitment federation, where youcan search for agencies that dealwith the construction industry.

Your CVOnce you’ve done your marketresearch, it’s time to work on your CV.Employers in the industry say that CVsshould be easy to read, accurate andgrammatically correct. The ability towork well with others is important, soensure that you make reference toexamples of teamwork. Other key skillsinclude problem solving, negotiatingand communicating effectively. Inmany of the larger constructioncompanies, graduates work ondifferent projects, so flexibility isimportant. One way to demonstratethis in your CV is by including a varietyof extra-curricular activities.

Your covering letter should showyour motivation for working in thatparticular company, so it helps if youare able to make reference to relevant

recent projects that you have readabout or newspaper articles you haveseen about the company.

InterviewsWhen you are called for interview, youwill need to think about why you choseyour particular course, what you knowabout the company and the job andwhat you have learned from anyrelevant work experience.

As graduate positions in theconstruction industry are likely to havesome technical elements, be preparedfor questions on the content of yourcourse. If you’ve completed adissertation or final-year project thiscould be where the technical questionsarise.

Commercial awareness issomething many recruiters expectgraduates to demonstrate. Mostemployers say that while your degreeclassification is as important, yourinterpersonal skills, enthusiasm andcommitment to doing well for thecompany are also very important.

• gradireland.com

• targetjobs.co.uk

• www.kompass.ie

• www.goldenpages.ie

• www.nrf.ie

• www.build.ie Directory ofconstruction-related companiesin Ireland and the UK.

Potential employers

• postgradireland.com/

engineering Information aboutcourses in engineering,manufacturing and construction.

Postgraduate study

“‘The best way to get the

job you want is to check out

what’s happening in the

industry and then target the

companies you are

interested in.’



One of the main aims of yourtime in college should be toacquire the attributes and

skills that are required by employers.This means having technical skills aswell as ‘soft skills’ such as leadershipand initiative. If you can demonstratethat you have already achieved acertain level of competence, you will befar more likely to get the job you want.Employers value work experience as asign of your ability, interest,commitment and enthusiasm.

Any form of work, paid or voluntary,can be described as work experience.However, industry-related workexperience undertaken by studentswith the purpose of gaining specificskills can be invaluable. A summerplacement will give you a head start inthe hunt for a job and help you put thetheory from your course into practice.The main thing is that you canarticulate your achievements andprovide evidence of what you havedone and how it relates to the job youare interested in.

Types of work experience includeplacements (sometimes part of yourcourse), internships (which may lead toa job), and part-time and voluntarywork. They can all help you to developgeneral business and transferableskills.

How to get work experienceThe majority of vacancies may not beadvertised. The most effective way is toapproach the company or organisationdirectly, early in the year. You need tocall in personally or send in your CV

and covering letter. Either way, makesure your CV is up to scratch, whetheryou want to work at home or overseas.

Advertised vacancies

Check:• your careers service and other

college websites, jobs newsletterand noticeboards

• college noticeboards• students’ union• university and local libraries• national and local newspapers• recruitment agencies• gradireland.com and gradireland

Work Experience & Internships.

Unadvertised vacancies

Working in a small country, it’srelatively easy to find out who themovers and shakers are in the industry.Many jobs are never advertised so it isup to you to find them. Here’s how:• Talk to people in the industry.• Talk to your tutors.• Use your contacts – talk to your

friends, relatives and neighbourswhomay have useful advice andcontacts.

• Send out speculative applications.• Use the Kompass directory

(www.kompass.ie) to identifycompanies in your field of interest.

Work experienceExperience in the industry can help you to get a job.


Areas of work

The construction industry covers awhole range of building projects,from housing to offices to

schools, but the basic process remainsthe same. A clientwants somethingbuilt and usually employs a consultantto deal with design, planning and costmatters. Contractorswill then bid forthe proposed project and complete itsconstruction, sometimes hiringsubcontractors or specialistcontractors, such as plumbers andelectricians, for their specialist skills.Typical consultants include architects,engineers and quantity surveyors. Theyusually divide their time between thesite and their main office, whilecontractors are usually based in on-siteoffices. Increasingly, some contractorsoffer an all-in-one ‘design and build’service.

Typical employersTypical employers include:• Quantity surveying firms. Involved

primarily with construction

economics and constructiontendering, costing and budgetarycontrol.

• Property developers/constructioncompanies and contractors.Involved with project managementof large construction projectsincluding the management ofmanpower and materials, withintime, cost and safety constraints.

• Consultancy firms. Involvedprimarily with the planning anddesign of projects, together withsome supervision of the workcarried out. They provide expertisein certain types of projects, such asconservation, transportation orother specialist areas.

• Local authorities. Responsible forthe construction of roads,waterworks and drainage and maybe involved in both the design andconstruction of these projects.Increasingly they contract out thiswork.

• Government and semi-state sector.Carry out national developmentplans, sometimes with publicprivate partnerhips (PPPs). Theseinclude schools, hospitals,education, health, public buildingsand major infrastructure. They alsoconduct research on environmental,water and air quality management.

• Utility companies. These includeelectric power supply anddistribution, gas, communicationsand public transport companiesrequiring engineering andconstruction managementexpertise.

Types of employerThere are many different types of employer to choose from in the construction

industry so explore the options available to you.

Construction economics/quantity surveying ........................8

Construction management ..........8

Civil engineering ........................10

Architecture ................................11

Building services..........................12

in this section


Areas of work

Construction economics/quantity surveying

Constructionmanagement

Graduates of quantity surveying, constructioneconomics and building surveying degree courseswork as economic advisers and managers in

quantity surveying companies, in consultancy and in theoffices of building contractors. Graduates may also pursuecareers as project managers and property and buildingmanagers. Business careers, especially legal and financial,are also suitable. Likely projects in Ireland and NorthernIreland include the development and construction ofmajor projects, such as residential and retail development,office buildings, schools, hospitals, bridges, roads andsewerage.

Quantity surveyors and construction economists,sometimes known as construction cost consultants, workfor either the client or contractor and can be based in anoffice or on site. Their role is to manage all costs relatingto construction projects from initial design calculations tothe final account, seeking to minimise costs and enhancevalue for money, while achieving the required standardsand quality. They:• prepare cost plans to enable design teams to produce

practical designs for construction projects, whichinvolves liaising with architects, engineers andsubcontractors.

• evaluate tenders from contractors and subcontractorsand, where appropriate, negotiate with the contractors.

• control and monitor all stages of projects withinpredetermined budget and expenditure.

• monitor and keep track of project progress and areresponsible for the measurement and valuation ofvariations in the work during the contract, foragreement of interim payments and the final account.Upon completion of accredited diploma and degree

courses, graduates are eligible to commence the processleading to qualification as a chartered surveyor and fullmembership of both the Society of Chartered Surveyors(SCS) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors(RICS). See the career section of the SCS website(www.scs.ie) and the RICS website (www.rics.org) foraccredited courses and for information regarding theAssessment of Professional Competence (APC).

Construction management graduates are involved inall stages of building projects, from concept andfinance to maintenance and decommissioning. Some

job roles include:

Construction manager/site manager

This is the person in charge of a building contract and assuch they must be aware of, and in control of, all aspects ofsite operations. They have responsibility both for theprofitability of operations and for adhering to theconstruction and cost plans once agreed. Constructionmanagers or site managers supervise and direct operationson a construction project to ensure it is completed safely,on time and within budget. On smaller sites, managersmay carry sole responsibility for the whole project; onlarger sites, they may be in charge of a particular section,reporting to the senior site manager. Senior constructionmanagers may oversee several construction projects at thesame time.

Construction managers work closely with otherprofessionals including architects, engineers, techniciansand surveyors, and also act as a point of contact for thepublic. They have frequent meetings with subcontractorsand daily contact with the site workforce.

Contracts manager

This is a similar role to that of site manager, ensuring that allworks are completed to the required standards andsupported by the relevant documentation. They need toensure that strict quality control and health and safetymeasures are adhered to, as well as operational andmaintenance procedures. They also have to check thatlicences are up to date and correct.

Construction estimator

This is similar to the work of a quantity surveyor andinvolves preparing tenders based on architects’ drawingsand client requirements. While this is predominantly anoffice-based position, it is not necessarily a nine-to-five job.The role includes analysis of subcontractors’ quotationsand working with the planning engineer to predict thelikely progress rate and completion date of the project.


Areas of work

A third-level qualification in a building-related subject willimprove your employment chances.

Building project manager

Their responsibility is to see that the clients’ wishes areadhered to and that the project is completed on time andwithin the agreed budget. A building project manager isoften involved from the initial concept and design of aproject through to its construction and completion. Theykeep track of progress, building control regulations andquality standards and resolve any technical difficulties thatarise. They are likely to work on more than one project at atime.

Building surveyor

They offer a specialist service on all matters relating toconstruction, including the restoration of old buildingsand the construction of new ones. Among the servicesoffered are building surveys of residential, industrial andcommercial property for intending purchasers. They needto interpret building regulations and use professionalskill and judgement to offer advice on acceptable

solutions to meet statutory requirements. Buildingsurveyors also deal with fire precautions and insuranceclaims. It’s a route open to any graduate.

Other related jobs

Facilities manager: This involves managing retail centresand offices blocks to meet the needs of the organisation,the management and the occupants. Property and estatemanagement companies may have facilities managementsections that manage these facilities on behalf of clients.Large organisations and corporations may have facilitiesmanagement departments of their own. The facilitiesmanager may employ specialist building servicespersonnel such as building services engineers and tradeseither as employees or as subcontractors.

Technical sales adviser: Their work involves thepreparation of estimates and tenders; preparation ofdrawings and specifications for technical elements;management; quality assurance; and technical sales.

There can also be opportunities for self-employment, interms of project management, building estimation etc.


Areas of work

Civil engineering

Civil engineers design and supervise the construction ofa wide range of projects including buildings, roads,railways, tunnels, bridges, power stations, dams, water

supply and sewerage systems.Civil engineers work for a variety of companies including

firms of consulting engineers, engineering contractors,construction companies and local authorities. They are alsoemployed by property developers, transport infrastructurecompanies and government departments.

Generally speaking, the work of civil and structuralengineers will combine site and design work. However,consulting engineers tend to focus more on design whilstcontracting engineers will spend more time on site work,which involves supervising the setting out and levelling ofthe site, surveying and site management. Civil engineerswork on projects that involve multi-disciplinary teamsincluding architects, quantity surveyors and building servicesengineers.

Consulting engineers are responsible for working withclients to design, plan, manage and supervise theconstruction of projects. Their work involves carrying out siteinvestigations and feasibility studies; developing detaileddesigns; liaising with other professionals such as architects,building services engineers and quantity surveyors; andensuring the smooth running of projects and completionwithin budget and on time.

Contracting civil engineers turn the plans of designersinto reality. They liaise with the design team and oversee theactual construction on site. Their work involves organisingmanpower and materials, observing safety standards,negotiating modifications with the designers, schedulingwork, and supervising construction, including the work ofsubcontractors. They use specialist equipment to survey sitesto ensure that the construction work is being carried out inthe right place and that the structure is safe; for example,that steel reinforcement is correctly in place.

Civil engineering offers graduates a high-tech career withthe chance to travel and work outdoors. Due to currentdemand in this field, graduate starting salaries are oftenabove average.

The qualifications and skills you needThis career area is open to any engineering graduate, althougha civil or structural background is advantageous. Youwill needto demonstrate strong technical competence and a creative

approach to problem solving. Numeracy is essential forkeeping financial records andmanaging budgets. Civilengineers also need excellent communication skills in order toliaise with other designers, contractors and subcontractors,other professionals andmembers of the public whomay haveobjections to building work taking place. Report-writing skills,teamworking, strong organisational skills and the ability tomanage resources and people are also required.

Further informationGraduates considering a career in civil engineering shouldkeep abreast of developments via Engineers Ireland(www.engineersireland.ie) and the Institutions of CivilEngineers (www.ice.org.uk) and Structural Engineers(www.istructe.org.uk) in the UK. Student membership ofEngineers Ireland is free. Useful information about the sectoris also available from the Construction Industry Federation(www.cif.ie). Graduate vacancies in civil engineering areadvertised in university and college jobs bulletins, ongradireland.com and on the jobs area ofwww.engineersireland.ie as well as on company websites.


Areas of work

Architecture

Architects work within a design team – oftencomprising civil, structural and building servicesengineers; quantity surveyors; other architects and

architectural technicians; and planning consultants – toplan and design a project in accordance with a client’sbrief. They will also consult with the requisite fire,planning, health and safety and/or environmentalauthorities. Once building starts, architects work with themain contractor and specialist subcontractors on site.

Architects can specialise in certain types of building orparticular aspects of the job, such as conservation orproject management. They can be self-employed, part ofprivate practice or part of a national or local governmentdepartment or commercial organisation.

Architectural technicians (or technologists) are involvedthroughout the design process. They play a leading role indeveloping the design to meet the technical requirements ofbuilding regulations; preparing applications for fire safetycertification; and developing detailed drawings. They arealso crucial in co-ordinating the building design process,ensuring it reflects the input of specialist designsubcontractors.

Most architectural technologists work in architecturalpractices but some increasingly work in architecturaltechnology consultancies. Many also take up design ortechnical sales roles within the manufacturing industry.

The qualifications and skills you needDegree courses in architecture take five years of full-timestudy, usually including a year working in the profession.This is followed by two years of approved practicalexperience, and an examination in professional practice. Toqualify as an architectural technician/technologist, youneed an accredited recognised degree course (generallytaking three years of full-time study), followed by two yearsof approved practical experience. See the RIAI website(www.riai.ie) and the Chartered Institute of ArchitecturalTechnologists website (www.ciat.org.uk) for informationon professional qualifications and membership.

Architecture requires the ability to deal with design andtechnical detail and the wider demands of projects, requiringself-reliance skills, determination and initiative. Goodteamworking and communication skills are also essential.


Areas of work

Building services

Building services engineers ensure that the buildingswe live and work in are comfortable, safe and energyefficient. They do this by designing building services

systems and supervising their installation and operation.Typically 30–40 per cent of the total construction costs incommercial and industrial buildings are associated with theprovision of services such as lighting, heating, airconditioning, power, data communications, public healthsystems and lifts.

The work involves advising clients and architects;designing suitable systems (using computer-aided design)and supervising their installation; and liaising withstructural engineers, construction managers, builders andsurveyors.

Building services engineers are employed byconsultancies, contractors, local authorities, the publichealth and healthcare sector, universities and themanufacturing industry.

The skills you needYou will need to demonstrate strong technical competence,design skills and commercial awareness. Goodcommunication skills are essential for liaising with otherprofessionals, as is the ability to work in a team. A good levelof numeracy is needed to make complex calculations andestimates for clients.

Building services engineers also require excellentorganisational skills and the ability to work under pressureand meet deadlines.

Engineers working for contractors need to be able to pickup legal and financial issues and resolve difficulties, whilethose working for consultants need analytical skills.

Graduates hoping to pursue a career in building servicesengineering should keep up with developments via theChartered Institution of Building Services Engineers(www.cibseireland.org in ROI,www.cibse.org in the UK) andEngineers Ireland (www.engineersireland.ie).


People at work

My career in construction

Darren Gavin

Site Manager

P J Hegarty and Sons

Civil, Structural andEnvironmental Engineering,(2004); PgDip ProjectManagement (2006)

Education

Employer

Job

Name

The most important thing I did when looking for agraduate position was to gain a range of workexperience. During my degree I had a year’s placementwith a civil engineering consultancy and I also completedwork experience with a contractor. This enabled me tomake an informed career decision, which helped mestand out while interviewing for my current position.

A typical day on site

I’m responsible for the day-to-day running of theconstruction site. My current project is building acommunity centre near the Dublin docklands and I’mkept busy. Yesterday, I was on site in the morning,inspecting progress and ensuring that the subcontractorwho had just finished had necessary works completed.I then accompanied the architect to view some concretefinishing and discuss the next steps. Next, I went to ourhead office to catch up on paperwork and attend ameeting about safety. I’m often on the phone to a widerange of people, such as architects, design consultantsand clients, so I require good communication skills.

Professional development

I applied to my company because it offered a scholarshipto complete a postgraduate diploma in projectmanagement while working, as well as a graduatetraining programme accredited by Engineers Ireland.

I also attend in-house training courses each year,choosing from a range of courses such ascommunications skills and technical skills. There aremany opportunities to specialise in this field: I could seemyself in contracts management eventually. However, atpresent, I love getting out on site and knowing that abuilding exists because of my input.

‘Running a construction site’

Niamh Curtin

Architect

Murray O’ Laoire

Bachelor ofArchitecture (2004)Education

Employer

Job

Name

I’ve had an interest in design and the way it translates tothe built environment from a young age so a career inarchitecture seemed the best choice for me.When I waslooking for my first role, I applied to my current employerwith a CV and a sample of my work. I then sat aninterview, to which I brought along my full portfolio. Ifound that having a well-organised portfolio that clearlyillustrated all my relevant experience helped at interview.

My role

My role involves liaising with design teams, clients andconstruction contractors to take an initial idea to acompleted building. I am currently involved with severalprojects at various stages of planning and construction,so I have to be organised! In a typical week, I work ondesign development and consult clients. Once a projectenters its construction phase, I provide the contractorswith necessary information, make site inspections andalso complete quality control checks.

I am also combining my work with studying for myprofessional practice exams. Qualification involvessubmitting a case study of a project I have worked on,attending interviews and sitting exams.While this canbe tough, it is a necessary step to take for my careerdevelopment.

Architecture satisfaction

When beginning your career, it’s a good idea to work onsmaller projects to get an overview of the scope of workinvolved in even the simplest of contracts. The bestaspect of my job is seeing my designs being realised andbuilt. The satisfaction of knowing my designs are beingused for their intended purpose is unbeatable.

‘Seeing my designs built’


People at work

1,000s of vacancies100s of employers

placeto findyour job

register nowfor job alerts,

careers advice,

employer & sector

profiles & more!

Angus Hall

Engineer

Laing O’Rourke

Bachelor ofCivil Engineering (2004)Education

Employer

Job

Name

The great advantage of working in construction is thatyou can travel the world. I’m Australian and came toIreland upon finishing my degree. My first project wasthe N7motorway and currently I am working at DublinAirport on Pier D. This is a two-storey building and I’mresponsible for the civil works outside the buildingincluding pipelines, electrical ducting and concretestructures.

Working on site

I split my time between site and the office, and I love thevariety this brings. On site, I give direction to the labourforce and ‘set out’ using surveying instruments. In theoffice I complete quality assurance work and reviewdrawings. Time in the office also enables me to studythings closely and discuss matters with the projectengineer and other site engineers as on site things moveat a rapid pace.

I must use problem-solving and teamworkingabilities, think quickly and be accurate throughout mywork. I also have to constantly plan ahead to ensure thata job is finished on time so the next stage ofconstruction can begin.

Planning my own workload

Construction involves long hours – typically 7.00 am to6.00 pm at the moment – but it’s freeing to plan my ownworkload. It’s also good to know you’ve made adifference to people’s lives: for example, I still get a buzzwhen people say that the N7 is much improved. If youlike the outdoors and enjoy taking on a new challengeevery day I would highly recommend work in theconstruction industry.

‘Travelling the world’


Professional development

In construction, learning doesn’tstop when you start work.Graduates pursue further studies

either by becoming chartered in aprofessional institute or by specialisingin a particular area by undertaking apostgraduate qualification, or both.There are a number of professionalbodies in the construction industry: theroute you take will depend on whichone is most appropriate for yourqualification, skills and career goals. Tobecome chartered, you need tocomplete third-level qualificationswhich are accredited by your chosenprofession. You can get a full list ofaccredited courses on the website ofthe relevant institution.

If you are not already a studentmember of a professional organisation,you should think about joining. It willnot only look good on your CV but willalso give you great opportunities tonetwork with other students, graduates,employers and professionals. Becomingchartered doesn’t mean resting on yourlaurels. Career development is lifelongand you will need to stay up to datewith continuous professionaldevelopment (CPD), which involvesadapting to changes in workingpractices and technology, updating yourtechnical skills and developing yourmanagement and commercial skills.Your professional institute (see listbelow) will have information.• Association of Consulting Engineers

of Irelandwww.acei.ie Representsthe business and professional

interests of firms and individualsengaged in consulting engineering.

• Chartered Institute of ArchitecturalTechnologistswww.ciat.org.ukRepresents over 8,000 professionalsand is internationally recognised asthe qualifying body for CharteredArchitectural Technologists andArchitectural Technicians. Websiteincludes students’ area.

• Chartered Institute of Buildingwww.ciob.org.uk CIOB describesitself as the international voice ofthe building professional. CharteredMember status (MCIOB and FCIOB)is recognised internationally.

• Chartered Institution of BuildingServices Engineerswww.cibse.org andwww.cibseireland.org CIBSE promotesthe career of building servicesengineers and provides routes to fullprofessional registration, includingChartered Engineer, IncorporatedEngineer and Engineering Technician.

• Engineers Irelandwww.engineersireland.ie Professional bodyrepresenting all disciplines ofengineering. The website includes a‘jobs and CVs’ area.

• Irish Auctioneers and ValuersInstitutewww.iavi.ie

• Institution of Civil EngineeringSurveyorswww.ices.org.uk ICES isan associated body of the Institutionof Civil Engineers.

• Institution of Civil Engineerswww.ice.org.uk A qualifying body, acentre for the exchange of specialistknowledge, and a provider ofresources.

• Institute of Professional Auctioneersand Valuerswww.ipav.ie

• Institution of Structural Engineerswww.istructe.org Leadingprofessional body for structuralengineering with over 23,000members around the world.

• Irish Property and FacilityManagement Associationwww.ipfma.com Provides for theeducation, training and professionaldevelopment of its members

• Royal Institute of the Architects ofIrelandwww.riai.ie Therepresentative body for professionallyqualified architects in Ireland.

• Royal Institution of CharteredSurveyorswww.rics.org Sets,maintains and regulates standardsin the property industry.

• Society of Chartered Surveyorswww.scs.ie The professional bodyfor Chartered Surveyors practising inthe Republic of Ireland.Some postgraduate courses

undertaken by graduates with anumber of years’ work experienceinclude quantity surveying,construction project management,facilities management and engineeringcourses. There are often fundedresearch opportunities available in theuniversities and educational institutes.

Further information• The Construction Industry

Federationwww.cif.ie• The Construction Industry Training

Board Northern Irelandwww.citbni.org.uk.

Professional trainingand qualificationsYou can develop your career through a professional qualification.

construction 2010 - graduate jobs, recruitment and … · construction 2010 graduate jobs in...

Documents