Rebecca 1 Year on, Apprentice of the year!

Learning

What have you learned about the different stages of a construction project?

At Virtus, we really place an emphasis on solid foundations. As such, I have spent my first year mainly getting a good understanding of the initial tendering process and Pre-construction stage of projects. There is a lot more that goes in to construction than one might think. Having never given much thought to the pre-design / pre-construction stages of a project, I now have a new found appreciation for all the work that goes on before any construction even begins to take place.

What tools or software have you learned to use?

Active takeoff has fast become a regular on my taskbar.  Essentially, it is a software that we use for measurements and is really helpful for things like measuring specific finishes or comparisons of measures from different subcontractors. It allows you to input the scale of a floor plan and will convert the values in real time while measuring directly on to a PDF floor plan.

Challenges

Have you faced any challenges, and how have you overcome them?

I think one of my biggest challenges has been facing people’s assumptions and expectations of me. The construction industry is not particularly diverse but it has definitely come a long way! Unfortunately,  some views are still negative but it is difficult to anticipate what others may think of you so I just remind myself that other people’s opinions of me are ultimately out of my control and not a reflection of my actual abilities. It took a lot of courage to start a whole new career in a whole new sector so I expected a few challenges anyway. In addition to friends and family, I’m fortunate enough to have supportive members of staff both at my company and my university that encourage me to keep focused on my work and do my best. I’ve found the more confidence I have in my role the more these challenges seem to dissipate.

Achievements

What achievement from your first year are you most proud of?

I was given the opportunity to take the lead on a tender recently and I was extremely proud of myself! I had a lot of good feedback from our director which made me feel like I’ve really made progress because a year ago, I would not have had a clue how to do half the things I am entrusted with now. It’s a big milestone for me, personally. I also got a Distinction for my first year grade which has really boosted my confidence on the course. This course is completely different to what I have studied so as a complete beginner, I am really proud my achievements so far. I have even been nominated for a certificate at my upcoming school recognition awards! Wish me luck!

Collaboration

How do you collaborate with the rest of the team on projects?

I feel that Virtus is quite big on collaborative working and that has been evident in the way I am now more involved in various areas of the construction process. I work with the teams assisting on site and in the office. I would say that at the moment, the tendering process is my main area of collaboration with the team. For example, we will get a tender in and then I will be assigned to assist the lead QS with various tasks. This could be anything from measurement to contacting subcontractors, site visits etc. It all goes towards submitting the best tender we can with a collaborative effort from our whole team and its very exciting to be a part of that.

Growth

How do you think you’ve grown personally and professionally since joining Virtus?

I am learning to become more resilient and adaptable. Since joining Virtus I’ve seen that no 2 projects will be exactly the same even if they first appear very similar. There may be slight differences in something that seems minor but has a huge impact on the project and its important to approach every new project as its own. One change to a particular material being used or edit to a design can change a trajectory of a project more than I had expected. I think my preconceived ideas of construction were a lot more black and white than the reality. As a scientist I was always a bit of a perfectionist so when things don’t go the way I plan, it used to really throw me. Now, I’ve definitely noticed that I am much more comfortable pivoting directions and making amendments as we go. The overall goal stays the focus and I am less caught up on the unexpected changes which has helped me both in my professional and personal life.

How do you see your role as a QS evolving in the future?

Great question! I’d like to think I will be a confident, senior QS leading multiple projects simultaneously. I am not sure what the construction industry will look like in the future but I can’t wait to be a part of it. I feel fortunate to have joined Virtus at a time where the industry seems to be really progressing as a whole. I anticipate working more with various other professionals and software’s to impact projects from a sustainability perspective in my role. Something that I have really enjoyed about working with Virtus is how we take into consideration our community impact and environmental ‘footprint’. Hopefully, Virtus will take on more apprentices like myself and I will eventually have a senior role helping to train them, passing on all the valuable lessons I would have gained by then.

Work Study Balance

How do you balance your studies with your work experience?

Each week I get a day release for my course so I go to university and study there before and after lessons. I try to divide my work and studies by the recommended 80:20 split. Sometimes I might go a bit over on one more than the other, like if I have a tender deadline coming up or an exam to study for. Mostly, I just try to catch up wherever possible and it ends up pretty much back at 80:20 overall. For example, classes stop over the summer so I get more opportunities to visit sites and develop my practical skills working as a QS.

Advice

What advice would you give to someone considering a QS apprenticeship?

I would say go for it! The advice I would give would really depends on their previous experience but ultimately, I think its a great role to get into as long as you have an interest in it. I would say the best students would be proactive learners and quick thinkers. Always be open to change and constructive criticism. I would definitely recommend the QS apprenticeship route because the theory you learn at university can sometimes seem a bit isolated if you are not also getting practical work experience. I think the QS role works really well as an apprenticeship for that reason.