Site Engineer
Name: Mia Fine
Career stage: Early career - less than 5 years' experience
Working: Office, On site
High School Subjects: Math, English, Economics, Spanish, Chemistry, Sports Science
Favourite: Sports Science, I really liked how it had real life applications, it was practical but in a way I could see its use in my every day life.
Further study: University
where and what: University of Sydney - Bachelor of Project Management (Major in Construction)
"The first thing a lot of people say to me when I tell them I work in construction is “are you a lollipop lady?”. Ummm no… I’m in the office mainly, I reply. “Ohhh so you’re a receptionist.” No."
the inside scoop…
What does a Site Engineer actually do? I make sure the plans for the project actually get built out on site correctly. I check the electrical, the hydraulic, the architectural and all other trades drawings and ensure they match up and meet the expectations of our client. I also help make sure the project is being built on time and on budget in order to complete a successful project. I basically help my team run the building site!
What does a day in your life at work look like? Usually my days start in the office. I answer important emails, review drawings and talk with our subbies to answer any of their questions. I try get out on site everyday to see what has been happening and make sure the works are being completed as we planned. This also helps build a relationship with everyone we work with. By early afternoon I'm back in the office, attending meetings with the client, engineers, architects, and my team. We sort out any issues that we've discovered, and progress with the planning of on-site works. Everyday looks a little different, it's a fast paced industry with lots of exciting challenges - but so rewarding.
What's the best part of your job? I love watching the project go from very basic plans in the office to a completed building out on site. I get the opportunity to see the development of the project right from the start, in demolition, excavating, and structure, through to the final stages, of installing light fittings and watching the finishing touches bring the building to life. There are few people who can say they work across every discipline in the industry.
What made you realise construction could be for you? I think I had always known I wanted to work in the construction industry, I just hadn't yet worked out what that meant, whether it was an architect, engineer, labourer, property manager etc. As a child, I had this terrible habit of going to the bathroom during the middle of dinner at every restaurant. My parents told me to stop drinking so much water, but the truth was I was going in to give the bathrooms a rating out of 10. I took any chance to look at buildings, and their design and construction. I realised it was these small passions that showed what I was really interested in.
Do you have any advice for young women picking a career? Being young and having the expectation of choosing a 'forever career' can be daunting. I didn’t fully understand how much freedom you’d have once you started work to choose any career path, even 30 years into working, many people are still figuring it out. High school is the start of the rest of your life, you don’t have to have everything worked out. You don’t really have to have anything worked out, as long as you’re working hard and having fun. Find something that sparks an interest, and make a career out of it. Give it a go, you might find you actually love it!
What do your friends and family think about working in construction? The first thing a lot of people say to me when I tell them I work in construction is “are you a lollipop lady?”. Ummm no… I’m in the office mainly, I reply. “Ohhh so you’re a receptionist.” No. Apparently women in construction is still a bit of a difficult concept for some people to grasp. I don't think they really understand what I do, but they are very supportive of it, they love listening to all my stories of the interesting people we meet, they like looking at the photos of the progress of works on site, and I think they secretly hope I'll build them a house one day...
What would you tell your high school self about working in construction? It's started out just as scary as I thought it would, but quickly turned into the thing I loved the most.
Mia is open to engaging further via: Speaking at a high school.
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