A day in the life

A day in the life: Cairo Howard

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 02:00:00 +0000

My name is Cairo Howard and I’m a Commercial Management and Procurement Graduate on two major infrastructure projects in Sydney. I joined Laing O’Rourke as an Intern in my home city of Melbourne and was lucky enough to relocate to Sydney as a Graduate.

What did you study/specialise in and why?

I completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Majoring in Management and Marketing) and a Concurrent Diploma of Language (French) at the University of Melbourne.

I believe entrepreneurialism is the solution to many modern problems and there is a lot of scope for creativity, critical-thinking and strategy within the business. I am also bilingual and have always believed in the importance of multilingualism.

What does your average day look like?

It depends on the day - no two days are the same!

One of the projects I am working on is nearing completion, so typical activities involve cost tracking and preparing accruals for end-of-month reporting, issuing variation directions for defect works, processing payment claims, and final accounting contract sums to close out our agreements.

The other project is in the initial stages and the average day in procurement involves assisting the engineers and designers prepare tender packs, driving the market-testing for various packages and supporting the estimators calculate an accurate total outturn cost for the client.

What do you like most about the Laing O’Rourke Intern/Graduate program and why?

The Graduate Program allows us to discover all the functions within Laing O’Rourke, and experiment with roles that align with our interests and strengths across a variety of different projects. At the same time, it’s also an opportunity to figure out which functions we might not prefer to pursue careers in, and that’s as equally valuable.

I love to travel – it’s great to be part of a company that supports Graduates moving between states to complete their rotations.

We’re well supported with dedicated ‘Grad Days’ for skill development, a graduate committee, mentors and early talent advisors. It’s a tight-knit community!

How would you describe the culture at Laing O’Rourke?

Warm, inclusive and innovative.

The people at Laing O’Rourke all share a common desire to lead the evolution of the industry, whether it be with respect to social and community impacts, technology or sustainability - everyone has something to contribute.

What or who inspired you to take your career path?

I’ve always had good appetite for challenge and learning, and joining Laing O’Rourke was especially motivated by my observation that the engineering and construction industry has historically lacked sustainable operations and diverse social representation.

I wanted to join an innovative company whose values aligned with my own, and to cement my place among other problem solvers who seek to push the boundaries of today’s definition of engineering for solutions to a better world.

A day in the life: Ziao Veneziani

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 02:00:00 +0000

My name is Ziao Veneziani and I’m a Graduate Engineer at Laing O’Rourke. I joined Laing O’Rourke as part of the Internship Programme in Western Australia and relocated to Melbourne as a Graduate. I am currently completing a rotation as a Graduate Engineer on a major infrastructure project.

What did you study/specialise in and why?

I studied a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Engineering Science) and a Master of Professional Engineering (Civil) at The University of Western Australia. I chose to pursue Civil Engineering because of the positive long-lasting impact you can have on the community from working on critical infrastructure projects that people will use daily. With Civil Engineering you can also work in a wide range of sectors and help solve complex problems including safety, transport, environment and sustainability.

What does your average day look like?

It’s dynamic and no two days are ever the same. It can consist of site inspections, quality assurance, planning, subcontractor management, procurement, tracking costs and productivity and attending meetings to name a few. By being based on site, you see the evolution of a project from design to reality, all made possible by the collective dedication and efforts of everyone involved - this is the highlight for me.

What do you like most about the Laing O’Rourke Intern/Graduate program and why?

What I liked most about the Laing O’Rourke Internship Programme was that it provided a challenge for me as I was based on site and entrusted with the responsibilities of a typical Site Engineer. Throughout the Internship Programme I was always guided and supported by everyone around me. Completing an Internship with Laing O’Rourke also means that you are prioritised for the Graduate Development Programme.

The Graduate Programme is great as it provides you with the opportunity to complete your rotations interstate. You can also choose from a wide variety of rotations no matter your degree – something many other companies don’t offer. Being able to travel to various Australian capital cities for our Graduate Development Days throughout the year is also really fun.

How would you describe the culture at Laing O’Rourke?

Incredibly supportive, development focused, collaborative, inclusive and diverse.

What or who inspired you to take your career path?

Studying Civil Engineering and working in the Construction industry always interested me as you can work on a wide variety of projects. I’ve always seen Construction as the industry that allows people and communities to better connect with one another. Growing up in Perth, I was always exposed to Construction, whether it be watching my Grandad build houses when I was little or seeing constant change throughout the state across all the sectors. Building a lot of Lego over the year’s most likely contributed to me pursuing a career in Construction too.

A day in the life: Angelique Viney

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 02:00:00 +0000

My name is Angelique Viney and I am a Construction Management Undergraduate with Laing O’Rourke in Sydney. I joined Laing O’Rourke as part of the Internship Programme. Once I completed the programme, I had the opportunity to continue working part-time while completing my degree.

What did you study or specialise in and why?

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Construction Management, due to graduate mid-2023. I started this course as a pathway to architecture but fell in love with site-based roles when I commenced working in the industry. My experience at Laing O’Rourke led me to starting a Diploma in Logistics as I had the opportunity to work with various teams to find my niche.

What does your average day look like?

An average day in my current role sees me supporting the Logistics Team on a major infrastructure project in Sydney. This incorporates reviewing standard operating practices, chain of responsibilities requirements and project compliance. My role is a combination of on-site and in office depending on the coordination required on a day-to-day basis. For example, currently I am assisting the implementation of weighbridges across all sites. This includes assisting in induction/onboarding sessions, preparing presentations regarding processes/requirements and writing compliance documentation regarding the use and implementation of weighbridge data.

What do you like most about the Laing O’Rourke Internship and Graduate Development Programme and why?

My favourite part of the Internship and Graduate Development Programme is the community that develops between each cohort. This programme gave us all the opportunity to meet and work with individuals with the same goals and interests. This formulates a support system within the workplace while transitioning from undergraduate to graduate positions and are work relationship we will continue to maintain throughout the duration of our careers.

How would you describe the culture at Laing O’Rourke?

The word ‘family’ best describes Laing O’Rourke’s culture. I have worked with various teams, in different locations and I have experienced a people-first approach across the board. Laing O’Rourke cares for your personal development and actively promotes individuals to reach personal goals.

What or who inspired you to take your career path?

Throughout the duration of my degree, I found my passion for coordinating people and projects, while influencing the future generations of women to pursue careers in the construction industry. I love working for an organisation which is at the forefront of leading diversity and inclusion in the industry.