Meet Jacob Rodriguez, a Civil Engineer at Barker Ryan Stewart (BRS), who completed BRS’ Graduate Program after graduating from Western Sydney University.
Jacob was working part time at BRS whilst studying and jumped at the opportunity to participate in the Graduate Program – seeing it as an opportunity to apply his theoretical knowledge from university practically.
We asked Jacob a few questions about his experience in the program.
What did you study at Western Sydney University?
I studied a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil Engineering) which covered all major engineering domains before I decided on my major.
What made you want to apply for the BRS Graduate Program?
I began my career with Barker Ryan Stewart as an undergraduate student, working part time whilst in my final year at university as part of the course work experience requirement.
I loved every moment working at BRS so when the opportunity presented itself to be part of the graduate program, I took it!
The program sounded like a great progression into my chosen field, offering the opportunity to take what I had learned at university and apply it practically. It was a unique opportunity to start building my skills and connections in the industry in a structured and supportive environment.
How long is the graduate program? What did it entail?
The graduate program was completed over the course of one year.
During the program I was slowly introduced and guided through different aspects of the civil engineer role to ensure I was confident in each phase before moving onto the next. As I gained more experience, I was provided with more tasks and responsibilities.
This was a great way to build a solid foundation and ensure I thoroughly understood each aspect.
What were your top 3 learnings from the program?
- Teamwork is so important – Nothing happens without teamwork; liaising with fellow team members not only assists with task efficiency but also with knowledge building.
- Have confidence to ask questions – There is always someone who has more experience that you can learn from and asking questions is essential to building knowledge.
- The importance of effective communication with all stakeholders – This includes fellow employees, directors, team leaders and external clients. Learning effective communication helps keep projects moving, informs project milestones and is essential for working on challenging projects.
How would you rate the program? Would you recommend it to others?
The program was well put together and stepped me through the different aspects of a civil engineer’s role. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has just graduated and is looking to take the first steps in their career.
What was the process like transitioning from the graduate program to being promoted?
Being promoted from a graduate to a civil engineer came with more responsibility, larger projects and empowerment to navigate tasks myself with less guidance. The knowledge and experience I gained from the program has allowed me to hit the ground running and set a great foundation for early career success.
Interested in participating in the BRS Graduate Program?
We’re always on the lookout for the next generation of enthusiastic graduates to join our team and would love to hear from you. Find more information about our Graduate Program below:
