How did you feel arriving on site for your first day?
When I started my placement year in September, I felt excited to get going but also a bit nervous because it was all new to me, having never worked on a construction site before. Going to the Dublin Road site for the first time was a bit overwhelming with the high activity levels and the sheer scale of the project. However, the site manager and QS took me for a hot lunch and having craic with my colleagues made the prospect a lot less daunting.
What has surprised you most about working in construction so far?
I’ve been surprised by how much teamwork and communication are involved in every stage of the work. I didn’t realise how many different people and roles must coordinate to keep things running smoothly as problems can quickly arise on site if this coordination breaks down. Seeing how my team deal with these issues when they arise effectively and keeping the build running smoothly is great experience to bring forward into my future career.
What are the main skills you have picked up in your first three months?
In my first three months, I’ve learnt how engineering designs are applied on site. This has been really exciting and reflected my experience moving from theory in college to putting into practice in my placement year. I’ve also learned how to understand drawings more accurately, do basic site inspections and understand health and safety requirements after completing my SSSTS course, along side the apprentice QS.
Having another ‘learner’ on site has been a great boost, both for company and having someone to talk to about the new skills we’re both learning.
What tools or equipment have you enjoyed learning to use?
I’ve enjoyed getting hands on with tools like laser levels and GPS/total station equipment with an engineer. Using them has helped me understand how setting-out works and how precise measurements need to be to ensure things like SFS and screens for glazing are built in the right place.
Which tasks do you find most satisfying?
Having worked with cars part time before I started Z Property, I have always found hands-on problem solving for real world results very satisfying – which is easily applicable to working on a construction site.
I most enjoy tasks which result in visible progress on the Dublin Road site, like setting out, checking levels and making sure the work matches the drawings. Being able to point to something and say ‘I did that’ is a hugely satisfying part of my learning process.
What have you learnt about yourself during the placement?
I’ve learnt that I’m much more hands-on than I thought. Being on site has shown me that I’m comfortable stepping in, asking questions and figuring things out without waiting for someone to tell me. I’ve also enjoyed helping the site manager with decisions that need to be made on site for how and when work will be done, such as ensuring scaffold is in place for bricklayers, rough time scales of which first fixing needs to be completed by and whether it is safe for subcontractors to work in certain conditions or environments.
What are you hoping to learn in the next few months?
Over the next few months, I want to improve my setting-out skills, get better at understanding drawings and understand more about planning for work ahead. I’m also looking to learn how to deal with subcontractors more effectively and get a stronger grasp of quality checks and site safety requirements.