Harry Brain is one of Technics’ most recent recruits, having joined us six months ago as a land and building Trainee Surveyor. We asked him what motivated him to join the industry, what useful advice he has received, and his thoughts on the Technics’ attitude towards learning and development.
I had previously been working in security and really wanted to progress to the next stage of my career. When I came across the opportunity that was available at Technics, I was attracted by the technical element of surveying as this was something I had dealt with in my previous roles, just not from a construction point of view. I also was really motivated by the fact that there was such a strong path for career growth and knew immediately this was the right role for me.
It is quite varied, but split 50/50 between time spent in the office and time out on site. Most of my training has been as an above ground Surveyor although I have received some training for Utility mapping, which I also found extremely interesting and helps me understand my colleagues’ roles better, especially if our work overlaps. It is hard to describe a typical day as we work on so many projects with different equipment and techniques needed depending on the site or what our client needs to achieve; however, seeing so many ways of doing things gives you a really expansive overview and I believe supports you in your development.
One key project I am working on is a new housing development, where we had to visit building plots and mark up the area based on the architectural design. This was to give the client a visual as to what the finished project would look like. We had also visited the site three months prior to carry out a topographical survey.
The support for personal career development has been great – you are taken from site to site and given quite a bit of information. There is a lot to take in, but it is much better than just sitting in a classroom, as you are given live demonstrations and get to see projects at different stages and become directly involved. The pace has been great, as it encourages you to learn.
The biggest challenge was getting a grip on industry knowledge at the very beginning. It’s not until you are out on the field that you begin to really take it all in and understand everything, and also gain an appreciation of how things are done. After six months on the job, I am really enjoying every day and feeling very confident.
Take every day one step at a time, but also keep your eyes on your bigger goals. Don’t lose sight of your ambition, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Or to become involved.
They take learning and development of their new staff very seriously. I would also say that it helps if you put in the effort as well, as there is a lot to take in, particularly at the beginning. I feel as though I have learned a lot since joining and so from a personal point of view, their attitude has been very effective!
I would tell them to keep your head down and stay focused on your goals. Go at your own pace, but also take things in and a little pressure on yourself is OK. If you are the type of person who is curious and asks the right questions, then this is the job for you.
If you would like to talk to us about potential opportunities contact us on 01483 230 080 or email recruitment@technicsgroup.com.