What's your job about?
So I started the Frequency Graduate Programme in 2021, and then after completing that, in 2023 I became an Associate with the Project Controls service line. So a number of the service lines at Frequency are focused on project management delivery, where you’d be working as the project manager on a project, but Project Controls is a little different. We often take on more specialist roles within the project team. So we're typically not the ones kind of making the decisions for the projects like the project managers are, but we're the ones that provide the information to help them make the decisions.
The Project Controls team translate data or information and shares it in a way to informs the team. That information often goes not just to the project team, but also to people above, so steering groups, project control groups, to governance groups.
So, for example, in one project I’m doing cost management for, we receive data – that can be actual costs that have hit a project or forecasts that have been provided by specific suppliers. We categorize it to track the forecast and the actuals on a project, usually in quite a lot of detail. And then you can see where you're sitting as opposed to your budget and if the will to be cashflow issues, for example.
We tend to work on quite large programmes of work because they're the ones that have the budget to be able to pay for Control specialists. So the projects I've worked on doing cost management for are around $100 million projects, so pretty big. It's cool being on projects like that coming right out of the Graduate Programme, and I’m also now running one of the projects myself.
What's your background?
So I was born in Christchurch, been raised in New Zealand my whole life, but I'm half Japanese, half Kiwi. I feel like I've got a bit of a creative side and a bit of an analytical kind of personality too. And I've kind of found through school that I enjoyed a lot of the arts and the more creative subjects but also found myself quite strong in maths and science. So I wanted to kind of combine the two and find a career that would be able to do both. I went to my careers advisor at school and she suggested building science. I was like ‘Okay, wow.’ I hadn’t thought of it before.
So I ended up doing a Bachelor of Building Science in Wellington, with a double major in project management and sustainable engineering systems. The first year of university I found quite challenging because in Wellington it's a combined year with the architecture students and then you choose which way you want to go and make that decision – architecture or building science – but I went in knowing that I always wanted to do building science. So I was doing all of these design papers that I was struggling with because some of them were very theoretical. But I ended up going into building science as I planned, and I found the second year a lot easier than the first year just because it was more in line with what I was hoping to do.
Then when I was looking for jobs, I was trying to avoid going into a big company. I thought that it would be quite easy to become like just a cog in the machine and not feel connected to the people. So that's something that drew me to Frequency more – it was a smaller company. And then when I first started in the graduate programme, it was quite cool because you get put onto projects and get taken to the site and into meetings immediately. So you're exposed to everything pretty early on. You're not just at your desk, you're out there and it makes you learn quicker.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
Ooh, there’s a few things! Working with lots of different people is cool. Meeting all the different characters on a project, it's always interesting. The company culture at Frequency is really good. It's super supportive and inclusive and it feels like a good environment to be starting off your career and growing. And I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of my role. You feel like you've achieved something. This role provides lots of opportunities for collaboration, growth and learning. No two days are the same. There's always something more to learn and I think that goes for people that have been doing this role for years and years.
What are the limitations of your job?
This answer might sound like it doesn’t quite make sense, but you have to be comfortable with being out of your comfort zone. You need to be okay with putting yourself out there a bit. This is a role that challenges you, and not necessarily in a technical way, but more with soft skills.
I think if you're avoiding the discomfort, then you're probably not getting the best outcome for your client. It might be that you're avoiding having a particular conversation or pulling something up that doesn't look right to you.
You have to be uncomfortable sometimes in this role. But we've had sessions on that within the Graduate Programme, coaching you through the best way to have difficult conversations, and it is something that you get better at through practice.
It’s also really helpful for outside of work as well. I’m now used to being in environments that aren’t always comfortable, so that makes it easier in every aspect of life.
What is some advice for yourself when you were a student or starting in the graduate programme?
Don't worry about not knowing everything, because no one knows everything! I think the biggest challenge I had when I started was that imposter syndrome and feeling like I should know more. So I think just being aware that imposter syndrome is a thing, and you will likely feel it a bit, but I think it's normal as well, particularly for our generation.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions and getting clarification from people is usually seen as a good thing in this role. It shows that you're engaged and you're involved. It’s something that makes you good at your job. In project management, where you're pulling lots of people together and stuff. Sometimes it can seem like everything's going super smooth, and then you ask one question, and it's like, ‘Oh, that's a massive problem!’ Asking questions is important.
Finally, something I’ve found helpful is that Frequency provided a lot of support, and I could trust the people around me. I’ve found they often can identify when you're ready for the next step, even if you're not sure you are. So that was super good for me. They push you out of your comfort zone but are still there to help you if you need it.