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Tonkin + Taylor

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4.4
  • #4 in Engineering consulting
  • 500 - 1,000 employees

Gabriela Nascimento

I have always liked to communicate with people and enjoyed studying Portuguese at school, so I would have been a journalist or a reporter, or both!

What did you study? When did you graduate?

I started a Bachelor of Engineering majoring in Environmental Engineering at SENAC in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I completed my studies at the University of Waikato, graduating in 2020.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Itapecerica de Serra, a suburb on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil. While Sao Paulo is a huge city, my community was small, and close-knit, where everyone knew and looked out for one another. Growing up in a city of around 20 million people gave me an insight into the various environmental and social challenges of disenfranchised communities.
 
How did you get to your current job position?

As part of my degree, I was required to complete two summer internships. I was fortunate enough to complete these at Tonkin & Taylor. After completing my degree Tonkin & Taylor offered me a full-time position.
 
How did you choose your specialisation?

I have always had an interest in supporting communities to solve problems. Living in Brazil I saw and experienced a number of these problems. When I was younger, I would offer the support I could through volunteering in my community. I considered a number of possibilities when it came time to choose a career path. Environmental Engineering was a developing specialisation at the time. From reading the course content I could see that a career in environmental engineering was consistent with my goals and values.

What was your interview process like?

As I was an intern for about 800 hours before being offered a full-time role, you could say the interview process was extensive!

The interview for my internship consisted of two stages. The first involved submitting my CV and cover letter, and the second was a face-to-face interview.

What does your employer do?

Tonkin + Taylor (T+T) is a 100% New Zealand-owned specialist environmental and engineering consultancy. T+T is involved in a range of projects in the areas of water engineering, waste and contaminated land, ecology, civil engineering, and transport.
What are your areas of responsibility?

I am part of the water team at T+T. I am involved in a number of different projects around designing, modelling and assessing flood protection infrastructure, dam safety management, hydrology and many others.

I work in various stages of a project, from designing, undertaking site visits, and report writing.

Can you describe a typical workday?

I am currently on a secondment, which means I am out of the office Mondays and Tuesdays. On a typical Wednesday to Friday, I usually start at 8:30am, where I check my calendar and organise myself for any meetings and make a to-do list based on project deadlines. The rest of the day is focused on working from the top of my to-do list. This might involve visiting a site, writing a report, or working on a design. Most recently I have been working on a dam report. I have a couple of tea breaks throughout the day where I try to connect with my colleagues. I usually finish my workday at 5:00 pm.
 
What are the career prospects with your job?

There are many interesting areas within water engineering such as river and coastal engineering, catchment hydrology, and dam safety management. Within a large consultancy like T+T, I have multiple opportunities to be involved in various projects and also to work with some of the countries leading experts. At T+T, I am encouraged to work in all of the areas in which I am interested.

Given the importance of water infrastructure and the challenges of climate change, Water Engineering is likely to be an area that is in demand for the foreseeable future. 
Could someone with a different background do your job?

Certainly. Engineering’s broad nature means that most people have something to offer. Engineering is not all about maths, but also the ability to communicate with others, develop relationships, and problem-solving. People from different backgrounds bring different perspectives, which is extremely important in engineering.
 
What would your career be if you weren’t doing what you’re doing now?

I have always liked to communicate with people and enjoyed studying Portuguese at school, so I would have been a journalist or a reporter, or both!
 
What do you love the most about your job?

I love how interesting engineering is. Each project I have worked on so far is different and I am always using my creativity and learning new things. I also really like that I have an office-field balance, which makes the job exciting.

What’s the biggest limitation of your job?

As a new grad, there are so many opportunities to be involved in interesting projects and to learn new skills. While I have tried not to overcommit, it can be very difficult to say no.

Which three pieces of advice would you give to a current university student?

  • While at university, try to learn the basics of your degree very well but also practice/learn soft skills. These two things will make your job easier.
  • Do some travelling and be open to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures.   
  • Apply for internships and maybe part-time jobs in the field while you are studying. It will help you to know what you like/don’t like.