Explore Your Curiosities
You’ve put in you all to land that dream job, you’ve overcome all the hurdles along the way, you might have been rejected twice like Stephanie Nguyen did. You finally get that acceptance call, you’ve landed the job. You start the dream job and find, it’s not what you’ve built it up to be. Finding your true career path is not always a straight road, sometimes you’ll have to explore a few different roads before finding you it.
“We want you to have a better life than us,” was my parents’ mantra to me growing up. My parents are immigrants from Vietnam, who fled the civil war. They had not finished high school therefore working was a necessity for them to give my two sisters and me a more prosperous life. All they did was work - to put food on the table for us. One of the inspirational traits my parents embody is their entrepreneurial spirit which exposed them across various industries. This led to finding respective careers within construction which they enjoyed and were passionate about. Although working in construction, they advised me against working in it especially my mother, who saw the struggles and hardships of working in a male-dominated field.
I am naturally a curious person - open to trying everything because I believe experience is invaluable. You can’t ever lose experience, you can only gain more. During my Bachelor of Commerce degree, I attended numerous networking events to improve my social ability and connection with peers and professionals. I became enamored with the idea of prestige and respect with working at a reputable, multi-national, ‘Big 4’ firm. I applied for KPMG’s graduate programme twice and got rejected both times. Realising I needed more experience in the industry, I accepted a bookkeeping role with a small joinery company however, after several months I realised book-keeping was not for me. Taking initiative, I created an opportunity for myself by asking if I could work as a project administrator on the project teams instead, unknowingly sparking the start of my true calling.
I was intrigued and captivated by all the moving parts and tasks of my first project, and I absorbed all the opportunities that came my way. Although my parents were in the industry themselves, I wanted to make a name for myself. My first big project included coordinating the execution of joinery works for 18 luxury apartments in Beaumaris. The dynamic nature of my day-to-day included managing the project schedule to ensure timely delivery, liaising with architects, and saw the project to completion - all tasks I loved. I learned to shop draw on Cubmaster and provided draft drawings which escalated my understanding of the construction process. At this point, I found myself at a crossroad – were the last four years of my studies going to waste? I needed to give my degree another chance to explore its potential, so I applied once more for KPMG’s graduate programme in Sydney. When I got my acceptance call, I was happy because after three tries I would finally be working for the company of my dreams. I packed my belongings and said my goodbyes to my friends and family, after all, I’d be in Sydney for a few years. One month into the role, I knew deep in my gut, this path wasn’t for me so, I resigned. I felt embarrassed, ashamed, and guilty that I had failed what I originally envisioned for myself and decided to move back to Melbourne.
Not wanting to rely on my parents, I worked for a boutique landscaping company, then a fit-out joinery company where I felt most challenged yet learned the most. I was exposed to a new level of meticulous details, high-end finishes, tighter project schedules, and complex construction methodologies. The complexities and pressure to finish projects in short timeframes meant having to think outside the box to execute projects to high standards. At times, it was very overwhelming, but I can’t say there was ever a dull day. The pressure motivated me to keep learning more and find new ways to work effectively, so I would be better on the next project. I worked at Mister Robertson Café where I was exposed to terrazzo and curved wall panels. I learned how curved benchtops were constructed and effective design to minimize material loss.
The Merrimu Receptions Project enabled my learning on angular wall cladding and routed profiled panels made from laminating MDF atop of another. This project had an extremely tight deadline and budget, so we had to find the most efficient way to create the panels.
After working at the fit-out construction company, I decided to return and work for my parent’s joinery business, feeling confident and established with the skills I had self-developed. The networking skills I learned during my first degree came in handy, as I was able to reach out to other construction companies and win projects. Some of the projects won included the Banyule Flats upgrade which included a lift-up seat; Melton Central Community Club featured a canteen, reception, upholstery seating, and storage spaces for the art rooms. My shop drawing skills allowed me to expedite delays in producing and updating shop drawings. There was also better-quality control because I was aware of all the project details and appropriate construction methods to achieve the targeted timeframes, design intent, and budgets.
Aside from the project management side of things, working for boutique companies has given me a unique set of skills. I learned to manage the procurement of materials by ensuring they arrived on time, without overwhelming our limited factory space. I learned to build a trusting relationship with our residential and commercial builder clients to win work. I learned to implement various workflow processes with cost considerations, skill constraints, and practicality. There are so many other invaluable things I’ve learned over recent years and yet to acquire my qualifications in construction.
The experiences gained, I attained through exploring my curiosities, fulfilling my eagerness to learn through asking questions, thinking outside of the box, and developing my understanding of knowing that everything I’m doing, fits into a bigger picture. I’ve experienced the difficulties of the industry’s tight profit margins and lack of technological advancements, that other industries were able to successfully adopt. Additionally, I have been able to understand construction methodologies and workflow strategies to minimize resource wastage, therefore, reducing our environmental impacts. This is so important given our industry is one of the biggest producers of waste and pollution.
At the end of 2019, I finally decided to do what I should’ve done five years ago – study Bachelor of Project Construction Management at the University of Technology Sydney. Yes - in Sydney! This time I was moving to Sydney with clarity, confidence, and intention. I’ve just completed my first year and it has been the most rewarding so far. My learning has greater depth because of my experiences which further enhanced my studies. I was awarded the Richard Crookes scholarship. I founded and am President of the Built Environment Association, created to support the professional development of UTS students by creating networking opportunities with industry associates through seminars, mentoring programmes, practical work experience, and social events. I am also a U: PASS Leader this year where I help students who are studying at high failure rate subject. These initiatives are important to me because being the next generation of constructors if we are better equipped with resources and support, in turn, will enhance our impact and potential as future leaders of our construction industry. I am creating a better life by following my true passion. My journey had many confusing moments where I doubted myself and my decisions, however, I never stopped exploring and following through with my curiosities because it allowed for new opportunities and experiences. As I look to the future, I’m excited about what I’m going to bring.
Stephanie Nguyen
Role Founder & President
Company Built Environment Association
Education Bachelor of Commerce; Certificate IV in Building and Construction and Bachelor of Project Construction Management (currently studying)
Whilst studying her Bachelor of Commerce at Monash University, Stephanie worked as a bookkeeper at Dillon Kitchens and eventually finding her passion and true calling, worked her way to becoming a Contract Administrator where she managed several multi-residential projects ranging from 18 luxury apartments to over 40 apartments. Having graduated in Commerce in 2018, she was offered a role at KPMG and momentarily moved to Sydney to make the most of her Commerce degree. Realising construction was the industry she wanted to be in, she moved back to Melbourne and became a Contract Administrator at Builtrite Constructions where she managed both commercial and residential projects including the highly acclaimed cafe Mister Robertson in Nunawading, HIEX Holiday Inn in Melbourne CBD, and Hebert King Apartments in Richmond. She eventually returned to work for her family business LN Kitchens where she won and executed both residential and commercial projects including Melton Central Community Club, Errington Reserve, and Malcolm Graham Reserve. Simultaneously, she completed her Certificate IV in Building and Construction at Swinburne University in 2019. Now, she is completing her Bachelor of Project Construction Management at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). She was awarded the Richard Crookes Scholarship and will complete her internship at Richard Crookes this year. She is also the Founder and President of the Built Environment Association at UTS and will also be supporting students and sharing her construction passion as a U: Pass Leader this year. Stephanie hopes to one day work on and develops sustainable and innovative developments in the future.