Having experienced working as a coordinator, what makes a Site Manager’s job meaningful?
T-san, can you briefly describe your job?
As a Project Engineer in the US Military Construction Department, I am involved in project management at work sites. My job is to oversee various projects carried out on US Military Bases, including building renovations, replacement of air conditioning systems, and related construction and civil engineering works. I mainly check if projects are progressing as scheduled and make sure that all site workers are performing their duties safely.
Because I had previously worked as an administrator for project bids and contracts and then as a coordinator (work-site interpreter), I can process a wide range of tasks including conducting briefing and meeting with US Military personnel and creating documents and emails without help of an interpreter. When the documents I created get approved smoothly, I realize how my previous experience has helped and I feel reasonably good about it.
When do you find your job enjoyable and at what kind of moment do you get a sense of accomplishment in working?
When I engage in site work, it makes me very happy to see how our work has revived a badly damaged building into a fresh-looking property. It is also pleasant to see my clients being happy with their properties getting renovated.
After construction is completed, the US Military evaluates the overall quality of our work, and I feel particularly rewarded when we receive a good evaluation.
It’s a Job where you can apply your experience, and the environment is friendly to those raising a child.
Once you joined AEC, what kind of impression did you have about the Company?
I started my career at AEC as an administrator for project bids and contracts because I didn’t want to lose my English skills I acquired at a university in the United States. I wasn’t familiar with construction work and faced challenges in understanding and memorizing technical terms. Nonetheless, I do enjoy leaning about new things, so it was fun enhancing my knowledge in the relevant subjects.
Later, I became a coordinator (work-site interpreter) and more involved in site works. I then got transferred to my current position. In my previous work, I had plenty of opportunities to use English, and I apply this experience in my current position as a Project Engineer.
When I joined AEC, I was raising a child who was in a junior year at elementary school. I was glad that I did not have to work on weekends, and I could take a paid leave quite flexibly. I also appreciated a supportive work environment with my colleagues being happy to make up for my absence whenever I had to take a leave when my child was sick and in need of care. In addition, employees are permitted to work for staggered hours until their child enters Grade 4 in elementary school. AEC is a company that offers an extremely friendly environment for those who work while raising a child.
Site Representative – a suitable job for women to apply their strengths?
It seems that your job mainly takes place at jobsites, do you think your work environment is comfortable for women?
I feel that construction work is still predominated by men. Nevertheless, many women are strong in checking and identifying small but important details. I believe site representative is in fact a suitable job for many women to exercise their strengths and advantages.
Some site representatives aren’t very good at communicating, and they often face difficulties sharing thoughts and information with technicians. In such situations, I have witnessed how involvement of women in site work and their perspectives can facilitate work progress and how it promotes further efficiency in work operations.
There are still barriers we need to overcome in attracting more women to this job, including sanitary issues and lack of adequate toilet facilities at many work sites. If we have more women working as project engineers, such issues will get resolved and the overall work conditions will improve faster. So, I strongly hope more women will be playing active roles in this job.
Regardless of your background, you can succeed as long as you’re willing to work hard!
What do you like about working at AEC?
What I like about AEC is its multicultural work environment. I had no previous work experience in construction industry when I joined the Company, but I enjoyed learning about new things, and it was fun enhancing my knowledge. My members are all friendly, and it is easy to talk to them regardless of their positions, and many of them are unique and have interesting personalities. Regardless of their backgrounds, all members can succeed as long as they are willing to work hard. This is what makes working at AEC particularly attractive.
T-san, what kind of person would be a perfect fit to work in your team?
Someone who is not afraid to ask questions, who can take the initiative, and who is willing to work hard will be a perfect fit. If you don’t understand, it’s important to ask questions. Some people are too shy to ask questions when they face anything they don’t know. They should keep in mind that most of us start this job without any knowledge about construction projects for US Military. Therefore, it’s completely fine to not know anything about such projects at the beginning. Once you join the Company, you will learn how to process your tasks. When you have understood and internalized what you have learned, you will then share and pass down the knowledge to new members. If such process becomes a routine, it will be an ideal team environment.
A company where people who enjoy challenging themselves will grow
Can you leave a message to potential job applicants?
If you have any interest in working at AEC, go ahead and give it a try! Many of you may be thinking that the Company expects you to be fluent in English, but what are required of a Project Engineer are the qualification and experience in work management. When you need to use English, coordinators will assist you. So, you don’t have to feel overwhelmed. AEC also offers a good work environment, and all members here are friendly and helpful. If you’re ready to challenge yourself, you will grow and become successful. So, keep yourself forward-looking and let’s work together!
Schedule for one day
- AM 7:45 Arrive at Work/Work Site
- Preparation and Hazard Prediction (KY) Activities
- AM 8:00 Work Commences
- Patrol Worksite and Conduct Spot Inspection to Ensure Safety
- AM 9:00 Check Emails
- Prepare & Submit Daily Work Report from the Previous Day
- AM 10:00 Desk Work
- Communicate with Site Workers
- Inspection & Patrol
- PM 12:00 Lunch-break
- PM 13:00 Afternoon Work Commences
- Check Work Progress and Conduct Spot Inspection to Ensure Safety
- PM 14:00 Desk Work
- PM 15:00 Take Photos for Progress Report (to be submitted along with daily work report)
- Briefing with Partner Companies on Upcoming Work Schedule and Work Details
- PM16:00 Clean, Tidy up and Lock the Work Site
- PM17:00 End of Site Work