We asked Graduate Transport Engineer, Omar Soufi, what led him to want to pursue this career and how he’s finding being in the team at PJA. Read what he had to say to give a real insight into what a career at PJA is all about:
As a kid growing up, I never really knew what I wanted to do in life; I just knew two things: I loved maths and problem solving. My interests led me to pursue a career in Civil Engineering without giving much thought at the time about where my passion really lay with respect to the various Civil Engineering branches. While completing my university degree, I was given the opportunity to embark on an internship journey in traffic engineering which gave me the passion and motivation that I was looking for. I knew there and then what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be.
The key skill that I took from university into my role at PJA was to work as a team to achieve common goals. This skill enables you to cooperate with others despite your differences and ways of thinking towards accomplishing certain tasks. Hence, the efficiency and productivity as a whole drastically improve. Even with those tasks that require only one person to perform, knowing that there is a support group behind you, and them knowing you have their backs too, makes any obstacle that much easier to overcome.I had interviews with multiple companies but what made PJA stand out over the rest was the diverse workload. Rather than only delving into specifics, the specialised areas that PJA offer presented me with the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of works and fields. This would provide me with a bigger chance to gain expertise in a multitude of different faculties and grasp an understanding of what I like or want the most out of my career.
For me as a graduate, there is no typical day at PJA. Each day brings with it new opportunities and new challenges. Whether it be modelling using SIDRA, working on CAD drawings, or typing up reports, I learn new skills each and every day. The vast experience is immeasurable as you are given the opportunity to work on a multitude of different tasks and experience different fields and aspects of the job giving you a plethora of knowledge. My advice for anyone looking to work in the field is to find their passion and work towards improving it. Make the most of the opportunities at hand, try to excel and learn by figuring out how the different tasks tie into your knowledge base.
Remote learning is definitely a big challenge. Being unable to ask questions to a nearby colleague and having to call them back and forth for the simplest matters proved to be time consuming. Moreover, the struggles that the trainers themselves face when attempting to remotely assist you bears its challenges too. But what is most important is making the best out of the situation. Trying your best to learn and improve as much as you can despite the circumstances, albeit the slower progress.
Outside of work, I love to train Jiu Jitsu and even compete at international level. It keeps the mind focused, relaxed and healthy. It is important to stay physically and mentally healthy in your spare time, and having found something that I enjoy it’s an act of fun rather than a chore. I’d highly recommend it!
Omar Soufi, Graduate
Omar graduated with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and Infrastructure (honours) at RMIT University in 2019. With a deep passion for traffic engineering and an eye for detail, he builds upon PJA’s dedication to graduate development. Omar is a self-driven problem solver and team orientated professional who is constantly seeking to evolve his capability and understanding of civil and transport skills. Bringing a passion for safety in design and collaborative working to enhance project outcomes and maximise client value. Current projects involve Traffic Impact Assessments, Waste Management Plans, Road Safety Audits and Storm Water Drainage Plans.
Get in touch with Omar: [email protected]
