Learning on the Job

“The tasks assigned to me were also very engaging. I had the opportunity to contribute to the writing of the ambassador blog! With that alone, I was able to conduct interviews and prepare the content with the assistance of Maxime van Belle,” she says, reflecting on her role as a Pauwels ambassador which proved to be useful during her internship as well. Knowing the company inside and out is a huge asset when transitioning into various roles.

Insights for the Team

“I also carried out a survey from A to Z and presented the results to the team, who were able to identify concrete actions to take. As you can see, I wasn’t assigned typical intern “grunt work.” I was allowed to contribute and make a meaningful impact. For that, I extend a heartfelt THANK YOU!”

Well, we want to thank you too, Wassima. As a consultant and an ambassador, you provided valuable insights to the Marketing team, while being a reliable extra in our workforce. And most importantly, you were a ray of sunshine in the office!

At home in all markets

When I was choosing what to study at college, I had no idea what direction to take in my career since my interests were so varied. In the end, I opted for economics, a very wide-ranging subject that could take me in a number of different directions. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Economics and a Master’s in Business Economics, specializing in logistics and innovation. It’s from here that my passion for logistics grew.

First career moves

My first professional moves were as an Operational Management Trainee working for a transport and warehousing company. The job was to make it easy for young potentials to move rapidly into management positions by introducing them to the different departments within the company on a project basis. During my time there I learned to work independently and really developed my self-confidence. As a result, I got the opportunity to spend three months in the Netherlands helping to implement the company culture in a new office. This involved a lot of teamwork and the opportunity to develop communication techniques, especially when it came to cultural differences. I completed my traineeship after nine months, following which I started as a team leader in the warehouse. There I managed logistics and the associated day-to-day operations for a period of six months.

Team player

Teamwork has always appealed to me, and that’s what inspired me to take on the role of team leader with my previous employer. While in this position, I gained valuable experience in leadership and in supporting a team. However, through this experience, I’ve come to the realization that my true strength and preference lies in working directly within a team. As so often happens, it took real-life experience to make me realize this. As team lead, I stood apart from the team dynamics to a certain extent. This was undoubtedly the case when it came to the more negative aspects, such as giving bad news or re-delegating work. Now, I’m working shoulder-to-shoulder with my colleagues toward the same goal, and that feels good.

Working for Pauwels Consulting

I was looking for a new challenge and to take on a consultancy role, since the variety and opportunities it held out really appealed to me. I came across some vacancies with Pauwels Consulting on LinkedIn and was put in contact with a Talent Acquisition Specialist. Things went well right from the get-go. We clicked personally, and she got straight down to business. The conversation quickly moved to individual clients and projects. With other companies I had contacted, all consultants started out sitting on the bench – meaning you didn’t get a project – and then you got training. At Pauwels Consulting, they find a project that suits you, and you can always sign up for training courses on your own initiative.

Being a consultant is double the fun

The work/life balance is much better compared to my previous job. Everyone works hard there, but we stick to a stable work schedule. For example, we can select our own overtime hours, and priorities within the team are taken into account. Secondly, I am able to participate in different team activities run by the client. They’re happy to share their activities budget with the consultants, treating us like permanent employees. This only enhances the atmosphere and allows you to settle in faster. Not only that, Pauwels Consulting organizes its own varied teambuilding activities, such as after-work drinks, breakfast with customers, a New Year’s party, etc.!

Growth

I’m looking forward to see what the rest of my career will bring, but I don’t know exactly where it will take me. I deliberately chose a job where I could get to know different companies and roles in an accelerated way. This is because I believe in taking as many opportunities as you can when they present themselves. That way I can keep on learning and be proud of what I’ve achieved: that’s my goal. So, I’m actually ambitious on a personal level, rather than aiming for a particular job title.

The consultant at the heart of the project

As a BIM coordinator, you need to be at home in all markets and have a thorough understanding of civil engineering, construction processes and BIM processes (software, standards, etc.). I use all the tools applied within a project: Civil 3D, Navisworks, Madaster, Relatics, ACC, ArcGIS, Bricsys, AGACAD, Connections, PowerBI, Archicad, Dalux and the associated add-ins. This varies from project to project and from phase to phase.

I also work with a wide range of stakeholders on a daily basis. Engineers, site managers, architects, facility managers, the client – in essence, the entire chain of the process is involved. BIM serves as the project’s data source, basically. We build up the data, check what is included in the model and look into how this data can be used. We then verify whether it corresponds to the agreements made and who is responsible for each component.

Building up experience quickly

Even before I started working at Pauwels Consulting, I was always learning a lot, and this gave me a great deal of relevant experience after completing my BIM studies. For example, I worked at a company that provided BIM consultancy, research and development services for customers, and then joined a contractor that wanted to consolidate its focus on BIM applications. After that I spent time with a scale-up that designed, produced and managed the life cycle of sustainable prefabricated homes. So you could say that I’ve gained in-depth experience in different contexts involving BIM applications.

Strong agreements and efficient communication

I found that every project came with its own challenges. Every context is unique and there are always many variables due to the structure or environment. And, of course, I worked with other stakeholders on every project. BIM also means making proper agreements, such as who needs to share what information at what time in order to optimise collaboration and facilitate the transfer of information. Efficient communication and transparency are essential in this regard. It’s also my job to make reference to the agreements made. Although BIM is a relatively new way of working, I believe in the future and the importance of collaboration by sharing information, expertise and knowledge.

A dream project at Pauwels Consulting

After hopping between jobs, I realised my hunger for new projects had not yet been met. I now had a nice bag of skills and tricks and was ready to take on a new challenge. When I got in touch with Pauwels Consulting, the communication went very smoothly. The Talent Acquisition Specialist and Account Manager with whom I spoke were very open and transparent about my opportunities.

I soon had something concrete lined up: I had the chance to work on the Oosterweel Link project. One of my goals for some time had been to work on a project that made my neighbourhood greener, more sustainable and more liveable – and to do so at a company where I could still learn a lot.

Outlook for the future

This is the most large-scale infrastructure project I’ve ever worked on. I am very invested in it because it has a direct impact on where I actually live. As a consultant, you have the opportunity to learn a lot, grow and experience new contexts. You also have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and expertise you acquire with the customer in projects where you can make a genuine difference. I truly appreciate this, and I’m already looking forward to what my career at Pauwels Consulting will bring next!

Safety in practice

One recent project that stands out for me is when I was given an essential role in safety management at a major contracting company for industrial projects. A data centre was built where a thorough risk analysis and prevention plan was made for the infrastructure. The main objectives in such projects are to maintain a safe working environment as well as the relationship between the customer and their customer, in this case, Microsoft. We achieve this by carefully managing method statements, using BIM 360 and often explaining and defending safety protocols during daily site meetings.

New opportunities

The customer was satisfied with my contribution and the successful trajectory of the project. This led to new opportunities and gave me a very positive feeling about my work. It made me realise my job is useful and helps people achieve their goals in a safe way. In addition, there are more and more data centres, so the experience I gained from them is still crucial.

Lifelong learning

My current job is the result of my earlier decision to seize opportunities and challenge myself. Taking advantage of training opportunities and finding your passion are the things that turn a job into a career. I also learned new skills as part of the data centre project. I found it challenging to present the method statements in English to an entire team, but thanks to positive feedback on my efforts, I was motivated to sharpen my presentation and documentation skills.