Top five trends for millennial employability
Aurecon surveyed a network of its millennial and graduate workforce to assess their views on skills and employability in the engineering industry.
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During the day, Maya’s working on projects that help clients tackle some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges. Outside of work, she’s a daughter, a friend, and a passionate Bollywood dancer.
For Maya, work isn’t about following the status quo – it’s about bringing her whole authentic self, her ideas, and her energy to everything she does. From collaborating on complex projects to finding balance with her passions outside of work, here’s what a day in her life looks like.
My day starts at around 6:00 AM. I like to keep mornings relaxed, so I take my time getting ready and skip the gym, that’s more of an evening thing for me. Once ready, it’s off to the races! I make my way over the train station, for my commute into the city – I've got 40 min to kill so naturally, AirPods in, true crime podcast on.
Where does the time go? Before I know it, I’m off at Southern Cross station and, just a few minutes’ walk, and I’m in the office. Once settled in, I rattle the team (aka my co-workers) and it’s off for that first sweet sip of coffee of the day. We’re quite lucky to be situated in a cafe hotspot... lots to choose from, so we all like to switch it up from time to time to keep things interesting.
"Weekly check-ins really focus on making sure everyone
on the team feels supported."
With coffee in hand, I join our weekly Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) catch up. We review deadlines, deliverables, and questions, and receive new tasks and projects during our 1:1 sessions with the team leader.
We also get new tasks and projects assigned during our 1:1 with our team leader, so these weekly check-ins really focus on making sure everyone on the team feels supported, connected and encourages us to ask questions when needed. It also helps that my team is very much a 'no such thing as a silly question' kind of crew. It definitely makes it a relaxed and safe environment to learn, particularly for early career professionals (ECPs) such as myself.
After the meeting, it’s time to dive into my project work. I find myself immersed in various tasks that keep my days dynamic and exciting. Each project is unique, bringing its own challenges and learning opportunities. We use a range of tools and software to streamline our work. Inbuilt Excel sheets help with calculations, while Revit and Recall are my go-tos for report writing.
One of my personal favourite projects is the new student precinct at the University of Melbourne. As an architecture graduate, there’s something so incredible about being able to walk around a campus and see everyone enjoying a space you helped create. It really brings in the best of both worlds.
Who doesn't love lunchtime!? Around 12:00 PM, I usually opt for sushi, my go-to choice, although there are plenty of other great options around. When the weather’s nice, you’ll find me sitting outside on Victoria Green with other ECPs, soaking up the sun. But since this is Melbourne, if the weather’s not cooperating, we head to the social hub for some friendly competition over pool or foosball.
These moments have been wonderful for building friendships at work and creating a sense of connection.
This made a big difference for me; having started my degree during the COVID-19 lockdowns, I felt like I missed out on a lot of social aspects like networking, hanging out and the chance to form close bonds with my peers. So, it’s awesome that I’m able to make up for lost time and develop meaningful friendships at work. It's these connections that make coming to work every day so enjoyable.
Alright, back to work! The afternoon is when my client meetings and workshops usually happen, and they’re my favourite part of the day. Today we’re working on the Arts Centre Melbourne, which I’m really passionate about. It involves everything from section J compliance to thermal modelling, report writing, and Green Star credit work. I won’t get into all the details, but it’s really riveting stuff for someone in my role!
After our workshop, it’s go time. I typically spend a couple of hours actioning items from our clients. One of the things I love about coming into the office most days is that I can often just turn around and ask my colleague a question. It makes problem-solving so much easier and faster. Our team leader is incredibly supportive, and I often ping her directly for guidance. The open-door policy here is fantastic; it really fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment.
Today, I also met with my local Limelight Committee. As a member of the career development pillar, I help plan events and workshops for early career professionals. Our meetings are always energetic and collaborative, and it’s awesome to see the impact we have. This week, we organised an End of Month Trivia night, where people from all parts of the business got together for some friendly competition and drinks.
It’s great seeing these events help people connect, not just with ECPs but also with senior team members. Limelight made my transition into the workforce so much easier and welcoming.
It’s time to log off and switch gears. Where did day go? Last year I discovered a new passion that has since become an integral part of my life: Bollywood dancing. Every week, I look forward to these sessions where I can be creative and expressive while connecting with my culture.
It’s not just about the dance moves; it’s an opportunity to catch up with friends and share in the joy of movement. The vibrant rhythms and colorful energy of Bollywood music uplift my spirits, making each session feel like a celebration. Through Bollywood dancing, I have found a beautiful way to balance my work life, stay connected to my roots, and strengthen bonds with those who share this passion.
As I step through the door, the comforting aroma of my mom's cooking greets me, instantly making me feel at home. Sitting around the dinner table with my parents, we share stories and laughter, catching up on each other's day. This cherished time together reminds me of how lucky I am to have such a supportive family.
After dinner, I unwind with my night routine and since it’s Thursday, I’m having an early think about my weekend plans. With the warm weather quickly fading, I want to make the most of my time outdoors. Hiking is my go-to activity with friends. It also helps that my co-workers are also hiking enthusiast so I’m never running out of fresh ideas for a fun new adventure, feeling content and ready for a peaceful night's sleep.
Aurecon surveyed a network of its millennial and graduate workforce to assess their views on skills and employability in the engineering industry.
At Aurecon, people at the heart of all we do. Learn more about how we are building a workplace where everyone is heard, and feels valued and connected.
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