{"id":3831,"date":"2023-06-23T06:29:50","date_gmt":"2023-06-23T04:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.systra.com\/australia\/?p=3831"},"modified":"2025-08-12T00:59:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T22:59:19","slug":"graduate-stories-gabriella-dagata","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.systra.com\/australia\/news\/graduate-stories-gabriella-dagata\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduate Stories"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What’s your job about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SYSTRA is an engineering consulting firm so that means that I\u2019m helping clients understand what their needs or issues are and working with them on a day-to-day basis. I\u2019m currently undergoing my first rotation with a senior engineer in the transport sector and I\u2019m shadowing him through his career to get a better idea of the work he does and learn more about the company. It\u2019s really helpful having such a good mentor because it means I can ask him anything and we talk almost everyday. He\u2019s really good at getting me involved in \u201cbite-sized\u201d tasks for different areas of the business so I get to try different things and meet different people within the company. My average day usually consists of a few meetings, going through emails, lunch with colleagues, and scheduling some extra productive hours to get work done, and usually the days go by pretty quickly. As a graduate, you tend to get a lot of \u201codd jobs\u201d which I don\u2019t mind because it\u2019s 1-2 hours of work and when you\u2019re done you feel more accomplished rather than working on a massive project where you can\u2019t really see the end product for a few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What’s your background?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I grew up in the northern suburbs of Melbourne and moved closer to the city when I was in high school which had a pretty big impact on my schooling and my friends at the time. Changing schools in Year 10 was pretty tough but it helped me become more independent and I even got my first job. While I knew working in retail wasn\u2019t for me in the long run, my colleagues made the job worthwhile. In my final year at university, I wanted to get some industry experience so I got a job in maintenance at a chocolate mousse factory. At times, juggling full-time university and two jobs was really tough but you learn a lot about yourself and if you can prioritise your time, you can actually achieve anything. When I finally graduated, I was pretty burnt out and I quit my job and I went backpacking through Europe for 3 months. I knew it was something I really wanted to do, as my family is Italian and Maltese and I definitely want to go back soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Flash forward to February 2023, I got off the plane and started my new job at SYSTRA two days later. Now it\u2019s crazy to look back on because I\u2019ve already been working for SYSTRA for four months! The final year was stressful enough and applying for jobs made it even more stressful but I\u2019m glad it paid off and I could focus on my exams knowing I had a position at SYSTRA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n“There are so many different projects that the management team tries really hard to put you on a project that makes sense for your background and skill set.”<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Could someone with a different background do your job?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Definitely yes, all of the graduates I\u2019ve met at SYSTRA come from different backgrounds, the only things we have in common are an engineering degree, a willingness to learn and respect for the company. There are so many different projects that the management team tries really hard to put you on a project that makes sense for your background and skill set. That being said, there are some characteristics that will help you thrive no matter what company you work for, an open mind, a good attitude and persistence go a long way. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What’s the coolest thing about your job?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My job is pretty unique because I\u2019m working so closely with a senior engineer it\u2019s really easy for me to know if I\u2019m doing my job well. We have daily meetings, usually only 15-30 minutes, where we go through what I\u2019ve done and what I\u2019ll be doing until the next meeting. It really gives me a chance to ask any questions and get feedback. In addition, my colleagues in Melbourne make an effort to try all the different lunch spots in our area so there\u2019s always an open invite for some good food. We also have a tennis court in our building!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What are the limitations of your job?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Engineering consulting is such a broad and overwhelming industry so sometimes it can be hard to see where you fit in. Especially as a graduate, sometimes a project lead will need someone more experienced and because it\u2019s a client\u2019s request, there isn\u2019t much room to persuade them otherwise. I think the biggest limitation of my job is being underestimated, sometimes it might feel like you\u2019re not being utilised to your full potential but I think as time goes on, people get to know you better personally and professionally and you have a better sense of belonging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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