As many Griffith University students mark the end of their degrees at this week’smid-year graduation ceremony,some have already been snapped up by employers.
A Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) graduate and member of the Griffith Honours College, Aja Pymble-Ward was delighted to have her academic achievements recognised in front of her friends and family at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday evening.
“I was really looking forward to the ceremony and getting up on stage in the gown,” said Aja.
“It felt like the perfect opportunity to tie up all the loose ends and close the book on my degree.”
Aja completed her studies in November last year and is already well on her way to achieving her dream job after securing some full-time work as a site engineer at the new Gold Coast University Hospital.
“Within five years my plan is to reach the role of project engineer,” she said.
“I have a three-year graduate program to complete as a site engineer and then in five years I’d love to be project engineer.
Aja contributes her success to Griffith’s work placements and careers service, but says seeing the new Gold Coast University Hospital being built across the road is what cemented her future.
“I studied at the Gold Coast campus, so having the new hospital being built right across the road was an inspiration to me,” she said.
“As a civil engineering student, it was always something I would look at across the roadand think ‘Wow! That looks complicated and really fantastic’. It was the kind of project I wanted to be a part of.”
So when it came time for her to choose a work placement, Aja knew exactly what to do.
“In order to graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) you have to do 12 weeks of work experience.”
“So when my time came around I thought, I’m going to go across there and see if they have any work for me.”
Now a full-time employee with Lend Lease, Aja has well and truly hit the ground running.