Jenny Yeo

Name: Jenny Yeo
Employer: May Gurney Ltd
University: University of Portsmouth
Subject: MSc civil engineering

My background

After graduation I set off travelling around Europe and South East Asia. I gained work experience during this time with an international construction company working in Kuala Lumpur. I wanted to return to the UK to work because the training is excellent and there are great opportunities for young people to progress. When looking for my graduate job I compared the benefits and training offered by different companies.

My job

The company I work for is an integrated construction services company. As an assistant quantity surveyor my main responsibilities include pre- and post-subcontract; cost forecasting; measurement and taking of quantities; cost and resources monitoring and reporting; document control and site administration. I'm currently working on a framework contract for the reconstruction or refurbishment of the bridges in Suffolk. The project is set up for a three-year period with options to increase this.

'My first day was the most interesting a person could have.'

Depending on value, there are normally three projects running at the same time. I work a full day but leave slightly earlier on Fridays. I'm based at Stansted Airport but travelling to Ipswich for a new project. On site our office is a Portakabin, but the scenery is lovely from the window and I have great work colleagues. We've done loads of team building activities such as go-karting, a curry night and ten pin bowling and there are more things planned.

My training

The graduate training started with an induction programme and then I started going out on weekly site visits. I'm now receiving lots of practical training on the job and learning from the experience of a senior quantity surveyor. We also have the opportunity to do lots of other courses, and not purely construction and health and safety-related ones. I recently completed a defensive driving course taught by ex-police drivers.

My most unforgettable moment

I went to the company's Christmas dinner on my first day at work. It was a really lively event and to top it all I became a glamorous assistant, or shall we say ‘guinea pig' for one of the magician's tricks! It was definitely the most interesting first day at work a person could have. I also felt proud the other day when I read about the success of a project I had worked on in the construction industry press.