Maintaining our position as a global leader in geotechnical solutions means having a constant pipeline of talent and attracting the best people early in their careers. We spoke to three recruits around the world about why they chose Keller and their experiences so far.
Kendrick Soer, 22, from Illinois
Co-op (long-term intern) at Hayward Baker since October 2016
I study construction management at Southern Illinois University. I work full-time in the summer and 20 to 30 hours a week when I’m in school.
When I was looking for an internship I came across Keller company Hayward Baker and realised it was an area of construction I’d never really heard about. It intrigued me. I was surprised at how big the company is and how in-depth the role is.
I’m based at the St Louis office in an engineering role. I’ve been learning about soil profiles and how to do preliminary estimates. They’ll give me a project to look at when it comes in and I’ll make sure it’s something we can do, tell them what kind of scope of works I think it needs, that kind of thing.
I was in the office for the first seven months and then went out on site for a month as a field engineer, working on a ground compaction job for Boeing – that’s been the best experience so far.
The experience has given me better management skills, as well as improving my speaking and writing abilities. My goal is to be a field engineer, work up the ranks to become a general superintendent and then move into upper management.
Everyone is very friendly here and they’re helping me a lot. My advice to anyone in a similar position is to ask lots of questions and be open to learning.
Sabrina Hummel, 26, from Frankfurt
Apprentice at Keller Holding, Germany, since September 2016
During my last semester at university I decided to pursue a career in human resources.
I was searching for different possibilities when I found the advert from Keller. The apprenticeship looked attractive due to Keller’s international and decentralised corporate structure, as well as the opportunity to work in an HR department that covers all the relevant fields.
Once a week, I go to vocational school to learn the theory, which I can put into practice during the rest of the week. I’m learning everything about recruiting, contracts, people development, work safety and payroll.
Besides the specific HR knowledge, I’ve learnt how important communication and networking is in a company as big and international as this one. I’ve had some great opportunities to broaden my sense of the Keller business and culture. For instance, I visited a construction site last year and learnt some interesting things about our core business.
I’ve also interned in different departments, such as spending a week with Customer Service at KGS (Keller’s in-house equipment manufacturer) in Renchen. At the Keller Soccer Cup (our annual football tournament for the EMEA division) in Madrid, I enjoyed meeting and connecting with people.
All in all, I think apprenticeships are really important for educating those new to the workforce in a professional way – you can help them grow into a company. I’ve learnt a lot from people.
My time on this state-approved programme is almost done, and I’m pleased to say that I will be staying on with Keller in an HR position.
Reid Topping, 24, from Central Coast, New South Wales
Apprentice at Waterway Constructions since January 2014
I was on a gap year after leaving school and didn’t really know what was next. I’d done a
lot of carpentry at school and have always
been pretty hands-on, so my brother – a
diver for Waterway – suggested a bit of
work experience. I enjoyed the week and applied for the tradesperson’s apprenticeship.
The apprenticeship here lasts for four years with a full-time job at the end. I spend around eight weeks a year at TAFE [institution providing vocational training] and the rest of the time on site.
I love it at Waterway. It gets better every day and there’s something new to learn all the time, whether it’s how to use certain tools or about specific piling techniques. You never know what problems you’ll have to solve, but there’s always an answer. One of the big challenges is working in water, surprisingly it can be a real drain on your mind and body.
One of the highlights was the Spectacle Island project in Sydney harbour, where we completely stripped the wharf down to the piles and rebuilt it.
When you’re in Sydney with friends and you see a finished project you’ve worked on, it’s rewarding to know you’ve done something that’s made a physical impact.
Waterway is a great company, focused on doing things the right way, and I’ve had lots of support and training. I hope to be here for a long time.