KAURI BECKMANN
+49 176 280 66521 | kauri.b@outlook.co.nz Interview Prep
KAURI BECKMANN 1 Question: Tell us about yourself 1 Question: Tell us about your role at Cook Costello 2 Question: Tell us about your role in Health and Safety 2 Question: Strengths and Weaknesses 3 Question: Tell us about BIM 3 Question: Why AJG 4 Question: Language? 5 Questions for AJG 5 Challenges 6
Question: Tell us about yourself
Native tree of NZ Grew up, Lived life in NZ Father stereotypical kiwi Passion for environment and outdoors Hiking, cycling, camping, anything wilderness Last seven months travelling Following these passions Creative writing, publishing stories from travels Play hard, work hard Mother sharp businesswoman, China Instilled value of hard work Top grades in school University maintained a good work-study-life balance (University not free in NZ) Working in NZ five years, Cook Costello, Eng. Consulting Multidisciplinary engineering firm Family business Similar size to yours At Cook Costello they really invested into me and gave me the time and teaching Throughout those five years I took on more and more responsibility, Managing own clients and projects throughout life cycle Valuable for understanding the wider context of engineering design. Designed wide range of structures Residential, industrial, commercial structures New builds, alterations Seismic and structural assessment and reporting Put together portfolio of a few of the projects I’ve worked on, Not sure if you’d like to discuss now, I can share that with you as those projects come up, I’ll share with you the link shortly I loved working there, but really wanted to go travelling, and in these months I’ve Discovered I really love Germany, The reason I’m interviewing with you today To go back into a technical role, to pick up where I left off We’ll see if your firm is the place for that
Question: Tell us about your role at Cook Costello
Tight knit culture Friends & colleagues Coffee, sharing learnings
(At Cook Costello they really invested into me and gave me the time and teaching Throughout those five years I took on more and more responsibility, Managing own clients and projects throughout life cycle Valuable for understanding the wider context of engineering design.)
Designing range of structures
Outside of structural: Hands dirty, Geotechnical testing and assessment Dipped my toes into Three waters design Broad management experience Client management and liaison Scoping, pricing and tendering Managing budgets and negotiating variations Coordination and management of colleagues Draftspeople, interdisciplinary projects Coordination with external parties; architects, contractors, etc Navigating regulatory bodies Valuable for understanding the wider context of engineering design. Engineering Portfolio - tell you more about this side of engineering as well
Continued: Health and Safety H&S training - certifications Reasonable knowledge of the HSWA Overhauled in 2015 NZ high workplace casualties Modernisation, international Encouraged participation Penalties Focus on Hazard ID and Risk Management Safety in Design Job Safety Analyses & Take 5 Hazard Register Lone Worker Policy Covid-19 Policies Covid-19 had positive impact on engineering projects, investment. What happened in Germany? Impact business today?
Question: Strengths and Weaknesses
Weakness: Uncertainty, Lack of confidence I’m sure you’ve also had projects where you’re nervous, praying the construction goes to plan, that a scaffolding doesn’t blow away, or that the foundation doesn’t sink. Re technical skills Not always sure my calculations have some error Or I’m following the right approach Spend a lot of time reviewing details and drawings A lot of time searching for better ways to do something Different modelling approach More detailed analysis Important having the right resources and people Whether that’s for confirmation or providing guidance Of course there’s more room to grow, but that uncertainty, impostor syndrome, I wonder, how does that change with your experience?
Weakness: Effecting change H&S always had a lot of ideas and ways to do things Overhauled system in first year The rest of the years trying to get people to do the digital paperwork correctly Reward and punishment Developing new systems and policies - slow Implementing them - even slower Covid set that apart
Strength: Problem solving
I know cycle touring is reasonably popular in Germany, have you ever been before? You’ve probably noticed, typically you’ve got saddlebags, front and back, reasonably low centre of gravity, reasonably even distribution of weight. I’ve been cycle touring the last few weeks, 50€ bicycle, 25 kilo tramping rucksack. I was explaining to my partner about some challenges I was having during this cycle tour, how I was struggling to strap my rucksack on my bicycle, unstable, unbalanced, how after two weeks the most stable solution is to wear it. Of course she laughed at me, reminding me, the engineer, she’s never known not to have a solution. While I’ve been in town I took the time to build a contraption on the back of my bike to keep the rucksack stable, and a counterweight system on the front, and it’s holding on the bumpy paving stones in this city. I think my strength is my problem-solving ability, but also creativity and enjoyment of a challenge. And I think that reflects in my engineering, given design challenges, engineering constraints, I’m always looking for a better solution.
Identified wasting time with their booking system Optimizing prices Automating system Went a step further of downloading the software and running a trial So in this situation I took the initiative, identify an issue and propose an implementable solution.
Question: Tell us about BIM
My extent of experience with BIM is limited to reviewing 3D Revit models created by my draftspeople. Design conflicts; 3D reinforcement Structural detailing direct from 3D model
I understand there’s a lot more to it.
Always wondered about the possibilities of BIM, and I can see it has the potential to solve many of the same problems I’ve faced in my own projects. Integration with 3D structural models Parametric design Interdisciplinary coordination Architects and other engineers Sustainability calculations Cost and time savings for complex projects Variable Level of Detail
I know there’s some criticisms around BIM, but I think these are challenges to be overcome. High learning curve -> mistakes Interdisciplinary inoperability, current lack of standardised processes Maintenance during project life cycle High cost, limited applications in smaller projects due to high complexity
In my role in New Zealand, structural drafting and structural design have been somewhat separate specialities. this was always a source of complexity in design - coordinating information Before learning about BIM I assumed this was the norm.
Please tell me if I understood incorrectly, but at AJG it’s different. The line between design and drafting seems a lot more blurred. Could you tell me a little more about that? How that impacts the work you do? How does that shape the way you do engineering?
Question: Why AJG
Why AJG I want to be able to go home and be proud of the projects I work on When the public sees the building I want to be able to say I worked on it Proud for the rest of my life Why Munich Looking at companies in Munich Love the city, Close relationships with people here I decided I’m going to build the next chapter of my life here
Looking at companies in Munich (again) Your company stood out Exemplary engineering work The complex nature of your projects Gorgeous designs to be proud of Gärtnerplatztheater (Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz) Therme Erding Recycling plants look like quality engineering I think it’s incredible you played a part in this project, I’d love to work on such meaning projects A focus on BIM, the future of engineering Fast learner, important for me as an engineer to work in a firm that does it this way
Looking for a place I like the colleagues Smaller, family business, previously worked in similar size Work close with colleagues, be friends with them, enjoyed going to work Fast growth, a lot of opportunity to work closely with the team, sit with them and learn and share with them. Looking for a good office culture Contribute my knowledge and learn from others
It’s important for me to know how I’ll fit with your team. What is it like, the culture at AJG? How do you find it going to work each day?
Question: Language?
Studying some months Proud of the progress I’ve made so far (Fortschritt) People around to support Eurocodes, German DIN Design, modelling English German Eng Drawings terminology, almost as quickly as I’ll learn how to complain about the DeutscheBahn Tools like DeepL, not long term sustainable solution Clients, architects, contractors; notoriously traditional industry AJG stands out
Question for you, how would my language capabilities fit in with your team?
Questions for AJG
What does project management look like in terms of timeframes, how many engineerings working together, what does the project management structure look like in general? Primary design software SoFiSTiK FEM Revit I’ve told you about the softwares I’ve had exposure to, I read you’re using these softwares, I imagine there will be some new systems for me What sorts of programs are you using on a day-to-day basis What sort of training are you expecting I’ll undertake?
You’ve been doing engineering here a long time, I’m, curious, why AJG? about what stands out about this company to you?
What are your favourite projects you’ve worked on?
Who is the kind of person that would be successful in this role? Who are you looking for? What are the qualities of someone that would do well?
Question throughout around BIM and how it impacts their design
It’s important for me to know how I’ll fit with your team. What is it like, the culture at AJG? How do you find it going to work each day?
Question for you, how would my language capabilities fit in with your team?
It was so nice to chat to you, I’m wondering what the next steps are going to be. When will I hear back?
I’m travelling and applying for jobs now and looking to line something in the new year. But when are you expecting the role to begin. But I really like your firm and I can be flexible if it’s needed.
Challenges
A good challenge was a very budget oriented client we had. Initially priced based on repetitive work Scope of work having to change, no way around it, large variations Extremely unhappy, unapproachable changing scope and budget, teammates unwilling to discuss Don’t shy away from conflict Address with clear communication Sent email, phone call Initially not happy at all about it Explain why budget had to change Needed exact reason for every single change Later email, answered all questions Appreciate my approach Change his mind Learn valuable negotiation skills Improved relationship going forward Complete within timeframe and budget
Through solid relationship we won future work with this client I believe Cook Costello still has a good working relationship