What's your job about?
Hamilton City Council (HCC) is a public Organisation that works for the development and well beings of the present and future Hamiltonians. I work under the Building Control Department which looks after issuing building consents, code compliance certificates and carrying out inspections. My role in HCC is Building Inspector, so basically looking after the buildings that are newly built or renovated comply with the building consent. As a Building Inspector, I need to be competent to look after the inspections on my own but being a graduate, I will be assisted by the senior inspectors in all inspections. Currently, I was assigned to do inspections on swimming pools so will be hanging out with my own team inspectors and compliance team people to the pools and carrying out the inspections. Once I am competent, I will be assigned to do all new swimming pools inspections on my own. Our calendars are prebooked with inspections for a month in advance, so we head up to the site on that day and do the requested inspection. Since I got some years of experience working in the New Zealand construction industry dealing with inspections in the past, I have a clear idea about how inspections and what the inspectors expect from the builders. A graduate without much practical experience in the field might feel a bit difficult initially but over the days once you learn things it will be just a cup of tea.
What's your background?
I was born in Puducherry, a small city in India quite famous for hot drinks but I am a teetotaller. I did my school, undergraduate degree in the same city as my parents not willing me to send out of the city for studies but I can travel to any part of the country for a trip!!! Rather than saying a stage, the decision I took to step out of my country and decide to pursue higher studies in New Zealand is the most significant part of my life. Being the youngest son of my parents they are not really interested to send me out but the only thing that made them convinced is it was my wish! I miss them a lot now it’s been more than two years I haven’t been with them, hopefully, COVID ends soon and gives all a normal life. I was keen to get into a public organization that works for the community and more importantly, that should relate to what I have studied. I was applying for roles in a few public organizations with my previous experience and finally ends up in HCC and it’s been two months here.
What do you think are the most important characteristics to be successful at HCC and in your role?
To be successful in this role and in HCC, keep learning things and implement everything practically at your workplace. Before starting to inspect swimming pools I attended a BOINZ online course about the access to residential pools and the building codes that relates to the swimming pools. Once after completing the course, I was theoretically educated but after starting the inspections I implement practically what I have learnt in the course made me more knowledgeable. I get more input from my fellow well-experienced inspectors, which helps me to be a successful person in HCC and in my career.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
I love travelling a lot and driving a car and obviously, that’s been mandatory for my role. I start from my home travel throughout the city in a car for inspections and end my day back at home, occasionally I will be heading to the office. Though travelling on the same roads around the city daily sometimes feels a bit boring, I will be excited enough for doing new inspections and awaits what new things are heading up. Making the customer feel comfortable and giving good suggestions to them if something went wrong and working along with them to correct things will make me think I am doing my role in the right way.
What are the limitations of your job?
As a graduate, responsibility in my role initially less, once after competent enough to look after the inspections on my own at that time it might increase. The most important working here is no work at weekends so we get enough time to spend with our family and can maintain a proper work-life balance. There won’t be much work to do physically but during inspections need to step up the ladders to reach heights and a lot of walking around the sites. To be frank, I cannot figure out the limitations correctly, maybe like someone who doesn’t want to travel a lot and not get exposed to the outside weather conditions on accounting for their health situations can opt-out of this role.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...
During my university days, I do all bad things but also bit concentrated on my studies and career. I don’t like to take things seriously if it doesn’t work for me personally and handling them in a state of cool and calm helped me a lot and will continue to do that throughout my life. It doesn’t mean I won’t get angry; I do but avoid taking any decisions under those circumstances. Enjoy your work and love your life that will lead you to be a real human being.