John Georgaklis graduated from Macquarie in 2020 with a combined degree of Bachelor of Engineering and Commerce. He now works as a mechanical engineer at Stantec Australia, where he interned as an undergraduate.
Kickstart: An internship with Stantec gave John Georgaklis the opportunity to apply skills developed at Macquarie University.
“As part of my engineering qualification I completed a three-month internship at Stantec, which really showed me what the ‘real world’ is like,” says John.
All undergraduate students at Macquarie participate in the multi award-winning PACE (Professional and Community Engagement) program, which forms a vital part of their career preparation. Through the program, students engage in a practical activity with one of more than 3000 partner organisations, learning from industry leaders and developing skills that really kickstart their careers.
“Through my internship, I was able to understand how the knowledge and skills developed at Macquarie University are applied in the design and construction industry,” John says.
I am excited about what the future holds for this promising young engineer.
Stantec also worked on the mechanical engineering design for the new Arts Precinct on the Macquarie campus, so has close ties with the University.
Stephen Meleady is an Associate Director at Stantec and says assessing candidates for a graduate position is often challenging given there is little or no job experience to consider. For graduates like John, completing an internship gives them an edge over other candidates.
“When hiring a graduate I look for a candidate who is eager to learn and take on new challenges, has a strong work ethic and good communication skills,” says Stephen.
“I was very impressed with John during his interview; he demonstrated exceptionally strong communication skills and we were impressed with his background in education, his work at his family business and commitment to finishing his responsibilities with his previous role before joining us.”
Benefits of diving in to campus life
During his time at Macquarie, John also served as President of the Macquarie University Greek Association (MUGA), which is the biggest cultural society on campus. He believes this experience has also shaped him for the work force and for life.
New challenges: John Georgaklis and Stantec Associate Director Stephen Meleady, who says graduates with internship experience have an edge over other job candidates.
“My time as president of MUGA involved organising events for our members, organising fundraisers in collaboration with the Macquarie University Modern Greek Department and negotiating deals with external businesses,” says John.
Societies on campus help people network and develop communication and teamwork skills. It’s important for students to involve themselves in campus culture to further develop the soft skills that aren't always taught in the classroom, John says. And this well-rounded skillset has served him well in his career.
“In his time at Stantec John has worked really hard, been flexible in what he has been requested to work on and formed strong relationships with internal staff and external stakeholders,” Stephen says.
“John has worked on some large, complex projects and has demonstrated a calmness and maturity in his approach to his work. He has also contributed to our innovation at Stantec, building engineering tools and working closely with digital engineering.
“I am excited about what the future holds for this promising young engineer.”
JOHN GEORGAKLIS
My degree: Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical major) with Bachelor of Commerce (International Business major). Graduated 2020.
My job: Mechanical engineer at Stantec Australia
Three ways MQ supported me to be job-ready:
- The ability to work as a team. “Working with different personalities can be a challenge, however, my experiences at Macquarie University helped me develop the skills to manage this and obtain the best outcome for clients.”
- Communication skills. “Being able to effectively communicate with team members and external clients is pivotal, as detailed coordination between multiple disciplines is key in the design and construction industry.”
- Management skills. “I learned management skills through my experiences of leading the Macquarie University Greek Association. In the workplace, I am responsible for leading and coordinating younger engineers.”
How I apply what I learned at Macquarie in the workplace:
“Working collaboratively and effectively is key in the workplace. I am currently working on the new development of the Children's Hospital at Westmead. This job involves multiple companies all contributing to the design of the building, with each group having certain requirements.
"Internally, we are a team of six engineers, all from different backgrounds and experiences. Despite the pressure of the job, we can effectively manage the workload, and collaborate to deliver the best result for our client.”
Advice to prospective students:
“Experience campus life as a whole. Be diligent in class but understand that not all learning will be completed in the classroom. The qualities that many companies look for, such as teamwork, communication and independent learning, can also be developed by taking part in social clubs.
"My time at MUGA allowed me to develop the skills which will serve me throughout my career. All experiences at Macquarie University provide an opportunity for growth and development of skills which can be utilised in the workforce.”
