BLOG – Joel’s unifying Quest experience in Australia

21 décembre 2017

Quest is an international transfer program which connects Arcadians from all over the world. Quest is sponsored by the Lovinklaan Foundation. Every week we are highlighting one of the stories our employees who went on an exchange. In this blogpost we cover the Quest story of Joel Jude Tadeo who traveled from Makati, Philippines to Sydney, Australia.

Why did I apply for a Quest

I applied for a Quest to experience and learn how sustainable work is accomplished in Australia and to collaborate and nurture relationships with my fellow Arcadians in Australia.

“Arcadis Australia: where everybody is a ‘mate‘, and you really will have ‘no worries’!”

Highlight of my quest experience

The highlight of my Quest was my first-hand work experience with Australia’s Sustainability team. We shared how our teams operate, and how we solve different challenges we encounter within our work.

My Quest in one word

“Unified”

Learnings and experiences

Karin Wallin was my host and gave me an overview on how the national sustainability team coordinates while working on different projects in different states. Even if they only meet face to face once a month, their structure is a perfect example of Arcadis’ values driven by mutual trust and professionalism.

With guidance from Karin, Sarah Harvey, and Nick De Lacey, I got to work on one of their large infrastructure projects by supporting the thermal energy modeling. The team taught me the basic features of the software they use, as well as their code standards and how they translate into the model. We discussed similarities between our software, and how design parameters are applied.

Of course, the usual “will I fit in” was a worry, which was overshadowed by how similar our work habits are. Surprisingly, they also have a “timesheet day” which  sure is a conversation starter for any Arcadian who experienced the early oracle issues. Most important is their same commitment to client satisfaction and excellence as expected of any Arcadis office.

Overall my Quest in Sydney helped me to develop a stronger sense of belongingness within Arcadis, inspired me to always aim for excellence, and created valuable connections with Australia’s Sustainability team.

Personal recommendations

In my opinion, Quest is a very helpful program that will expand your professional network, aside from allowing you to experience your host’s local culture. I know that the first step is always the hardest, so just talk to your manager, and fill up those online forms. Just remember, fitting in is the last thing you should be worried about.

The international transfer program Quest, which connects Arcadians from all over the world, is sponsored by the Lovinklaan Foundation.

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