Katlyn constructs a career in project management

Realising she needed more formal upskilling in project management, Katlyn has taken her construction philosophy to her career – filling in the blanks with a Certificate IV in Project Management Practice (BSB41515) from TAFE Queensland.

“I love the construction industry and everything involved in bringing amazing projects together, but I was missing a key element of my own, and that was project management,” says Katlyn.

"My studies are assisting me in my career to understand how a project is managed and the work involved with that, it will help me progress upwards. I’m able to better understand and implement project management principals and terminology, and become more productive," she said.

From hospital ward builds to the construction of major highways, the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing, Katlyn is no stranger to large scale projects. However, her curiosity for understanding every facet of a project motivated her to study with TAFE Queensland.

“I knew that I wanted to be a project manager when I realised how involved I wanted to be in all aspects of a project and TAFE Queensland is getting me to where I want to be. "

“The course is helping me understand all of the background information that I previously had not been aware of, and it has opened a new world that I didn’t realise was there."

“I enjoy the fact that the course is giving me a level of knowledge I never had before. I also enjoy the class interactions and hearing the other student’s backgrounds as well as hearing their thought processes on each subject,” continues Katlyn.

She hopes to one day combine her work experience and her qualification to become a Construction Project Manager, and manage rebuilds and refurbishments within the health industry.

“In five to ten years’ time, I see myself on a construction site, managing projects worth millions – maybe one day managing billion dollar projects! I have a long way to go, but I love learning and would like to have more education under my belt too,” she says.

Katlyn’s confidence to achieve the lofty goals that she has set for herself is the quality educational foundation that her course and industry connected teachers are providing her with.

“I have learnt so much, from PMBOK, the iron triangle, network analysis, stakeholder management to time management and so much more. I have been able to use almost all elements of the course within my current role at work,” continues Katlyn.

“TAFE Queensland has always provided a professional calibre of teachers and the facilities offer a consistent clean look and feel between the campuses I have studied at, they always have great resources readily available to students.

“My teacher has great experience and knowledge. He knows I’m already in the industry and encourages me to focus on relevant elements and encourages interaction between all students.”