Meet Irem Karabulut, she recently joined the Alchemy team as our full-time Site Supervisor at Melton Specialist School and we couldn’t be more excited to have her on board.
Increasing our female site staff is a huge focus for us at Alchemy.
With a passion for the industry and representing women on site, we wanted to ask Irem a few questions to understand her perspective on why it’s so important for more women to be a part of the industry as well as her advice to young women entering construction.
What is your building of impact?
My building of impact would be the Sydney Harbour Bridge. What makes this building my favourite is its timeless beauty on one of the most attractive harbours in the world. Other than being one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world, it holds a much more special meaning to us Australians. The Sydney Harbour Bridge provides us all with cultural and a National sense of identity that we can be proud of. It is a symbol of Australian progress, modernity, and ingenuity. And that’s what makes it meaningful to me.
“Empower yourself through detailed skills training to undertake job roles and challenges in the industry. Always ask questions, learn the job better than anyone else and always trust yourself. Never hesitate to trust your knowledge and don’t be afraid to challenge ideas if you do not think it is correct.”
What is the one piece of advice you wish you had received in your early days of construction?
I wish I had more detailed advice on knowledge and skills expected from the building construction industry. To understand my strengths, but also be aware of my weaknesses, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
What has been the most memorable moment of your career in construction?
The most memorable moment of my career in construction has been getting involved on the Melton Specialist School project.
It has been very rewarding to be part of a build that will provide specialist students with education to reach success both academically and personally. Every day on site I get to see excited children on the other side of the school’s fence, peeping through eager to see their new school come together. Seeing the smiles on their little faces brings me so much happiness.
This project has also helped me build a very meaningful relationship with my team. My Project Manager and Site Manager have helped me really grow into my role; their mentorship is extremely valuable to me.
What advice would you give to young women entering the industry?
Empower yourself through detailed skills training to undertake job roles and challenges in the industry. Always ask questions, learn the job better than anyone else and always trust yourself. Never hesitate to trust your knowledge and don’t be afraid to challenge ideas if you do not think it is correct.
What’s the best bit about your job?
There are so many factors about my job that I absolutely love.
Firstly, no construction project is ever the same. Every day is different, there are always new challenges. I am always actively problem-solving for unique challenges that occur throughout each project. This creates the opportunity for me to tap into my creative side and see my decisions reflecting positively to reach the final goal.
I also enjoy having a positive contribution to my construction team. I get to build meaningful relationships with genuine people who share similar passions and dedications to the industry.
Ultimately, I am especially lucky to be part of Alchemy Construct. Alchemy is a company who values inclusivity, integrity, quality, and building strong communities. These values reflect back into my working environment, making a positive and rewarding workplace to be in where I feel supported to develop my career in construction.
What makes you proud to work in the construction industry?
I am proud to make a constructive input to the building and construction industry. I take pride in building the future of communities. We all play a valuable part in shaping the communities we live in, ultimately creating a foundation for the future quality of life. It’s very rewarding to know I am part of building Australia’s yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
What do you think the industry can do to continue to attract women to work in it?
My number one priority will be a zero-tolerance approach to inappropriate behaviour towards women together with the promotion of safety and wellbeing in the industry. The construction industry must promote a culture that does not accept any form of sexism or discrimination, while actively challenging every instance of it.
I would also like to see an improvement in education and training that is more specific through Jobs Training or Workforce Skills Development. With a more defined and quality education system, this will empower women by encouraging career development and will aid in tackling pay imbalances.
Knowledge is power!