Growing with a company has merits

“I remember the braais at head office, where everyone used to fit under the parking afdak,” says junior contracts manager Francois Jooste. “Today I meet people on site that I’ve never met before, and it’s nice to know the company is growing, and things are moving forward.”?

Francois first joined the company as a bursar and student surveyor in late 2001, as one of the twelve successful respondents to an ASLA advert for internships. He remembers his first day on site, at his first project – a bulk and internal services contract located just behind ASLA’s head office. “I was working under site agent Izak van Heerden, now Director and, as I climbed out of the bakkie, Jozua Pretorius, a general foreman at the time, pushed a walkie talkie into my stomach and pointed me in the direction of my team. There was no spoon-feeding, it was pretty much straight into the trenches of practical experience.”?

During his first year, Francois worked on a further two sites before returning to Technicon at the beginning of 2003 to continue with his studies. “When I went back to studying, it was a relief to know that I now had some construction experience and would be guaranteed employment after graduating. As per the contract I had signed with ASLA , I was required to work back my bursary,” says Francois. “Also, I knew that working for ASLA would be great industry experience, as the company was known for producing quality professionals – many of our competitors in the industry were formed by people who had come up through the ASLA ranks.”?

In late 2003, after qualifying, he reported for duty again. ASLA was now developing the Kingswood Golf Estate in George and Francois was seconded to the project as Quantity Surveyor (QS) for four years. “For someone who had never left home – I was born and raised in Cape Town – it was a whole new experience and a really beautiful setting to go to work to every day.” By 2007, and after working on several sites in and around George, as well as in Calitzdorp, Francois was promoted to Senior QS.?

In 2008, while ASLA was upgrading and widening the N1 through Laingsburg, Francois decided that he wanted to finish his B-tech Civil Engineering degree at Cape Peninsula University of Technology , while working full-time. After completing his degree cum laude in 2009 and finishing several high-value projects, he has moved up the career ladder and in March 2023 was appointed to the position of Junior Contracts Manager.?

Francois, what was it like juggling work and studies??

“It was quite challenging as for the entire year I would essentially drive back and forth from Laingsburg every second day to attend night classes. I would eat, study, sleep, wake up, then drive back up to Laingsburg to be on site the next day – the saving grace was my mom’s food on a plate! I also used to study in the airconditioned Laingsburg Steers – and the ladies there used to place my order when they saw me approaching in the carpark. This period really taught me a lot about how far one can extend oneself, and having the support of the company was instrumental in my achieving my degree.”?

What in your mind are fundamental skills required in the industry??

“Surveying is fundamental to everything we do. The ability to read the plan, build in the right place and at the right level, as well as understanding the logic behind surveying and the design criteria is critical. One must also be able to pick up mistakes on drawings – for example if the sewer line seems too flat and might not meet the required speed of flow for sewer, it is important to question this. Over the years one also picks up on the best practices from people you work with, and today a lot of what I expect from a surveyor on my site, comes from the experience gained with and guidance given by Pieter Versfeld when I was a student.?

“Another essential skill is being innovative and finding new ways to do things – for example working in and around a river in the summer versus the winter requires a totally different approach. Also, working on site is not just applying what you learn in class – contracting requires a fair amount of people skills and innovation.?

“I have a huge amount of respect for the plant operators on site, many of whom have worked for the company for thirty odd years – with their support and skill there is no limit to what you can achieve on site. However, it is important that they buy into your vision.”?

What has been a career highlight??

“There are several… Working at the Kingswood Golf Estate immediately after completing my diploma; successfully completing the Laingsburg Road project, while still studying was also a highlight. Building a large sports field in Villiersdorp around 2015 and then in 2016 undertaking a project at the memorable Benguela Cove, a wine estate outside Hermanus. After that was completed, I began working at Forest Village – a challenging project because of its size, the way it was phased and community discord experienced.??

“At the time, Forest Village was the largest and most intricate contract that I had ever tackled. It was also a great opportunity for my team to prove themselves. We would work fast and hard, and production had to run meticulously. On this project the guys began understanding that we’re good, but we could be even better. Completing it was an immensely proud moment, as while we were providing infrastructure for the community, the site team had the opportunity to try new tactics and new strategies. This project set me up for the mega Welmoed Estate project.”?

Does the ‘job’ ever get monotonous??

“Never. One of the most attractive things to me about the industry is that not a single day is the same, but I realise that if you’re not able to deal with constantly changing environmental and social conditions, it can be quite unsettling for people.”?

What merit is there to growing with a company??

“There is a lot of trust and respect within ASLA – there must be as you spend more waking hours with your colleagues than your own family and even more so when you work away from home! As one grows with the company and gets to know the people, one recognises strengths and weaknesses and learns how to get the most out of each person.??

"There are many things they don’t teach at the Technicon and countless opportunities to continue learning throughout your career – both from your colleagues as well as the experience on projects – both small and large. Growing with the company allows you to better understand and implement strategies, having an intricate understanding of the internal workings of the company. But probably one of the biggest benefits of growing in this company is that you are not a number. Those who have worked with you, and with whom you have worked become a second family: guiding, supporting and celebrating your achievements, not only at work but in your personal life too.”?

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