What’s it like to work at Soben? In an Operational Team Profile double bill, we catch up with Shanaka Perera, Office Manager, and Kevin Athukorala, Quantity Surveyor, who both work for Soben in Sri Lanka.
Tell us about your role at Soben
Shanaka: I assist and support Soben’s Sri Lanka Operations, under the direction of HR Director, Asia, and working closely with the UK-based Finance & Administration Manager. Together we are responsible for managing, processing and troubleshooting business accounts and transactions for the Soben Sri Lanka, International Measurement Centre (IMC). My role is to administer and coordinate activities pertaining to our office operations. I’m responsible for organising suppliers, maintenance, security, and supplies and logistics providers to ensure the required support services are in place for the effective functioning of Soben Sri Lanka.
Kevin: I’m a Quantity Surveyor working for the Sri Lankan IMC, my main responsibility is to prepare high quality Bills of Quantities for our clients.
What does a typical working day look like for you?
Shanaka: Every day is different in my role – which keeps things interesting. I start my workday by checking my e-mail and updating my to-do list. Then I coordinate with our HR Director to prioritize the day’s tasks and plan my work accordingly. There’s a lot going on, so it’s important that I stay focused on what I’ve said I’ll achieve that day to get everything done.
Kevin: I usually start the day by checking e-mails and notes which I have made on the previous day. I then look over my to-do list and get started on my projects. Those projects pave the way for me to gain unique experiences from different countries.
What do you enjoy most about being part of Soben?
Shanaka: What I enjoy the most is the working environment at the office. It is friendly and warm and the team is united and supportive. As I am working for the HR Director, Asia, I have the opportunity to learn and grow with the business. The support and guidance that has been given to me during my time at Soben has been amazing.
Kevin: Mainly, in Soben, I enjoy gathering knowledge related to various construction techniques which are different from region to region. I should mention the teamwork in Soben IMC to deliver projects on time is outstanding and I really enjoy being a part of it.
What are your career goals over the next 12-18 months?
Shanaka: I started as an Office Administrative Assistant in 2018 and have now progressed to the role of Office Manager. I am proud of the career progression I have achieved at Soben. Looking to the future, I would like to continue to develop myself, discovering and implementing new things that can improve how we work and deliver results at Soben.
Kevin: My main goal in the coming months is to work hard towards becoming a Chartered QS. I will also seek opportunities to contribute more to the company to make it a better place.
How do you unwind from a busy week at work?
Shanaka: I usually go out with my family and friends during the weekend to unwind my mind. I enjoy spending time with my parents and my in-laws.
Kevin: Most weekends I socialise with my friends and colleagues. These outings play a huge role when it comes to stress release. On Sundays, I spend most of the time with my family after attending the Holy mass. That helps me relax and prepare for the next busy week.
How would your colleagues describe you?
Shanaka: I think they would describe me as a helpful person.
Kevin: Well, I guess they would describe me as a good team-player, and a person who encourages others to try new things related to both office and personal life. I’m a person who is open to share anything supports others to succeed.
We’re hiring
Inspired by Shanaka and Kevin’s career journeys? If you would like a new challenge or a switch of careers, we have lots of exciting vacancies across the globe. Please click here to check out our current opportunities, or send an up-to-date CV to [email protected].
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