Veterans at Symal: From the Infantry to infrastructure

Tom Murrell’s journey into construction

Transitioning from military service to a civilian career can be daunting, but for many veterans, the construction industry offers a familiar step forward in their journey.

With shared ways of working that have been at Symal since the beginning – leadership, teamwork and problem-solving – we’re proud to be a place where veterans can achieve great things.

One of our own, Tom Murrell, now Design Manager, has experienced this transition firsthand.

Making the transition

After leaving school at 17, he joined the Infantry and spent a year with the 1st Battalion before continuing as an active reservist for 7 years. During this time, he pursued a university degree, which led to him finding a career with us in construction.

“I started in design and site coordination, but I wanted more hands-on experience, and that’s when I came across Symal. I was looking to move into the contractor space – get out from behind the desk and into the job site to see projects come to life,” says Tom.

A career in construction

Since joining Symal nearly four years ago, Tom has held various engineering roles and now works as a Design Manager between Pre-contracts and project delivery. His military background at Timor Leste has given him the adaptability and leadership skills that are highly regarded in the construction industry.

“There are a lot of similarities between defence and construction. The leadership, discipline and problem-solving skills that you develop in the military hold you in good stead. Construction also offers that sense of purpose and mission, just in a different way.”

Supporting veterans

Symal recognises the immense value that veterans bring to the industry and will continue supporting their transition into the industry. Whether it’s engineering, project management, or site coordination, there are countless opportunities to create exciting and challenging outcomes for veterans to apply their skills and build a meaningful career.

If you’re a veteran considering making it yours in construction, know that you’re not starting from scratch.

To learn more about opportunities for veterans at Symal, visit our careers page or contact us at veterans@symal.com.au.