Interview with Sarah Lee

in the Spotlight

Despite the flexibility to work from home, Sarah Lee always looks forward to coming to the office. Find out why from the interview below.

In the Spotlight

Interview with Sarah Lee, Executive Quantity Surveyor

September 13, 2023
Sherine Chng

Q1. What's the day-to-day of your role like?

My day-to-day role as a QS includes updating all my variation order summaries for each project, calling contractors to justify their rates, discussing my cost assessments with my directors, and having occasional chit-chat sessions with colleagues!

Q2. Before working at AIS, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

I was a Sales Associate at H&M. That was during the period while waiting to enter university. I hope I am still good at hanging and folding clothes.

Q3. How did you first learn about AIS?

I first learned about AIS through my university’s internship programme. AIS (formerly known as Arcadis) was my first choice, and I have never regretted it.

Q4. What drew you to AIS originally? And how has AIS changed since?

I worked under Nancy during my internship and assisted her in her projects. She was insightful and her career path inspired me to pursue QS. The office interior has, of course, changed very drastically since my internship days! The office was filled with endless stacks of paper everywhere during my internship. I am so glad we were progressing towards a paperless work style when I officially joined AIS. Since my budding QS days (and still a budding QS), I can see how the company has become more empathetic and the management’s effort adapting to modern work environments/styles (i.e. flexible work-from-home culture).

Q5. What do you like most about AIS?

The flexibility of working where and when. I love the people. I enjoy hanging out with my colleagues. Some of my colleagues have become my close friends. Because of this, I enjoy going to work. Going to the office and meeting my colleagues is something I look forward to.

Q6. Which benefits are your favourite and why?

Working from home (laughs) because I only take 1 min to walk from my bedroom to my study.

Q7. How have you grown professionally while at AIS?

I started working in AIS when I graduated from the university. I find myself learning how to carry myself during meetings, what to say, how to say, how to tackle those who disagree with us. We will face setbacks at work, and each project will have challenges. Through each project, I find my resilience and tenacity growing.

Q8. What has been your favourite project or biggest accomplishment at AIS?

My biggest accomplishment at AIS is to complete the final account for Guocoland’s Martin Modern residential project. I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to close the final account despite being a budding QS.

Q9. Who are some of your biggest inspirations within the company?

My Directors – Gurdev and Fion. I am always amazed at how they balance work and personal lives. I am also personally friends with them, and their love and dedication towards their family and children inspires me to be a better daughter.

Q10. Describe your hobby.

I enjoy water sports. I love swimming; my favourite swimming stroke is freestyle (some say front crawl). I love snorkelling and recently got my open-water diving license! I love being one with the ocean.

I love a K-Pop boy band called ‘BTS”; my bias is Jin. One of my hobbies is watching their videos and squealing over how handsome they are.

Q11. How do you balance your career at AIS and your family??

Sometimes work eats into family and friends’ time because of the tight deadlines, but that is fine. I believe that our family and friends must understand that our industry can sometimes be like this. However, on our end, what we can do is manage our time well. We must put away distractions when approaching a deadline and plan what needs to be done before getting the task done.

Q14. What is it about you that most of your colleagues don’t know?

I have never managed to eat a whole McSpicy burger on my own before.

15. If you could switch your job with anyone else within AIS, whose job would you want?

I would want to switch with Zaleha, our Senior Receptionist at AIS. I always dreamt of being a female receptionist that picks up and transfers the phone line in a very cool way. On top of that, I always wanted to greet guests in a very sophisticated way. “Zaleha, please let me be a receptionist for a day!”

16. What advice do you have for prospective AIS’s candidates?

Don’t think too much, just try.

What are 3 words to describe AIS?

Fun, Community, Quality

I enjoy hanging out with my colleagues. Some of my colleagues have become my close friends. Because of this, I enjoy going to work. Going to the office and meeting my colleagues is something I look forward to.

Sarah is a promising Quantity Surveyor who has set her sights into becoming a future leader in the construction industry. Sarah has over four years of experience in Quantity Surveying and Cost Management for commercial, retail and residential projects. She has worked with various public and private clients across Singapore. Projects she has worked on include Project Marina, Uniqlo Outlets, Philips APAC Centre and Martin Modern residential.

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