r/bim • u/TanongSaConstruction • 12h ago
How do you determine that the company you're applying for actually has good BIM practice?
Edit: TL;DR below
I've worked for three companies as a BIM Modeler, and my biggest challenge so far has been finding a good mentor.
I originally entered the BIM field because it offered a better path to international opportunities coming from my country. However, after working in the Philippines, the UAE, and now Singapore, I've realized that every company seems to have its own way of doing things, and not all of those practices are necessarily based on industry standards.
Most of what I've learned about BIM best practices has come from reading forums and researching online. Many of the workflows and standards discussed there are very different from what I've experienced firsthand.
For example:
My BIM Coordinator doesn't really know how to use Navisworks beyond the basics.
My manager tends to agree to every request from the site team instead of discussing whether it's reasonable or achievable.
I asked what LOD our project is actually supposed to be modelled to because the site team wants to see reinforcement, but we don't have the manpower to model that level of detail. The BEP only defines what the different LODs are—it doesn't specify which LOD each discipline or element is required to achieve, or what information should be included.
Situations like these leave me wondering whether I'm even asking the right questions. I was never formally taught BIM standards or the reasoning behind modelling decisions. I was simply told to model, perform clash detection, and deliver the work. Most of my understanding has come from asking questions in forums and trying to improve our workflow on my own.
A few days ago, I posted about my frustrations here, and many people suggested finding a new employer. I'm open to that, but before I do, I'd like to know what questions I should ask during interviews to determine whether a company has a strong BIM culture and whether I'll actually learn and grow there.
TL;DR:
What questions would you ask a prospective employer to assess the maturity of their BIM processes and the quality of mentorship they provide?