With A Levels in Maths, Physics and Geography, I wanted a career which involved dealing with people as well as figures, and which would allow me to use my analytical skills. Civil Engineering gives you all of this, and it's a job which can make a real difference to people. You get a real buzz when you start to see your projecting coming to life.
What set WSP apart from the other companies on the annual university "milk round" was meeting people who actually worked for the company, and hearing at first hand that it was a challenging and enjoyable experience. You can't beat word of mouth recommendation. As well as a good reputation, they also offered the training and career development opportunities I was looking for.
Working at WSP is really varied - it's part of what makes working for them enjoyable. I can be in the office producing drawings or calculations, or I can be out and about visiting sites or attending meetings. I've worked on huge developments that will change the very heart of their cities, and I've worked on very small projects that, although they may go unnoticed by the masses, will make a big difference to the lives of those close by. From my Exeter office I've also been able to work on projects in London, Wales, and even as far afield as China and Hong Kong - sometimes all on the same day. They say that variety is the spice of life - and they'd be right!
My degree was broad base, so with WSP I've gone on to learn all the specialist skills associated with my part of the industry. Some of this has been through structured internal and external training sessions, but mostly it's been leant on the job, which is what I enjoy most, because you get to see the application of what you're learning straight away. But more than just the theory, I'm also learning about the communication, teamwork and leadership skills that I'm going to need to become an effective engineer.
Currently I'm working towards becoming a Chartered Civil Engineer on the ICE accredited WSP graduate training scheme. And in the meantime I'm trying to gain experience in as many different fields of work in our sector of the industry as possible, so that I can then make some informed decisions on the areas I would like to specialise and develop expertise in further down the line.