My name is Alishah and I am a Technical Engineering graduate here at British Airways. I have spent my first year rotating around placements, with most of my time spent in the Cabin Performance team. In this team, I was mainly working on the A350 fleet, producing technical modifications and work, to make the aircraft more safe, reliable and cost-effective. I have also done short placements, including a practical placement in Terminal 5B and a Planning and Supply Chain placement, where I have got to see how these teams work alongside the technical teams, to reach the company’s goals. I will now be starting my next long placement in the Ops team, where we focus on more immediate issues with our fleets such as last-minute defects, materials which are urgently required and using new technology and data to carry out predictive maintenance.
I would say to put less pressure on myself in knowing what I want to do in the future. If you just focus on the present and what you do and don’t enjoy, this will guide you in the right direction. Sometimes, being stringent with your future goals can limit you and make you miss out on something that you could really enjoy because you are closed off to other ideas. Stay open minded and continue to learn and push yourself out of your comfort zone regularly. There is no age limit on trying something new. You never know… it may lead you to the career path that is meant for you.
The biggest challenge that I have faced starting my role would be learning when to say yes/no, especially because BA provides so many amazing extra activities to get involved in. It is very important to say yes to opportunities, but it is also useful to know what is important to you. This way, you can allocate your time accordingly as, sometimes, saying yes to everything can lead to burnout and you will be spreading yourself too thinly over multiple initiatives. It is better to give a good amount of energy to a few things that you enjoy. This way, you can make an even bigger impact and continue to have fun.
One of my proudest moments so far at British Airways would have to be when the company hosted a family day. Usually, our families would not be able to see our workplace, but on this special occasion, it was an opportunity to show my friends and family where I work, who I work with and what I do. It is very easy to let your work become the norm, but I remind myself constantly about what a cool place this is to work.
The main misconception would be one about the engineering industry in general and that would be that it is mainly a job for men. I have been pleasantly surprised at how many females are working here at British Airways, in different departments and levels. There is obviously still a lot of work to do around this issue, but it has been so rewarding to be able to take part in so many initiatives being organised to beat this misconception, such as Women in Engineering Day, Engineering a Female Future Day etc and being surrounded by such inspiring women.
If I could go back to my first day, I would tell myself to not take it too seriously. As long as you are a welcoming person and remain attentive, then the first day will run smoothly. The first day (if not days/ weeks) is to get to know people and get set up in the office, so as long as you be yourself, stay calm and focused then it can be a fun day as well as being very productive. It is important to make a good first impression, but it is also important to remain realistic and true to yourself to set a good standard for the future. The grad scheme is all about learning and getting the best experience. You don’t have to be an expert at anything, but you must remain curious and open minded.
The best piece of career advice that I have been given would be that “you get as much out as you put in”. This is what motivates me daily to give it my best shot and leave the day with no regrets, because, if you give it your all, then you can expect to get so much back. With this mindset, I have been able to meet so many new people, learn new things and take on so many amazing opportunities, at the same time as having a good time.
This may sound cliché, but I would say to just go for it! We are in a world where the job market is very competitive, so it is worth giving it a chance. If you are sure or unsure about what career path you want to take, either way, this grad scheme would be the perfect option. Working at British Airways opens so many doors both in and outside of engineering and there are so many different paths that your future can take, depending on what you do or don’t enjoy. The team are very supportive when it comes to your preferences, so that you can make the most out of the scheme and work on your strengths and weaknesses and alter your journey depending on your likes and dislikes.
