Studied at (university/ college): Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh
Degree: Msc Structural and Foundation Engineering
For me the most attractive features of Sisk were their Health and Safety Goals working in the construction world, the international opportunities and the search of constant improvement and quality delivery. These principles operating in a company in a 3 years programme rotating through different projects every 8 months is a unique experience.
A huge amount of invaluable experience, learning and progress in a short period of time.
I think it was fair, because there were enough opportunities to demonstrate what you know. Realistic, because you were tested with situations and circumstances that will happen in your career. Balanced because many of your different skills were measured.
You always have people to ask for help, guidance or advice. There are mentors, lectures, training, reporting manager and one of the most important things is that your colleagues will be used to the programme and make you feel welcome and part of the team.
Well the fact that you leave from one team to another is something difficult although it is also a way of making contact with other professionals that you can always keep in touch with and some of them become close friends.
I am currently working in a construction site; the project is a hangar to maintain planes of a big company such as Boeing.
Every morning I give a site walk, check my emails and start to approach the most urgent of my responsibilities at that moment. These responsibilities vary as much as the range of fields that an engineer must know, but mainly are related with: Construction sequence, materials, check and design information, Health and Safety and Environmental supervision and duties.
Your responsibilities and duties will evolve progressively, the more you demonstrate you can do, the more trust you will win for yourself and from your colleagues.
Facing new situations is always difficult but at the same time is the best way get experience and improve skills. Frankly every day has a new and different challenge. What I think is the most complicated is to adapt yourself to the new scenarios and reach the right standards.
Be honest with yourself and your assessors. Do not be lazy, you must prepare yourself as well as you can to the best of your knowledge. Never underestimate your skillset, be proud of it and use it in your favour. Finally, do not forget that you are dealing with human beings, I promise you do not have any reason to be nervous. Make the most of the process, learn from other applicants, assessors and tasks.
