Name: Oliver
Degree: Engineering Design, University of Bristol (third year)
Duration of work experience: one year
Employer: Atkins
Department: Aerospace

1. What did you do to get this work-experience opportunity?

My course has close links with a number of employers (of which Atkins is one). The university organises the application and interview process for everyone on the course applying to these companies.

2. What sort of projects did you work on?

I worked on a variety of project types, from heavily technical projects to working with clients and suppliers to ensure deadlines were met.

3. How much were you able to contribute?

I feel I was able to contribute a great deal. I was given a lot of responsibility which, while nerve-racking at times, also meant that when something was a success I could recognise my own achievement.

4. What did you enjoy the most?

I enjoyed a lot of what I did, but I think my favourite role was visiting a client several times a week to monitor progress on various aspects of a project. It gave me a great opportunity to see what’s involved in managing a large project.

5. What did you enjoy the least?

I joined the department during a slight lull, so my first few weeks were spent doing relatively mundane work. This ended fairly quickly though and, in fairness, it provided useful grounding for work later on.

6. What is the most important thing you learned?

I learned a lot about how large projects are managed, which was something I had little previous exposure to.

7. Has your choice of career changed as a result of your period of work experience?

Not significantly, no.