7 things I wish I knew before my year in industry

I recently returned to university after my year in industry and what a year it was!

As I’m going into my final year of study, I can see how it prepared me to make the career decisions that will come up after graduation.

So I wanted to share some of the key lessons I learned, in the hopes that it helps others.

1. Get involved in opportunities that arise

Get involved with as much as you can, whether this is socially or technically on projects.

Over the course of my year, I took opportunities to present in meetings where possible.

This was sometimes on a small scale to my team, or, the more nerve-wracking option of leading online workshops on new digital tools to larger groups.

Presentations aren’t my favourite, but taking the chances to practise in a professional setting has helped me develop the skill so much.

Beyond your professional development, it can be enjoyable to get involved in events such as office Christmas parties, graduate and young engineer socials and volunteering days. It’s a great way to meet your fellow colleagues.

Do something different and have a bit of fun outside of the office!

2. There are no ‘silly’ questions

Something I have been guilty of at university and on previous placements is not asking questions due to a fear of ‘looking stupid’.

Asking people to repeat themselves so a task makes sense, questioning anything you don’t understand and approaching people for help aids your understanding so much.

You are there to learn and your fellow engineers will normally be happy to explain.

I think the more questions you ask, the more you gain from the experience overall.

3. Communication is key

When working on projects, it’s crucial to convey your ideas in a way that's clear for the person receiving it.

Regardless of whether this is a senior engineer checking your calculations, a client receiving a report or a contractor interpreting your drawings.

Communication within your team is also important.

Relaying information well can vastly improve your project work as well as your relationships.

If you’re struggling with a task or need help to meet a deadline, the sooner this is discussed the better.

It will help the project and your placement run more smoothly.

4. The industry is so diverse, it’s OK to not know what you want to specialise in yet

This is a big one to take away as I go into my final year at university, knowing that these decisions about my future are coming up.

Working in a large company for the year truly showcased the different paths that can be taken within civil engineering.

I had the opportunity to talk to colleagues who had changed sectors or taken on new roles within the industry during their career.

It was reassuring to know that there is flexibility in your future career, and you have time to make these choices.

What interests you in your first year at university may not be the same as what does in your last.

And what you start off doing as a graduate may not be what you end up doing down the line.

It’s OK to want to explore different areas, civil engineering is an exciting industry and there's so much going on!

5. Use the time to network with other engineers

My time on placement allowed me to learn so much about this ever-changing industry from my colleagues.

I also appreciated the chance to talk to newly graduated engineers about their experiences so far.

For me, this made the step up from university to working life seem less daunting!

In a multi-disciplinary company, like the one I was with for my year in industry, you can speak with fellow engineers working across a range of sectors.

People are normally open to taking some time to chat to you and answer questions you may have.

I’m grateful to have had some really interesting conversations that helped me learn about working in water management, net zero and geotechnical engineering.

6. Keep track of your work

One of the most helpful things I did during my placement was keeping a diary that bullet-pointed things I’d done.

This included projects I’d worked on, deliverables I’d produced and people I’d spoken with each day.

This made a huge difference when it came to writing my report about my placement at the end of the year.

Having a record of everything you’ve been up to also helps when it comes to updating your CV and doing future applications.

It’s generally very helpful for your professional development!

7. Make the most of your time to learn!

And finally, to reiterate, use your time on placement to learn from real-life projects and from your fellow engineers and their experiences.

Make the most of the opportunity in front of you and enjoy it. This is just the beginning of your career and a great chance to develop as an engineer!