Oli’s Step Toward an Engineering Career
Even before the placement, I had a strong interest in BAE Systems. I had done plenty of research on the company, and this experience solidified my desire to pursue a career there. After leaving school, I am aiming for a Level 7 degree apprenticeship, which incorporates a master’s degree. BAE is my first choice, though the work experience also introduced me to other related companies and even overseas opportunities.
Team Building and Real-World Projects
The work experience lasted five days and the first day kicked off with team-building exercises. These activities were designed to help us get to know each other better and improve our interpersonal communication skills. Later, we were given a project where we were split up from the friends we had made and thrown into new groups, simulating a real-world work environment. The project we worked on was about relocating BAE Systems into another military industry, which gave us a great insight into large-scale engineering tasks.
Clarifying Career Goals
This experience has had a huge impact on my future plans. Even before the placement, I had a strong interest in BAE Systems. I had done plenty of research on the company, and this experience solidified my desire to pursue a career there. After leaving school, I am aiming for a Level 7 degree apprenticeship, which incorporates a master’s degree. BAE is my first choice, though the work experience also introduced me to other related companies and even overseas opportunities.
Narrowing Down My Focus
Although my general career path in engineering hasn’t changed, the work experience helped me narrow down my specific area of interest. Beforehand, I knew I wanted to go into engineering, but I didn’t know exactly which area. During the placement, I realized that I’m more interested in manufacturing and fabrication processes rather than design. This clarity is invaluable as I now have a better idea of where I want to focus my studies and career.
Key Learnings About the Workplace
This was my first real work experience, and it taught me that the workplace can be hectic. There’s always something happening, and you’re constantly moving from one task to another. It was eye-opening to see how fast-paced the environment was and how crucial time management is in a professional setting.
The Application Process
I found out about the work experience through our Pathways program. There was a link posted on Teams, and since I was already interested in BAE Systems, I applied. The application process was quite competitive, and I believe my success came from the research I had done beforehand. I tailored my answers to align with BAE’s values and operations. Although there wasn’t an interview, the application form asked many detailed questions, so it was important to be thorough and put my answers into context.
Advice for Future Applicants
For anyone considering applying for a similar opportunity, my advice would be to research the company thoroughly before applying. Each company in the same sector may have different priorities and values, so it’s crucial to tailor your application to fit what they are looking for. In my case, I made sure to focus on BAE’s work with nuclear submarines for the Royal Navy, which helped show that my interests aligned with their core projects.
Overall, my work experience at BAE Systems has been a valuable step toward my future career in engineering, giving me insight into the field and helping me refine my career goals.