• Question: If you look at your career right now what would you say you have made the right descion in the career choice and what have been some of the highlights in your job?

    Asked by Zoe to Matthew, Neil, Paula, Pete, Philippa on 9 Mar 2015. This question was also asked by Kitty, mellowmonkeys, Stephen.
    • Photo: Neil Taylor

      Neil Taylor answered on 9 Mar 2015:

      Hi Zoe!

      This is a tough question to answer. It’s hard to say the way things would be, had I made a different career choice. What I can say, though, is that I’ve really enjoyed my career so far!

      Although I think my career (Subsea Engineer) has been a great choice, I can also see how other areas of engineering could have been equally as great. This is especially true of other areas of engineering within the energy sector –for example, nuclear, and renewable energy – as I have a special interest in these areas. I guess it all comes down to working in a job that genuinely interests you!

      The highlights of my job have been both technical and non-technical. One technical highlight was entering a “Technical Paper” competition at my company that was open to graduates throughout the business. I wrote my paper on the effect that bending has on the pressure that causes a pipe to burst, and was one of 8 finalists selected to present my paper to an audience of senior engineers at our head office in London. I was lucky enough to win the competition – which was very humbling, as my colleagues presented some amazing topics!

      In terms of non-technical highlights at work, my office has had a lot of great social activities over the years. These include golf days, activity centre day trips, and many graduate events. One of the best activities was definitely the “Corporate Decathlon” last year. This is a competition that is held in Aberdeen between companies over 10 events. These change every year, but last year it included Table Tennis, which I was lucky enough to captain for our company. It was really fun taking training sessions, and teaching much more senior engineers how to play!

    • Photo: Philippa Jefferis

      Philippa Jefferis answered on 9 Mar 2015:

      I definitely think looking at my career now I have made the right decision. However, the thing to remember is that no career is for life, and that I can change and adapt the direction I go in as my interests develop and I learn new things.

      Highlights of my job include having my first design actually being carried out in reality – I loved the feeling of satisfaction from knowing that my hard work had come to something tangible. I am looking forward to the day when I can point out my engineering to someone as we walk past, and say “That was me, I designed that!”

    • Photo: Pete Symons

      Pete Symons answered on 11 Mar 2015:

      Hi Zoe, another good question!

      Looking at my career to date I would say that I am happy in the job I am in and when I compare what I do with what most of my friends from University now do I think I made the right choice. I think you have to count yourself lucky if you enjoy your job most of the tie! When I say ‘choice’ I didn’t really choose a career in engineering, I fell into it really when I got my fist propoer job, but I’m glad I did.

      My highlights would probably be working on the Air to Air Refueling Pods with Cobham, working with some really inspirational people in the armed forces and my current role in Osprey is really exciting as I’m helping to grow a business.

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