SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES Read student and graduate case studies from the School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment
Did you receive any support from the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team at LJMU and how was this useful? I went in multiple times to update my CV and there was things on there not relevant which I hadn’t even noticed. They also showed me what else I should be including, again which I hadn’t thought about myself.
How did the Covid situation affect your role and daily work and how did you manage this situation?
In the April I had to go and work from home full time remotely. This meant doing much more research myself and working more independently which probably helped me in the long run.
HANNAH GREIG IS AN ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING GRADUATE WHO COMPLETED A PLACEMENT YEAR AT CONSOLUX PLACEMENT CASE STUDY
What are your plans for after graduation – work, travel or further study? I’m returning to LJMU for my MEng year.
CAREERS IN ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING
What placement role did you secure and what did this involve on a day-to-day basis? I secured a placement as a mechanical & electrical design engineer at a M&E consultancy. I spent a few months working on both the mechanical and electrical side, to then move onto mechanical full time. This included helping with calculations, sizing pipework, completing schematics and drawings layouts on CAD. What did the application / selection process involve? I sent my CV and a covering letter off to the company via email. The company then got back in touch and invited me in for an interview where they explained to me their work and what I would be doing. They also asked about what types of things we’d been doing in uni. I made sure my CV was up to date for this and that I’d researched into the company, including recent jobs they’d worked on. How do you feel that the placement has benefitted you? Much broader knowledge on the industry and what I was actually going into. I hardly knew how to use autoCAD when I started the placement and now use it every day. It also allowed me to be offered a job for when I graduated. What advice would you give other students to improve their employability? Do their research on the company beforehand and ensure they have a few different things to speak about in regards to the company itself and the reason why they’ve wanted to go into building services. Also ensure their CV is up to date and to a high standard.
SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENTwww.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 3CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES Find flexible, part-time and temporary jobs that fit around your studies ... Earn some extra spending cash and enhance your CV using Unitemps at LJMU, our very own recruitment agency. availableAssignmentsatbothLJMU and externally, sign up now! To find out more or to register, scan the QR code or visit: ATUNITEMPSLJMU CONNECT WITH US: www.unitemps.com/branches/liverpool-john-moores-university unitemps@ljmu.ac.uk 0151 231 8888 https://bit.ly/38xNhl5
What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? Ensure that you have a CV which is specifically aimed towards architectural technology, highlighting the skills and personality traits which can benefit the company. Feel confident during the interviews and ensure you are aware of all the building regulations as this is a topic some companies will question you about.
I also take part in site meetings and site surveys to collect information such as dimensions and listed building conditions, as well as attend site meetings during construction stages.
What did you do after finishing your course? I commenced a Graduate Building Surveyor training scheme at RLB in London.
and included: ❙ Preparing tender documents ❙ Producing CAD drawings ❙ Chairing meetings ❙ Taking and drafting meeting minutes ❙ Communication with clients and contractors ❙ Measured surveys ❙ Condition surveys ❙ Topographical surveys ❙ Drainage designs ❙ Arranging and attending CPD sessions ❙ Attending corporate events What
I have now progressed to a more senior role leading my own projects.
The placement has been a massive benefit to me. Going into my last year with one-year of industry experience has assisted with my studies immensely. By using various placement projects as reference points I have achieved excellent grades. The placement experience at Arcus has also assisted me in progressing to interview stage for graduate schemes with firms such as: CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, Colliers, Malcolm Hollis & Rider Levett Bucknall. What advice would you give other students to improve their employability? The main piece of advice I would offer to students would be to expect the competition to be high when applying for placements and that you need to prove to the employer that you will fit the bill and be best suited to the position. Carry out voluntary work in industry if possible as this enhances your knowledge, shows you are willing to learn and improves the basic skills needed in industry when it comes to communication, time management and experience in an office environment etc. Getting through to the interview stage proves that the company obviously sees something of interest in you, so as well as doing research on the firm and preparing for the interview it is important to remember that it is also an assessment of your personality to see whether you would also fit in with the team. As a result it is important to be as genuine and as confident as possible. If I was a first year student again I would have started doing voluntary work in industry a lot earlier as this only began in second year, and this definitely separates you from the competition.
I get contacted regularly by recruitment specialists viewing my profile.
My role involves producing a range of highly detailed drawing packages for various projects running at the same time, including floor plans, interior elevations and technical details to ensure that all specifications are accurately distributed to all relevant contractors.
AND SECURED A ROLE AT PAUL DANSON IN MANCHESTER
Produce a high quality portfolio with A2 or A1 drawings demonstrating your ability using AutoCAD/ Revit/ Sketching/ Photoshop to show your level of technical drawing through concept designing to technical detailing, utilising the layers and line weights tools to ensure the drawings are to a professional standard.
How do you feel the placement has benefitted you?
Arcus was recommended to me by a family friend and I emailed the HR manager with my CV and covering letter which resulted in me being invited to interview. There were a number of applicants throughout the day, some from my course and some external. With having a background in construction and surveying I was able to reflect upon my experience and apply them to the placement role. I am fairly confident when it comes to interviews and I believe this shone through.
What does your job involve?
What placement role did you secure and what did this involve on a day-to-day basis? My role at Arcus was an Assistant Building Surveyor. The team I was working with was relatively small so I was given more senior tasks than a placement student may usually do. My main roles were varied throughout the placement did the application process involve? How did you prepare for each stage?
CHRISTOPHER TIGHE GRADUATED FROM THE BUILDING SURVEYING COURSE AND COMPLETED A YEAR-LONG PLACEMENT AT ARCUS GRADUATE CASE STUDY CAREERS IN BUILDING SURVEYING PLACEMENT CASE STUDY CAREERS IN ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 4 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES
I liaise with contractors, suppliers and clients regarding any design changes and ensure these are completed to their needs. I measure how much material is required on site such as timber, floor finishes and ceiling finishes.
DARREN BUCKLEY GRADUATED FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGY COURSE
Researching the company before an interview helps develop an interest in the work they do and helps you to ask questions. Set up a LinkedIn account as soon as you start the course. LinkedIn is a great website to establish a professional profile to highlight skills and also search for jobs.
I secured an Architectural Technologist position at an interior design company in Manchester. The company has worked on restaurants such as The Smugglers Cove, The Botanist, The Oust house and a full architectural and interior design of the Club House in Liverpool One.
At Laing O’Rourke we focus on potential and passion. We look for candidates who can demonstrate a real enthusiasm for our industry, from application stage to final assessment. Showing you are motivated by a career in construction is one of the key things that will make you stand out.
What did the application process involve?
What placement role did you secure and what did this involve on a day-to-day basis?
How do you feel the placement has benefitted you?
What advice would you give other students to improve their employability?
I didn’t originally consider a placement but I would definitely encourage students to consider one and listen to the benefits in terms of your final grade and your employability
ALEXANDRA WATSON, EARLY ATTRACTION & SELECTION MANAGER, LAING O’ROURKE
What help or support did you access from the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team?
Hugely. In terms of my studies, all of my marks in final year have been a first which was a huge improvement on my first year results. I now know what I’m talking about in terms of project management as the placement helped me to develop a lot of PM skills, including managing and encouraging a team. I was able to experience looking after huge budgets for multi-million projects. I developed confidence in a professional environment and the placement helped me to improve and mature. I was offered four different graduate roles in my final year and the placement directly influenced this.
I secured an Assistant Project Manager position with Bond Davidson, a consultancy firm based in London.
The initial application involved an application form and I was then invited for interview which focussed on situational questions with a few technical questions. To prepare, I researched into the type of surveying that would take place at the House of Commons and spoke to my Careers Adviser for interview advice.
My job title whilst on placement was a Student Project Leader based at the Westminster Estate. On a daily basis I assisted the project leader and senior project leader on projects, for example the £29m refurbishment of Big Ben. I managed a team of external consultants ensuring projects ran smoothly and on target. An example of a responsibility I had was contract administration –ensuring a project was at a certain stage and releasing money to contractors. Another task involved stakeholder management – liaising with a wide range of people including MPs, Lords, and catering teams. I kept stakeholders up-to-date about works and gained permission for works to be carried out.
I received support with my application and interview preparation from an adviser in the Careers Zone in Byrom Street. I’m not sure if I’d be where I am without this help on my application.
GRADUATED FROM
CAREERS IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
RHYS MONTGOMERY THE BUILDING SURVEYING COURSE AND COMPLETED A YEAR-
I secured a placement at WSP consultancy, which is a design organisation that employees approximately 50,000 people across the globe. I was fortunate enough to begin on a couple of small schemes where I produced programmes and quality checked documents, these ranged from drawings, documents, specifications and BIM procedures.
“ What placement role did you secure and what did this involve on a day-to-day basis?
FRAZER SUMMERS GRADUATED FROM THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME AFTER SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING A SANDWICH PLACEMENT AT WSP PLACEMENT CASE STUDY SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENTwww.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 5CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES
In October, I began working on HS2 managing a deliverable sheet which consisted of 700 deliverable across 8 teams where I managed, monitored and coordinated these products through quality checks. On the same scheme I began coordinating compensations events and early warnings. How do you feel that the placement has benefitted you?
What did you do after finishing your course?
LONG PLACEMENT AT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS PLACEMENT CASE STUDY
Having come from a labouring back ground and working on-site it was great to finally get a better understanding of the design process and what’s involved prior to working on site. Professionally it helped me gain a lot of confidence in myself. I have managed to continue working with WSP part time throughout my final year of study and have secured a graduate position to go back and work full time for them. What advice would you give other students to improve their employability? To improve your employability I would certainty recommend going on a placement year. It won’t just make your final year easier because of the experience that you will gain but it will elevate your work ethic making university easier. The likelihood of you securing a job for after your graduation is higher as you may choose to go back to your placement year company. What are your plans for after graduation – work, travel or further study? I will begin working full time again with WSP in a graduate role.
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2019 CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT GRADUATE CLAIRE MCALISTER COMPLETED A PLACEMENT YEAR AS AN ASSISTANT SITE MANAGER AT MACE PLACEMENT CASE STUDY JOIN THE LJMU STUDENT FUTURES LINKEDIN PAGE linkedin.com/company/ljmu-student-futures Get all the latest updates from the LJMU Student Futures team, make connections and search for job opportunities from around the world ... SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 6 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES
What placement did you secure and what did this involve on a dayto-day basis?
How did you feel that the placement has benefited you? Site experience brought a wealth of knowledge and personal growth that you cannot gain from classrooms alone. I really enjoyed my placement year; I gained confidence in my ability, developed a better understanding of the industry, and made contacts for the future. It has prepared me with the practical tools to apply with what I have studied at university to begin my career in construction management.
Did you receive any support from the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team at LJMU? There is support available from the team to prepare for the interview process. I would suggest students take advantage of the opportunity to get help making a professional CV and running through some typical interview style questions which gave me more confidence going into the process. What are your plans for after graduation – work, travel or further study? I have been invited back to Mace for a graduate position as a construction manager. The graduate programme will be two years long.
I spent my placement year in Manchester, gaining practical experience as an Assistant Construction Manager. The project included 3 residential buildings with commercial space on the ground floor. I was in the façade team and assisted with the package delivery of the cladding, windows and firestopping. In addition, I was involved with blockwork management, bathroom pod installs, site logistics, rebar inspections, projects e.g. relocating the site entrance / CCS.
What placement role did you secure and what did this involve on a day-to-day basis? The placement role I secured was an assistant site manager. Day to day activities included managing several sub-contractor packages as well as health and safety for the site. I also led daily progress and management meetings. Walking the site and asking questions and marking progress was a great way to learn more about the construction process.
Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? I would not change my university experience but I would have explored possibly undertaking my placement year in London. What are your plans for after graduations – work, travel or further study? I’ll now be starting the graduate scheme with Lendlease. I’m hoping to work on one of their projects in Manchester - The Manchester Town Hall Project, St Johns development or a residential development in Castlefield.
What did the application process involve? After attending the Faculty careers fair I had a list of companies that I would be interested in working for. I sent my CV and completed an online application and I was invited for an interview with a member of the HR team and a manager for your particular role. The final stage was a day-long assessment centre which included group and individual activities to assess your ability to work in a group environment and identify your personality traits. How do you feel the placement has benefitted you? Before the placement I had no experience in the construction industry and getting the chance to learn from professionals in the industry was very helpful. The placement has given me confidence in my ability to deliver aspects of a construction project successfully. What advice would you give other students to improve their employability? Take part in all the opportunities that the university offer - the yearly trips and site visits helped to give you an insight into the industry. The organised career fairs gave me the opportunity to talk to people.
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT GRADUATE CLARA MINNICAN COMPLETED A PLACEMENT YEAR AS AN ASSISTANT CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT LEND LEASE PLACEMENT CASE STUDY
(RICS) – www.rics.org ❙ Institution of
& StartUp Team website ❙ www.prospects.ac.uk - Careers website covering all subjects including construction and property ❙ www.targetjobs.co.uk - Careers website covering all subjects ❙ www.gradcracker.com – Placement and graduate jobs websiteincludes building services, engineering and construction vacancies. SCHOOL
www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 7CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES
The Chartered Institute Institution of Chartered Surveyors Civil Engineers Architectural of the information on these pages be found in more detail at the two main graduate careers Prospects and TARGETjobs. It is recommended that you sign up for job alerts and follow them via social media - LJMU Careers, Employability OF CIVIL ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENT
What are your plans for after graduation – work, travel or further study?
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MANAGEMENT GRADUATE
Did you receive any support from the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team at LJMU and how was this useful? The Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team sent out the advertisement for MS placement.
Unfortunately Covid cut my year short but during the few weeks that I stayed at work during Covid times ensuring the site was Covid safe with the ever changing rules and regulations was difficult as social distancing was initially hard to patrol on site.
What placement role did you secure and what did this involve on a day-to-day basis?
QUANTITY
AT BOWNER
CAREERS IN QUANTITY
PLACEMENT CASE STUDY Professional
What are your plans for after graduation – work, travel or further study? I have secured a graduate QS role with Bowmer and Kirkland starting in the summer. HER PLACEMENT AS A TRAINEE SURVEYOR AND KIRKLAND institutions organisations websites
can
The placement helped me understand the sector I will be going into after university and with last year it helped me produce much better work as I understood practices more. Sponsored during final year and offered graduate position working as a graduate site manager. What advice would you give other students to improve their employability?
PLACEMENT
The role I secured was Construction Manager. Daily I had to compete site safety checks, complete site inductions, complete sit diary’s and check risk assessments.
Knowledge, you can’t learn everything about construction in a lecture! The experience gave me an insight into the company software and systems used by a Quantity Surveyor. I developed confidence to speak in meetings in front of subbies and CEOs and I wouldn’t get this opportunity in uni. The placement also led to a part-time job in final year where I continued supporting the projects I was involved in. The company also provided with some financial support for my final year. The placement looked great on my CV and ultimately led to me securing a graduate job. What advice would you give other students to improve their employability? A placement year is key so try to secure one. A conversation with an employer in my first year at a careers fair has led to me securing a graduate job!
How did the Covid situation affect your role and daily work and how did you manage this situation?
I will be starting a graduate site manager role with Morgan Sindall in September
AND BUILT
(ICE) – www.ice.org.uk ❙ The Chartered Institute of
Key
CONSTRUCTION JESSIE BROWN COMPLETED A PLACEMENT YEAR AS A MANAGER AT MORGAN SINDALL CASE STUDY SURVEYING
websites
Your course will be accredited by one of the professional institutions below who validate that your degree gives you the foundation and knowledge to commence a career in that discipline. It is extremely important to join the relevant institution as a student member to demonstrate your commitment to developing a successful career.
Technologists (CIAT) –www.ciat.org.uk ❙ The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIB SE) – www.cibse.org ❙ The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) – www.bifm.org.uk Some
During my placement I worked as a Trainee QS undertaking similar duties to an Assistant QS. On a daily basis this involved placing subcontractor orders, going out to tender and liaising with subcontractors regarding on-site value work. One of the projects I was worked on was a 32 storey student accommodation which was a 2 year project.
What placement role did you secure and what did this involve on a day-to-day basis?
What did the application / selection process involve? I had to complete group activities and an interview with the MD. To prepare for this I completed practice interview questions a few days before. How do you feel that the placement has benefitted you?
What did the application / selection process involve?
and
of Building (CIOB) – www.ciob.org ❙ The Royal
ELEANOR MOTTERSHEAD TELLS US ABOUT
CONSTRUCTION
Try and take any opportunity that will give you experience within the sector you like as company’s always look for experience.
I visited the Faculty careers fair in first year and was offered a summer placement which ended up developing into a sandwich placement opportunity! How do you feel that the placement has benefitted you?
channels. ❙ www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
Be on the ball! Employers are going to be looking for applicants who are applying early as it shows a sense of enthusiasm. I had my placement secured only 2 months into my second year studies and my future manager remarked me on how it came across well during interview selection. It also takes the pressure off students and allows them to turn their focus on their studies.
SEAN KENNEDY TELLS US ABOUT HIS YEAR-LONG PLACEMENT AS A SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT AT TWC CONSULTING PLACEMENT CASE STUDY SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures
Did you receive any advice support from the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team and how was this helpful? I visited the Careers Zone for help with my CV. I didn’t have any previous construction experience but the Advisers helped to make my CV look more professional which definitely helped with securing a placement. I recommend students use these services as much as possible. What are your plans for after your studies? I was offered several graduate positions which were definitely the result of completing the placement. However, I will be commencing a graduate scheme with Ridge & Partners in Liverpool as an Assistant Quantity Surveyor and will be progressing towards my APC.
My attitude, application, thought processes and maturity totally changed during the year-out. I don’t think I would have achieved what I did without the placement year. I was also able to carry on working for the company on a part-time basis during my final year. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? What you do outside of lessons can make the difference eg working extra hours in the library. Volunteer, get some experience and advice from the professionals to get an insight into the world of work. Any exposure will be useful. Definitely do a placement, it goes without saying! You will be able to relate your new skills and knowledge into your final year so it’s not wasted.
What placement role did you secure and what did this involve on a day-to-day basis? I secured a placement Quantity Surveyor role with Farrans Construction based in Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry, Ireland.
CONOR WARD IS QUANTITY SURVEYING GRADUATE WHO COMPLETED A PLACEMENT AT FARRANS CONSTRUCTION GRADUATE CASE STUDY
What did the application / selection process involve? The application process was pretty simple. It was a simple form followed by informal interview where the interviewers asked questions in relation to university modules as well as interviewees experiences in the construction industry. How do you feel that the placement has benefitted you? I can safely say I would not have received first class honours if I had not of done a placement year. The responsibility allowed me to mature to take matters into my own hands when dealing with problems at work. Although the uni modules are helpful, there is nothing like carrying out the real roles of a QS and experiencing how a large construction project operates. What advice would you give other students to improve their employability?
What did the application / selection process involve and how did you prepare for this? I sent my CV to the company and was then invited for an interview which all happened very quickly
Did you receive any support from the Careers, Employability & StartUp Team at LJMU and how was this useful? I received multiple emails across the end of first year and commencement of second year and these allowed me to get in touch with those in careers to see what path I wanted to go down in. I also had great guidance from my tutors who shared their experiences with me. How did the Covid situation affect your role and daily work and how did you manage this situation? Ha! Yes, it is becoming the norm. In terms of Covid, I was directly affected as I was based on a hospital redevelopment project in my hometown of Derry when the pandemic begun. When the cases began to rise, we were tasked with delivering one phase of works early in order to accomodate COVID-19 ICU patients. I look back and think how crazy it was pricing temporary partitions in order to section us off from the COVID wards. On top of that, I spent a few weeks working from home but overall the pandemic played a big role in my placement experience. What are your plans for after graduation – work, travel or further study? I’m really hoping to emigrate once Covid allows it so just working for the family for the meanwhile.
How do you feel the placement has benefitted you? The placement was a game changer for me and the year was invaluable. It is important to understand the theory but it is just as important to visualise this in the real world. My confidence grew and my ability to work effectively in a professional environment.
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What placement role did you secure and what did this involve on a day-to-day basis? My role at TWC was as a Sustainability Consultant which involved a little bit of everything from working with design teams to postoccupancy, evaluations, RIBA scheme of works etc. TWC were a small firm and so I was able to get involved in projects straight away with real responsibility. I worked on the Tobacco Warehouse project in Liverpool drawing up calculations for the EPCs to see what the thermal efficiency of the building was.
CAREERS IN REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT
Initially, I spoke to a friend who worked at the company and was asked to send in my CV for consideration. I was then offered a placement after attending an interview. How do you feel that the placement has benefitted you? I was able to get hands-on experience and find out what it is like to be a Quantity Surveyor in the real world. The placement helped me to put into practice what I have learned at uni and this gave me a real boost in my final year. I have also been offered part-time work at the company during my final year. I gained more experience using Excel and the various functions and also developed my knowledge of Sage. The placement also gave me the basis for my final year project. What advice would you give other students to improve their employability? Definitely do a placement to improve your confidence and key skills prior to securing a graduate role. The experience will definitely help you in final year. Did you receive any support from the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team at LJMU and how was this useful? I visited the Careers Zone and received support with CV. This definitely led to the content and layout looking more professional.
JAMES BARRON TELLS US ABOUT HIS YEAR-LONG PLACEMENT AS A TRAINEE QUANTITY SURVEYOR AT ABBEY CONSTRUCTION NW CASE STUDY
SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT
PLACEMENT
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Can you tell us a bit about your career in the property sector so far? I have always been passionate about all aspects of property and the summer before starting my MSc in Real Estate at LJMU, I worked parttime as an accompanied viewer showing people around residential properties. When my course ended, I immediately started working for a small firm of chartered surveyors who specialise in business rates. In August 2020, I moved to London for a new role with Grosvenor Group as an Assistant Property Manager. To begin with, I am responsible for the property management of one building and gardens in Belgravia, but once I have gained more experience, I will take over the management of additional properties. The job has been incredibly interesting so far, and I love it! What advice would you give to current students to improve their employability?
REAL ESTATE MASTERS GRADUATE DAISY WALL IS CURRENTLY WORKING AS AN ASSISTANT PROPERTY MANAGER WITH GROSVENOR GROUP IN LONDON GRADUATE CASE STUDY
Top tips from Deloitte Real Estate Get as much experience as you can – every little helps. Set out clearly what tasks you undertook and what skills you learnt from this experience in your application and be prepared to talk about this in an interview. Practise talking about your university course, work experience and hobbies with a friend before an interview. Research the company you have an interview for and be prepared to talk about some of their recent projects you have heard about. Triple check spelling / grammar / formatting of your covering letter or application. Get someone else to proofread if you can. Invest in a smart outfit for the interview process. You need to dress for the job you want.
I think most importantly start with a CV that stands out from the rest of the applications, because that is usually the first piece of information an employer will see about you. I also think networking is very important, particularly if you are on a course where there are lots of opportunities to go and meet people in the industry. Talking to lots of people may also help and give you more ideas about which particular route you want to take within your chosen industry. I completed a week-long insight programme with Grosvenor during my Masters, and this was really useful to build up a network of contacts in the firm while also developing my understanding of opportunities in the sector that would suit me. What support did you access from the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team? I had so much support from the team and they really helped with guiding me in the right direction through advice on tailoring my CV more towards the property sector and also helped me to prepare for interviews. I was also provided with plenty of online resources which were helpful, and I would have never found them without their guidance. In my undergraduate course I never made use of the help that was there within the university. My advice is ask for help because there is plenty of support out there, including the fabulous Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team who I am extremely grateful for to this day.
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What placement role did you secure and what did this involve on a day-to-day basis? At Abbey Construction NW I worked as a Trainee Quantity Surveyor during my placement year. On a day-to-day basis this involved recording progress on site, making labour payments to operatives, and attending project and client meetings. As the placement progressed I was given more and more responsibility to manage tasks by myself, which included valuation and Cost Value Reconciliations (CVR).
What did the application / selection process involve?
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www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 9CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES
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CAREERS IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT
What does your job/graduate scheme involve (e.g. main duties and responsibilities)?
Whilst on placement at EDF I was asked to design tests and implement a new process in the outage management dept. This involved examining planned resources for the outage, putting in a tracker for each of the contract partners, producing weekly reports for partners and EDF about progress and managing any issues and delays.
AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT
10 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES
MSC US ABOUT HIS GRADUATE PROJECT MANAGER ROLE WITH NUCLEAR GRADUATES
Oct 2018 – Oct 2020: Graduate Scheme with Nuclear Graduate, an industry-wide scheme supporting the UKs Nuclear Industry with a number of partner organisations. My first placement was based at the Office for Nuclear Regulation working as Graduate Project Manager whilst the second placement involved working as a Graduate Resource Analyst at EDF Energy.
The situation has improved my well-being and I am able to get out and exercise around my work commitments. I much prefer the flexibility it has provided.
Try and get a part time job even if its not related to your course as it shows you can work, you develop transferable skills and is something to discuss at interview alongside your course and projects. The main thing is to try and choose a path that you enjoy that you can show a level of passion for.
What did youinvolveselectionapplicationthe/processandhowdidprepareforthis?
PROJECT MANAGEMENT GRADUATE JOSH STANLEY TELLS
GRADUATE CASE STUDY
How did the Covid situation affect your role and daily work and how did you manage this situation?
An Employer says ...
As an employer, we fully recognise the importance of giving students an opportunity, especially with the tough competition for graduate jobs in the industry. We could see the benefit of the careers support programme at Liverpool John Moores University and how extensively it prepares its students for the industry –so many graduates that apply for jobs with us have no experience, and this puts them at such a disadvantage.
PHIL WILLIAMS, PRINCIPAL DESIGN MANAGER, WATES CONSTRUCTION SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures
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After this placement I returned to ONR and transitioned into a permanent role working as a Junior Project Manager.
The University is effectively ensuring that their students have the best possible chance of securing employment upon graduation and we are delighted to support them with this.
Aspects of the job you enjoy: How varied project work is, working on completely different things. At the moment I am working on 3 different projects and no day is the same.
At ONR I was put on a project straight away, a workspace project, handling and producing documentation, for example risk logs, project plans, project documentation. The graduate scheme also involves starting your own business in your team and our project involved setting up a bamboo sock business. The project had start-up costs of £2000 and the aim was for the team to make as much money as possible with the proceeds going to charity. We had two designs based around sustainability and linked up with charity called Fashion Resolution and eventually donated around £4000 to the organisation. This experience provided and introduction to running a business and everything that comes with this. The scheme also had lots of additional training and development in softer skills such as leadership, business skills, project management and commercial awareness.
I was based at the Heysham site and went from 60 hour weeks on site to working at home. I have welcomed working from home as it helped me to manage my own time more effectively.
The involvedapplicationaninitial online application, online testing, a video interview, and then a two day assessment centre which was quite intense. I found it useful to speak to lecturers for advice. My advice when attending the assessment centres would be to try to not overthink things and second guess what the company are looking for. Try to be true to yourself. What advice would you give to current students to improve their employability?
The first task was much easier as it was just discussion-based and we only had to put together our ideas in a template for presentation to the panel. The second one was trickier as the only way to illustrate our ideas was through the whiteboard function on Zoom, which made communication much harder. As with any other assessment centre, the assessors are there to observe everyone’s performance. However, as the assessors were muted and had their cameras off, it was easier to be less aware of their presence.
DURING THE FINAL YEAR OF HER MENG CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING DEGREE, GIULIANA KYEREMATEN SECURED A GRADUATE POSITION WITH COSTAIN STARTING IN SUMMER 2021. HERE SHE REFLECTS ON HER EXPERIENCE AT THE VIRTUAL ASSESSMENT CENTRE. OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND
You will all get a lot of opportunities at university, but it is up to you to make the most of them. Pretty much any activity you will take part in will provide you with some sort of employability skills, and if you need help figuring out what they are or how to sell them in the application process, the LJMU Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team will always be able to support you – make the most of it while you can!
Get involved in as many things as you can! For example, though not my intention initially, I opted to complete a yearlong placement which has definitely provided me with a lot of additional skills and knowledge to complement my university studies. My hope was to secure a placement that would potentially also lead to a graduate role, but even just going through the application process for placements would have given me a taster of what it would be like to apply for graduate jobs at the end of my Otherdegree.things to potentially get involved in are all the events that are held by the ICE, IStructE and any other relevant professional bodies –particularly as students have access to free membership! Over the years, I attended a number of project talks and networking events where I got to talk to people from various companies and found out about the work they do and opportunities they offer for graduates and students.
Do you have any advice for current students to improve their employability and succeed in the recruitment process?
The assessment centre was held on Zoom and consisted of an introduction to the company and the role, followed by the first group task, interviews, and then the second group task and a short conclusion. Instructions for both tasks were emailed to all candidates on the day.
GRADUATE CASE STUDY SCHOOL
CAREERS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
Then I started focusing on the interview preparation where I went through potential questions which I had come up with based on the job advert or found on the Interview360 tool. Finally for the general assessment centre prep, I looked up some tips online to understand how I would be assessed and how to impress in different tasks
What did the virtual assessment centre involve?
I got really involved with different extracurricular opportunities to make the most of my university experience, but I also recognise that these gave me a lot of transferable skills for the workplace. For example, I have been both a course representative and treasurer of the Pole Fitness Society, which have collectively helped me develop my teamwork, communication, problem-solving and organisation skills. As these were voluntary positions of responsibility, they particularly stood out to prospective employers.
My preparation was split into three main sections: knowledge about the company, interview preparation, and general preparation for the assessment centre. I spent a lot of time researching the company’s website to refresh my memory about their ethos and values and found out about any recent projects that were of particular interest to me.
A downside of the online environment was the use of timed breakout rooms, because once the time is up, there is no way to complete any unfinished discussions, so time-keeping was really important.
For the first, we had to identify and rank health and safety risks during a bridge replacement. The second task was a little longer and involved coming up with the design for a temporary haulage road between a building and a railway and then presenting the outcome to the ‘client’.
Finally, another really good event is the FET Employer fair organised by LJMU in October each year. This is a great chance to meet lots of employers, chat to them about what they do and what opportunities they offer, and you can pass them your CV for consideration for any opportunities they may have coming up. Also, if you have any specific companies that you are interested in, it would be good to note down names of people you talk to so you can refer to it later in your cover letter or any other application stage.
As I had not been to an assessment centre in over three years, I reached out to the Careers, Employability & Enterpise Team to ask for help. My Adviser was super helpful and sent me lots of resources about preparing for the interview, articles about assessment centres for disciplines similar to mine, and directions to tools on the Careers Zone 24/7 website such as Interview360. I also booked a virtual meeting to ask the questions I had in preparation for the assessment centre. In particular, I found out about how the different skills can be assessed, and that even less central roles such as facilitating group discussions or timekeeping during tasks can also make a very good impression on the assessors. So even if you can’t come up with solutions for the tasks yourself, there is always something else that you can do to show your skills and demonstrate that you can work well in group situations.
BUILT ENVIRONMENTwww.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 11CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES
The assessment centre felt a bit odd being online, but being at home helped me feel more relaxed compared to previous in-person interviews and I had also got more used to online meetings during the past year. There weren’t many occasions to build rapport with the assessors and other candidates as the entire day was very structured with no set networking or break times. During the interview, I found that by just being myself and answering questions openly, I was able to find things in common with the assessors. Asking questions about the tasks (for example about the solution they would have gone for if they were the designers in the group tasks) and projects that were mentioned by assessors helped me to establish rapport based on my genuine interest. I was lucky as my interview was right after the initial group task, so I was able to get it out of the way quickly. Although I felt that it had gone quite well, having over an hour to wait with nothing to do until the next task (while other interviews were carried out), I ended up replaying the interview in my head and focusing on everything that I had done wrong. That really brought my morale down, but I reminded myself that I had one more task to shine in, and that I should start afresh. I also recalled the careers adviser’s tip to treat each task individually, as the key competencies and traits will usually be assessed at least twice during the assessment centre, and that helped me to approach the final task positively. How did you prepare? I used all the information the company had emailed me about the day including the names of my interviewers and checked their LinkedIn profiles to find out more about their roles and career interests.
How did you feel on the day?
How did the Covid situation affect your role and daily work and how did you manage this situation? When the country first went into lockdown, I was placed on furlough for around a month. When the sites I was working on opened back up, I returned to work. Since working on a construction site requires you to work closely with other people and share equipment it was difficult to get used to the new rules put in place to stop the spread of covid. Two or more person jobs became problematic and did decrease efficiency, however once I had gotten used to the new rules and methods it became easier. One advantage to this is that it did improve my adaptability to new and tricky situations.
What are your plans for after you complete your studies? I have secured a Graduate Civil Engineer role with Murphy and will start in September. BOURTON TALKS ABOUT HIS PLACEMENT
What placement role did you secure and what did this involve on a day-to-day basis?
YEAR AT CIDON CONSTRUCTION PLACEMENT CASE STUDY
What placement role did you secure and what did this involve on a day-to-day basis? During my placement I worked as a Highways CAD Technician which involved attending morning meetings with Project Managers, producing drawings and 3D models, and working with other disciplines.
CIVIL ENGINEERING HER CAD
For my sandwich year I worked as a Site Engineer for a company called Cidon Construction who specialises in reinforced concrete frames. My day-to-day duties were based on site, and I worked on two projects during the year, one in Manchester and one in Warrington. In a typical day I would survey the building from the previous days concrete pour to check if it has been built within tolerance, set out where the slab, columns, etc, are to be built, calculate the amount of concrete needed, as well as try to resolve any issues than may have arisen during construction. What did the application / selection process involve and how did you prepare for this?
How do you feel the placement has benefitted you? One of the main reasons I decided to do a sandwich year was to get an idea about which area of Civil Engineering I wanted to pursue a career in. I could get a taste of a certain sector and if I did not like it, I knew when I graduated to follow a different career path. Fortunately for me I enjoyed my time at Cidon and have secured a graduate job at another company with a similar role.
How do you feel that the placement has benefitted you? I really improved my CAD skills and am now fully trained in 3D modelling software. I also became a document controller for major projects eg M6, and developed an understanding of the work between different disciples and their impact on the design process. I gained confidence speaking to senior colleagues and project managers and I wasn’t afraid to ask questions. The placement experience helped me to get through to interviews for graduate jobs in my final year. What advice would you give other students to improve their employability? Read your uni emails, and attend events and careers fairs. Don’t be afraid to apply for jobs. Definitely do a placement, 100%! Did you receive any support from the Careers, Employability & StartUp Team at LJMU and how was this useful? Visited the Careers Zone for support with my CV when applying for placements and returned in 3rd year for advice on describing my placement effectively when applying for graduate jobs.
TECHNICIAN AT AECOM PLACEMENT CASE STUDY SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 12 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES
Did you receive any advice support from the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team and how was this helpful?
To apply for this job, I responded to an email sent from the LJMU Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team about a vacancy at Cidon. I sent my CV and cover letter to the company, and I was invited to attend an interview. The interview lasted between 30/40 minutes, and I was offered the job that week. To try and make my application stand out, I researched the company and the job role and tailored my CV and cover letter to the job.
When I was first applying for a placement, I was not any success, so I contacted the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team and arranged a meeting. During this meeting we discussed what my careers objectives were, and we went through my CV and cover letter and made improvements. I left this meeting feeling much more confident in securing placement. When completing applications after their help, I received more responses from employers and eventually received two job offers due to the advice given.
What did the application / selection process involve? I received an email about a vacancy and applied with a CV and was then successful at interview. I already had some site experience so this may have helped with my application.
Furthermore, I wanted to gain relevant industry work experience for when I came to apply for jobs when I graduated. It gave me much more confidence when applying for jobs knowing I had a placement year on my CV and I believe if it were not for my sandwich year, I would not have been offered the job that I have. The experience developed my engineering skillset massively and gave me the opportunity to put what I had learned in university to practice.
I would also recommend seeking advice from the Careers, Employability & Start-Up team, even if you are fully confident about what you want to do. They can help improve your employability immensely and give you guidance about your career and your ambitions.
Furthermore, I had took part in a few interviews prior to this which helped me grasp an idea of the questions that would be asked and the qualities the recruiters are looking for.
GRADUATE ALIX QUINN SHARES HER EXPERIENCE FROM
SANDWICH PLACEMENT AS A HIGHWAYS
What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? My advice to other students is to try and gain any relevant industry experience that you can, whether that may be a summer placement or year placement. A sandwich year may sound daunting and feel like a long time at first, but I believe it gives you a solid foundation to begin your career and gives you an insight into the career path you would like to take.
CIVIL ENGINEERING GRADUATE RYAN
This is your first opportunity to demonstrate why you are the right candidate for the job. Use this as a chance to showcase all of your relevant skills and experience to date. Remember, all experience is transferable and it is important to highlight how you have used these skills in different contexts. Also, do not underestimate the importance of providing the recruiter with your hobbies and interests. This is an opportunity to demonstrate the type of person that you are outside of work, and thus allows you to show why you would be a good fit within the company.
At this stage, candidates are sent an online aptitude test and are given five days to complete it. My advice here would be to complete some practice tests prior to undertaking the real thing. This will give you an idea of what to expect, and hopefully calm any pre-test nerves.
The assessment centre was set out to gauge how well individuals worked in a team, and rather than the specific answers to the tasks being assessed, it was more focussed on how you got to that conclusion through discussion and teamwork. My tips for this stage are to let others be heard. This is not about showing how much you know or being overpowering. It is about how you work with others, and how you deal with disagreements in a professional manner.
After being successful at stage 4, I received a conditional job offer, based on me passing my security clearance and medical.
From the beginning of the graduate scheme, specific work will be assigned to me with the aim of being responsible for real work from day one. The aim of this is to increase my skills and knowledge from the get-go. Over the course of the two-year scheme, I will complete four placements within Engineering & Maintenance whilst also completing Sellafield’s Practical Engineering Skills course and a rotation though their Product Development Centre. This will allow me to further develop and demonstrate my technical expertise.
What does/will your role involve on a day-to-day basis?
3. Video Interview Prior to attending my video interview, Sellafield sent some very useful guidance notes on what to expect. Additionally, a member of the resourcing team was on hand to answer any questions I had about the process. This interview was fairly relaxed and mainly focused on interpersonal skills. It is important to make sure that you have done your research on the company and have practised some answers beforehand. To work at Sellafield, I would be moving to the west-coast of Cumbria, so I also researched the area and communitythis showed the recruiter that I was committed to the role and that relocating was not going to be an issue.
4. Technical Interview & Virtual Assessment Centre Different from the previous interview, this - as the name suggests - was very much focused on the technical aspect of the role. My previous experience in the industry was drawn upon, as well as some specifics from my university course.
What did the application process involve, and how would you advise students prepare for the different stages?
I believe that without this interaction, I would not have had the same positive experience in my assessment centre, which potentially could have led to a different outcome. What advice would you give other students to improve their employability? Get work experience! Your course offers an option for a year in industry, and using networking sites such as LinkedIn to connect with as many relevant people in your desired industry as possible can be a brilliant place to start. You will then be in a good position when seeking work experience/summer placements, which in turn will help you massively when applying for graduate roles. Don’t just connect with the big, well-known companies in the industry. My placement year was with a small/medium-sized firm in Manchester: I was given a huge variety of work and had the opportunity to meet some really experienced colleagues and try various different roles within the industry. This experience at a smaller firm helped me to secure my graduate role at Sellafield.
The overarching aim of the Engineering & Maintenance team at Sellafield Ltd. is to accelerate the reduction of hazards in a manner that is: safe; economical; environmentally responsible; and pragmatic. The team has a wide range of roles, from robotic solutions to significant civil infrastructure and building structures, the latter is where I will based. It is my job to understand how each piece of equipment will affect my systems design intent, and to ensure that these are maintained within their operational and safety requirements.
The application for my specific role can be broken down as follows; however this was during the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore may change slightly going forward.
1. Online Application:
2. Aptitude Testing
What help and support did you have from the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team? I felt stressed about preparing for my virtual assessment centre, as I didn’t know what to expect and was nervous about how well my interpersonal skills and personality would come across in a virtual setting. After contacting the team for help, I had a video call with one of the advisers who explained how to prepare for the virtual interview and group tasks and what behaviours the assessors would be looking for throughout the day.
Do not let a positive first impression be tainted by a spelling error or anything that might make you look less attentive than you are, so check, check and check again! Run your application by a friend, family member, or even a member of the LJMU Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team.
MENG CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING GRADUATE DAVID CLOSE HAS SECURED A PLACE ON SELLAFIELD’S GRADUATE SCHEME AS AN ENGINEERING MAINTENANCE GRADUATE. PLACEMENT CASE STUDY SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENTwww.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 13CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES
❙ Part time work, shows you are hard working and motivated and have experience of working life. Any experience is good but even better if it is more relevant to your job.
I received lots of support at the Careers Zone. This is imperative; they will prepare you for the application process and fine tune your CV. I am forever grateful to them! It helped me get my graduate job!
❙ Take advantage of the resources available in university in particular the careers department.
Did you receive any advice support from the Careers, Employability & Start-Up Team and how was this helpful?
What placement role did you secure and what did this involve on a day-to-day basis?
The application process involved steps involved a situational judgement test, typical application form, then interview which also involved some basic engineering questions. I prepared by contacting the careers department at LJMU, who were more than happy to meet with me various times to improve my CV and wording as well as mock interviews. They also gave me important information on how to prepare for the application form as well as typical interview questions to prepare for.
❙ Join institutions relevant to your field of work for example ICE for civil engineers. This shows you are clued up and have thought about and understand where you want to be in 5 years or the future, for example achieving chartered status. Include the institution you are a member of in your CV.
❙ On your CV don’t just describe how you are such a thing, prove it! How are you good at it? Did you get a good score on a module?
Typically, I had the role of a CAD technician who would work closely with the engineers to produce drawings for the client such as general arrangements, site clearance, standard details and many more. I also completed structural and wind load calculations for various structures such as a 18m high lighting mast and sign posts.
What did the application / selection process involve and how did you prepare for this?
How did the Covid situation affect your role and daily work and how did you manage this situation? Atkins adapted quickly to the COVID situation. They provided monitors chairs to use our laptops at home. Skype and Outlook was a crucial part of work, keeping in contact with who you were working with on projects and your line manager. Video calls and team meetings on Skype. I worked from home from march when it was first lockdown to the end of my placement in July. It helped me to prepare for working at home life. Which will probably be involved for the foreseeable. All students have got this experience because they have just done this themselves. Which is extremely difficult and requires self control, motivation and discipline. Transferable skills!
I secured a placement role with Atkins and was part of the Bridges, Civils and Geomatics team within the transportation department. Everyday was different, depending on what projects I was working on. It ranged from highways, rail and light rail project.
My advice for students to improve your employability are: ❙ LinkedIn profile, be active, have it all up to date and follow professionals in your field. Maybe people in the organisation you are applying for! Message them for advice and show you are keen to network. Getting your name about works!
SAM MITCHELL
TELLS US ABOUT HIS PLACEMENT AS A CAD TECHNICIAN AT ATKINS PLACEMENT CASE STUDY www.ljmu.ac.uk/postgraduate Whether you are looking to specialise, change direction, enhance your earning potential or boost your employability, staying at LJMU for postgraduate study is a great investment in your future success, with increased earnings of up to 18% for postgraduates compared to graduates. GET A 20% DISCOUNT OFF YOUR LJMU POSTGRADUATE COURSE To discover more, call 0151 231 5090, or go to: SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT www.ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures 14 CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CASE STUDIES
How do you feel the placement has benefitted you? This helped to to learn as to what was required in the drawings (such as annotations, notes and details) and the high standard expected. As well as how to think like an engineer when tackling various engineering problems such as retaining walls. It also but the theory behind university into practice and real life problems. I also got to grips with following the relevant standards and guidelines set out for the line of works I was involved in, which is important as a civil engineer to keep compliant. It also allowed me to ‘get my foot in the door’ at Atkins, putting in the extra effort and hard work throughout the placement.
Meant I was lucky enough to secure a graduate position with them.
What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability?
Go postgrad YOURTRANSFORMFUTURE WITH STUDYPOSTGRADUATE For more information, go to: ljmu.ac.uk/postgraduate I have studied areas I had never thought of before. That has opened my eyes to new career possibilities. Eddie Irving Masters in Commercial Building Surveying
TO ACCESS CAREERS ZONE 24/7: CAREERS ZONE 24/7 INCLUDES: TRACK PROGRESSYOUR ACCESS PROGRAMMESPERSONALISED GET FEEDBACKPERSONALISED CONFIDENCEIDENTIFY GAPS IMPACTMEASURE ❙ Job board & employer tracker ❙ Bespoke careers content ❙ E-Learning courses ❙ Aptitude tests ❙ Interactive tools ❙ Career assessments ❙ Employer videos, webinars & podcasts ❙ Careers news & articles ❙ Industry reports CLICK HERE TO LOG IN CAREERS ZONE 24/7 GET PREPARED FOR YOUR FUTURE Access our online careers platform on any device, at any time, from anywhere ... Over 12,000 students used Careers Zone 24/7 during the last academic year, completing over 200,000 activities in total Student Futures: Careers, Employability & Start-Up Service CONNECT WITH US: studentfutures@ljmu.ac.uk ❙ 0151 231 2048/3719 ljmu.ac.uk/studentfutures