Groundwork for a graduate job: my civil engineering sandwich placement
My university gave me some help with finding an industrial placement, but I also did my own research. I was offered two positions but chose this one because I felt it would give me the opportunity to work on a range of projects and get a mixture of experience: hands-on engineering work and subcontractor management.
Building my responsibilities
I have been surprised by the amount of responsibility I have been given. On my current project, ground works for a retail facility in Belfast, I have responsibility for overseeing four piling rigs, ordering materials, setting out work, assessing quality and working with the main management company. When I started it took time to learn how to use the specialist equipment and get used to working on site. However, I have enjoyed taking on more and learning from the experienced foreman I work with. I can contribute confidently in site meetings and I work well with both labourers and managers.
Thoughts for the future
The whole experience has been good and it will set me up for the future. It has given me the drive to get stuck into my degree course because I know for sure that I want to work in the construction environment.
Tecwyn Griffiths is an industrial trainee in Keller Ground Engineering. He recently graduated from Cardiff University with an MEng in civil engineering.
