Meriem Ghazzali: Transport for London graduate

Employer: Transport for London
University: Queen Mary, University of London
Subject: BEng telecommunications engineering
Graduated: 2008

I considered various job options, including working for telecoms companies, as I’d enjoyed my degree. However, I was attracted to Transport for London (TfL) because of its graduate scheme – I’m spending two years rotating round different departments in the surface transport team before deciding where I want to work permanently. The scheme is also accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Out and about with the fault control department

Since starting work I’ve spent time in the fault control and the CCTV technology and development departments. The focus of the graduate scheme is on learning rather than delivering projects myself, so I’ve been able to spend time with lots of different teams within these departments, seeing what they do and helping with small tasks. The fault control department deals with aspects of surface transport such as traffic lights, speed cameras, tunnel equipment (such as telephones and electronic signs and signals), and CCTV cameras that monitor traffic flow. I was out and about almost every day during my time with this department, helping ensure that everything was functioning correctly. My time in the CCTV technology and development department was more office based. Here I saw various projects relating to traffic flow cameras, for example one to switch these from analogue to digital and another looking at how TfL and London boroughs can share use of the CCTV cameras that they each own. I also learned about the procurement process for these cameras.

Technical and soft-skills training

I’m receiving lots of formal training. One of my favourite parts of the scheme so far has been my training in LinSig software, which is used to design and assess traffic signal junctions: for example modelling how altering the timings on different sets of traffic lights would affect traffic flow. I’ve got a number of courses coming up in the next few months, from technical training, such as learning about Siemens ST800 traffic light controls, to soft skills such as negotiation, giving presentations, facilitation and problem solving.

A part-time masters

I’m also being sponsored by my employer to do a part-time masters degree, also in telecommunications, at Queen Mary, University of London. I do one day a week at university and then study in my own time. It’s hard work having to go home and do coursework in the evenings and at weekends but my employer is supportive and I try to keep one day of my weekend free from study to relax.