“What course are you completing?”

This summer I completed the third year of my four-year MEng Civil Engineering course. I will be returning to finish my final year in October.

“How long until you have completed your placement”

I started this placement on the 1st of July which was initially scheduled to finish at the end of August. However, I felt there was much more I wanted to learn, and my university did not start until October, so I requested an extension. The managing director, Paul Gallagher, kindly agreed and my 8-week placement became 12 weeks. I will finish this placement on the 27th of September.

“Where are you based(company and location)?”

I am based on multiple West London sites on an extremely large infrastructure project.

“What does your day-to-day working life look like?”

My day consists of supporting the coordination and management of nearly 400 workers on site, participating in SOS (start of shift) briefings, shadowing site engineers on their daily site checks to ensure work is being delivered to the correct standard, whilst participating in and contributing to health and safety awareness on site.

“What were your expectations going into the placement and did you feel like you met them?”

I started this placement with a very open mind; my plan was to consume as much information from my peers as I possibly could. I set out to learn all areas of operations as it will help me grow as a professional. I wanted to understand the different types of engineering works in construction, by doing this I was able to identify the roles best suited to me. As graduates we’re exposed to such a large variety of roles without knowing what they truly entail and whether they are right for us. My expectations were not only met but exceeded as I found my ideal career path and got such valuable experience.

“What skills/ knowledge have you picked up during your placement?”

Assisting in operations management, I have developed strong management, communication and organisational skills. On site, I learned how closely engineering and surveying are intertwined, strengthening my technical understanding of geotechnical considerations, ground support methods and safe delivery of complex infrastructure works.

“Who or what made the biggest positive impact on your experience here?”

To be surrounded by such accomplished and experienced engineers and workers is a luxury I have been fortunate to experience so early in my career. Engineers from all over the world, construction workers who have decades of experience under their belt, have inspired me in a lot of different ways. Labourers’ morale is central to construction running smoothly, and as engineers it is important to listen to them. They sometimes see stuff we don’t and vice versa. Teamwork and communication skills are essential to bridge the gap between engineer and construction worker, allowing technical designs to be translated into successful, practical outcomes.

“If you had the chance to start again is there anything you would have done differently?”

If I were to do it all over again, I would maximise my exposure to works on site.

“Has the placement influenced your career plans?”

This placement has influenced my career plans by broadening perspective and making me more open to roles that involve site-based work.

“ What advice would you give people looking to do a placement at Joseph Gallagher Group?”

As graduates, we often feel pressure to fit into any new role without knowing what we truly want from it. A placement like this helps you learn just as much from the company as the company learns from you. My advice to anyone considering a summer placement is, approach it with an open mind. It’s the best way to make the most of everything a placement has to offer.

Joseph Gallagher has been nothing but supportive and encouraging throughout my journey. They are committed to getting their apprenticeships, placements and graduates the well-rounded education and experience that they need to be successful in this industry.

Interview with our Summer Graduate Madina Arif